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Every summer, 60 of the best players from around the world are selected in the NBA draft. Due to all that is at stake, almost every individual eligible for the draft undergoes extensive scouting, and NBA teams make it a priority not to miss any talent from either home or abroad.
Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons, a number of players still fall through the cracks, and there are plenty of undrafted players currently playing in the NBA. So, ahead of the 2019-20 season, here we will take a look at three undrafted stars that have big roles to play for their respective teams.
#3 Alex Caruso
Over four years with the Texas A&M Aggies, Alex Caruso appeared 137 times, averaging 8.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. However, Caruso went undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft and was waived after joining up with the Oklahoma City Thunder's training camp roster.
Nevertheless, after spending time in the G-League, Caruso was invited to join the Lakers' Summer League roster in 2017, and he subsequently signed a two-way contract with the team. The point guard went on to play 37 times during his rookie season and was brought back on another two-way deal for the 2018-19 campaign.
Caruso spent much of last season on the sidelines, however, he was afforded more opportunities after the All-Star break. Over 20 appearances, the 25-year-old averaged 11.2 points while shooting a ridiculous 47% from deep. His form was enough to justify the Lakers bringing him back on a two-year, $5.5 million contract, and Frank Vogel has stated that Caruso has a big role to play this season.
While Rajon Rondo is likely to start, Caruso will get plenty of minutes in the rotation, and the guard will be keen to build upon his terrific form from the final months of last season.
#2 Joe Ingles
Joe Ingles impressed during his three seasons with the South Dragons of the National Basketball League but was not selected in the 2009 NBA draft. With his prospects in the United States looking bleak, Ingles headed to Europe and enjoyed successful spells in Spain and Isreal.
The Australian eventually linked up with the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer of 2014 but was waived just days ahead of the new season. However, Ingles was claimed by the Utah Jazz, and the small forward has been with the team ever since.
Ingles has slowly established himself as a starter for the Jazz, and despite turning 32 later this year, the Adelaide native is firmly in the prime of his career. After averaging 12.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds last season, Ingles will once again play a key role this season as the Jazz look to contend for a title after adding Mike Conley in free agency.
#1 Fred VanVleet
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Fred VanVleet signed a multi-year deal with the Raptors, although the point guard still had to fend off stiff competition as the roster was narrowed down to 15 players. VanVleet's first season with the Raptors was a learning curve as he averaged just 7.9 minutes over 37 appearances, although his minutes almost tripled during his second year.
His third year was even better, as VanVleet started 28 times while averaging career highs in minutes (27.5), points (11.0), assists (4.8), and rebounds (2.6). The 25-year-old also overcome a tough start to the playoffs to finish second in the NBA Finals MVP voting - most notably scoring 22 points in Toronto's Game 6 title-clinching win over the Warriors.
While VanVleet will have to settle for a place on the bench, the guard is set to average a career-high in minutes as the Raptors develop him as a successor for the aging Kyle Lowry. His three-point accuracy also makes him the Raptors' go-to man down the stretch, and VanVleet could be a contender for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year title.
