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10 best undrafted NBA free agents
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

10 best undrafted NBA free agents

The 2018 NBA Draft is over, but the war rooms of all the 30 teams are still moving and shaking. While 60 players just found out where their first NBA home will be, many others just became undrafted free agents and general managers from all over the league are working phones trying to get that diamond in the rough.

There have been some highly successful finds in the undrafted free agent market, like Ben Wallace, Brad Miller, John Starks, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell and Udonis Haslem. Currently, guys like T.J. McConnell, Quinn Cook, Robert Covington, Kent Bazemore and Fred VanVleet -- all undrafted -- have been taking on important roles for their teams.

So below are ten players who didn't get selected in the 2018 draft who could go on to have a nice NBA career:

Malik Newman, Kansas. Newman was a one-and-done candidate whose career didn't exactly turn out that way. After playing a season at Mississippi State, he sat out a year as he transferred to Kansas. With the Jayhawks this season, he had a roller coaster season but had an outstanding NCAA Tournament, headlined by his 32 points against Duke in the Elite 8. Newman is a great shooter but fell out of the draft because he's not a ballhandler for a 6'3 guard. Newman signed a two-way deal with the Lakers shortly after the draft's conclusion. 


Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon McCoy, UNLV.  Not many players in this draft saw their stock slide as hard as McCoy. The one-and-done big man averaged nearly 17 points and 10 boards in his lone season in Vegas. He was looked at as a possible late first round pick in April but some poor showings in the NBA Draft Combine and questions about his ability on the defensive end sent him out of the draft. McCoy is a scrappy player he works hard around the basket and at times looks fluid offensively. He has been developing a jumper which is important in today's NBA. 


Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Trevon Duval, Duke. Duval was a one-and-done player at Duke that didn't get drafted. He came in as the next great Duke point guard but it didn't turn out that way. As the season wore on, Grayson Allen took on more of the primary ballhandling role for the Blue Devils. Duval, however, isn't a consistent shooter either so he has a lot of work to do on his game. He does possesses some skill in each of those categories and is a great athlete. He won't be an NBA starter but if he gets to the right organization and works on his game in the G-League he could develop into a strong rotation guy in a few years.


Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Theo Pinson, North Carolina. Pinson is a stat stuffer who is willing to do anything to help his team. He is a willing passer, is athletic, hits the boards, a solid defender and a great locker room guy. The problem is he isn't the best outside shooter in a league that really values that. And while he is a great passer he isn't what you'd call a lead guard for a team. Still, this is a guy that coaches and teammates adore and he could be that hustle guys that sticks in the league for a long time.


Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame. You hope a guy like Colson can find a niche in the NBA. Colson is a true leader and a guy who can do everything on the court. He has just had bad luck since passing up on the draft last year. His foot injuries coupled with his lack of size (a 6'5 forward) had him falling out of the draft but his experience and intangibles will find him on somebody's summer league team. He will be willing to work to gain an opportunity to latch on to an NBA roster.


Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Clark, Cincinnati. Clark is a defensive player who stuffs the stat sheet on a nightly basis. He's not tall but he's stocky and is willing to do all those little things coaches love -- diving for loose balls, fighting for rebounds, wrecking havoc defensively and setting screens. His offensive game isn't polished by any means but when a smart competitor like this is on your team, you find ways to get him on the court. With his determination, his offense will come.


Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Allonzo Trier, Arizona. Inconsistency cost Trier in this draft. Some games he just wasn't there. He can be a ball-stopper on offense and he's not known as a good defender. But when he's on ... he's on. Trier signed a two-day contract with the Knicks following the draft. 


Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Kenrich Williams, TCU. Williams isn't a household name but he has the kind of game that translates to the next level. Williams does it all -- he's a defensive player who hits the boards, can dish it and can put it in the bucket. Williams knows that he needs to improve his long range game if he wants to have a long NBA career. 24 years old isn't exactly the kind of age you draft. If he can develop a consistent long range jumper he can find a lengthy pro career. 


Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Isaac Haas, Purdue. I know, I know. The NBA has moved to a perimeter game where big men must be able to move out on the perimeter and be knock-down shooters. Haas is old school in that he's a big man with big man post moves and that's what he's about. Sure, in today's NBA it is hard for a guy with his skill set to find a spot in the league but if someone gives him a legit shot it will be interesting to follow his career and if a traditional big man has a role in the league anymore.  

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