Undrafted NBA Free Agents 2015: Predictions for Notable Names Left on Market
Even though last Thursday's NBA draft was a night that 60 prospects will never forget, there is always the harsh wake-up call for many college stars when they don't hear their name called.
It's a deflating moment, for sure, but hope isn't gone. Players are able to sign with teams as undrafted free agents, which can be a good thing because it allows them to pick their spot instead of being assigned somewhere without any input.
There's a steep mountain to climb as an undrafted player to make an NBA roster, but thanks to the D-League and NBA Summer League there are plenty of opportunities for teams to see what these young men are capable of.
With plenty of notable names still on the market, here are predictions for where the top players will end up.
Chris Walker, F, University of Florida
Chris Walker was one of Florida's two early entrants to go undrafted, with Michael Frazier being the other. Frazier didn't take long to catch on, finding a spot with Golden State's summer-league team.
Unfortunately, Walker hasn't been so fortunate. He is still searching for a home after averaging 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore with the Gators.
As for why Walker didn't catch on, Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports offered this summation of his college career after declaring for the draft in April:
"His athleticism and long arms are intriguing in theory, but that athleticism doesn't actually bear itself out during game play. He always seems to be a step slow in his reactions to what's happening around him. Plus, his skill level is generally low right now, as he doesn't have any sort of solid ball-handling ability or jump shot to speak of.
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Walker still has the bare bones of an NBA player, measuring in at 6'10" and 208 pounds with a nearly 87-inch wingspan. Eventually that talent must turn into performance, which is how we got here.
Just speculating, a player like Walker would be a solid fit with a young developing team that can take its time with him. Philadelphia, Utah, Orlando and Minnesota fit that bill, as those four teams were among the youngest in the NBA last season.
Among that group, Philadelphia and Orlando don't need another player with size. Utah has Derrick Favors, Trevor Booker and Jack Cooley. That leaves Minnesota as a potential destination, which actually makes sense.
Anthony Bennett didn't get better after being traded away from Cleveland. Adreian Payne showed glimpses of being a bench player in 29 games, but not enough to feel good about his future.
Kevin Garnett is expected to re-sign with the Timberwolves, according to Charley Walters of TwinCities.com. He can make a great mentor for a young player who has talent but is unable to put it together.
It's not an exact formula, but if Walker is going to catch on somewhere, it should be in a place with a strong veteran leader who can act as a mentor and coach.
Prediction: Walker plays with Minnesota
Michael Qualls, G, Arkansas
The story of Michael Qualls this draft season is one of the most unfortunate for a player in recent memory. He couldn't take part in predraft workouts at the combine due to a quad injury before tearing his ACL in a workout with the Phoenix Suns on June 11, per ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
Qualls had been a player on the rise during Arkansas' run in the NCAA tournament, with the apex coming in the team's round-of-32 game against North Carolina, as Vecenie noted on CBSSports.com:
"Few did more for their stock this weekend than Qualls, who was just absolutely all over the floor in the Razorbacks' two games this weekend. This as more of an attack-oriented game than the last one, as he used his tremendous athleticism to repeatedly blow by guys both in the halfcourt and in transition in this uptempo game.
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At the time, Vecenie wrote that Qualls was a borderline first-round draftee to a team that really loved him, but he was more likely a second-round option.
Instead, due to the injuries, Qualls finds himself still searching for a home. He told CBS Sports' Gary Parrish before the draft that a team taking a chance on him wouldn't regret it.
"I know I can't go in right away and help a team out," Qualls said. "But I feel like if a team will stay patient and diligent with me through this process, it'll be a great choice for them."
This is an athlete worth rooting for who also had excellent college credentials to warrant a look from the NBA. Qualls averaged 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game against SEC competition last season. He's not a great shooter, hitting 43.6 percent of his attempts, but there's a tenacity to his game that can't be questioned.
The logical scenario for Qualls will be sitting out until he's able to work out for teams and signing at some point in 2016. It's not a sexy prediction because there are no immediate returns, but like he said, the team that stays with him will not regret it.
Prediction: Qualls doesn't sign anywhere until 2016
Alan Williams, PF, UC Santa Barbara
Unlike Walker and Qualls, two players with red flags for various reasons, Alan Williams is a player whose specialty would seem to be a luxury NBA teams crave.
Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn noted after Williams went undrafted that a team would be wise to extend a summer-league invite because he can rebound as well as any player available:
Williams has long limbs with an 86-inch wingspan, though he's stocky at 261 pounds on a 6'8" frame. He's not tall enough to play center in the NBA, nor does he have the athleticism to be a starting power forward, but he's got a nose for the ball.
In four years at UC Santa Barbara, Williams increased his rebounding total each season from 6.5 as a freshman to 11.8 as a senior. That's a valuable tool to have, even for a player with a tweener-type body.
So an obvious fit for Williams is a team that needs rebounding help. Just looking at the worst teams in that category from last season, the Atlanta Hawks would be a good fit. They were sorely lacking size outside of Al Horford down the stretch and were picked apart by Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Hawks finished 28th in rebounding last year with 40.6 per game. Of that, Horford and Paul Millsap combined to average 15 rebounds per game or 36.9 percent of the team's total. This franchise needs to make minor tweaks to improve after winning 60 games last season.
Atlanta's draft haul was less than inspiring, notably when it traded the rights to pick No. 15 in a deal with Washington that would eventually result in Tim Hardaway Jr. joining the Hawks from New York. Giving Williams a shot in the summer league would be a nice way to earn back some goodwill.
Prediction: Williams plays with Atlanta
Measurements via DraftExpress.com
