NBA Draft 2023: 5 best undrafted free agents who could make teams look silly
Per ususal, the 2023 NBA Draft ended with several interesting prospects left on the board. Here are five undrafted free agents who could make teams regretful down the road.
The 2023 NBA Draft was complete with home-run swings and potentially catastrophic mistakes, the hallmarks of any good draft night. The festivities also ended with several quality prospects still in search of their professional home.
As is the case every summer, there was a flurry of undrafted free-agent signings right after the draft ended. Several prospects from the FanSided big board went unselected and were signed to two-way or Exhibit 10 contracts well into the early hours of the morning.
Here are the five undrafted free agents who have the best chance to carve out NBA roles and make front offices the league overlook quite foolish in hindsight.
2023 NBA Draft: No. 5 undrafted free agent Markquis Nowell, Raptors
The Toronto Raptors signed Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell to a two-way contract. Nowell led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight last season and he was arguably the best overall player in the NCAA Tournament, setting a tournament record with 19 assists in a single game.
For Toronto, the need for guard help is evident and the Raptors have found success with small, scrappy guards in the past. Just look at Fred VanVleet, who’s currently looking for $30 million in free agency.
The rub with Nowell, however, is that he’s a little bit more than “small” by NBA standards. He’s generously listed at 5-foot-8, the likes of which we haven’t seen on an NBA court in years. Nowell will struggle mightily to defend the size and athleticism of NBA point guards, no matter how hard he tries.
On the other hand, Nowell is an absolute eye-popping offensive talent. His 19-assist game was not a fluke — he’s a brilliant passer who can see plays develop several moments in advance. He constantly passes teammates open and he’s never not surveying the defense for exploitable holes. He can shoot 3s, he’s bursty enough to penetrate the lane, and he will make he plays with all the confidence required to carve out a career at 5-foot-8. He’s talented and determined enough. It’s really a question of whether or not it’s physically possible for Nowell to survive in the modern era.