RADIO
It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament.
The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.
Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace that fits best with their path to the NBA.
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Introduction
Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties.
We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.
As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in. Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies.
I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions" so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities.
Craig Porter Jr. (G, CLE)
Everything about Craig Porter Jr. as a UDFA NBA prospect is fascinating to me. A 6'1, 185-lb. point guard, he started off his collegiate career in the JUCO ranks with Vincennes University, and in his last year with the Trailblazers, he averaged 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists (with just 2.5 turnovers), 1.8 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game, leading his team to a 2019 NJCAA National Championship.
He parlayed his successful Junior College run into an opportunity to transfer to Wichita State in 2020. For his first two seasons with the Shockers, his playing time was limited and his growth was gradual. But finally, in the 2022-23 campaign, Porter Jr.'s time spent in development culminated in a much larger role, and his efficiency followed and continued to improve. In 31 games last year (30 starts), he played 33.6 minutes per game and in that time produced 13.5 points, 6.2 boards, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and again, 1.5 blocks.
Keep an eye on Craig Porter Jr. this season pic.twitter.com/W6Jc5Oa0NO
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) October 11, 2023
He struggled greatly with long-range shooting before arriving in Wichita, and truthfully, still continues to struggle with consistency from the free throw line, but importantly, he steadily got more efficient from deep as he adjusted to taking more shots, and last season hit 1.2 threes per game at a solid 36.3% success rate (37 of 102), resulting in easy career-highs in true shooting rate (55.5%) and effective field goal rate (53.3%). His rebounding, assist, and block percentages got better in each season at Wichita State, and he capped his college career with a 2.7% steal rate and his best turnover rate yet at 17.3%.
You can call him undersized, you can knock his shooting efficiency from different spots, and you can downplay his JUCO experience; but the fact is that Porter Jr. has a National Championship under his belt, he has grown as a player every single year since leaving high school, he produces with volume and efficiency in every single statistical category, and his height never seemed to prevent him from putting up better rebounding and block numbers than most collegiate power forwards and centers. The full body of his college career tells a compelling story of a driven PG with fantastic on-court senses and defensive instincts.
He is on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he is also currently listed on the Cavs 2023-2024 depth chart in several locations, and while the top of the Cleveland backcourt is very much set in stone and those main rotation members will be filling in at several guard spots depending on the situation, there really isn't a whole lot of true competition for the reserve point guard minutes. This dude is as well-rounded of a smaller PG that we've seen come into the NBA through the UDFA route since T.J. McConnell and Porter Jr. has already shown greater potential for his scoring development. Then of course, there is his unusually impressive propensity for blocked shots.
If history tells us anything, it's that he will continue to make improvements to every area of his game as he takes another step up in competition level. If there are just one or two injuries, or if he shines early in the G League for Canton and can take some PT away from Ty Jerome, Craig Porter Jr. will get an opportunity to stick around. If that rises to an even somewhat meaningful role, he will be a waiver option owned in 0.0% of leagues with the ability to contribute in every single statistical category from the point guard slot--other than FT%--and even there I wouldn't doubt that he makes strides by that point.
Antoine Davis (G, ***Waived by Portland, But I Don't Care***)
Antoine Davis had signed with the Portland Trailblazers following the 2023 NBA Draft, but he was waived on October 10th, so he is currently a free agent. That would normally disqualify one from consideration for this list, but an exception in this case is easily warranted--and I'll keep this one as short and sweet as possible.
Davis spent all five seasons of his college basketball career in the Horizon League with Detroit Mercy. Over that five-year span, he earned: Horizon League Freshman of the Year, 5x First-Team All-Horizon honors, two Horizon League Player of the Year awards, 2023 USBWA Third-Team All-American designation, and the 2023 NCAA scoring title. Wow. He never transferred to a bigger program--he just remained the most amazing, well-kept secret in college basketball until 2022-23 when the gargantuan magnitude of his accomplishments started getting some buzz.
In total at Detroit Mercy, Davis averaged an insane 25.4 points and 4.1 three-pointers per game with an 89.2% free throw rate and finished last season producing career-high marks of 28.2 points and 4.8 threes on 41.2% shooting from deep--not to mention his career averages of 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 144 games. When it was all said and done, Davis totaled 3,664 points and 588 threes. Those totals just happen to be good for: the all-time Horizon League scoring record, the all-time D-I 3P record, and second all-time in D-I men's scoring, falling just three points shy of the top spot still held by "Pistol" Pete Maravich.
He certainly proved to be a solid rebounder for his size at 6'1, 165-lb, and he always put up solid efficiency metrics in steals and assists. The criticisms of his size and small school experience are no doubt the biggest reasons why he has yet to land with an NBA franchise--but this should highlight the flaws of traditional scouting criteria.
When those hang-ups cause you to forget or ignore the fact that he is one of the best shooters and scorers to ever do it in college basketball, you are only doing yourself a disservice, and you are probably either suffering from over-think or group-think if you would simply prefer to sign another run of the mill lengthy wing to occupy a roster spot who fits the 2023 template for what an NBA player looks like and should be.
Simply put: I don't know where Antoine Davis will end up, but I am confident that someone in the league will come to their senses and give him an opportunity. If not, that's a downright travesty. If he gets the opportunity to once again showcase his all-time record-setting skillset in the G League and then hopefully in some limited reserve PT, his abilities will speak, nay, scream for themself. He has only ever scored at ridiculous volume and shot lights-out--so keep an eye on any news for Antoine Davis during the 2023-24 NBA season, because the moment that he pops on to the radar, folks will once again be reminded of exactly the kind of player he is and can be.
Colin Castleton (C, LAL)
As a Kentucky fan, I hated Colin Castleton during his time with the Florida Gators, but that was because he was very good. He spent two insignificant seasons at Michigan before taking his game to Gainesville, where he would end up earning (2x) Second-Team All-SEC and 2023 First-Team All-SEC honors. He averaged 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds over 54 games in his final two college seasons, shot a solid 73.2% on free throws in his time with Florida, and took a leap in versatility last season with a career-best 2.7 assists per game.
Also of note: he attempted a combined 17 three-pointers from 2018-2022 without a single conversion--but in 2022-23, he made slight, yet considerable progress in that department, hitting two threes in 15 tries (13.3%).
When it comes to advanced metrics like TS%, eFG%, rebounding rate, and the leap made in his assist rate--that is all fine and dandy, and those numbers suggest that he is a super solid center with production in all of the key frontcourt departments with a large 6'11, 250-lb. frame to help him continue his game at the NBA level.
Colin Castleton in 12 minutes 🤯
🔸 8 points
🔸 7 rebounds
🔸 2 blocks
🔸 80% FG
🔸 12 minutespic.twitter.com/S9aITLEaWU— NBALakersReport (@NBALakersReport) October 14, 2023
His UDFA rookie potential comes down to two key factors: shot-blocking, and the fact that he signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that has consistently shown that they will need reinforcements during the regular season and that they aren't afraid to give those opportunities to the hidden gem newcomers that they acquired under the radar and for a much lesser cost.
Castleton blocked 194 shots in 78 games with Florida, and averaged 3.0 per game in 2022-23, ending the year with a block percentage of 9.1% (8.7% total as a Gator), and a career-best defensive box plus/minus of 5.6. That type of interior defensive ability is a sought-after skill in reserve frontcourt players, and Castleton doesn't have to sacrifice major aspects of the rest of his game to perform in that area.
The Lakers added some nice pieces to their frontcourt rotation this offseason, but when you are talking about Anthony Davis and some of the older big men on the roster, I find it highly likely that Colin Castleton's services will be required at points throughout the regular season--so watch out for those moments, and hopping on Castleton could mean contribution in 3-4 statistical categories.
D'Moi Hodge (G, LAL)
Again, I don't care if you were the first pick in the second round of the NBA Draft or an undrafted free agent from a Canadian Community College--if you end up with the Lakers under this current makeup and regime, there is a good chance that you will get an opportunity to fill in reserve minutes if things at least get desperate with injuries in the rotation, and the same concept goes for D'Moi Hodge.
The 6'4, 180-lb. Hodge was largely unheralded coming out of high school and thus spent two years with JUCO State College of Florida before transferring to Cleveland State of the Horizon League, where he ultimately picked up All-Defense, All-Horizon, & Defensive POY honors, before transferring once again, this time to the Missouri Tigers.
In one season at Mizzou, he grew his game to new heights with an increase in playing time (29.1 MP), averaging 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and most impressively, 2.6 steals per game. He also capped his college career by greatly increasing his three-point volume and accuracy with each season, going from 41 of 137 (29.9%) in 2020-21 to 100 of 250 (40%) this past year. Not only that, but his final TS% and eFG% numbers were both north of .600, his turnover rate was half of what it was when he first played for Cleveland State, and his steal percentage improved every season as well to the point of 5.1% in 2022-23.
Not to constantly beat this drum, but recent history tells us that the Lakers will need plenty of reinforcements during the regular season, and though he is currently on a two-way deal, a solid bet to earn yourself playing time with any organization in the NBA is through three-point potency and perimeter defense, D'Moi Hodge has always disrupted the passing lanes and perimeter ball-handlers with impressive skill, but now that he went from a sub-30% three-point shooter to hitting 100 of 250 in his time as a college player, he now packs a great niche repertoire that every NBA team is looking to put on the floor from their reserve ranks. So if and when Hodge's number is called by Darvin Ham, you will be able to make this acquisition with no trouble at all with the expectation of confidence from long-range and pesky counting statistics on defense.
Honorable Mentions (Some Players Might Be With Different Organizations As Of 10/21/2023):
- Azuolas Tubelis (F, PHI)
- Ricky Council IV (G/F, PHI)
- Adam Flagler (G, OKC)
- Mike Miles (G, DAL)
- Adama Sanogo (F, CHI)
- Tosan Evbuomwan (G/F, DET)
- Oscar Tshiebwe (F, IND)
- Omari Moore (F, MIL)
- Drew Peterson (F, USC)
- Drew Timme (F/C, MIL)
- Sir'Jabari Rice (G/F, SA)
- Terquavion Smith (G, PHI)
- Pete Nance (F, CLE)
- Landers Nolley II (G, NOLA)
- Tevian Jones (G/F, NOLA)
- Liam Robbins (C, NOLA)
- Jacob Toppin (F, NYK)
- Trey Jemison (C, PHO)
- Tyger Campbell (G, ORL)
- Charles Bediako (C, SA)
- Joey Hauser (F, UTA)
- Osun Osunniyi (C, WAS)
- Jake Stephens (C, somehow a FA).
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