Thursday’s Cavs-Pacers trade featured an exchange of second-round picks, with the Cavaliers receiving a 2019 second-rounder while the Pacers acquired the rights to Rakeem Christmas, this year’s 36th overall selection. It’s a swap that caused only a slight ripple in NBA waters, and indeed, most second-round picks don’t enjoy particularly memorable careers in the league, if they ever end up signing at all.
But, enough of them do such that second-rounders indeed have value. Ten free agents who were former second-round picks signed deals this month that totaled, respectively, at least $35MM. None were picked later in the second round than Marc Gasol, the 2007 48th overall pick who wound up re-signing with the Grizzlies on a max deal. DeAndre Jordan, the 35th pick from seven years ago, scored a max deal, too.
Teams like the Sixers and Celtics who’ve loaded up on second-rounders for the years to come have in essence bought up blocks of lottery tickets. The chances of success for any one particular second-round pick are slim. But, put together, picks 31-60 have some impressive credentials. Here are the top 10 deals that former second-round picks have signed this month, ranked by total value and rounded to the nearest $1K:
- Marc Gasol, Grizzlies (five years, $113.212MM) — 48th overall, 2007
- DeAndre Jordan, Clippers (four years, $87.616MM) — 35th overall, 2008
- Goran Dragic, Heat (five years, $85.002MM) — 45th overall, 2008
- Draymond Green, Warriors (five years, $82MM) — 35th overall, 2012
- Khris Middleton, Bucks (five years, $70MM) — 39th overall, 2012
- Paul Millsap, Hawks (three years, $60.216MM) — 47th overall, 2006
- Omer Asik, Pelicans (five years, $52.977MM) — 36th overall, 2008
- Monta Ellis, Pacers (four years, $43.981MM) — 40th overall, 2005
- Danny Green, Spurs (four years, $40MM) — 46th overall, 2009
- Jae Crowder, Celtics (five years, $35MM) — 34th overall, 2012
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Which second-rounder from this year’s class do you think has the best chance to end up on a list like this one someday? Leave a comment to let us know.
Norman Powell easily
Jordan signed with the Clippers ;)
Hahaha, he sure did! Thanks for catching that bit of revisionist history there. The Clippers are in their rightful place next to his name now.
Joe Young
Second Norman Powell and Joe Young. I’ll add Jordan Mickey.