There is a point in the NBA draft when it is better for a player not be selected at all. That includes most, if not all, of the second round. Only first-rounders get guaranteed three-year contracts.

        Though not being picked may be a blow to a player's ego, it allows him to be a free agent and pick and choose from which teams to accept invitations to attend free-agent camp. Agents can try to find the best situation that may allow a client to make an NBA roster.

        Former University of Cincinnati point guard Kenny Satterfield probably would have been better off in that situation.

        Satterfield, who left the Bearcats after two seasons, was 54th among 58 players selected in Wednesday night's draft, picked by the Dallas Mavericks, who don't necessarily need help at point guard. They have Steve Nash and Howard Eisley.

        “At that point, it doesn't really matter if it happens or not, really,” Satterfield said Wednesday night of being picked so late.

        Fourteen of 29 second-round picks from a year ago were on NBA rosters all season. From 1994 to 2000, 26 players selected at No.50 or higher have appeared in at least one NBA game, said Chris Ekstrand, editor of the NBA Draft Guide.

        Dan Fegan, Satterfield's agent, has not returned repeated calls from the Enquirer since Satterfield announced in late April that he was making himself available for the NBA draft.

        His associate, Jeff Hilford, did not return calls Thursday.

        Getting selected by Dallas was a surprise, because the Mavericks had not worked out Satterfield individually before the draft.

        “We didn't expect him to be around that late in the second round,” Dallas owner Mark Cuban told the Enquirer via e-mail. “In any event, we expect him to come in and compete for a spot on the roster. Kenny has proven he can be a point at a high level in college, and we want to see what he can do in our summer league, and we will go from there. There is no question he is very talented; now we just have to see how bad he wants it.”

        Satterfield was the ninth — and last — college underclassmen selected in the second round. About two dozen early-entry candidates were not picked at all.

        The previous two Bearcats in the past decade to be selected in the 50s — Melvin Levett (54th, Detroit, 1999) and Pete Mickeal (58th, New York, 2000) — have not played in the NBA. Former Xavier standout Torraye Braggs was picked No.57 overall by Utah in 1998 and also has not played in the NBA.

DAUGHERTY: Satterfield's advisers should pay

Satterfield would be better off undrafted DAUGHERTY: Satterfield's advisers should pay

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