Twenty-Two Undrafted Rookies Just Landed Deals, And One Of Them Could Be Your Next Fred VanVleet

Alright, Seattle sports fam, the 2026 NBA Draft is officially in the books, and let's be real, the real fireworks started when the draft ended! That chaos of the second round always sets the stage, but the true grind begins with undrafted free agency. This is where teams find those diamond-in-the-rough players, the guys who didn't hear their name called but are about to carve out their own path to the big leagues. We've seen it before: remember Ryan Nembhard for the Dallas Mavericks or Caleb Love with the Portland Trail Blazers last year? Or Justin Edwards on the Philadelphia 76ers the year before that? Ricky Council IV, Keon Ellis, Scotty Pippen Jr. in 2022, and legends like Fred VanVleet, Austin Reaves, and Jose Alvarado all started this way. It just proves front offices gotta be sharp, always looking for value on the edges!

The Hustle is Real: Immediate Impact Signings

The ink is barely dry on the draft class, and already twenty-two undrafted prospects are officially starting their NBA journeys! This is where the fight for a roster spot truly begins. Rafael Castro, a big out of George Washington, is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks on a two-way deal, which is huge for his development. Quadir Copeland, a guard from N.C. State, is joining the Houston Rockets, also on a two-way. Then you've got Tobe Awaka, an Arizona big, locking in a two-way with the Chicago Bulls. These guys are getting their shot right away, and you know they're gonna bring that fire every single day. Tamin Lipsey from Iowa St. signed an Exhibit-10 with the Indiana Pacers, who are clearly busy, also snagging Kowacie Reeves Jr. from Georgia Tech and Keba Keita from BYU on similar deals. Keyshawn Hall, an Auburn wing, is going to the Miami Heat on a two-way, and they also grabbed Tre

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Donaldson, a guard from Miami FL, on a two-way. The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up Lamar Wilkerson (Indiana, Wing) and Josh Dix (Creighton, Wing), both on Exhibit-10 and two-way deals respectively. Wyatt Fricks, a forward from Marshall, is heading to the Charlotte Hornets on an Exhibit-10, and Peter Suder from Miami OH is joining the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way.

Who Else Is Chasing the Dream?

The list of players who found homes keeps growing, and it's a testament to the depth of talent out there. Jaylin Sellers (Providence, Wing) is linking up with the Chicago Bulls on a two-way, and Carson Cooper (Michigan St., Big) landed a two-way with the Memphis Grizzlies. Even the Phoenix Suns got in on the action, signing Corey Camper Jr. (Nevada, Wing) and Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska, Guard). Xaivian Lee (Florida, Guard) signed an Exhibit-10 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Down south, Chris Bell (California, Wing) is an Exhibit-10 signing for the New Orleans Pelicans, while Nimari Burnett (Michigan, Wing) heads to the Toronto Raptors with an Exhibit-10. Ben Humrichous (Illinois, Forward) is going to the Brooklyn Nets on an Exhibit-10, and KeShawn Murphy (Auburn, Big) is an Exhibit-10 signee for the Washington Wizards. Every single one of these guys is chasing the dream, fighting to prove they belong. This is just the start of the journey for these rookies. The names like Aaron Nkrumah, Milos Uzan, Nate Bittle, Kylan Boswell, and so many others who are still out there, know this is their moment to grind. We're talking about earning significant minutes, proving their worth, and making those front office executives look like geniuses. The season is a marathon, and for these players, every practice, every minute, every drill is a chance to show they're the next undrafted success story. Get ready for some serious hustle, because these guys are playing for their careers!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.