Every year, only 60 players get picked in the NBA draft. That’s 60 players versus a multitude of that number in NBA hopefuls. And if you consider the NBA draft picks being the main and only game in town that decides on the future of the NBA, you might be mistaken. The world of unrestricted and restricted free-agents might be just as exciting and vibrant and, more importantly, decisive in the NBA power rankings. There could be many reasons why someone is or has become a free-agent, unpicked in the draft, released by a team due to rebuilding purposes, salary cap issues, but being a free-agent does not diminish someone’s value in the market.
Free-agents revelations
Take the Toronto Raptors for example, who without undrafted point guard Fred VanVleet would have not been able to win the 2019 NBA finals without him. And Fred VanVleet is not the only undrafted free-agent who has proven his value in the 2018-19 season. Think of Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard, Kevon Looney, Jimmy Butler, and DeMarcus Cousins making their mark, all used to be free-agents. In the case of Kawhi Leonard, his ultimate decision to go to the LA Clippers as a free-agent has really kept the fans and media glued to their NBA sites and twitter.
Free-agents Mishaps
That’s not to say that free-agents always turn out to be smart investments. For all the free-agents proving to be absolute bargains for value, there are equally as many (and even more) free-agents who turn out to be bad investments, period. The likes of Harrison Barnes, Bobby Portis, Trevor Ariza all, with the 2018-19 done and dusted, all turn out to be a bad free-agent investment. But that is what the game is all about. Some investments turn out to be decisive players that make your season, other players turn out to be a weight on your salary cap.
Jontay Porter
And as the 2019-20 season draws clearer, there are a few undrafted players who should be on anyone’s radar. All with the capability to either become the best new find or an expensive gamble. We are talking about Jontay Porter, Missouri, for example. At 6’11, Porter has good size for a forward in the NBA and also has displayed some shooting touch from the outside, knocking them down at 36.4 percent on a decent rate of attempts.
Terence Davis
Then there is Terence Davis, Ole Miss. After playing four years for the Rebels, Terence Davis went undrafted despite being the second-leading scorer for an Ole Miss squad that made the NCAA tournament. With his defensive capabilities and shooting ability from three-point range, Davis should be able to get some minutes on an NBA roster.
Zach Norvell, Jr.
Another one to watch is Zach Norvell Jr., Gonzaga. Norvell signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers once the draft ended, which is excellent news for Lakers fans. Given Norwell’s role as part of Gonzaga’s Big 3 alongside the first-round pick Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke, it was surprising not to hear his name called on draft night.
If any of these players gets picked up, it would be interesting to see how they fare. Chances are that at least one of them will prove the value of a free-agent again.