Is Josh McRoberts an Underrated NBA Free-Agent Candidate?

One NBA player who has taken advantage of receiving playing time has been former Duke University forward Josh McRoberts of the Indiana Pacers. McRoberts, who starred at Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., was born in Indianapolis.

McRoberts spent two years at Duke before entering the 2007 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 37th overall pick.

McRoberts appeared in only eight games with the Trail Blazers while averaging 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He spent a good portion of the 2007-08 NBA season playing with their NBA D-League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede. 

During the 2008 NBA Draft, Portland traded McRoberts along with Jarrett Jack, the draft rights to Brandon Rush and cash considerations to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu.

McRoberts was getting a chance to return to his hometown and it turned out to be a good thing in regards to resurrecting his professional basketball career.

In his first season with the Pacers, McRoberts averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game even though he appeared in 33 games that year. During the 2009-10 NBA season, he saw his numbers increase to 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while appearing in 42 games (including 3 starts).

McRoberts also had missed games due to various injuries, but was slowly given time to play and during the 2010-11 NBA season, he averaged a career-high 7.4 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds per game. He appeared in 72 games including 51 starts. He was able to earn more minutes after the Pacers dealt Troy Murphy, which opened up playing time at the power forward position.

The Indiana Pacers attempted to trade McRoberts at the 2011 February trade deadline along with a 2011 first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for O.J. Mayo, but the trade was rescinded due to the fact that it formed after the deadline.

McRoberts showed last season that he can play in the league. He also got an opportunity to make his playoff debut as the Pacers as a team were able to finally come together.

Injuries and not receiving enough playing time kept him on the bench, but now that he has shown some of what he can do, will he receive an opportunity to show more of his skills?

Maybe the Indiana Pacers might look to bring him back since he is still a very young player who needs time to develop his game.

It appears that only time will tell what free agency will bring for McRoberts.