Top NBA undrafted free agents that could end up being gems.
The NBA Draft is far from the be-all and end-all of a young player’s career. Undrafted players producing at a high level is nothing new to the NBA, as numerous players that highlight the league’s premier talent weren’t selected in the top 60.
Houston’s Christian Wood, Toronto’s Fred VanVleet, Portland’s Robert Covington, Miami’s Kendrick Nunn, and Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort highlight the league’s current collection of undrafted talent.
Of course, one can’t speak on the league’s undrafted players without first bringing up 4-time DPOY Ben Wallace, Miami’s All-Time rebounder Udonis Haslem, 1994 All-Star John Starks, as well as Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, and Avery Johnson.
The 2021 Draft went deeper than most, offering quality selections for teams picking in the second round, not to mention a number of mid-to-late first-round picks falling and rising considerably, leaving a large group of projected mid-to-late second-round picks to see the night through without their names being called.
Amongst those undrafted players, here are some to watch out for.
Best undrafted NBA prospects: Mac McClung – Texas Tech
Spending the 2018-19, and 2019-20 seasons at Georgetown, followed by a one-year stint at Texas Tech, Mac McClung’s entry to the league has been anything but smooth. Suffering a foot injury in his sophomore season at Georgetown, McClung’s output was held to only 21 games, where the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 15.7 and 2.4.
His 2020-21 season with Texas Tech was more of the same, minus the injuries, with McClung posting nightly averages of a nearly identical 15.5 and 2.1, yet with shooting splits from the floor and from beyond the arc improving by more than two percent each.
Signing a training camp deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, McClung’s role isn’t exactly carved out, with the majority of the Lakers’ playmaking duties being managed by LeBron James or Russell Westbrook.
However, with the remainder of the Lakers’ guards being unrestricted free agents, Los Angeles may just be in need of a reserve guard. This training camp deal may be just what Mac McClung needs to get his feet wet and prove his worth in one of the NBA’s most storied cities.
Best undrafted NBA prospects: Joel Ayayi – Gonzaga
Joel Ayayi’s 6-foot-5 frame, combined with some solid athleticism and explosiveness made him a consistent scorer during his three seasons at Gonzaga, the third, and last of which, being his most well-rounded.
Despite his height, Ayayi pulled down 6.9 rebounds, to go with 12 points and 2.7 assists per game. What is more impressive, however, is the steady improvement Ayayi showed in his offensive efficiency, improving his shooting splits from 53/27/28 in 2019 to 57/39/78 this past season. He has shown flashes of promise in at-the-rim finishes, but that skill is likely to shrink against the more experienced and rugged competition in the pros.
The Lakers signed the former Bulldog to a two-way contract within minutes of the draft’s conclusion, penning him in for at least a handful of games with the Lakers, with a considerable run in the G-League to be expected.
Rebounding and length at the one or two spots are always welcome, especially with a much-improved 3-point shot. Whether Ayayi’s steady improvement can be attributed to practice and dedication, the masterful playmaking of Jalen Suggs, or a little bit of both, Ayayi will likely hone his solid guard skills with time as a South Bay Laker, or with any number of the G-League’s squads.
Best undrafted NBA prospects: Aaron Henry – Michigan State
Michigan State’s Aaron Henry, having spent three seasons as a Spartan, showed substantial improvement throughout his tenure. Henry hiked his per-game averages from 6.1, 3.8, 1.6 in 2019 to 15.4, 5.6, and 3.6 in 2021. Even better was Aaron Henry’s improvement on the defensive end. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 1.3 steals and blocks per game in his 2021 campaign over 28 games.
Plain and simple, as Henry’s minutes grew, so too did his output on both ends of the floor. While his shooting splits leave something to be desired, his raw physical gifts and defensive awareness make him a project that many teams would be willing to take on.
Many teams, of course, are the Philadelphia 76ers. Not a minute after the final pick had been made, Philly had negotiated and agreed to a two-way deal with Aaron Henry. It is unlikely that Henry sees substantial time for the 76ers during the season, most likely due to the fact that Philadephia seems to have acquired yet another defensive wing that lacks a reliable outside shot.
While Henry may indeed be a defensive-minded player in need of some shooting improvements, there is no better place than the G-League to improve and hone skills that are necessary for today’s game.
Best undrafted NBA prospects: McKinley Wright – Colorado
Following the draft-day trade of Ricky Rubio to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Taurean Prince and other assets, the Minnesota Timberwolves could certainly become a 10-game home for Colorado’s McKinley Wright. The 22-year old senior’s production across four seasons was very consistent, playing to the tune of approximately 14.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
Wright played in 131 games for the Buffaloes, starting all but one of them. In 32.5 minutes per game, McKinley Wright displays a well-rounded guard skillset, being able to distribute and score at a respectable level. While a 30 percent clip from deep in his senior year may first appear to be an outlier, his college career average sat at 33 percent on 3.1 attempts per game.
Shooting often comes with time, but with the tenure of a 4-year collegiate athlete, the consistent outside shot may be far more necessary than with a younger prospect.
Minnesota grabbed up McKinley Wright soon after the draft concluded, signing him to a two-way contract. What Wright lacks in his 6-foot frame, he more than makes up for in defensive intensity and speed. Named to the PAC-12 All-Defensive, Wright can penetrate, distribute, and defend at a level that NBA front-offices are bound to appreciate, his 33 percent outside jumper likely to be labeled a weakness to focus on rather than an Achilles heel.
In the coming days, it is likely that a handful of more undrafted players sign Exhibit-10, Two-Way, and Training Camp Deals as teams look to fill out or shake up their current rosters.