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

1. G McKinley Wright IV, Colorado

McKinley Wright IV never received the respect he deserved on the national level throughout his college career in Boulder. Next, he failed to receive respect from the NBA teams who passed on him in the draft – just another chip on the shoulder.

Wright spent four years at Colorado, developing into a better and better all-around player. As a senior, the guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He hit 84.4 percent of his free throws and made the All-Pac-12 First Team for the third consecutive year.

His ability to pass as a taller guard should be of particular intrigue. He averaged 6.3 assists per 36 minutes last season. Wright also sported a solid 2.68 assist assist-to-turnover ratio, showing that he can create without sacrificing possession.

He’s not a perfect prospect. For starters, Wright will be turning 23 years old around the start of the coming NBA season, the consequence of remaining in college for four years. Additionally, he only hit 30.1 percent of his threes last season, a mark he’ll need to improve on to stick.

Wright has signed a two-way contract with one of the worst franchises in the NBA right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves. That should give him ample opportunity to quickly compete for a roster spot on a team desperate for production.

All five of these players will carry the proverbial chip on their shoulder throughout their careers after being passed up in the NBA Draft. Perhaps some will make it and some won’t, but they should bring plenty of intrigue over the coming weeks and months.