Jamie Sabau/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The NBA draft is over, but the race for the top undrafted free agents is now underway.
Although rare, it’s not entirely uncommon to see undrafted free agents make key impacts with teams. We’re seeing that now with players such as Austin Reaves and Jose Alvarado faring well for the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively.
A few players have even turned into bona fide stars in the past, none more so than former Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, now a Basketball Hall of Famer.
So even though none of the notable signings listed below were drafted, don’t discount them all from potentially making positive contributions down the line.
Here’s a look at some key UDFA signings on the day alongside notes on UDFA past and present who have excelled.
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs have agreed to a deal with NC State big man DJ Burns to play for their summer league team, sources tell @clevelanddotcom
Law Murray 🛝 @LawMurrayTheNU
Per team source to @TheAthletic
LA Clippers will sign SF Trentyn Flowers as an undrafted free agent
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to an Exhibit-10 deal with undrafted Xavier guard Quincy Olivari, league sources told @hoopshype. Olivari averaged 19.1 points and 5.6 rebounds at Xavier last season.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
The Lakers are signing French forward Armel Traore on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Luca Evans @bylucaevans
USC’s Boogie Ellis will be playing in the NBA Summer League with the Sacramento Kings, his agent Derek Malloy told @ocregister. Big opportunity for USC’s captain after going undrafted, a three-year Trojan who made himself into one of the best shooters in the country.
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
The Toronto Raptors have agreed to an Exhibit-10 deal with undrafted forward Quincy Guerrier from Illinois, league sources told @hoopshype.
No undrafted free agent has enjoyed a better NBA career than Hall of Fame center Ben Wallace, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-NBA player and 2003-04 NBA champion. Wallace played 16 NBA seasons (1996-2012) but was best known for his first stint with the Detroit Pistons (2000-2006).
Other undrafted free agents ended up serving key roles on championship teams.
Bruce Bowen won three NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and earned All-Defensive First Team honors in five straight years. Bowen also shot 39.3 percent from three and led the league in that category in 2002-03 (44.1 percent).
Udonis Haslem was a member of the Miami Heat’s rotation from 2003-2015, winning three NBA titles with the team and starting 52 of a possible 66 playoff games during those championship runs.
In recent years, undrafted free agents have still made a positive impact.
Reaves (2021) has broken out into a fantastic contributor for the Lakers, averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last year. He also helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals the year before.
Lu Dort has been a starter in all five of his seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder and just helped his squad earn first-place honors in the Western Conference standings, averaging 10.9 points and 3.6 rebounds.
This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
