The 2026 Undrafted Free Agent Roll Call

The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, but that's not the end of the road! Maxwell breaks down the 2026 undrafted free agent class, where they're headed, and their future prospects.

The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, but the dream is still far from over for the prospects who didn’t hear their names called from the podium. Many of them will still go on to sign contracts with NBA teams. Here at No Ceilings, we’re just as interested in those guys as the big dogs at the top of the class.

Today, we’ll be giving the spotlight to the undrafted free agent draft class of 2026. I’ll break down where they’re headed, what they bring to the table, and what they will need to improve to make their games work at the NBA level.

This piece is one of my favorite things to write every cycle. I love the margins, I love the possibility of the improbable, and I love showing appreciation to guys who are still way better at something than most people could ever dream of being at anything. When I first got deep in the world of scouting, it was easy to find stuff on the big-name prospects. But the further down a draft board I went, the less information about the players there would be. I’ve always made it my goal to write the type of things I would have wanted to read, and this is one of those columns.

If you don’t think the undrafted class matters, think again. Want proof? Look at the rosters of teams from the conference finals and beyond this year—Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Julian Champagnie, Luke Kornet, Jose Alvarado, Max Strus, and Dean Wade are all undrafted success stories. Plus, we just witnessed Austin Reaves sign a max contract, the richest in history for an undrafted player. Winning on the margins matters.

I also want to give a MASSIVE thank you to the people who make this column a reasonable undertaking—namely, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress and Rookie Scale. Without his Undrafted Free Agent Tracker, this information would be extremely difficult and/or impossible to compile. All contract information and player heights come from his site. I’d also like to give a big tip of the hat to our good friends at Synergy Sports and Sports-Reference. All statistical information is sourced from those two sites.

This was submitted for publication at approximately 6:00 P.M. on June 28, 2026, and I conducted a last-minute review at 6:00 A.M. on June 29, 2026. Apologies to anyone I missed between now and when you read this!

Before digging in, make sure you’re subscribed to our Substack. At No Ceilings, Draft SZN never ends, and we’re still going to pump out some excellent content this summer. Also, you can follow me on Twitter/X here.

Atlanta Hawks

Exhibit-10:
-Isaac McKneely

Isaac McKneely is a sweet-shooting, 6’4” guard who most recently played at Louisville. It’s all about the shot with him, and for good reason, as he’s long been one of the most prolific and efficient three-point shooters at the college level. Across four high-major seasons, McKneely connected on 41.4% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per game. His percentage never dipped below 39.2%, which is pretty wild given the volume and variety of his shot diet. The rest of his game remains a question, though. He’s been a low-mistake player more than a true initiator; also, he doesn’t do much on the glass, and I’m unsure who he guards at the NBA level. If he can add some more layers to his game, his shooting ability could enable him to find a spot in the league.

Boston Celtics

Exhibit-10:
-Tucker DeVries
-Milos Uzan

Tucker DeVries has long been a favorite of mine and came in at 45th on my final board. The most notable thing about his game is his three-point volume. He took 12.5 threes per 100 possessions over the course of his college career, and he made 35.9% of them. That’s a rare blend of volume and efficiency for someone who measured at 6’6.25” with a 6’9.5” wingspan and a 221.8-pound weight. He’s not just a shooter, though. The coach’s son from Indiana plays with tremendous bend and craft out of ball screens. He sees the floor well, competes on the glass, and is a pretty disruptive defender for his archetype because he always knows where to be. Injuries and inconsistency have limited his output over the years, and those factors could stifle his NBA chances. That said, he’s precisely the type of player I’d want on a two-way. He’s big, physical, smart, and fits the “shoot it and move it” mold that so many good role players fall into.

Milos Uzan was the 99th-ranked prospect on my personal board, though I am very low on him relative to consensus. The 6’4” guard is an outstanding offensive organizer and orchestrator. He’s a super savvy pick-and-roll operator who plays ball screens in a variety of ways to keep defenses on their toes, and he can make every pass in the book. If nothing else, he’s a great player to have professionalize your G League program and make everyone around him play a semblance of normal basketball. My concerns with Uzan are that he’s contact averse (career .150 free-throw rate), floater reliant, inconsistent as a scorer (49.3 TS%), and doesn’t bring a ton on the defensive end of the floor. If he ever does become a reliable knockdown guy from three and can take some steps forward on defense, he could carve out an NBA role.

Brooklyn Nets

Exhibit-10:
-Dion Brown
-Ben Humrichous
-Duke Brennan

Dion Brown is a speedy, slashing guard who loves to run in transition and feast off cuts. The 6’3” guard is tough to keep track of off the ball given his constant activity. He made a comical 67.8% of his twos last season, which I don’t know that I’ve ever seen before from a college guard who actually played a meaningful role. Brown rebounds like a wing, too (6.9 ORB%, 17.0 DRB%). The issue is that he rarely shoots threes (career 5.5 attempts per 100 possessions), and he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. He’ll have to get better at the traditional guard stuff.

Ben Humrichous is a 6’9” big-bodied marksman. He hit 36.8% of his threes at the D-I level and had a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio this year, though his playmaking volume was low. There is a blueprint for strong, tall shooters who hit shots and don’t turn it over. Where Humrichous needs to move the needle is that he has to be an excellent shooter, not just a good one. His rebounding and defensive metrics have long been lackluster, though he stays in front of the ball fairly well.

Duke Brennan is a skilled bruiser out of Villanova. He’s a menace on the glass, posting a 15.1 ORB%. Plus, he’s a super talented passer. While his assist-to-turnover ratio was even on the year, I was very impressed by his vision and pass placement, as he can find openings before threading the ball through tight windows. I don’t love how he gets off the floor, and his ball-screen defense is well behind the curve, which contributed to a dire 1.9 BLK%. If he can tidy up the defense, his blend of toughness and skill could find him a roster spot at some point.

Charlotte Hornets

Two-Way:
-Kylan Boswell
-Michael Ajayi

Exhibit-10:
-Wyatt Fricks
-Max MacKinnon
-Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

Kylan Boswell was the 84th-ranked prospect on my board. One interesting note here is that Boswell is still only 21, as he reclassified to enter the college ranks early, so he has more of a developmental runway than most players featured in this column. He spent his whole college career on great teams at Arizona and Illinois. While he’s only 6’1.25”, he does have a 6’7” wingspan and a burly 225-pound frame, so he’s much less of a mismatch target than most his height on defense, where he can really hound the ball at the point-of-attack. Offensively, he’s a poised table setter (3.0 APG to 1.1 TOV) who can get into the paint and draw fouls (.415 FTr). The question for Boswell is his shooting. After making 38.2% of his threes during his first two college seasons, that number fell to 27.2% during his final two years. Simply put, that’s not good enough for a 6’1” player who derives their value from playing on the ball at the NBA level. If the shot gets back on the horse, his physicality and feel should enable him to hang around. If not, he’ll have a hard time sticking.

Michael Ajayi came in at 86th on my final board. His biggest flaw is immediately evident on the stat sheet, which is his 26.1% mark from three this past season. He has funky mechanics and has long struggled from distance while being too short to play the five. The good news is that Ajayi is absolutely massive for a four and plays his tail off. He led the Big East with 11.1 Rebounds Per Game last season. He’s also become a smart middle-of-the-floor passer, as made clear by his 19.4 AST%. Ajayi’s blend of size, toughness, and feel makes him worth a swing to see if he can figure out the shot.

Wyatt Fricks was one of my favorite margins guys who never got much buzz, slotting 80th on my board. The 6’9” wing from Marshall constantly makes things happen. He’s a nimble mover and a super eager rim helper who posted a 5.7 BLK% this past season. Offensively, he has the bounce to send home electrifying slams, and he made 34.7% of his threes on high volume. Fricks is skinny, and his playmaking isn’t anything to write home about, but his length, activity, athleticism, and shooting development are interesting.

Max Mackinnon is a 6’5” jack-of-all-trades from LSU by way of Australia. He’s comfortable dribbling, making plays (2.5 APG to 2.0 TOV), and shooting the three (37.6% on 5.7 attempts per game). I thought he looked super poised and under control throughout the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in a way few others did. I worry that his lack of a “superpower” skill and his red-flag defensive playmaking marks (1.0 STL%, 1.0 BLK%) may be too much to overcome.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is a sturdy, 6’3” guard who bombs threes (career 37.8% on 10.6 attempts per 100 possessions). Coming out of Alabama’s fast-paced system, he’s ready for the NBA’s tempo, too. He’s not a true point guard, though. Throw his run-of-the-mill defense at 24 years old, and he still needs to develop to get over the hump.

Chicago Bulls

Two-Way:
-Tobe Awaka
-Jaylin Sellers

Exhibit-10:
-Donovan Atwell

Summer League:
-Houston Mallette

Tobe Awaka may be short for a big man at 6’8”, but his 7’2.5” wingspan goes a long way to compensate. Despite his lack of height, he had the top offensive rebound rate in the entire Big 12 this season. His sheer physicality and tenacity on the glass make him a colossal chore to deal with. He can hinder smaller opponents with his strength on defense, too. Where it gets tricky is that Awaka isn’t an elite finisher; also, he has little in the way of ball skills, he doesn’t currently space the floor, he doesn’t block a lot of shots, and he doesn’t protect the rim at a super high level. Basically, he’s a “Work Hard Guy” with a single elite trait. There are worse bets to make, and he could become a guy who comes in off the bench and catches second units sleeping, but he’s a bit unrefined currently.

Jaylin Sellers is a walking bucket. The 6’4” combo guard put up 18.3 PPG on 47.3/42.9/85.9 splits last season. He scored in bunches both at Portsmouth and during the G League Combine, too. He’s dynamite shooting off movement, he can create his own looks in the mid-range, and he’s a crafty rim finisher. The reason I’m lower on him, though, is that the dynamism stops after his scoring. Sellers can dribble the air out of the ball, and he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. His defensive effort leaves a lot to be desired. Few can put the ball in the cup like Sellers, but the other stuff will need to come along for him to stick.

Donovan Atwell (95th on my board) is a 6’4.5” sharpshooter from Texas Tech. He sank 45.8% of his threes on 8.4 attempts per game this past season, which is almost unfathomable. Plus, he’s a low-mistake player who keeps the offense moving. He offers very little inside the arc, he doesn’t rebound much, and his defense isn’t anything to write home about, so there are worries that he doesn’t have enough ways to impact the game. Still, he has a superpower, so you can’t totally write him off.

Houston Mallette is a gunner out of Alabama. He puts up a lot of threes and aggressively hunts pull-up opportunities. The 6’5” marksman also developed as a decision-maker and rebounder this past season. He’s long struggled to get into the paint, and he’s never been much of a defender.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Two-Way:
-Ernest Udeh Jr.

Exhibit-10:
-Xaivian Lee
-Rashaun Agee

Summer League:
-Tre’Von Spillers

Ernest Udeh Jr. came in at 60th on my final board, so I think he’s great value on an undrafted two-way. At 6’9.25” barefoot with a 7’4.5” wingspan, a 9’3” standing reach, and a 257.4-pound weight, Udeh has prototypical size for a traditional big man. He’s a killer on the glass (13.1 ORB%, 25.8 DRB%). His end-to-end speed is awesome, and he gets off the floor well, so he can get super-efficient looks as a roller and in transition. Defensively, he’s a pretty freaky lateral mover for a guy his size. He can really sit down and move his feet. Udeh’s attention to detail on defense can be lacking, so he’s never blocked as many shots as his tools would suggest, and he’s not particularly skilled with the ball. While those things will likely hold Udeh back from becoming a positive impact player, I think his motor, size, and basics should enable him to eat innings if nothing else.

Xaivian Lee was my 81st-ranked prospect. The 6’2.5” guard had a frustratingly inefficient year for the Florida Gators, posting 42.0/29.2/76.5 splits. He can get too much dip on his chip as a self-creator and force tough shots. If he can reel in his more frustrating tendencies, he could find a way to stick. He’s a clever, productive passer. Lee plays super hard, and he’s pretty shifty, enabling him to get in on the glass in a way most guards can’t and collect steals. He had a rough final college season, but there’s still hope.

Rashaun Agee is a well-built 6’7” action player out of Texas A&M. He owns the glass, disrupts plays on defense, and is an intelligent passer from the interior. The downside is that he’ll turn 26 during his rookie season, and he only made 26.4% of his threes last season.

Tre’Von Spillers is a long wing from Wake Forest, standing 6’6.75” with a 7’2” wingspan. He’s a super versatile, disruptive defender (2.0 STL%, 6.7 BLK%) and an energetic rebounder. His three-point volume was low, and he hasn’t shown a ton of juice as a creator, but he shot a solid percentage from deep and kept his assist-to-turnover ratio positive. He could find a bench role in time if his perimeter offense continues to develop.

Dallas Mavericks

Nothing Yet :(

Denver Nuggets

Exhibit-10:
-Aaron Nkrumah
-Mark Mitchell
-Giovanni Emejuru

Aaron Nkrumah came in at 51st on my final board, so his only getting an E-10 is a stunner to me. Good for Denver, I guess. The warts are pretty clear—he’s a skinny wing who played at Tennessee State and lives in the mid-range. I love the upside, though. He’s a late-bloomer who posted a comical 4.9 STL%, giving him an outlier area of production that few others can offer. He’s great in passing lanes, and he’s outrageous at getting into the ball at the point of attack. His hand speed and timing are out of this world. Plus, he can finish above the rim in transition (21 dunks), shoot the three a little bit (35.1% on solid volume), and make plays for others (18.1 AST%). He was great at G League Elite Camp, so there’s some reason to believe in his scalability. I adore this pickup.

Mark Mitchell slotted 88th on my board. He’s a physically massive forward (6’7.75”, 7’2” wingspan, 238.8 pounds) with a high level of feel (21.2 AST%). The question is his shot. He did make 38.8% of his threes this past season, but it looks funky, and he’s far too content to pass up open looks. He guards the ball really well, but he’s never been particularly disruptive off of it. He’s a bit too small to play the five without offering the spacing typically offered from a modern four man, but if that changes, watch out.

Giovanni Emejuru is a 6’10” bruising big man from East Carolina who American Conference bigs struggled to deal with on the interior. He’s a bully on the offensive glass (13.4 ORB%) who gets off the floor well and can finish above the rim (60 dunks). He’s still quite raw skill-wise, though, having averaged 0.5 APG to 1.8 TOV while having more defensive lapses than one would like to see.

Detroit Pistons

Exhibit-10:
-Jaden Henley
-Drake Allen
-Corey Stephenson Jr.

Summer League:
-Roddy Gayle Jr.
-Orlando Thomas

Jaden Henley ranked 59th on my final board. The concern is that 6’6.75” wing’s three-point shot has been a roller coaster over the years, and he just went 26.8% from deep as a senior. The good news is that all the other tools are there. Henley is a great athlete who tallied 27 dunks last year. He’s excellent at grabbing defensive rebounds (18.5 DRB%) and steals (2.9 STL%) before getting his team out on the run. Plus, he’s a rock-solid playmaker (20.1 AST%). If Henley is able to find a degree of consistency with his shot, he could become the type of do-it-all wing that every NBA team could use. He’s the exact type of swing teams should be looking to make on the margins.

Drake Allen is an ultra-funky switchblade guard. He’s a super intelligent, athletic player at 6’4”. His defensive playmaking metrics (4.5 STL%, 1.9 BLK%) were definitely juiced by Utah State’s aggressive scheme, but even with that being the case, it’s tough to find guards who even come close to sniffing those numbers. He’s a hard-nosed attacker who can finish above the rim and make great passes to punish help. His scoring ability and age are concerns, as he averaged a meager 7.9 PPG in the Mountain West as a guy who just turned 25.

Corey Stephenson is a 6’5.25” 3-and-D wing with a 6’11” wingspan from Florida International. He sank 39.8% of his threes on high volume while registering a 2.4 STL% and a 1.9 BLK%. He’s also a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, and he has the bounce to finish above the rim. His game lacks connective tissue, though. He gets tunnel vision as a scorer and had a firmly negative assist-to-turnover ratio. If he can better operate within the flow of an offense, he could find a home.

Roddy Gayle Jr. is a powerfully built 6’4” guard out of Michigan who thrives at getting to the rim. He also took steps forward as a defender last season. His three-ball still isn’t a reliable weapon, though, and he’s never been the most consistent playmaker. Orlando Thomas is a 6’2” guard from NAIA program Langston University. He’s a sweet-shooting lefty who gets the ball out of his hands fast off the catch. His negative assist-to-turnover mark at his size and level of competition is worrisome, though.

Golden State Warriors

Exhibit-10:
-Nick Boyd
-Graham Ike

Summer League:
-CJ Gunn
-Reese Dixon-Waters

Nick Boyd ranked 79th on my final board. The 25-year-old guard from Wisconsin lives at the rim. While he doesn’t have the most sophisticated playmaking bag, he’s at least great at avoiding turnovers. He’s also a solid three-point shooter who’s confident pulling up in the mid-range. At 6’1” with a 6’2.5” wingspan and a slight 176.2-pound frame, there are scalability concerns about his play style given his body type and lack of explosive athleticism. Throw in the fact that his defense has never been anything special, and he’s likely going to have to make an impact quickly to keep his foot in the door.

Graham Ike (93rd on my board) is a skilled, bruising big man from Gonzaga. He can bully people on the interior, but it’s the perimeter flashes that are most intriguing with regard to his NBA projection. He shot 35.8% from three over the last few years, hit some mid-range pull-ups, and showed some slick dribble moves you don’t often see from a 250-pounder with a 7’5.25” wingspan. Unfortunately, he’s a total mess on defense, registering a meager 3.3 BLK% while playing in the WCC. His positioning in ball screens and level of engagement will need to come along for him to be effective. At nearly 24 years old, I’m skeptical of that happening, but you could bet on worse things than a massive human being with dribble-pass-shoot upside.

CJ Gunn is a high-flying wing from DePaul who loves to get to his mid-range pull-up. He’s an athletic, stifling defender (2.3 STL%, 2.5 BLK%) who has improved his feel as a passer. The hangup here is his shot, as he only went 32.7% from deep last year, but he’s never been afraid to shoot them. Reese Dixon-Waters is a well-built 6’5” wing who can score inside or out when attacking from a spot-up. He’s got some juice out of ball screens, too. He’s sort of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, though.

Houston Rockets

Two-Way:
-Quadir Copeland

Summer League:
-Oscar Cluff

Quadir Copeland was the highest-ranked undrafted free agent on my board, slotting 42nd overall. The concern with Copeland is that he might not shoot. While he made 39.7% of his threes last year, the 6’5.25” jumbo playmaker from NC State didn’t take very many, launching only 1.7 attempts per game. Throw in a career 28.5% mark from deep, and the skepticism is reasonable. That said, if Copeland can become a reliable shooter, he’ll be a highly impactful two-way wing. He was a true point guard this past season, slinging 6.5 APG to only 2.8 TOV. He’s strong, shifty, and creative, enabling him to collapse defenses at will. Then, his floor vision takes care of the rest. On the defensive end, his 6’10.5” wingspan gives him a level of switchability rarely found in players who can organize an offense. His 3.6 STL% shows how active he is off the ball. He generates a ton of live-ball turnovers that get his team out on the run. I get the downside—if Copeland doesn’t shoot enough threes, or if he isn’t a threat to make enough threes, defenses could ignore him, and the offensive outcome would fall on its face. But if he does connect from deep often enough, which I believe is possible between his mechanics and efficiency this past season, there’s a path for him to be the type of switchblade guard we routinely see in playoff rotations.

Oscar Cluff (78th on my board) is a physically imposing big man who finished his college career at Purdue. He’s not the best lateral or vertical mover, but he’s strong, tough, and crafty. His 17.5 ORB% and 12.5 AST% give him an interesting intersection of skills, and I think he’s a solid bet to end up on a two-way or ten-day contract next year.

Indiana Pacers

Exhibit-10:
-Tamin Lipsey
-Kowacie Reeves Jr.
-Keba Keita
-Rienk Mast

Summer League:
-Jalen Warley

Tamin Lipsey (56th on my board) is an analytics darling because he’s awesome at contributing to the possession battle. The Iowa State point guard had a career 4.4 STL%, he averaged 5.1 APG to 1.5 TOV, and he’s an excellent offensive rebounder (5.2 ORB% last season) for his position. His game is about using his speed to get into the paint, making great decisions, forcing turnovers, and sneaking in on the glass. The likely reason NBA front offices are seemingly lower on him is that he’s short (6’1.5”, 6’2” wingspan) and a poor shooter (31.6% from three, 65.6% at the line last season). Plus, his outings at the Portsmouth Invitational and the G League Combine were both lackluster, creating concerns that he could be a “system player.” I get it, but I would’ve been inclined to give Lipsey a two-way in the second round because he’s smart and has a few areas of near-outlier production.

Kowacie Reeves Jr. (91st on my board) from Georgia Tech can score inside and out. He shot 38.7% from deep last season, but he still has the juice to drive to the cup and finish above the rim. He was a clear cut above the field athletically at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He’s really skinny, he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio last year, and his defensive impact is inconsistent. Still, strong character reviews, his movement ability, and inside-out scoring make him worth a swing. BYU’s Keba Keita is an undersized big (6’6.75”) who might not have the skill to compensate (0.3 APG to 0.8 TOV, zero made threes, 55.2 FT%), but he’s a ridiculous athlete who can finish lobs and make a ton of plays on defense (2.6 STL%, 8.3 BLK%). Rienk Mast is a skilled big man from Nebraska who slung 3.1 APG to only 1.7 TOV. He can stretch the floor and orchestrate offense from the top of the key, and he’s still not afraid to bang on the glass. Unfortunately, he’s about to turn 25, and he’s a poor athlete who struggles on the defensive end.

Jalen Warley is sort of a Ben Simmons mold, a 6’6” savvy playmaker from Gonzaga who can sling assists and play good defense. He took seven total threes during his last two college seasons and only made one, which is problematic from a “what position does this guy play?” standpoint.

Los Angeles Clippers

Exhibit-10:
-Fletcher Loyer

Summer League:
-Riley Kugel
-Themus Fulks

Fletcher Loyer is a sniper out of Purdue. The 6’3.5” guard hit 43.2% of his triples on 6.6 attempts per game, and he can sink them in a variety of contexts. He’s also a sharp, quick decision-maker (2.1 APG to 1.0 TOV). The athletic testing and measurement portion of the combine was far from kind to him, and those issues show up on the court, as he doesn’t impact the game much beyond his shooting.

Riley Kugel is a 6’5” wing with a pro-ready frame. He was a really hot name a few years back after a red-hot stretch to close his freshman year, but he stumbled the next two seasons. He quietly shot the ball well and made better decisions this past season. If he can stay consistent and get better on defense, he could get a cup of coffee.

Themus Fulks is a high-level offensive organizer, but at 6’1”, he’s not much of a defender, and he’s never been the most willing shooter.

Los Angeles Lakers

Two-Way:
-Peter Suder
-AK Okereke

Exhibit-10:
-Chase Ross
-William Kyle III
-Robbie Avila
-Robert McCray V

Summer League:
-Jacari White

Peter Suder came in at 76th on my final board. He’s a powerfully built combo guard out of Miami-Ohio who really knows how to play. He’s a savvy, polished orchestrator who slung 4.0 APG to 1.9 TOV and hit 42.1% of his threes. Defensively, his physicality and awareness led to him registering a 2.3 STL% and a 1.3 BLK%. His college team nearly ran the table in the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament, and Suder was one of the best players during the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Unfortunately, he had a tougher time at the NBA Combine. Suder is a slow mover who pays extremely upright, so it’s hard for him to maintain advantages once he creates them against better athletes. His 42.1% mark from three this past year also could be fool’s gold; the volume was low, he only hit 73.4% of his free throws, and he was a career 29.8% from deep coming into the year. If he’s a legit lights-out shooter, he could absolutely stick, but I think he’ll need to be that, given his subpar athletic traits.

AK Okereke is a 6’9” late bloomer from Vanderbilt with an intriguing mix of size, skill, and smarts. He can really put it on the floor and fight his way to spots, and he has great vision (2.0 APG to 1.1 TOV). His toughness gets him to the line a lot. Plus, he hit 40% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per 100 possessions. His defensive production took a step back at the high-major level, and he’s a pretty rigid mover. He’s also long been a poor rebounder despite having a strong frame. If he can continue to stretch the floor while improving his mobility, I could see him carving out a roster spot.

Chase Ross ranked 84th on my board. The 6’4” Marquette guard struggled with efficiency on a depleted Marquette team, but I still think he could shine in a bench role someday if things break right. He’s a livewire athlete who thrives at generating steals (3.9 STL%) on defense and bursting into the paint on offense. If he can knock down open jumpers and improve his handle/vision a little bit in the G League, he could be a dude that we see making an impact on an NBA roster down the road.

Robert McCray V finished 90th on my board. He’s a 6’2.75” human highlight reel who can throw down jaw-dropping jams, and he puts those tools to use on defense, too. Offensively, he ran the show for Florida State this past year, tallying a 43.8 AST% that demonstrates the extent of his heliocentrism. The issue, which popped up at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, is that he can over-dribble, and he’ll need to work on adapting to more of an off-ball role at times. William Kyle III is a hard-charging 6’9” big man who finished his college career at Syracuse. He’s a big-time athlete who always finished near the top of the dunks leaderboard. Defensively, his agility and bounce make him a high-level shot blocker (9.6 BLK%), but he can also switch out on the perimeter. Kyle is a bit short and a bit skinny, which could create issues for him at the NBA level. He’s an okay but inconsistent passer, and he’s not a shooter, so he’s a 4/5 tweener for now.

Robbie Avila is more than a meme. The 6’10” big from Saint Louis is a genius passer and a killer shooter for his height (41% from three on 4.6 attempts per game). The issue is that he’s not strong, bouncy, or quick enough to have a defined position on defense. Right now, he’s too easy to shoot over inside and not nimble enough to guard on the perimeter. If he gets faster or more powerful, he could find a route down the road. Jacari White is a 6’3” sharpshooter. He hit 41.3% of his threes over the course of four D-I seasons. He’ll need to grow as a defender and playmaker to generate more traction, though.

Memphis Grizzlies

Two-Way Contract:
-Carson Cooper

Exhibit-10:
-Zach Cleveland

Summer League:
-Brendan Hausen
-Jestin Porter

Carson Cooper (97th on my board) is a 6’11” big man who has a ton of rim gravity. He rolls to the basket hard and has the bounce to finish above the rim. He tallied 51 dunks last season while ranking in the 91st percentile as a roller on Synergy. Plus, he’s a decent passer who hit 78.8% of his free throws, so perimeter expansion could be on the table here. Defensively, Cooper lacks polish. His 4.8 BLK% is perplexing on the surface for a player with his size, power, and bounce, and when you put on the tape, it becomes clear that his positioning in ball-screen defense needs a lot of work. If he can become more impactful on that end, he could definitely find a traditional roster spot down the road.

Zach Cleveland is a 6’7” wing from Liberty with a point-forward skill set. He registered a ridiculous 35.7 AST% for the Flames while acting as their primary offensive hub. He can facilitate from the nail or generate offense out of a ball screen. Plus, he’s a good athlete who can finish above the rim and create events on defense (2.2 STL%, 4.0 BLK%). Unfortunately, he’s a dreadful shooter. He went a career 4-for-36 from three and shot 53.1% at the charity stripe last year. I’m skeptical of him thriving in an off-ball role, as he went quiet during the Portsmouth Invitational and G League Combine games. If he can figure out a gadget player role, though, his playmaking and feel could allow him to thrive.

Brendan Hausen is a 6’4” sharpshooter who drilled 38.3% of his college threes. When I saw him behind closed doors during his pre-draft process, he had more point guard stuff than I expected to see in his game, too. He’s coming off a rough year at Iowa, and his defensive output has long been limited, so he’ll need to put last year in the past and grow on the other end of the floor. Jestin Porter is a 6’1” guard who brings heaps of defensive nastiness (2.8 STL%, 1.1 BLK%), but we’ve never seen him act as a lead initiator, and he’s been inconsistent as a scorer over the years.

Miami Heat

Two-Way:
-Tre Donaldson

Exhibit-10:
-Keyshawn Hall
-J’Vonne Hadley
-Tre White

Summer League:
-Ezra Ausar
-Nate Kingz
-Meechie Johnson Jr.
-Arnas Sakenis

Tre Donaldson is a 6’0.5” guard from Miami (FL) who had a good pre-draft process. He’s well put together at 205.8 pounds. He’s also a real-deal point guard who organized the offense for the Hurricanes this year while posting a 29.6 AST%. Plus, he can stretch the floor, as evident by his 37.7% mark from three-point range. On top of that, he can get downhill pretty well, he’s a solid finisher, and he can drill mid-range jumpers when necessary. He’s always been a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, and I’ve never really bought into his defensive output. However, if there’s anyone who can help him take a leap, it’s the Heat.

Keyshawn Hall (63rd on my board) is a bulky, 227-pound, 6’6” wing with dribble-pass-shoot upside. He can really put it on the floor, he’s a solid passer (14.9 AST%), and he sank 37.9% of his threes on good volume. Defensively, he can use his body to make people uncomfortable, and he’s a good rebounder. There will need to be a massive adjustment to his offensive approach. Hall can be a big-time ball stopper. If he can operate with more of a “.5” approach, I think he’s off to the races. If not, I could see him driving an NBA coach nuts, especially when accounting for his defensive inconsistencies. Tre White slotted 71st on my board. I love the shooting and toughness the 6’5.25” wing from Kansas brings to the table. He hit 40.3% of his threes and 87.2% of his free throws this past year. He’s also a tenacious driver with serious bounce who can finish above the rim and get in on the offensive glass. Defensively, he’s a handful to deal with at the point of attack. His feel is lacking, though. He never had more assists than turnovers, and he’s never been a disruptive defender because the timing just isn’t there. If those things come along, he could be a valuable bench player. J’Vonne Hadley is a 6’6.5” player from Louisville who checks a lot of boxes. He’s a solid defender, a decent rebounder, a clever passer (1.8 APG to 0.9 TOV), and he made his threes on low volume this season (44% on 2.5 attempts per game). His low-volume nature from deep and run-of-the-mill athleticism means he’ll have to get more threes up and hit them with good consistency in order to rise up the ranks.

Nate Kingz is an intriguing combo guard from Syracuse. He made 40.1% of his threes in two D-I seasons, he’s a solid decision maker, and he has serious above-the-rim bounce. He’s pretty disruptive defensively, too. He’s never been much of a rebounder, and his physicality needs to come along. Ezra Ausar sits on the other end of that spectrum. He’s a big, imposing athlete who bodies people up on defense and can finish in the open floor. Skill-wise, the 6’9” powerhouse has a long way to go, as he’s always posted negative assist-to-turnover marks and has yet to prove he can space the floor. Meechie Johnson Jr. is a guard who bounced between Ohio State and South Carolina. He grew into a real point guard last season while showing a new brand of physical, downhill basketball. He likes to shoot a lot of threes, but he’s never hit them consistently enough to really pop. Arnas Sakenis is a towering big man from Southern Illinois. He had an 11.0 BLK% and a 12.1 ORB%, so he’s long done some of the classic center stuff well. He’s not the most agile mover, and his ball skills are just decent.

Milwaukee Bucks

Two-Way Contract:
-Rafael Castro

Summer League:
-Boopie Miller

Rafael Castro is one of my favorite undrafted pickups, ranking 43rd on my board. I can understand why he ended up here. Castro came from a mid-major program in an era where mid-majors are depleted. He’s undersized for a big man at 6’9” with a 7’1.5” wingspan and a slender 224.4-pound frame. Plus, he’s not a shooter. Still, I think he’s a great bet to provide a positive impact at some point. He’s a hyper-disruptive defender (7.6 BLK%, 3.7 STL%), a blur in the open floor, and a rugged rebounder (11.8 ORB%, 26.5 DRB%). Castro has a rare level of speed for a center, he’s bouncy, and he plays ridiculously hard. Plus, he’s got some skill to him. He was a hub for George Washington at times, showing an ability to put it on the floor and sling it on the move. I think there’s a world where Castro emerges as a Paul Reed-type event creator/”make stuff happen” guy.

Boopie Miller was an excellent college point guard for SMU, draining threes, getting to the line, and organizing the offense at a high level. At 5’11.25” with a negative wingspan and a 161.4-pound frame, defensive and physical questions are prevalent.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Summer League:
-Devin McGlockton
-Toby Harris
-Aidan Mahaney

Devin McGlockton is a bruising 6’7” four-man with a 7’1” wingspan out of Vanderbilt. He’s long been one of the best offensive rebounders at his position, and he can be disruptive on defense at times, too. His inconsistency as a shooter and passer has limited his buzz. Toby Harris is a 6’8” sniper from Iona. He sank 41.1% of his threes on 6.8 attempts per game in his lone D-I season. While his size helps him stay in front on defense, he wasn’t disruptive, which is concerning given the level of competition he faced, and his offensive processing needs to come along. Given his late-blooming profile, the hope is that he can figure those things out with more high-level reps. Aidan Mahaney is a 6’3” scoring guard from UCSB who drilled 38.5% of his threes on high volume this past year while posting a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s a lackluster defender and athlete, so he’ll need to make strides on that end of the floor.

New Orleans Pelicans

Exhibit-10:
-Melvin Council Jr.
-Chris Bell

Summer League:
-Shawn Phillips Jr.
-Dominique Daniels Jr.

Undisclosed:
-Solomon Washington
-Jordan RIley

Melvin Council Jr. is a controlled, poised orchestrator from Kansas. He had a 28.8 AST% and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. He can create for others, and he knows how to do so without biting off more than he can chew. His long arms (6’9.25” wingspan) help him to act as a disruptive force on defense (career 2.6 STL%, 1.5 BLK%). Unfortunately, he’s long struggled at putting the ball in the basket. He went 39.2% from the field this past season, and his career 29.1% mark from long range makes it tough to believe in his jumper. If he’s not a threat to score, the value of his playmaking could be depleted.

Chris Bell is a lights-out shooter who hit 40% of his threes last season while taking 11.6 attempts per 100 possessions. He also showed a willingness to take contact when he attacked this year, leading to a .360 Free Throw Rate that’s higher than you typically find from a high-volume gunner. Bell’s impact in other areas is muted, though. He’s just okay defensively and held back by a skinny frame. His assist-to-turnover mark was wildly underwater, too. If the decision-making and body ever come along, a team may have something with him.

Shawn Phillips Jr. is a seven-footer out of Missouri who finishes everything (68.3 FG%) and puts a lid on the rim (9.0 BLK%). He’s a poor free-throw shooter who had a dreadful assist-to-turnover ratio, though. Dominique Daniels Jr. is a 5’10” bucket getter from Cal Baptist with a ridiculous mid-range bag and a crafty interior scoring game. He’s only a career 31.6% shooter from deep, and he’s not the most polished playmaker.

Solomon Washington is a 6’6.25” defender with a 7’0.5” wingspan and a 240-pound frame. His technique and size make him a nightmare to deal with at the point of attack, but his offensive output leaves a lot to be desired. Jordan Riley is a 6’3.5” combo guard with a 6’10” wingspan and jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism. He also posted a 3.0 STL% and a 1.5 BLK% in a high-usage role, so there’s two-way potential. He’s not a good shooter, though, and that will have to change for him to make headway.

New York Knicks

Summer League:
-Oziyah Sellers

Oziyah Sellers is a 6’5” wing who hit just under 38% of his threes during his college tenure. I also thought he made important strides where necessary at St. John’s this past season, playing with a greater degree of defensive assertiveness while demonstrating improved passing feel. His interior scoring, physicality, and defense still need to improve, though.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Two-Way:
-Josh Dix

Exhibit-10:
-Nate Johnson
-Lamar Wilkerson
-Christoph Tilly

Summer League:
-Elijah Mahi
-Bryce Harris
-Sam Alexis

Josh Dix is a 6’5” guard from Creighton who can add value on or off the ball. He’s a menace pulling up in the mid-range and from three, but he’s also comfortable as a catch-and-shoot target. As a career 38.5% shooter from deep, he’s a good bet to space the floor. He’s a really steady playmaker, too (2.3 APG to 1.2 TOV). My concern with Dix is that I worry he’s not athletic/physical enough for his jack-of-all-trades skill set to shine. That said, he was a well-regarded prospect coming into the year, and this could prove to be a savvy “buy low” move given that Creighton wasn’t an ideal context this season, which may have suppressed his production.

Nate Johnson was 82nd on my final board. The Kansas product is 6’2.5” with a 6’7” wingspan and an awesome 217-pound frame. He’s a physically imposing defender who gets a ton of takeaways (3.7 STL%). He also sank 40.8% of his threes this past season. Johnson’s on-ball scoring and playmaking can be up and down, but he fits the “switchblade guard” archetype that I so dearly love and that we routinely see on playoff rosters. Lamar Wilkerson from Indiana ranked 74th on my board. My concern is that at a bit over 6’3”, he lacks the on-ball creation juice and size that could slot him into the dreaded “not quite wing” mold that doesn’t hold much value. Still, he has a strong frame, he shoots the cover off the ball, and he has some toughness on the defensive end. Christoph Tilly is a 7’0” big from Ohio State. He’s not a great athlete, which limits his output on the defensive end, and he’s never quite found consistency from deep. That said, he’s a very smart, skilled facilitator (career 16.1 AST%), so if he can grow on either of those fronts, he could carve out a role.

Elijah Mahi finished 67th on my board and was worthy of a two-way in my book. The 6’7” wing from Santa Clara can really create. He has an awesome mix of power and dribble moves that enable him to get to spots, draw fouls, and collapse defenses before finding open teammates. While he can be heavy-footed and his defense comes and goes, he did improve on that side of the floor this past season. If Mahi can adapt a “.5” style, continue to grow on defense, and find consistency from long range, I think he could be a home run pickup. That sounds like a lot, but it’s worth the swing given his rare mix of size, strength, skill, and savvy.

Bryce Harris is a 6’4” combo guard from Howard who is built like a tank. He’s a suffocating, savvy defender (2.1 STL%, 3.6 BLK%) who is a chore to deal with both on and off the ball. He’s awesome on the glass, too. He doesn’t move super well, and his shot has been up and down over the years. But it wouldn’t shock me if the OKC developmental system gets him cooking. Sam Alexis is a long four-man from Indiana who can disrupt plays on defense, finish inside, and has some passing craft. He’s undersized for a five, though, and he’s struggled to maintain success from deep.

Orlando Magic

Exhibit-10:
-Malik Reneau

Summer League:
-Mike Sharavjamts

Malik Reneau is an inside-out forward who can bully people inside and hit the occasional three. He’s also a hard-nosed rebounder who can throw some slick passes. Unfortunately, for every good pass, it feels like there’s a bad one (2.8 TOV to 2.1 APG), and he’s sort of a 4/5 tweener on defense. If Reneau’s off-ball engagement on defense can develop while he continues to grow as a shooter, there might be something here.

Mike Sharavjamts is a 6’8” dribble-pass-shoot threat with a level of skill and feel not often found in someone with his length. He still needs to get stronger and play with a greater level of defensive engagement.

Philadelphia 76ers

Exhibit-10:
-Duke Miles

Summer League:
-Amani Lyles
-Javontae Campbell
-Isaac Johnson

Duke Miles slotted 94th on my board, though other smart people who I trust thought he could be a standard contract guy. He’s a bruising downhill guard (.490 FTr) and an intelligent passer (27.4 AST%) who got a boatload of steals (5.0 STL%). If you value the possession battle, which you should, the appeal is clear. My concern is that Vanderbilt’s system juiced his production, and that as a 175-pound 24-year-old, what he did as an older college player in that system won’t be scalable to an NBA floor. Still, on an E-10, it’s well worth kicking the tires.

Amani Lyles is a 6’8” four-man with a 7’0” wingspan who stuffed the stat sheet for Akron last year. He can bully his way to buckets inside, shoot a little bit, battle on the boards, and make opponents deal with his physicality on defense. His passing feel and handle are limited, which is troublesome given the level of competition he faced last year. That said, his breakout shooting season leads me to wonder if he could be a late bloomer who still has some untapped potential. Javontae Campbell is my favorite type of Summer League swing. He’s a short guard from Bowling Green who never shot the three particularly well, but he’s an outlier because of his ridiculous defense. His back-to-back seasons with a steal rate over five are not something you find very often. There’s a Jose Alvarado dream one can latch onto here. Isaac Johnson is a seven-footer from Hawaii whose polished drop coverage defense made their team one of the toughest to score against in college hoops last season. He’s also a hard-nosed offensive rebounder and a willing three-point shooter, which is a valuable intersection of skills. At nearly 26 years old, he’ll need to be a knockdown guy quickly in order to get over the NBA hurdle.

Phoenix Suns

Exhibit-10:
-Corey Camper Jr.
-Sam Hoiberg

Corey Camper Jr. from Nevada came in at 96th on my board. He’s slender at 181 pounds, and at 6’5” with a barely positive wingspan, he’s a bit small for a wing. That said, he’s got some great perimeter traits. He sank 46.4% of his threes spotting up, 40.9% of his threes in transition, and 37.2% of his threes off screens, per Synergy. For a guy who can really shoot it, he also gets downhill pretty well and can read the floor (2.7 APG to 1.2 TOV). As a 23-year-old coming from a mid-major without good positional size, there are fair questions to be asked about how he’ll scale up.

Sam Hoiberg picked up a lot of steam this past year. He was a key part of Nebraska’s rise up the college basketball ranks. He takes good care of the ball, generates a ton of steals (3.7 STL%), and puts a lot of pressure on the rim (62.3% at the basket in the halfcourt, per Synergy). At 6’0”, he’ll have to overcome size concerns and become a more willing shooter, but the requisite toughness and feel are present.

Portland Trail Blazers

Exhibit-10:
-Barry Dunning Jr.

Barry Dunning Jr. is a 6’6” prospect out of Pittsburgh who checks a lot of boxes. He’s a great rebounder, he can make things happen on defense (1.4 STL%, 3.3 BLK%), and he’s grown as a shooter over the years. The issue is that his feel and timing as a playmaker hit some road bumps when he went back to the high-major level. He still needs to get more comfortable as a decision maker while continuing to iron out his consistency from beyond the arc.

Sacramento Kings

Exhibit-10:
-BJ Edwards

Summer League:
-Marquel Sutton
-Elias Ralph
-Anthony Dell’Orso

BJ Edwards is a well-rounded 6’3” guard from SMU. He hit 37.2% of his threes, slung 4.9 APG to only 1.9 TOV, and his persistent defensive effort led to a 4.0 STL%. Offensively, he can be a bit contact-averse, and his three-point percentages have varied over the years while being lower on the volume spectrum for a guard. If Edwards can become a more prolific shooter while ironing out the consistency, he could stick.

Marquel Sutton is a powerful 6’8” forward who wrapped up his college career at LSU. He’s an interior bruiser on offense and a two-way force on the glass. That said, his off-ball defense is inconsistent, and his offensive perimeter game has a long way to go as a shooter and passer. He’s a solid G League flier given his physicality, size, and toughness. Elias Ralph is a 6’7” wing from Pacific who hit 40.9% of his threes and got after it on the glass. His negative assist-to-turnover ratio is concerning, though. Anthony Dell’Orso is a jack-of-all-trades wing who spent the last two years at Arizona. He’s wiry and tough, and his feel has improved over the years. He just needs to shoot it with more consistency.

San Antonio Spurs

Summer League:
-Tyon Grant-Foster
-Miles Barnstable
-Harry Wessels

Tyon Grant-Foster is an electric wing athlete who had a 2.8 STL% and 5.3 BLK% over the course of his D-I career. He’s a hyper-disruptive defender and a serious threat in the open floor. He’s long struggled with shooting (26.2% from three) and playmaking (1.2 APG to 1.4 TOV), which is concerning given that he’s already 26. Miles Barnstable is a 6’2” guard from Tulsa who can shoot the cover off the ball. He hit over 40% of his threes on high volume last season. His playmaking and defense still need to develop, though. The 7’1” Harry Wessels is another great talent in the Australia-to-St. Mary’s pipeline. He’s a monster on the offensive glass and a reliable defensive anchor, but his ball skills aren’t quite where one would hope, and he’s more of a back-to-the-basket guy than a face-up player.

Toronto Raptors

Exhibit-10:
-Nate Bittle
-Nimari Burnett

Summer League:
-Jalen Celestine
-Malik Thomas

Nate Bittle slotted 53rd on my board, so he’s killer value on an E-10. The Oregon big man is massive, standing 6’11.5” with a 7’6” wingspan at nearly 254 pounds. He has prototypical drop coverage big size, and he knows how to use it, taking wise angles in ball-screen defense to limit clean looks and collect blocks (career 7.8 BLK%). Offensively, he’s a skilled top-of-the-key orchestrator (19.7 AST%) and a willing shooter, though not the most consistent one. Bittle is heavy-footed and lacks bounce, making him a below-the-rim interior finisher. His athletic concerns mean that he’ll probably need the three-ball to actualize to find a rotation spot, but he’s the type of guy I’d spend a two-way on. Nimari Burnett will turn 25 during his rookie season, but the 6’4.5” wing from Michigan can shoot it, finish above the rim, and make good decisions. Defensively, he’s fine at the point of attack, but doesn’t bring much off the ball. The hope is that the plug-and-play role he thrived in for Michigan will continue to work at the next level.

Jalen Celestine is a 6’6” sniper who hit over 40% of his threes for Cincinnati this past season. He’s a solid shoot-it-and-move-it player. He’s yet to show much inside the arc, and his defense is just okay, which is troubling given that he’ll turn 25 during the season. Malik Thomas is a 6’5” multi-level scorer out of Virginia. His defense didn’t scale particularly well from San Francisco to the ACC, and he’s never been the most willing passer.

Utah Jazz

Exhibit-10:
-Micah Handlogten
-Jaxon Kohler

Summer League:
-Mohamed Wague

Micah Handlogten was a great sneaky pickup by the Jazz. A quick look at his stat sheet may raise questions, as he only scored 4.1 PPG in his senior year, but I think there’s a Dylan Cardwell “oh wow, this all just works at the next level” outcome on the table for him. He played a limited role in one of the nation’s best frontcourts at Florida, but the 7’1” big man is an elite offensive rebounder, a solid defensive mover, and a rock-solid passer. He’s long been dreadful at the free-throw line, so he’ll need to get better there.

Jaxon Kohler ranked 98th on my board. The idea is that the Michigan State four-man provides a coveted intersection of shooting (38.9% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game) and offensive rebounding (12.8 ORB%). Where it gets dicey is that he’s a 4/5 tweener defensively with heavy feet and lackluster lift, and he’s not the best passer, either. If Kohler can get his body to a point where he’s sliding his feet well on the perimeter, and if he can improve his passing, he could be a worthwhile NBA roster member in time.

Mohamed Wague is a 6’10” big man from Oklahoma. He’s a great mover with a solid frame who disrupts on defense (2.0 STL%, 7.5 BLK%) and owns the offensive glass (17.5 ORB%). His playmaking is just alright, he gambles a lot on defense, and he’s very foul-prone. If he can refine some of his tendencies, there could be a deep rotation action player type outcome on the table.

Washington Wizards

Exhibit-10:
-Seth Trimble
-KeShawn Murphy

Summer League:
-John Camden

Seth Trimble is a 6’1.5” defensive menace from North Carolina. He has a 6’7” wingspan and a 200.6-pound frame. When you factor in his dogged approach to the game, he plays much bigger than his listed height. He often took on the toughest matchup for UNC, even when it was further up the positional spectrum than you’d think. He killed the athletic testing at the NBA Combine, which wasn’t a surprise given how well he gets into the paint and elevates at the rim. He’s never been a polished playmaker or shooter, so the offense may simply be too far away. But I had him 62nd on my final board because I’m terrified to bet against his tools and tenacity.

KeShawn Murphy from Auburn is sort of like if Oso Ighodaro were hefty and strong instead of super mobile. He’s a bruising rebounder who makes opponents work through his frame on the defensive end. Offensively, he’s a skilled passer. He’s not a floor spacer yet, and he’s likely too ground-bound to be an NBA five-man. The hope is that his smarts and budding skill set could lead to him being a viable mismatch four down the road.

John Camden is a 6’8” shoot-it-and-move-it forward who hit 39.5% of his threes while posting a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio at Cal this past season. His big, sturdy frame helps him to contain the ball on defense. Athletic limitations are present here, so he’ll need to continue to maximize what he does have.

The John Butler Award

Every year, I present the John Butler Award to one player. This goes to the undrafted player who is highest on my board without a deal at press time.

Past winners

2022: John Butler

2023: JT Shumate

2024: Spencer Jones

2025: Viktor Lakhin

This Year’s Winner is…

KASHIE NATT!

This is a tricky one, as Kashie Natt is still trying to get a waiver to play college basketball at Oklahoma State next season. I can’t provide too much insight as to where that process stands, but given that he played four full college seasons, I’m not optimistic. Still, I’d be all over him if I were an NBA team. He was one of the top two-way contract targets on my board, coming in at 44th overall.

Natt is a 6’3” switchblade guard. He is an outlier rebounder for his position (9.3 ORB%, 23.5 DRB%). He’s a hyper-active defensive playmaker (4.3 STL%, 2.1 BLK%). He puts a ton of pressure on the rim and can finish above it. He also took decent care of the ball and shot it well (38.3% from three). The bearish case against Natt is that he was a 23-year-old playing at Sam Houston State in a non-primary offensive role. I get it, but I’d always prefer to bet on the outliers. Natt is physical, athletic, tenacious, and while I wouldn’t rave about his skill level, I think he knows how to play the exact role he’d be asked to play in the NBA. Plus, this is a super valuable type of player to have. Unathletic offensive organizers, undersized fives, and pretty good shooters who don’t offer much else are dime-a-dozen. Switchblade guards aren’t, and it’s no coincidence that the league’s best teams often feature at least one player in this mold. Front offices, get on this!