NBA Draft 2021: 5 most intriguing undrafted players to watch going forward

5. F Yves Pons, Tennessee

Keon Johnson was drafted in the first round last Thursday night. So was Jaden Springer. But their college teammate, Yves Pons – the only one among them to win SEC Defensive Player of the Year – was left without a home after 60 picks.

The former Tennessee forward has a bit more tread on his legs at the age 22, but that also makes him better seasoned to make an immediate impact, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. This is a player who averaged 2.4 blocks per game as a junior and 1.8 blocks per game as a senior.

Pons’ defensive intensity is his meal ticket in the league. Despite being slightly undersized for his position, Pons is long and athletic, ready to sacrifice himself for the good of the team. He will need to prove himself more as a rebounder, averaging less than 5.5 boards per game in each of the last two seasons.

His big knock has always been his offensive game and there’s still a ways to go on that end. Last season, he averaged just 8.7 points per game and hit 27.4 percent of his threes, though he improved to 78.9 percent from the free throw line. The year before, he showed potential shooting 34.9 percent from three.

Pons reportedly ended up in an ideal situation with the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that has consistently valued hard-nosed defenders and athletic wings, both of which are in shorter supply than usual for the team that made Tony Allen a household name. He could quickly fill the role of defensive specialist for the franchise.