NBA Draft 2023: 5 best undrafted free agents who could make teams look silly

2023 NBA Draft: No. 4 undrafted free agent Drew Timme, Bucks

The Bucks swept up Drew Timme and signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract. Timme is a battle-hardened college vet from one of the country’s premier programs at Gonzaga. He averaged 21.2 points and 7.5 rebounds on 61.2 percent shooting last season. He was thoroughly dominant.

There was a time when Timme might have been a first-round pick based on his offensive skill set and prolific track record of production, but that time is not today. The modern NBA has really gone away from slow-footed, drop-coverage centers who can’t really defend outside the paint. Timme faces serious hurdles on the defensive end to establish himself as a rotation-level player in the league.

For the Bucks, there’s definite appeal in Timme’s offensive skill set. He’s such a dominant post scorer that it almost doesn’t matter how outmoded that style of scoring is. Timme’s footwork and feather-soft touch, combined with a strong 6-foot-10, 235-pound frame, make him a handful for even the best interior defenders. There’s a path to him bullying second-unit bigs and racking up productive minutes in reserve.

Timme is a good passer for his position too, a key attribute if he wants to become more than just a post scorer in the NBA — a necessity for his long-term survival. The defensive concerns are great, but he battles hard in the paint and he could carve out a lane as a utility big in specific matchups, which is all you can really hope for with undrafted free agents.