5 Most underrated prospects in NBA Draft 2019

The NBA Draft is one of the most important aspects of the off-season, giving the teams a chance to draft and incorporate fresh talent into their rosters. While some basketball players get a tremendous amount of attention from their college years itself, such as Zion Williamson, an athlete that blew up social media and is widely speculated to be the number 1 pick in the draft, there are a lot of extremely talented players that get no attention from the media at all.

Most of the talk regarding the draft revolves around the lottery picks, but building a successful, deep team goes beyond the first few picks. Many late picks in the draft have also gone on to become huge stars. Just ask Pascal Siakam (27th overall), or Draymond Green (35th overall). Here are the 5 most underrated prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft that teams should definitely consider picking:

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#1 Carsen Edwards (24.3 PPG, 3.9 APG)

Carsen Edwards, a guard out of Purdue, is projected to go somewhere late in the first round of the draft. His numbers, though, are really fantastic. He averaged over 24 points a game, and 1.3 steals a game, on pretty decent shooting.

One of the reasons he's underrated is his size - he's just over 6 feet tall, making him extremely small compared to some of the guards out there. However, he's a player that can create his own shot off the dribble with ease, as well as catch and shoot really well. Edwards has really good handles alongside his shooting, making him an excellent point guard.

During his college career, he hasn't really focused on creating shots for others, as seen in his assist numbers, however, under NBA level coaching and after being placed in a solid structure, he could definitely be an excellent backup for any team. With his numbers and the type of game he plays, one could easily see him being a Kemba Walker type player at his best, especially due to his elite shot creating ability.

#2 Luka Samanic (14.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG)

Luka Samanic

Luka Samanic is a 6'9 Croatian forward who was initially projected to go in the second round of the draft. However, he had an incredible showing at the NBA combine, making him a first round possibility. Samanic is a pretty unknown player, with little to no coverage surrounding him. This, however, says nothing about his talent. Samanic is extremely versatile, and has an excellent shooting touch for someone his size.

At the combine, he scored 13 points in under 20 minutes of play in his very first scrimmage game, turning a lot of heads. He also showed off his agility and vertical at the combine, which compared well against other players at his position. Samanic can also shoot the three pretty well, making him a very interesting prospect for teams that try to stretch out the floor and get a man open on the perimeter.

"I think I can be a threat on the three-point line. I can pass the ball, just spread the floor for the guards." - Luka Samanic

His stats from the EuroLeague last season are pretty impressive, scoring 15 a game and dragging down nearly 7 boards. While he definitely isn't going to be a major player for any team right now, he's a good second option, and can contribute well on limited minutes with teams like the Nets, or 76ers.

#3 Nicolas Claxton (13.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG)

Claxton, a 6"11 center from Georgia, also had a great showing at the combine and may have brought his value up enough to be picked in the first round. A relatively unknown prospect, Claxton is an extremely solid center and can prove very valuable to teams that need size, such as the Bucks.

Claxton is an impressive rim-protector who impressed scouts and coaches with his defensive talent. He can also switch on the perimeter to guard smaller, quicker guards, which is extremely crucial in today's NBA. Claxton also showed that he can use his size to his advantage, showing off an array of post moves in the paint. He has a tremendous standing reach at 9'2 and is a strong player in transition.

With decent ball handling and passing for his position, his athleticism and length allow him to be a very viable transition option, especially in a system that pushes the ball quick. However, Claxton still needs to put on some weight and muscle to avoid getting bullied by stronger centers in the paint and needs to work on his offensive ability, especially his three-point game. Overall, his game looks a bit like Clint Capela's - a big that can push in transition, and protect the rim well.

#4 Dylan Windler (21.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG)

Dylan Windler is a 6'8 forward from Belmont that put up a monster senior season. He went off for 35 points and 11 rebounds against Maryland in the NCAA, shooting 11 of 23 from the floor. He isn't as well known as some of the other forwards in the 2019 draft but is definitely an excellent option for the first round for any team.

Windler shows off the three-point shooting that at his size, NBA teams covet. He made 100 threes as a senior, shooting 43% from the three, which for his size, are extremely strong numbers. Windler is particularly good at catch and shoot threes, and can come off screens to immediately be a threat, forcing the defense to compensate. For someone who spends a lot of time on the perimeter, his rebounding numbers are terrific, displaying his hustle and energy.

Dylan also has a high basketball IQ and can create shots for his teammates as well. He only recorded 2 turnovers a game despite being one of the primary options for Belmont. He can also shoot the free throw extremely well, at over 87% last year. Windler thus becomes an excellent option for the second unit of any team, as a methodical player that spaces the floor, and can be a threat from the perimeter, or from inside.

He does need to put on some weight, however, and become a bit stronger to be able to contest for rebounds in the paint. Overall, he has tremendous appeal as a first rounder, and his experience playing for a fast-paced offense like Belmont could aid him in fitting in with an NBA team right away.

#5 Dedric Lawson (19.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG)

Dedric Lawson, a forward from Kansas, seems to be flying under the draft radar despite having an outstanding season last year. With two of the team's primary scorers out, Lawson was required to step up, and he did. He averaged a double-double and showed how he could pull and beat smaller defenders in the post, and get past larger defenders off the dribble.

At 6'9, he has a well-rounded game, with good ball-handling skills, as well as the capability to score under the basket. He also draws a lot of fouls and converts those well - shooting 81% from the free throw line. While he isn't the best shooter, he can stretch the floor well and is respectable enough from mid-range and the three-point to not allow teams to sag off from him. Moreover, he has good enough handles to create his own shots from the mid-range and create shots for teammates by pushing his way into the paint.

He could be an excellent fit for the second unit for teams like the Spurs, Lakers, Cavaliers, or the Nets. Lawson is an excellent option off the bench and can put in some points for any team while not demanding many minutes. While he definitely isn't the most flashy player, his basketball IQ and rounded game allow him to be a threat on the offensive end.

Lawson does need to work on his defense, however, to be an effective asset on the floor every night. He could get beat off the dribble against smaller, quicker guards, which is a big problem in today's pick-and-roll game. Overall, he's a viable option to be picked late in the first round or early in the second and can be a good addition to the bench of an NBA team.