6 Undrafted Free Agents to Watch in 2014-15 NBA Training Camp
The difference in talent between the top undrafted free agents and most second-round picks is usually pretty small.
Even teams that don't have second-round picks do their homework and bring kids in for workouts, as there's always a few guys each year who fall through the scouting cracks.
Prospects who've received partially guaranteed deals and invites to training camp aren't necessarily locked into a roster spot. But the following undrafted rookies are the guys with realistic shots, whether it's with the team they're currently auditioning for or another one around the league.
Khem Birch, Miami Heat, Power Forward/Center
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Despite going undrafted and putting up quiet numbers during summer league, Khem Birch might actually have a real shot at making the Miami Heat roster.
With only five total big guys at the 4 and 5 positions—Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Chris Andersen, Josh McRoberts and Justin Hamilton—there's room for a superior athlete like Birch up front.
He averaged a double-double and 3.8 blocks per game for UNLV last season. Birch isn't a guy who's going to create his own shot, but that's not what Miami brought him in to do. He's an interior specialist—a power forward or center who finishes around the basket, mans the glass and protects the rim using that 7'1" wingspan.
The Heat training camp roster currently stands at 17, and that's with Tyler Johnson as the fourth point guard and Andre Dawkins as the fifth 2-guard. There's an opening for Birch if he's up to the task.
Bryce Cotton, San Antonio Spurs, Point Guard
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Anytime the San Antonio Spurs show interest, the rest of the basketball community should take notice.
The Spurs inked Bryce Cotton after he went undrafted in June despite his monster senior year in which he averaged 21.8 points a game for Providence.
Cotton weighs just 165 pounds at 6'1" on a good day, and that's helped keep him off the radar. But the improvements he made as a senior can't go ignored.
He pretty much did all that was asked of him in terms of fine-tuning his game to suit the pro level. He evolved into an actual point guard and playmaker, having raised his assist average to 5.9 a game from 2.9.
Cotton is quick off the dribble and can get to his spots on the floor. His ability to break down the defense makes him a threat in the drive-and-kick game, as he's shown the willingness and vision to give it up and find his shooters.
And while he's always been deadly from outside, his pull-up jumper has also become quite dangerous, something we've seen off pick-and-rolls and in transition.
The Spurs might look to Cotton off the bench, with Patty Mills expected to miss a good chunk of the season following offseason shoulder surgery.
Alex Kirk, Cleveland Cavaliers, Center
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In need of size and depth up front, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed undrafted rookie Alex Kirk, who might actually have the chance to earn some minutes on a championship contender.
For starters, who knows how long Anderson Varejao and Brendan Haywood can hold up physically. Other than Kirk, those are the only two centers on Cleveland's roster.
At 6'11" and 252 pounds with a 7'3.5" wingspan, Kirk certainly has the body to man the NBA paint. Offensively, he's got a nice feel for the basket in the post, where he's evolved into a pretty efficient scorer despite his obvious athletic limitations.
Kirk isn't light on his feet. And he wasn't a volume scorer at the college level, having averaged 13.3 points his final year at New Mexico.
But he converted at a promising rate inside (45.9 percent on post-ups, 68.1 percent on shots around rim, per Kyle Nelson of DraftExpress) and even showed he's capable of connecting as a shooter in the mid-range.
Though his shooting percentages aren't there, his jump-shot makes and mechanics suggest some stretch potential down the road.
Kirk offers a huge body, a shot-blocking presence (blocked 2.7 shots a game as a senior) and a fairly high-percentage scoring option down low. There's no upside here, but for a team like the Cavs that's looking for cheap depth, Kirk is a guy to keep an eye on in training camp.
Jerrelle Benimon, Denver Nuggets, Power Forward
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Because he played his final two years in college at Towson after transferring from Georgetown, not many people know about Jerrelle Benimon, who finished second in the country last season in rebounding (11.2) while averaging 18.7 points a game.
At 6'8", Benimon's lack of size and athleticism for the position likely weighed on his draft stock. But it's worth noting that he led the Las Vegas Summer League in boards at 11.3 per game (minimum three games played)—a promising sign for those who believe that high-level rebounding translates.
"I mean, I'm a pretty versatile player. I think I'm a really good rebounder, so that always carries over to the next level," Benimon told NBA.com.
Whether Benimon's scoring arsenal translates, he might be worth rostering based on his nose for the ball alone. He's a tough kid who embraces contact, having finished No. 5 in the country last season in free-throws attempted.
Offensively, he's shown some outside shooting touch, giving him pick-and-pop potential. And though he wasn't the most efficient in terms of converting in the post, he's got some nice back-to-the-basket and one-on-one moves around the key.
Denver's training camp roster is currently at 16. The Nuggets will need to cut it to 15. It's possible Benimon is competing with Erick Green, last year's second-round draft choice, for the final spot.
Entering camp with an established identity (as a rebounding 4 with stretch potential) should only help his cause. That, and a nickname like the "Benimonster."
James Michael McAdoo, Golden State Warriors, Power Forward
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Considering that many viewed James Michael McAdoo as a potential top-five pick entering his sophomore year at North Carolina, there might be some untapped potential left for the Golden State Warriors to try and ignite.
The former McDonald's All-American had plenty of production to show for his three years in the ACC—just not the efficiency or impact.
Still, McAdoo is a terrific athlete with small forward mobility and power forward size (6'9"). He's at his best making plays off the ball—catching and finishing, sneaking backdoor, getting out on the break, attacking the offensive glass.
At North Carolina, he struggled in a role that forced him to create for himself, something he won't be asked to do at the NBA level.
The Warriors' training camp roster is currently at 18, and that's with long shots Aaron Craft and Mitchell Watt. McAdoo will have to beat out those two, as well as Justin Holiday, who was also recently signed.
Given his versatility and natural talent, McAdoo might actually have an edge here. He wouldn't be the first late bloomer the NBA has seen.
Ronald Roberts Jr., Philadelphia 76ers, Power Forward
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The Philadelphia 76ers have a zillion different forwards, and none of them have standout qualities. Ronald Roberts Jr. is a standout athlete—almost as good as it gets in terms of explosiveness, hops and coordination.
It's his specialty—Roberts can make certain plays, mostly around the basket, that few other players are capable of making.
His offensive skills are limited, and that's probably what led to him going undrafted. But he did average 14.4 points, 7.4 boards and 1.3 blocks on a whopping 60 percent shooting at Saint Joseph's in his senior season.
Roberts converts everything around the rim, primarily based on his ability to rise up and finish above it. We've seen the occasional jumper and hook shot, but just about all of his production has been fueled by high-octane athleticism—alley-oops, fast-break buckets, catch-and-dunks.
Between Brandon Davies, Jerami Grant, Arnett Moultrie and Roberts, this is a wide-open competition in Philadelphia.
Roberts will ultimately have to convince the Sixers coaching staff his athleticism can translate to interior activity and easy buckets and that there's still room left for his offensive game to improve.
