Interesting undrafted free agents

In the 1996 NBA Draft, an unheralded and undersized forward out of Virginia Union went undrafted. The Washington Bullets took a flier on him, and he paid relative dividends by spending three seasons as a semi-capable rebounder off the bench.

And then Washington - now the Wizards - leveraged that asset to land Isaac Austin. Big mistake. That unheralded, undersized and undrafted forward was Ben Wallace, who would subsequently be traded to the Detroit Pistons and become an All-World defender and rebounder, making four All-Star Games and winning an NBA championship.

Players who don't get drafted generally aren't picked for a reason, whether it be limited upside, character issues or a key skill missing. But Wallace, Jeremy Lin, Bruce Bowen, Brad Miller and more stand as examples that just because you aren't one of the 60 players with their name called on draft night doesn't mean you can't have a productive NBA career.

Here are some of the names that went undrafted on Thursday night that have a chance to make an impact if a team takes a chance on them.

Patric Young, C, Florida

Final ESPN Mock: 42, Final DraftExpress Mock: 42

Easily the highest-rated player to go unselected on Thursday night, Young should be able to catch on with someone. A 6-foot-10, 250-pound center, Young is a consummate "little things" player, someone willing to defend, rebound, and fight for tough buckets and loose balls. He may be a bit undersized at the pivot, but his athleticism and effort make up for that deficiency. As such, he projects as a solid defender and an efficient, albeit low-usage, interior piece.

UPDATE: He is expected to join the New Orleans Pelicans for Summer League.

Jabari Brown, SG, Missouri

Final ESPN Mock: N/R, Final DraftExpress Mock: 45

Brown is an exciting and versatile scorer, having averaged 19.9 points as a junior while shooting 41 percent on threes and getting to the line nearly eight times a game. So what's the issue then, if he's that talented an offensive player? Well, three years in, he's yet to show consistent effort defensively and may lack the size to move to the three, where he may be best suited. If a team can get Brown to buy in and play disciplined, there's a nice reserve scorer here.

UPDATE: Brown is expected to join the Houston Rockets' Summer League team.

Bryce Cotton, PG, Providence, Jahii Carson, PG, Arizona St., Deonte Burton, PG, Nevada

Final ESPN Mock: N/R Final DraftExpress Mock: 52 (Burton)

Cotton, Carson and Burton are grouped together here because they represent a similar gamble for a team taking a stab on a Summer League point guard. Cotton was an excellent scorer over four seasons but isn't a great athlete and is rail thin; Carson is somewhat the opposite, leveraging quickness and athleticism but similarly lacking size; Burton is a high-end scorer and athlete whose team lacked success. Each has their warts but each also has the potential to become a team's third point man.

UPDATE: The Rockets have nabbed Carson for their Summer League squad, while Burton is rumored to be hopping on with the Washington Wizards.

Aaron Craft, World's Greatest, Ohio State

Final ESPN Mock: N/R, Final DraftExpress Mock: N/R

If you believe the announcers from the NCAA Tournament, Craft is not only the best basketball player of all time but also the greatest man to ever live. Ignore the lack of scoring track record over four seasons; Craft is a leader of men and a winner, dammit! In all seriousness, Craft has a small chance of carving out a role as a defensive specialist, something he'll reportedly try to do with Philadelphia or Golden State at Summer League.

The Canadians

Khem Birch, PF, UNLV, (ESPN: 47, DraftExpress: 58)
Melvin Ejim, SF, Iowa St., (ESPN: N/R, DraftExpress: N/R)
Jordan Bachysnki, C, Arizona St., (ESPN: 55, DraftExpress: 59)
Sim Bhullar, C, New Mexico, (ESPN: N/R, DraftExpress: N/R)

While four Canadians were drafted on Thursday, another four were left waiting at the end of round two. It's still a great year for Canadian basketball, and some of the undrafted crop could still catch on if given a chance.

Birch, in particular, seems to have a future in the NBA. If you're a fan of analytics, you should be excited about the possibility of your team grabbing the Montreal native, who was highly rated by several advanced metrics. In Birch, a team would be getting elite rebounding and shot blocking numbers, albeit with an admittedly limited offensive game.

Bachynski, meanwhile, is a 7-foot-2 behemoth, lacking in athleticism but with enough size and instincts that he led the country in blocked shots. Ejim is an academic All-American who had a terrific senior season and could have the strength and athleticism to become a low-end combo-forward. Bhullar would be the biggest player in the NBA at 7-foot-5 and 360-pounds but is limited in terms of skill; he'll reportedly join the Sacramento Kings for Summer League, which is fitting since he and Kings owner Vivek Ranadive are both of Indian decent.

UPDATE: Ejim will join the Summer League team of the San Antonio Spurs, which should tell you all you need to know about his potential. Birch is slated to join the Wizards for the Vegas tourney, where he should feel right at home.