NBA Second Round Picks from 1990 to present...
It's coming up on draft time and there is lots of excitement about the potential of the first rounders this year. To me, what is almost equally as interesting is the 'potential' of there being some good players available in the 2nd round of the draft.
Each year, it seems, there are a handful of guys that fall much farther than they 'should'. When you look over the list you see a number of players that carved out a legit career for themselves from the 2nd round (ie. at least got a 2nd NBA contract, if not more). You'll even see a handful of all-stars that slipped through the cracks. So while most say things like 'the 2nd round is a crap shoot' - which i agree with to a large degree - it's still very interesting to me. I like trying to figure out just who might be that 'guy' that slips too far, and ends up being a solid contributor to a good team.
It's a bit early to judge the 2006 draft just yet, however a couple of people seem to have carved out a niche for themselves to date:
47. Paul Millsap
46. Dee Brown
42. Daniel Gibson
Again, it may be too early to write off the class of 2005 right now, but a few guys have stood out to one degree or another:
56. Amir Johnson - added because apparently Detroit loves this kid
50. Ryan Gomes
40. Monta Ellis
37. Ronny Turiaf
2004 has only shown a few guys so far - but all 3 are fringe starters in my mind:
44. Trevor Ariza
39. Chris Duhon
31. Anderson Varejão
2003 was a banner draft year, from top to bottom. While most focus on all of the good players taken in the first round, the 2nd round had alot of talent also - clearly 2003 was indeed one of the best draft classes ever.
51. Kyle Korver
49. James Jones
47. Mo Williams
45. Matt Bonner
43. Keith Bogans
42. Zaur Pachulia
41. Willie Green
38. Steve Blake
32. Luke Walton
31. Jason Kapono
2002 saw a few solid role players, a couple of fringe starters and a star:
53. Rasual Butler
50. Darius Songaila
46. Matt Barnes
42. Ronald Murray
35. Carlos Boozer
34. Dan Gadzuric
2001 included a most improved player winner, 2 all-stars and 2 other solid starters
53. Jarron Collins
46. Loren Woods
42. Bobby Simmons
40. Earl Watson
38. Mehmet Okur
31. Gilbert Arenas
30. Trenton Hassell
2000 had some solid role-players and a star:
44. Brian Cardinal
43. Michael Redd
38. Eduardo Najera
37. Eddie House
33. Jake Voskuhl
30. Marco Jaric
1999 was similar to 2000 in makeup:
57. Emmanuel Ginobili
53. Rodney Buford
47. Todd MacCulloch
43. Lee Nailon
41. Francisco Elson
40. Gordan Giricek
35. Calvin Booth
32. Michael Ruffin
1998 was a pretty good year for 2nd rounders:
58. Maceo Baston
53. Greg Buckner
44. Sean Marks
43. Jahidi White
41. Cuttino Mobley
39. Rafer Alston
36. Jerome James
33. Jelani McCoy
32. Rashard Lewis
31. Ruben Patterson
Not much star power in 1997, but some solid players non-the-less:
55. Mark Blount
48. Alvin Williams
43. Stephen Jackson
40. Anthony Johnson
38. Marc Jackson
Same goes for 1996. Note that 2 of these guys won championships:
54. Shandon Anderson
44. Malik Rose
37. Jeff McInnis
33. Moochie Norris
30. Othella Harrington
1995:
58. Don Reid
52. Fred Hoiberg
47. Tyus Edney
43. Eric Snow
34. Andrew DeClercq
1994:
54. Zeljko Rebraca
52. Anthony Goldwire
51. Lawrence Funderburke
46. Voshon Lenard
32. Jim McIlvaine
30. Howard Eisley
1993:
47. Chris Whitney
45. Bryon Russell
37. Nick Van Exel
28. Lucious Harris
1992:
42. Matt Geiger
32. Brent Price
30. Sean Rooks
29. P.J. Brown
1991:
48. Isaac Austin
45. Bobby Phills
31. Randy Brown
1990:
48. Cedric Ceballos
45. Antonio Davis
43. Tony Massenburg
40. Bimbo Coles
35. Greg Foster
29. Tony Kukoc
