Fans of lottery-bound NBA teams will be keeping a close on the league’s reverse standings down the stretch because of the effect they’ll have on the draft order and lottery odds for the 2020 first round.
However, it’s not just the first round of the draft that’s worth keeping an eye on. Those reverse standings will also dictate the order of the draft’s second round, and an early second-round pick can be nearly as valuable as a first-rounder.
Traded first-round selections like the one the Grizzlies are sending to the Celtics will ultimately be more valuable than any second-rounder, but it’s still worth taking a closer look at some traded 2020 second-rounders that project to be valuable picks.
[RELATED: Traded Second-Round Picks For 2020 NBA Draft]
Here are a few of those traded picks:
From: Golden State Warriors
To: Dallas Mavericks
Current projection: No. 31
This traded pick dates all the way back to the 2016 offseason, when the Mavericks acquired it along with Andrew Bogut. That deal gave them the option to eventually receive either the Warriors’ 2019 or 2020 second-rounder.
Dallas faced a little criticism at the time for helping Golden State clear the cap room necessary to sign Kevin Durant, but if the Mavs hadn’t done it, another team would have. Now they’ll benefit from the end of the Warriors’ dynasty, potentially acquiring the best non-first-round pick of the 2020 draft.
From: Cleveland Cavaliers
To: Charlotte Hornets
Current projection: No. 32
The Cavaliers first traded this pick to Orlando at the trade deadline in 2016 to acquire Channing Frye. It was later traded from the Magic to the Clippers, who eventually sent it to Charlotte on draft night in 2018.
The pick was one of two future second-rounders L.A. surrendered to move up a single spot in the lottery to draft Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 11 in ’18.
Considering the Cavs won a title with Frye and the Clippers eventually used Gilgeous-Alexander to acquire Paul George – and, indirectly, Kawhi Leonard – I don’t think either team is losing sleep about giving up this selection, but it’ll be a nice asset for the Hornets this spring.
From: Atlanta Hawks
To: Philadelphia 76ers
Current projection: No. 33
From: New York Knicks
To: Philadelphia 76ers
Current projection: No. 35
Philadelphia sent three second-round picks to the Warriors at the deadline for Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III, but did well to hang onto these selections, both of which could fall in the top 35 this spring.
The Sixers received both of these picks in deals that saw their trade partners move up in the second round to nab big men. The Knicks’ second-rounder was sent to Philadelphia in a 2015 deal for No. 35 pick Willy Hernangomez, while the Hawks’ second-rounder changed hands in last June’s swap for No. 34 pick Bruno Fernando.
From: Detroit Pistons
To: Sacramento Kings
Current projection: No. 36
This pick has been involved in two trades, neither of which worked out particularly well for the Suns. It was all Phoenix received in return for Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Danny Granger in a cost-cutting trade during the 2015 offseason. Then it was part of the package the Suns sent to the Kings for 2016’s No. 8 pick, Marquese Chriss.
The two 2016 first-round picks the Kings got that in that Chriss trade (Georgios Papagiannis and Skal Labissiere) didn’t pan out for Sacramento. However, the package also included the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic, making it a big win for the Kings. This year’s second-round pick is just an added bonus.
Sixers have two really high picks
Hopefully we can package them both with Zhaire Smith for a pick in the first round around 9th
Lmao nope.
29th or 19th maybe.
9? Lmao. No.
Zhaire Smith, couple 2nds, and your 1st (20 something) could bump you up all the way to 9.
Depending where San Antonio falls this year they should take up the offer of 76ers are willing to include their 1st.
Sixers get SAs 1st if it’s 10 or 11
SA gets Smith 2 2nds and the 76ers 1st.
No way.
Those two seconds are almost first really…
that would be basically 4 firsts for a lottery pick…
2nd round pick…..is not a 1st round pick lmao.
Plus, talent tends to drop off significantly in NBA drafts as the draft continues.
4 first round picks lmao. No, its a failed former 1st round pick in Zhaire Smith (#16 at the time), a 1st round pick (20 or worse), and 2 2nd round picks (between 31 and 40).
76ers pick up a better talent while SA picks up a lot of depth rotation pieces, which Pop has historically utilized very well.
If the 76ers were in a position to grab one of this years top PGs by trading all that im sure they would.
Grabbing a guy like Tyrese Halliburton to be their PG and moving simmons to SF, plus trying to swing a deal of Embiied for Beal (however that works) puts the 6ers in a lot better position long term.
I wouldn’t classify early-mid 30s picks as being particularly “high”
Went I said really high I was referring to the two really high seconds we have (both top 5)
there is no-way Smith and two picks in the top 5 of the 2nd Rd will get us upto #9 IMO
Possibly not but those two picks are near first rounders and Smith is a former 16th I really pick just a few years ago that hasn’t played bad.
I’d be happy giving up those 3 pieces for a top 15 pick tho
Think it could be a good move for a team that needs depth or needs to get younger quickly.
Maybe the Hornets Spurs or Blazers think about it.