UA wings undrafted but land with teams
Reports: Trier, Knicks agree; Alkins to Raptors
NEW YORK — Arizona wings Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier were not selected in the NBA draft on Thursday after leaving the Wildcats early last spring.
However, Trier reportedly agreed to a two-way deal with the Knicks, with a chance to play in both the G League and NBA, while Alkins is expected to do the same with the Toronto Raptors.
Alkins was universally projected as a second-round pick while Trier had slipped out of the mock drafts after being projected in the first round earlier in his career.
They join Brandon Ashley (2015), Kobi Simmons (2017) and Chance Comanche (2017) as UA players who went undrafted after leaving Arizona early for the draft.
Reached midway through the second round, UA coach Sean Miller said he was disappointed Alkins and Trier were not drafted, but said "the one thing about the NBA is if you can play, you'll find your way and those guys will."
Alkins missed a total of 12 games last season because of a broken foot. But Alkins appeared to help himself at the NBA combine and in individual workouts for teams, showing his ver- satility, strength and defensive potential.
"I'm showcasing that in these workouts," he told media after a workout with the Pacers earlier in the week. "Especially in these workouts, I'm showing my defensive mentality and that offensively it just comes naturally."
He averaged 13.1 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Wildcats last season.
"Just proving I can be a defender and guard the top guys in the NBA," Alkins said after a workout with the Suns on June 1. "As a rookie it's hard to come into the game thinking you're going to take 20 shots a night, so I'm coming in with that defensive mentality."
Trier was Arizona's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 18.1 points and shooting 50 percent from the field.