Hidden Gems That Might Go Undrafted

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By now, the annual draft thread would usually be keeping many of us busy. But, this year it's on page 2 instead, because we don't have a pick this year -- neither a R1 pick nor a R2 pick. Yet, we would seem to be in a perfect spot to add a young player or 2 (or 3). We have only 6 players under contract -- and that's counting Bradley Beal.

Every year, a few guys come into the league undrafted, and some of them turn into outstanding players. It's a long shot, but it beats being painted into a corner!

So... who are those guys this year? Lets hear from you.

CCJ is our resident guru on this subject, and he's already mentioned more than one guy. Please bring those players up again here, CCJ.

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I'll get us started -- what does anyone here think about George Mason Center Shevon Thompson? http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Shevon-Thompson-87020/stats/

[Ruzious]

Antonio Campbell of Ohio in the Mid American Conference. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Antonio-Campbell-78328/stats/

He's declared for the draft, but last I hear had not hired and agent.

[Ruzious]

And Josh Hart - who played so well for Villanova in the Tournament. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Hart-7149/ He's also declared but has not hire an agent.

[80sballboy]

I'll get us started -- what does anyone here think about George Mason Center Shevon Thompson? http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Shevon-Thompson-87020/stats/

I watched him play at Towson. He's big (6-10, 240?), pretty athletic but seemed motivated about half the time. Has some good defensive qualities. He should have dominated (Towson had a 6-7 center) but didn't. Probably needs a year or two overseas or in the D-League.

[80sballboy]

Here's a few possible undrafted guys I like:
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/danuel-house

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/kahlil-felder


http://www.nbadraft.net/players/devin-thomas

[closg00]

Come-PIF, you know Ernie's SOP, he doesn't look to discover hidden gems or possible talent-upgrades, he will wait to see which vets are available on the cheap after the FA scramble is over. Sure, we may be enticed or surprised by camp/SL invite, but those guys seldom have any real chance of making the Wizards.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

By now, the annual draft thread would usually be keeping many of us busy. But, this year it's on page 2 instead, because we don't have a pick this year -- neither a R1 pick nor a R2 pick. Yet, we would seem to be in a perfect spot to add a young player or 2 (or 3). We have only 6 players under contract -- and that's counting Bradley Beal.

Every year, a few guys come into the league undrafted, and some of them turn into outstanding players. It's a long shot, but it beats being painted into a corner!

So... who are those guys this year? Lets hear from you.

CCJ is our resident guru on this subject, and he's already mentioned more than one guy. Please bring those players up again here, CCJ.

I've got a lot of studying up to do on this year's hopefuls.

Here are the names of the players invited to the NBA draft combine:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25578601/nba-draft-combine-list-is-out-does-not-include-lsus-ben-simmons

Here is the full list:

Ron Baker, Wichita State

Wade Baldwin, Vanderbilt

Cat Barber, NC State

Malik Beasley, Florida State

DeAndre Bembry, St. Joseph's

Ben Bentil, Providence

Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson

Joel Bolomboy, Weber State

Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia

Jaylen Brown, California

Robert Carter, Maryland

Marquese Chriss, Washington

Elgin Cook, Oregon

Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma

Deyonta Davis, Michigan State

Cheick Diallo, Kansas

Kris Dunn, Providence

Henry Ellenson, Marquette

Perry Ellis, Kansas

AJ English, Iona

Kay Felder, Oakland

Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida

Michael Gbinije, Syracuse

Daniel Hamilton, Connecticut

AJ Hammons, Purdue

Josh Hart, Villanova

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Brandon Ingram, Duke

Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame

Justin Jackson, North Carolina

Brice Johnson, North Carolina

Damian Jones, Vanderbilt

Skal Labissiere, Kentucky

Dedric Lawson, Memphis

Jake Layman, Maryland

Marcus Lee, Kentucky

Caris LeVert, Michigan

Thon Maker, Orangeville Prep Athletic Institute

Patrick McCaw, UNLV

Isaiah Miles, St. Joseph's

Jamal Murray, Kentucky

Malik Newman, Mississippi State

Georges Niang, Iowa State

Chinanu Onuaku, Louisville

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

Gary Payton II, Oregon State

Jakob Poeltl, Utah

Taurean Prince, Baylor

Zhou Qi, Xinjiang (China)

Malachi Richardson, Syracuse

Wayne Selden, Kansas

Pascal Siakam, New Mexico State

Diamond Stone, Maryland

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

Melo Trimble, Maryland

Tyler Ulis, Kentucky

Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa

Denzel Valentine, Michigan State

Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall

Troy Williams, Indiana

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga

Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV

Off the top of my head, when I see a familial name pop up I give that kid consideration. The Wizards traded picks a couple years back to select Glen Rice Jr. Turned out to be a bust, but that's been the exception IMO. The sons of Dell Curry are doing well, including Seth. Turns out Doc River's son, Austin, can play after all. Wesley Matthews is a player I thought would be a good pro, and he wasn't drafted IIRC. I remember Wes Matthews. I said all of that to say AJ English is an immediate hidden gem. For that matter, very old prospect Gary Payton II will likely be drafted. I don't think English will be drafted, but I expect he's going to be an NBA player sooner or later. Both players should be able to carve out a niche, more like Seth Curry has done.

I don't see Jameel Warney's name on the combine list--which increases the likelihood he won't be drafted. He's this year's Alan Williams. Give Ruzious credit for mentioning Warney a long time ago--he sees another Millsap. Maybe so. Definitely underrated and deserving to be drafted.

This year we saw Norman Powell turn in a good rookie season and some solid playoff games. Josh Richardson has done the same. What do they have in common? Both played four NCAA seasons. That's what I like about a Draymond Green as well. Staying put in school, improving every year, and coming in well-prepared bodes well for a player. The three players I've already mentioned as sleepers also played all four years. Zach Auguste of Notre Dame is not a top-notch athlete. Neither is Kyle Wiltjer. However, I bet either of them will make a good rookie, even if undrafted.

The one player I wish the Wizards would purchase a round 2 pick for is Brice Johnson. He epitomizes the four-year grinder. If the Wizards were to have picks and they selected Malcolm Brogdon (others have mentioned him;I'm on board now) and Brice Johnson, I would be very happy.

The player I won't be surprised if he makes the Wizards roster is Dez Wells. OKC drafted him and he's a friend of John Wall's. Dez is a really smart guy and a very good defender. He's not a good three-point shooter, nor is he a ball handler. I do think he's a good finisher, even at the NBA level.

A lot of folks like Kay Felder out of Oakland, MI. I expect thanks to the Cs Isaiah Thomas, Felder will be drafted in round 2.

I think Josh Adams of Wyoming had a rough Portsmouth, but he's exciting and a sleeper. Would love to see him in summer league.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Come-PIF, you know Ernie's SOP, he doesn't look to discover hidden gems or possible talent-upgrades, he will wait to see which vets are available on the cheap after the FA scramble is over. Sure, we may be enticed or surprised by camp/SL invite, but those guys seldom have any real chance of making the Wizards.

Perhaps this coach will have some influence on the process of talent evaluation. With so many open roster spots, this is the perfect time for the Wizards to add one or two minimum-salary rookies. They don't need to be drafted. Some great players were never drafted.

But yeah, closg00, if Ernie Grunfeld has any say they won't add anything but veteran retreads who cost more and produce ZERO unknown strengths. Ernie deals in known commodities only. No suspense. No speculation. Zero chance at huge rewards. Much more likely an injury-prone castoff than a pleasant surprise.

[krii]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kyle-Wiltjer-5959/ -> most of the mocks have him undrafted but he is sooooo skilled offensively. As rotation shooter from PF he might be able to contribute to this team. Damn, he can shoot ...

Sure he isn't athletic and all of the scouts reports his lack of of athleticism as major problem for his possible NBA career. But there are quite a few guys that skinny who had great career, why not Wiltjer? He can still add something to his body and be at least average or poor-to-average. His shooting skills are otherworldly good though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFqqOiTmFyk

[Ruzious]

Wiltjer reminds me of Keith Van Horn - just without the athletic ability than KVH had early in his career. Problem is - Is he going to be able to defend anyone in the NBA?

[TheSecretWeapon]

I'll probably run YODA on seniors in the next week or two. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is 10 days after the combine, so May 25.

When I ran numbers much earlier in the season, Sabonis and Brice Johnson looked pretty good. DX has Sabonis at 18 and Johnson as the first pick of the second round.

Wiltjer looked like a late 1st/early 2nd earlier in the year; DX has him going undrafted. Onuaku looked pretty good too; he also doesn't appear in DX's latest mock.

[krii]

Wiltjer is pretty good in team defense. Since I'm Polish I've been watching Gonzaga quite often because of Karnowski. Sabonis is great and I'm pretty sure he'll have heck of career but ... I'm shocked with the perception of Wiltjer. He will never be a star, nor the best defender in the league but he is able to play team defense, shoot whatever is needed with a heck of efficiency and contribute in other ways to the team. I bet in his first year he would be just average but he can be a reaaaaallly good rotational player. IMO he can be one of those 'underdogs' who will become a really good NBA player in the future.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm very curious to see how Melo Trimble's workouts go. He works out for the Clippers this weekend. He is going about things smartly having not signed an agent.

I wonder how Layman, Carter Jr, and Stone are going to fare in the draft and beyond? Same with Hawaii players Jankovic, Bobbitt, and Valdes. I'm surprised Stefan Jankovic was not invited to the NBA combine.

[Ruzious]

I'll probably run YODA on seniors in the next week or two. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is 10 days after the combine, so May 25.

When I ran numbers much earlier in the season, Sabonis and Brice Johnson looked pretty good. DX has Sabonis at 18 and Johnson as the first pick of the second round.

Wiltjer looked like a late 1st/early 2nd earlier in the year; DX has him going undrafted. Onuaku looked pretty good too; he also doesn't appear in DX's latest mock.

Draftexpress rates Onuaku way too low, but I think they don't have him listed in their mock because they don't expect him to stay in the draft. The Louisville moose is still 19 years old and coming off an excellent soph season where he dramatically improved in everything. If I was him, I wouldn't stay in the draft without a 1st round guarantee.

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And Josh Hart - who played so well for Villanova in the Tournament. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Hart-7149/ He's also declared but has not hire an agent.

DR has Josh Hart in their '17 mock (#47).

Off his numbers -- not to mention his play in the tournament -- Josh Hart looks like an incredible bargain anywhere in R2 this year. Why is he not a R1 pick this year, for that matter? Good call, Ruz.

[payitforward]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kyle-Wiltjer-5959/ -> most of the mocks have him undrafted but he is sooooo skilled offensively. As rotation shooter from PF he might be able to contribute to this team. Damn, he can shoot ...

Sure he isn't athletic and all of the scouts reports his lack of of athleticism as major problem for his possible NBA career. But there are quite a few guys that skinny who had great career, why not Wiltjer? He can still add something to his body and be at least average or poor-to-average. His shooting skills are otherworldly good though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFqqOiTmFyk

I think Wiltjer will have to play the 3 in the league -- isn't Chandler Parsons a reasonably good comp for him? If so...

[payitforward]

Pascal Siakam, anybody?

[Ruzious]

And Josh Hart - who played so well for Villanova in the Tournament. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Josh-Hart-7149/ He's also declared but has not hire an agent.

DR has Josh Hart in their '17 mock (#47).

Off his numbers -- not to mention his play in the tournament -- Josh Hart looks like an incredible bargain anywhere in R2 this year. Why is he not a R1 pick this year, for that matter? Good call, Ruz.

Beats me - gotta figure if he didn't have that great tournament, they'd have him lower - maybe not at all. He's on the small side for a 2 but certainly not too small. He's talented enough, and he seems to have excellent intangibles. Maybe people assumed he was too small to play the 2 early in his career and then didn't pay attention to how well he played. ?

[Ruzious]

Pascal Siakam, anybody?

I'm not hungry, but thanks.