Virginia Cavaliers Basketball: Can London Perrantes make an NBA roster this season?

Can undrafted rookie London Perrantes become the fifth former Virginia Cavalier to play in the NBA in 2017-18 or he will end up playing elsewhere?

Former Virginia Cavalier London Perrantes will have a chance to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA. Perrantes, who went undrafted in the 2017 draft, signed a one-year partially guaranteed contract with the San Antonio Spurs on Aug. 23, per Mike Scotto of Basketball Insiders.

Perrantes is one of 18 players currently under contract with the Spurs for the 2017-18 season, with the team officially signing 40-year-old guard Manu Ginobili on Thursday. San Antonio could add two more players prior to training camp.

Perrantes finished his four-year career at Virginia near the top in several categories. The 6’2″ point guard tops the Cavaliers’ all-time list in games (138) and minutes played (4,425). He is also second in three-point percentage (40.9%), fourth in assists (569), fifth in free throw percentage (81.2%), and sixth in three-pointers made (211). He also ranks 33rd with 1,225 points. Perrantes is the only player in UVA history to win a NCAA Tournament game in four straight seasons.

Perrantes had a solid senior campaign, though his numbers were slightly down from a wonderful junior season. The 2016-17 All-ACC second team selection averaged a career-high 12.7 points to go along with 3.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game last season. He shot 45.3% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc.

While he went undrafted, Perrantes was an intriguing enough prospect to get workouts with several teams heading up to the league’s main amateur event. He ultimately ended up joining the Miami Heat for the NBA Summer League, where Perrantes averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in six games. However, he shot just 39.2% from the field and 26.1% from beyond the arc.

Perrantes likely has an uphill climb to make San Antonio’s 15-man roster as the Spurs appear set in the backcourt. Tony Parker is the starter at the point and it is a given that Patty Mills will be the backup. Danny Green will start at the two and will be backed up by Ginobili while combo guards Dejounte Murray and Derrick White are also guaranteed roster spots. The Spurs made Murray and White first round picks in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Versatile youngster Kyle Anderson will also likely make the squad.

Rookie center Matt Costello (Michigan State) and rookie forward Jaron Blossomgame (Clemson) are on two-way contracts with the Spurs, meaning that they will likely spend most of the season with the Austin Toros, the Spurs G-League squad.

That leaves Perrantes battling with Bryn Forbes and Brandon Paul — plus anyone else the team signs –for the final two roster spots. Forbes, who has a partially guaranteed contract, surprisingly made the club last season as an undrafted free agent. Forbes, a former Michigan State Spartan, averaged 2.6 points in 7.9 minutes a game last season for the Spurs.

Paul spent last season in Turkey after being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers in training camp. The 26-year-old played for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2017 Las Vegas Summer League squad, producing 14.3 points, on 47.1% shooting, along with 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 dimes a game. Paul has a fully guaranteed contract, but it is for just over $840,000.

Virginia Cavaliers currently in the NBA

Head coach Tony Bennett has done a fabulous job at turning Virginia into a regular NCAA Tournament team. Bennett has led the Cavaliers to the postseason in six of his first eight seasons in Charlottesville.

The Cavs have made five NCAA Tournament appearances under Bennett, including four straight, reaching the Elite Eight in 2014 — marking the first time that UVA has reached the Elite Eight since 1995. Bennett owns the highest winning percentage in modern era Virginia basketball with a 188-83 (.694) record. He is also second in the modern era in career victories behind legendary coach Terry Holland.

However, Bennett has not been the most successful at producing NBA players. In fact, only 10 players have gone on to play professionally since Bennett came to Virginia from Washington State following the 2008 season. Bennett, who has coached four NBA draft picks at Virginia, had five of his proteges play in the NBA last season.

Here is a look at the four former Cavaliers who could be on an NBA roster this season.

Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks: The 6’5″ shooting guard overcame a second round draft pick distinction to earn 2017 Rookie of the Year honors. Brogdon produced two double-doubles and a triple-double, averaging 10.2 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 45.7% from the floor and 40.4% from beyond the arc.

Justin Anderson, Philadelphia 76ers: Anderson became the first Cavs player to be drafted in the first round since Cory Alexander in 1995 when he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 21st overall selection in 2015. Anderson, who was traded to Philadelphia prior to the trade deadline this year, is a budding 3-and-D type wing. The 23-year-old produced 7.1 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 42.5% from the field in 75 games last season. Anderson left Virginia after his junior season.

Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets: Harris, a second round pick of the Cleveland Cavs in 2014, had his best season of his three-year career in 2016-17. Last year, Harris averaged 8.2 points and 2.8 boards while shooting 42.5% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.

Mike Scott, Washington Wizards: The 6’8″ power forward signed with the Wizards after a poor season with the Atlanta Hawks in 2016-17. Scott, drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft, saw limited action and averaged just 9.2 points and 7.6 boards per 40 minutes last season.

Mike Tobey: Tobey went undrafted in  2016 but ended up spending some time with the Charlotte Hornets last year. The 7’0″ center is now playing for Spanish Club Iberstar Tenerife.

Next: Examining the ACC's recruiting classes

It is never easy for a youngster to make an NBA roster, but Virginia players come to the NBA ready to play tough defense and make the right decisions on the floor. Hopefully, London Perrantes can benefit from the outstanding rookie season of Malcolm Brogdon and find a spot on the Spurs’ roster.