In addition to a lottery pick at No. 6 of the first round, the New Orleans Pelicans own two second-round selections (39th and 40th overall), the first time in franchise history they’ve had multiple choices in the latter round of the draft. With many draft analysts describing 2016 as a relatively deep draft class, there is a possibility the Pelicans could add a contributor or two to next season’s squad on June 23. Although it’s statistically still a long shot, it’s not impossible for NBA teams to find a star between selections 31-60 either – three players who appeared in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto were second-rounders.
Over the past 10 years of NBA drafts, a countdown of the most impactful players picked in the second round:
10) Khris Middleton, No. 39 in 2012
Perhaps the least-known current leading scorer for an NBA team, the Milwaukee shooting guard ranked tied for 28th in the NBA in scoring in 2015-16, putting up 18.2 points per game. The Texas A&M product upped his average by nearly five points per game, though the Bucks took a step back after a surprising playoff berth in 2015.
9) Chandler Parsons, No. 38 in 2011
Parsons was an excellent college player at Florida, but still dropped to the second round. While splitting the past five seasons between Lone Star State teams Houston and Dallas, he’s been an important secondary scoring option. Parsons has averaged double figures in points for four straight seasons; his Rockets and Mavericks clubs have reached the playoffs each of those years.
8) Hassan Whiteside, No. 33 in 2010
It took a while, with immaturity issues threatening Whiteside’s NBA future at first, but he suddenly emerged in 2014-15 to become one of the NBA’s premier rebounders and shot-blockers, after Miami promoted him from the D-League. The Heat’s 2016 playoff run came to an end in the second round, partly due to a knee injury to the 7-foot center.
7) Danny Green, No. 46 in 2009
A vital role player on San Antonio’s recent ultra-successful teams, Green established an NBA Finals record in 2013 by nailing 27 three-pointers in a series vs. Miami (the Spurs won the title the next year in a Heat rematch). He initially struggled to gain a foothold in the league after being drafted by Cleveland and rarely playing, but found a permanent home as a Spurs sniper and underrated defender.
6) Goran Dragic, No. 45 in 2008
Based on how many outstanding point guards are in today’s NBA, he probably will never make an All-Star appearance, but the native of Slovenia has nonetheless compiled an excellent career. Now paired with Dwyane Wade in the Miami backcourt, Dragic’s top individual honor was All-NBA third-team status in 2014 with Phoenix. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player the same season.
5) Isaiah Thomas, No. 60 in 2011
The NBA draft’s version of “Mr. Irrelevant” five years ago, Thomas’ steady rise to stardom in the league culminated with a 2016 All-Star appearance. The 5-foot-9 Boston point guard finished 11th in the NBA in scoring average (22.2 ppg), just outside of a top 10 that is entirely comprised of lottery picks. In fact, Thomas was the only non-first-rounder among the NBA’s highest 25 scorers.
4) DeAndre Jordan, No. 35 in 2008
It’s a testament to the talent in the Western Conference that the Clippers center still hasn’t appeared in an All-Star Game yet, but his end-of-season honors include All-NBA third team in 2015, as well as All-Defensive first team in 2015. Jordan has led the league in rebounding twice and been part of a “big three” with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin that’s vaulted the Clippers to unprecedented success.
3) Paul Millsap, No. 47 in 2006
The Louisiana Tech product and native of Monroe, La., was the nation’s premier rebounder in college, the only player in NCAA history to top Division I in boards for three straight years. Another example of how that skill usually translates to the NBA, he’s been a productive rebounder and scorer over his decade in the league. Millsap has played in each of the past three All-Star Games and a big reason Atlanta reached the conference finals in 2015 for the first time in 45 years.
2) Marc Gasol, No. 48 in 2007
He was an afterthought in the controversial 2008 trade that moved his older brother Pau cross-country from Memphis to the Los Angeles Lakers, but it didn’t long for Marc to prove he was much more than that. He’s now a two-time All-Star who’s led the Grizzlies to an extended period of success, interrupted this season largely because Marc was injured. Gasol was chosen to the All-NBA first team in 2014-15 and was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year two seasons earlier.
1) Draymond Green, No. 35 in 2012
The Golden State forward tops this list after coming off a regular season in which he finished seventh in the league in MVP voting (five of the six players ahead of him were lottery picks). The versatile, do-everything Green also was a runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year, placing behind only San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard. Despite his draft status, he was a huge key to Golden State’s 2015 NBA championship and record-setting 73-win campaign of ’15-16.
Honorable mention: Omer Asik No. 36 in 2008; Will Barton No. 40 in 2012; Patrick Beverley No. 42 in 2009; Mario Chalmers No. 34 in 2008; Jordan Clarkson No. 46 in 2014; Allen Crabbe No. 31 in 2013; Jae Crowder No. 34 in 2012; Dante Cunningham No. 33 in 2009; Nikola Jokic No. 41 in 2014; Carl Landry No. 31 in 2007; Patty Mills No. 55 in 2009; Nikola Pekovic No. 31 in 2008; Lance Stephenson No. 40 in 2010.