One day, I was scrolling twitter. During that scroll session, I saw a thread about underrated players that weren’t talked at all from the media. This inspired me to find players who I thought were underrated and make a list of one player for each team.
After thinking about it a little bit more, I felt like doing that wouldn’t make sense due to potentially missing out on key players. I decided to put whoever I wanted down here, with all these guys on the list getting very little credit from ESPN or mainstream news outlets.
My final line of thought was to move it to more of a breakout players list. I love predicting things, so this allowed me to keep the underrated aspect while trying to find players who are going to be even better next year.
I think that doing something like this is incredibly important when the NBA media is filled with literal slop. Too often, you hear pundits criticizing modern players and the game in general instead of propping guys up. I’m tired of that, and I decided to do something about it by writing a positive article!!!
To find players for this list, I used DunksAndThrees player EPM and ratings. I looked for things like high stock rates, plus feel indicators, and positive shooting/scoring ability. This let me find attributes that I couldn’t find on BasketballReference. It’s only $25 per year, which is great for a service that gives so much information. I’m no expert, so someone else might think differently than me. That’s totally okay.
The only requirement on the list is that players have at least 1 year of NBA experience.
The order of the list is based on alphabetical team order.
Atlanta Hawks
N’Faly Dante(BIG): Big, athletic center who thrived in the G League last year. He’s great in the pick and roll, can protect the rim, and rebounds very well Should be great insurance if Porzingis gets hurt.
Mouhamed Gueye(WING): In my opinion, he’s the most underrated defender in the league. If he can improve his jumper to somewhat respectable levels, I see him as a Jaden McDaniels-lite player.
Boston Celtics
Luka Garza(BIG): He’s a great 1v1 post player, willing shooter from deep, and excellent offensive rebounder. He’ll never be much of a defender, but I see him thriving in Joe Mazzulla’s system. I can see him having a long term career as a backup.
Josh Minott(WING): Minott barely got any minutes from Minnesota, but he’s a plus athlete with elite stock rates and showed decent complementary wing skill on offense. I’m intrigued to see how he does in a bigger role.
Baylor Scheierman(WING): High-IQ player whose defense has been better than expected. His shot currently isn’t great but his current volume and college numbers give him a lot of promise. Expecting big things from him next year.
Brooklyn Nets
Tyrese Martin(WING): He’s a high volume shooter with some playmaking juice. His efficiency wasn’t great last year, but I’m intrigued if all the new guards Brooklyn drafted can get him some easier looks. If that’s the case, I can see him turning into a valued bench piece.
Tosan Evbuomwan(WING): At backup power forward, I want to see the Nets keep Evbuomwan over Jalen Wilson. He’s a solid defender, creative passer, and efficient driver. If he works on the shot, he’ll stay in the league for a long time.
Charlotte Hornets
N/A
Chicago Bulls
N/A
Cleveland Cavaliers
N/A
Dallas Mavericks
Brandon Williams(GUARD): Brandon Williams was excellent for Dallas down the stretch. He shot the ball efficiently on good volume, handled the ball respectably, and played solid defense. I’d like to see him get backup PG minutes this year.
This is also a PSA that Jaden Hardy is bad at basketball and should be behind D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Dante Exum, and Brandon Williams on the depth chart if Jason Kidd has a functioning brain.
Denver Nuggets
Jalen Pickett(GUARD): I’m expecting an increase in both minutes and usage as Russell Westbrook leaves for elsewhere. He showed a solid ability to hit 3’s, play respectable defense, and make quality passes. I’d like to see more of the interior game he had in college return next year.
Detroit Pistons
Ron Holland(WING): Holland has shown a lot of talent as a rookie: he was already a positive defender, took care of the ball, and shot well from the rim and mid-range. His FT% was decent as well. I’m just hoping to see a leap in 3PT percentage, as that’s what will determine his ceiling in the NBA.
Golden State Warriors
Quinten Post(BIG): Post was a revelation for the Warriors last season, as a stretch big who hit 40% of his threes on high volume and made smart plays as a passer. I think part of why the Warriors haven’t signed a big is to give Post a shot at a starting role.
Gui Santos(WING): He really established himself as a solid backup last year. He’s an elite at rim finisher, elite offensive rebounder and reliable defender. If he can get the turnovers down and improve his jumper slightly, things look great for him.
Houston Rockets
N/A
Indiana Pacers
Johnny Furphy(WING): He’s a 6’9” guy with solid stock rates, a good looking shot profile, and a decent assist to turnover ratio. He’s going to only be 21 next year! I expect him to get more playing time during Indiana’s re-tool.
Quenton Jackson(GUARD): He’s best known as a huge energy guy who gets a lot of stocks on defense. He’s not bad on offense though, where he has a respectable shot from deep and is a respectable passer.
James Wiseman(BIG): Wiseman has looked awful during his NBA career, but he still has size and talent. His size, rim finishing, and rebounding are promising and Rick Carlisle is known for getting the best out of players.
Los Angeles Clippers:
N/A
Los Angeles Lakers
Jake LaRavia(WING): He’s a 6’8” guy who shot 42% from three last year and has flashes of all-around play. I think that a more consistent, simplified role next to Luka Doncic will do wonders for him next year.
Memphis Grizzlies
P.J Hall(BIG): He barely played at all for Denver, but I see serious upside with him in Memphis. In the G league, Hall was adouble double machine. He also made smart decisions offensively and showed some shooting potential from deep. With Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey hurt, he might have a chance to crack the rotation at the beginning of the year.
Cam Spencer(GUARD): He is already a plus-decision maker, has the ability to shoot the lights out, and plays full throttle all the time. This is a guy who I can’t believe that he fell to 53rd overall last year. The talent is much better than that.
Miami Heat
Keshad Johnson(WING): He’s a tank of a guy who’s a plus cutter and makes a ton of impact plays on defense in very limited minutes. I’m intrigued how a bigger role should affect his play next year.
Dru Smith(GUARD): It’s all a matter of health for him. Last year, he showed a combination of effort, intensity, and elite stock generation you rarely see out of guards. If he can shoot respectably from deep, I see him as a top tier backup.
Milwaukee Bucks:
Ryan Rollins(GUARD): He’s the best two way guard on the team right now. He’s a solid defender with plus stock rates and scores very efficiently on offense at all 3 levels. He’s shown flashes of self creation as well. If he can limit turnovers, I can see him being the starting point guard for Milwaukee next year.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jaylen Clark(WING): I don’t know how many minutes he gets in Minnesota’s tight rotation, but he’s shown elite-level defense and shot 43% from 3 last year. That should give him SOME sort of extended look.
New Orleans Pelicans
Karlo Matkovic(BIG): Markovic had his ups and downs throughout his rookie year. However, his rim finishing, rebounding, and flashes of shooting and shot blocking make him enticing long-term. I’m hoping to see more game-to-game consistency from him next year.
New York Knicks
N/A
Oklahoma City Thunder
Ajay Mitchell(GUARD): Mitchell forced himself into the league’s deepest guard rotation last year as a second-round pick thanks to smart all-around play. I’m interested to see how he does with another full year in the league.
Branden Carlson(BIG): It’s a bummer that Carlson is on the deepest roster in the league because he’s a rotation caliber big. His combination of size, shooting, decision making, and shot blocking is very rare to see.
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black(GUARD): Anthony Black has already shown the ability to be a solid, reliable defender. He’s even shown flashes on offense as a creator and shooter. I just want to see him put it all together. It’s important to remind people that he’s only 21 next year, and development is NOT linear.
Philadelphia 76ers
Jabari Walker(WING): Jabari Walker is a menace on the boards and solid defender who shot a career high 39% from three last year. He’s a bit of a tweeter and limited on offense, but the foundation of a good player is there. He’s also going to be 23 next year, so it’s not like he’s washed or something
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS GUY GOT A TWO WAY CONTRACT!!! WHAT IS PORTLAND DOING!!!???
Trendon Watford(WING): Trendon Watford has slowly improved his game year by year, with this year being his best defensive year. He also had a career high in 3 point attempts. What I love about this fit is the easy looks he will give to Jared McCain off the bench. I’m expecting a big year from him.
Phoenix Suns
Jared Butler(GUARD): Butler is average as a scorer and defender, but stands out with his reliable, high-level passing. He’s going to be one of the best third-string guards in the league, as he showed backup-level talent last year.
Ryan Dunn(WING): I think Dunn should be the starting power forward for Phoenix this year. He’s already shown the ability to be a plus defender. What’s more impressive is how much he’s improved as a shooter in just a year. He’s a great fit next to Devin Booker as a low usage wing.
Collin Gillespie(GUARD): Gillespie is an elite shooter from deep who takes great care of the ball and plays feisty defense. This sounds like the perfect description of what a backup point guard should be.
Portland Trail Blazers
N/A
Sacramento Kings
N/A
San Antonio Spurs:
Riley Minix(WING): This is a BOLD take considering that he’s played in 1 career NBA game. However, his college tape showed three-level scoring upside, decent ball-movement, and the ability to create events on defense. He also played well in the summer league, so perhaps he could get an end of bench role this year???
Toronto Raptors
Jamal Shead(GUARD): Jamal Shead looked overmatched last year, but I still believe in his potential. He was one of the best defensive guards in college and showed plus playmaking as well. I think that guards can have a tough time adjusting to the league so I wouldn’t be surprised if he improved next year.
Utah Jazz
Isaiah Collier(GUARD): I’m not expecting Collier to become some elite player after struggling for most of his rookie season. However, the passing flashes are evident and show high level upside. Hopefully, another year of development and an improved shot diet can make him a decent player next year.
Taylor Hendricks(WING): Despite only playing 3 games last year, I still can’t quit Taylor Hendricks. His combination of athleticism, shooting, and defense is rare in this league.
Brice Sensabaugh(WING): Brice Sensabaugh has shown high level flashes as an offensive player. He scores at an extremely efficient rate and can do so either on of off the ball. His playmaking is decent, too. I just want to see him put SOME effort on defense, because his offensive skill is looking SPECIAL.
Washington Wizards
Tristan Vukcevic(BIG): Tristan Vukcevic already has an impressive offensive game, as he’s a solid stretch 5 who takes good care of the ball. He even showed flashes of competent defense and a decent block rate as a rookie. I just hope that he gets enough playing time and can put it all together.
Thank you to everyone who read this!!! Hope you enjoyed. Please share YOUR deep cut underrated players in the comment section below.
Amazing article Adam.