Each year many talented players surprisingly go undrafted and are left to battle for their NBA futures in Summer League and training camp. Which players were surprisingly left on the board in 2018?
There are only 60 picks in the NBA draft, so inevitably, talented players will be left on the board. Going undrafted is not a death sentence as many undrafted players reach the NBA each season. Some even become high-level starters like Robert Covington,
Here are the five players who were most surprisingly skipped over on draft night. These players have a strong chance of making the NBA, as soon as this season, and some of them have already agreed to summer league deals or even two-way contracts.
Rawle Alkins – Wing, Arizona
Alkins is an athletic wing who plays extremely hard on both sides of the ball. He needs to improve his shooting and reign his aggressiveness in certain situations, but overall he is a strong prospect who was certainly worthy of a second-round selection. Alkins has signed a training camp deal with the Toronto Raptors and will likely join their G-League affiliate if he does not make the team or receive a two-way deal. However, he is talented enough that another team could offer him a roster spot if he plays well in summer league.
Trevon Duval – PG, Duke
Duval is the most well-known player on this list because he was such a highly touted recruit who struggled during his freshman season. Duval was Duke’s starting PG and showed top-notch athleticism and good passing vision, but his shooting and decision-making were major concerns. I thought a team in the late second round would take a flier on Duval’s upside, but he went undrafted. Duval is playing summer league with the Rockets and this could be a realistic landing spot for him since they will need to fill out the roster with minimum contracts.
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Kenrich Williams – Wing, TCU
Williams is the most surprising undrafted player since his three and D style is a perfect fit for the modern NBA. He is a reliable long-range threat who can play the 3 and the 4. An underrated aspect of William game is his rebounding ability which makes him going undrafted even more puzzling. He is on the Denver Nuggets summer league squad and he could easily make the opening day roster since the Nuggets are facing the luxury tax and need minimum contracts to fill out their perimeter depth.
Wenyen Gabriel – PF, Kentucky
Most people had Gabriel going undrafted, but his game is perfect for the 4 or small ball five position. Gabriel is a long athletic big man who plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He can defend and rebound at a high level, but also can shoot from long-range which makes him such an intriguing prospect. If Gabriel becomes a more consistent shooter, he will absolutely stick in the NBA. He is playing with Sacramento in the summer league and will be in contention for a two-way deal.
Theo Pinson – Wing, UNC
Pinson is probably the least surprising Draft snub, but his defense, playmaking, and versatility make him an appealing prospect. Shooting is a concern, but being able to defend multiple positions (1-3, maybe even 4’s) and serve as a secondary creator is immensely valuable. Pinson has already earned a two-way deal with the Brooklyn Nets and he should fit in with their existing roster and style of play.
Next: 10 undrafted players with most NBA potential
These five players all have a legitimate chance to reach the NBA as an increasing number of undrafted players make NBA rosters each season. This is especially true now that the two-way contract has been implemented. Two-way contracts essentially give teams two extra roster spots and provide more chances for these players to realize their dreams.