Finding a diamond in the ruff during the second round of the NBA Draft has become more and more of a crap shoot with each passing year. Now, Twitter updates, YouTube highlights, national exposure to numerous college teams and draft combine results can make anyone an expert on the upcoming NBA draft. By the end of June, people generally have a pretty good knowledge as to who’s first round material and who’s going to be stuck in the second round come draft night. However, that has not stopped certain players from slipping down the draft board, and ultimately becoming second round steals.
Although the Lakers possess no first round picks in this month’s NBA Draft, they do have four second round picks (#41, #46, #56 and #58), which means the purple and gold have a nice shot at leaving the draft with something special. In light of the Lakers’ second round steal potential, let’s take a look at the top 10 second round picks of the last 20 years.
10. PJ Brown – Selected 29th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft – As Lakers fans, our most recent and unfortunately most memorable memory of PJ Brown was his performance in the 2008 NBA Finals as a member of the Boston Celtics. He hit big shots and played a pivotal role on defense for the champion Celtics that year, and although he was a ripe 38 during his lone title season, his veteran presence provided Boston with a necessary wealth of experience during their playoff run. Drafted by the Nets out of Louisiana Tech University, Brown began his 15-year career in Newark, where he spent three seasons before “taking his talents to South Beach” for four years to play alongside Alonzo Mourning. He was traded to the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets during the summer of 2000, where he played an integral role for six seasons, even receiving an MVP vote during the 2004-05 season. He was never an all-star and only finished his career with averages of 9.1 PPG and 7.7 RPG, but Brown was certainly a quality player who left a lasting impact on the league with his defense, post skills and leadership.
9. Cuttino Mobley – Selected 41st overall by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft – The possessor of arguably the most unique, non-foreign name in NBA history, Cuttino Mobley was a quick-as-a-cat shooting guard with a deft shooting touch. He spent the most productive years of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, where he was paired up with the high-flying Steve Francis, forming one of the stronger backcourts in the league. After six successful seasons in Houston, five of which Mobley averaged at least 15.8 PPG, the sweet-shooting guard was traded along with Francis, his fellow backcourt partner and good friend, to the Orlando Magic in a deal that landed the Rockets Tracy McGrady. Mobley only played 23 games for the Magic, averaging 16.0 PPG before he was traded yet again, this time to the Sacramento Kings in a move that brought Doug Christie to Orlando. After finishing out the 2005 season with the Kings, Mobley changed uniforms yet again, opting to move to Los Angeles, where he signed with the Clippers, and was their starting shooting guard for two and a half seasons. After two more seasons of decline, Mobley was traded to the New York Knicks mid way through the 2008 season. However, he never suited up for the Knicks, and was waived by the franchise in April of 2010. Currently in retirement, Mobley finished his NBA career with averages of 16.0 PPG, 2.7 APG and 3.9 RPG in 37 MPG.
8. Monta Ellis – Selected 40th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft – Although he has only been in the league for six seasons, Monta Ellis has carved a successful path for himself since being drafted by the Warriors out of Lanier High School (Miss.) in 2005. While he doesn’t possess the mentality to be a point guard, or the necessary height to be a traditional shooting guard, Ellis has become one of the league’s most lethal offensive weapons. He’s coming off two stellar seasons in which he’s posted scoring averages of 25.5 PPG and 24.1 PPG, while forming one of the strongest offensive backcourt tandems in the league next to rising star Stephen Curry. Trade rumors containing his name have swirled around for the past year, but even if the young, fiery guard is dealt, he will certainly provide an offensive boost to whichever team he ends up with. At only 25 years of age, Ellis is a budding all-star, and if he can become more of a playmaker, the sky is the roof for one of the league’s last high school-to-the-pros players.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq_1j4z5-J4
Next: Three Wings With a Knack For Offense
[phpbay]3,,””[/phpbay]
7. Rashard Lewis – Selected 32nd overall by the Seattle Supersonics in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft – Similar to Ellis, Lewis was another player who skipped college, and opted for the NBA straight out of high school. Despite being one of the 15 players invited to sit in the Green Room (where 15 of the draft’s top prospects are invited to sit at the draft on draft night), Lewis was not selected until the second round by the Seattle Sonics. Since being snubbed by his hometown Houston Rockets three times during the first round that night, Lewis has gone on to enjoy a more than successful NBA career, even landing a massive $118 million contract with the Orlando Magic in the summer of 2007, after spending nine seasons with the Sonics. Known for his size, versatility and sweet shooting stroke, Lewis became one of the premiere snipers in the league, and during his last season in Seattle, he posted a career high 22.8 PPG. However, after three and a half seasons with the Magic, Lewis’ play didn’t seem to merit his hefty contract and he was consequently traded to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas midway through the 2010-11 season. He battled injuries for the majority of the 2011 season, only suiting up for 57 games and putting up his lowest scoring average (11.7 PPG) since his second year in the league, when he put up 8.2 PPG in 19.2 MPG. Lewis definitely still has a few years left in the tank, and by no means is completely washed up. He may not be the deadly scoring threat that he once was, but if he can bounce back from his injury plagued season, he will surely be a great veteran piece for the very young Wizards (and one day, a massive expiring contract corpse).
6. Michael Redd – Selected 43rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft – Michael Redd’s second round selection by the Bucks probably didn’t seem like much at the time, but 11 years later, he may have been the best player of arguably the worst draft class in NBA history. (The top five picks of that draft were: Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer and Mike Miller.) Injuries to his knees have certainly derailed his career, but having spent his entire 10-year career with the Bucks, Redd was an extremely formidable scoring threat for a few years – posting averages of 25.4 and 26.7 PPG from 2005-2007. He’s long gone in terms of his presence as an all-star, but for someone who seemed fairly irrelevant at the time of his drafting, Redd’s gone on to have a very strong NBA career.
5. Stephen Jackson – Selected 42nd overall by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft – While he’s probably going to be remembered for his very enigmatic personality, unique choice of tattoos and of course, his role in the Malice at the Palace, Stephen Jackson has become a very special player since being selected by the Phoenix Suns after playing at Butler County Community College. He’s been a classic journeyman since entering the NBA in 2000 (While he was drafted by the Suns in 1997, he didn’t see his first NBA action until signing with the New Jersey Nets prior to the 2000-01 season.), having suited up for the Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Bobcats over the course of his 10-year NBA career. He won an NBA title in 2003 with the Spurs, for whom he averaged 11.8 points in 28.2 minutes per game. But it wasn’t until he signed with Atlanta the following offseason that his career began to take off. Since then, he has averaged at least 15.5 PPG each season, and even posted two years of over 20 PPG. He’s never been the most efficient scorer, the most mentally stable or the best defender, but as a competitor and an offensive threat, Stephen Jackson has found his place in the NBA.
Next: Second Selection Stars
[phpbay]3,,[/phpbay]4. Nick Van Exel – Selected 37th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1993 NBA Draft – One of the true enigmas of the 1990s and early 2000s, Nick Van Exel’s game was perfectly summed up in his nickname, “Nick the Quick.” Listed at a generous 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, Van Exel may have been small, but he didn’t let that get in the way of him. Not only was he a reliable playmaker, who was among the top 10 leaders in assists five times throughout his career, but he was a lethal scoring threat as well. His quick, high arching, left jumper was difficult to guard, and it helped him average at least 13 points per game in each of his 13 NBA seasons. He was one of the leagues premiere starting point guards from his rookie year in Los Angeles, through his three and a half years in Denver, until he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks midseason in 2002, where he became the team’s spark plug off the bench. A Cincinnati Bearcat product, Van Exel is 14th on the NBA’s list of 3-point field goal leaders, and boasts career averages of 14.4 points and 6.6 assists per game.
3. Carlos Boozer – Selected 34th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft – Duke basketball players have been a hot commodity in the NBA for quite some time, and although Boozer may have been a product of Blue Devil basketball, it didn’t help him sneak into the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft. However, it didn’t matter, as he found instant success during his rookie year with the Cavaliers, averaging 10 PPG and 7.5 RPG while being named to the all-rookie second team. After two years with the Cavs, Boozer bolted for the Utah Jazz in a controversial contract negotiation, which ended up staining his image among NBA teams. During his time in Salt Lake City, Boozer became one of the league’s top big men, and most intimidating forces, putting up a double double in all but two of his six seasons with the Jazz. He’s a two-time all star, and is now Derrick Rose’s sidekick on the Chicago Bulls. While he has had a fairly injury-plagued career, Boozer has definitely established himself as one of the all-time great second round steals, posting career averages of 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
2. Gilbert Arenas – Selected 30th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2001 NBA Draft – Since his two college season’s at the University of Arizona, Gilbert Arenas has always been an underdog. He was told he wouldn’t be a starter during his freshman year, Arenas thought otherwise. Halfway through the season, he found himself in the starting lineup and finished they year with a 15.4 PPG scoring average. After a second season with the Wildcats, despite being told he should remain in college, Arenas entered his name in the 2001 NBA draft, under the impression he would be a first round selection. He waited, and waited, but did not hear his name called until the second round by the Golden State warriors. During his rookie season, parallels to his freshman year in college were constructed, as he was expected to not receive much playing time, let alone start. However, continuing the parallels with his first year at Arizona, he was not phased, and for the entire month of March and April, he had become the team’s official starting point guard and finished the season out with an average of 10.9 PPG. After two years in Northern California and a Most Improved Player award in 2003, he used his free agent rights to sign with the Washington Wizards, where he became one of the league’s top scoring threats, improving his scoring average each year (19.6 in 2004, 25.5 in 2005, 29.3 in 2006 and 28.4 in 2007). His career took a turn for the worst when he suffered a major knee injury at the end of the 2007 season, forcing him to undergo microfracture surgery – a very difficult procedure to recover fully from. Since then, he has yet to become the player he once was, and is now a member of the Orlando Magic, where he has assumed the role of the highest paid sixth man in NBA history, as he made over $17 million this past season.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKrcLWSvNrA
Next: The True Diamond in the Ruff
[phpbay]3,,[/phpbay]1. Manu Ginobili – Selected 57th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Draft – The then championship defending Spurs came away like bandits less than a month after their title celebration, as they nabbed future all-star, clutch performer and sixth man of the year, Manu Ginobili at the tail end of the 1999 NBA Draft. The Spurs stashed him in Argentina until the 2002-03 season, but once they brought him over, he quickly became a staple of the team’s success alongside Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Injuries have kept Ginobili from ever playing a full NBA season, but he has nonetheless been one of the best shooting guards of the past decade. An effective scorer, shooter and playmaker, Ginobili’s herky jerky style of play has helped him become a truly unique NBA star. He’s a two-time all star and the winner of the 2007-08 NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, and although he his set to turn a ripe 34 in July, his lack of NBA mileage will keep him as a quality NBA player for much longer than his age might tell. Barring a surprising trade, Ginobili will likely finish his career out with the Spurs, where he has truly become the biggest second round steal of the last 20 years.