One thing about this past draft I've noticed is that it is DEEEEEP. If it met Adele, it's be rolling in the deep. If it wanted to go into acting, it would've supplanted Omar Epps in his amazingly underrated movie 'In Too Deep'. If it were a musician, it would've written Breakfast At Tiffany's (dated reference much, IP?).
And when people say that, usually they mean, 'There are viable starters to be had in the late teens or 20s', or, 'there are really good prospects after pick 13'.
But in this past draft I think it goes beyond that. The kings signed an undrafted guy from Oregon State, Eric Moreland to a partially guaranteed 3-yr contract, not because he's a well rounded player, but because he's got a high motor, and can defend either the 4 or the 5 with tenacious aplomb. They know that next to a dynamic player like Demarcus Cousins, a guy like Moreland could flourish as a help-side defender, rebounder, and offensive garbage man. A kind of 7 and 12 guy with 2 blocks in 28 minutes kind of player. They thought highly enough of him to make room on their roster by moving Quincy Acy among others.
There are other undrafted free agents making waves as well.
Khem Birch basically did what Moreland did for the kings, but with the Wizards. He's a 6'9 bulldog from UNLV. Here is what Draft Express said about him:
After entering college basketball as the 11th ranked high school recruit in the class of 2011, Khem Birch surprisingly transferred from Pittsburgh to UNLV only ten games in to his freshman season.
As a sophomore, Birch showed an intriguing combination of physical tools and defensive versatility and entered his junior year considered as the second best returning NBA prospect playing in a non-BCS conference. UNLV ultimately underachieved, however, and Birch did not develop as much as scouts would have liked, but he nevertheless won Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in two consecutive years while averaging a double-double as a junior. Now having decided to enter a loaded 2014 NBA Draft, scouts must determine whether Birch can reach the significant potential that many believed he had in high school.
From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz3C7gCUGNe
http://www.draftexpress.com
There's more there, if you're into that sort of thing. He was pegged by DE to go 28th in the 2nd round this past June.
In Summer League many thought he was a near lock to make the Wizards training camp roster, but they opted to give that spot to Kevin Seraphin.
This guy can't create a shot to save his life, but he is a explosive help side defender who can play the 4, maybe a little 5 going forward. I think he'd look great next to Sully and Olynyk. What do you think?