For fans of teams like the Knicks, Suns, Cavaliers, and Bulls, the bottom of the NBA’s standings are of particular interest this season because of the effect they’ll have on the first-round order of the 2019 NBA draft.
Of course, those reverse standings will also dictate the order of the draft’s second round, and an early second round pick can nearly as valuable as a first rounder.
So, while traded first round selections like the one the Raptors sent the Spurs or the one the Nuggets traded to the Nets may have received more attention, it’s worth taking a closer look at some traded 2019 second rounders that now project to be valuable picks.
[RELATED: Traded Second Round Picks For 2019 NBA Draft]
Here are five of those picks:
1. Knicks’ pick traded to Nets
The Knicks originally sent their 2019 second round pick to Philadelphia in a 2014 salary dump involving Travis Outlaw. The Sixers subsequently sent it to to the Nets, along with Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas, last season for Trevor Booker.
Now, that pick looks pretty intriguing — if the season ended today, it would be the No. 32 overall selection.
2. Cavaliers’ pick traded to Sixers (or Kings)
Cleveland initially surrendered this pick in a 2015 trade that netted them Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, and it has since changed hands multiple times and become tied up in a convoluted series of swaps — the Sixers will receive it as a result of this month’s Markelle Fultz trade, assuming it’s more favorable than the Orlando, Houston, and Portland second rounders, which seems like a safe bet.
While this selection projects to be No. 33 overall, the Cavaliers probably feel it was worth it to give it up years ago, since Shumpert and Smith played roles on 2016’s title team.
3. Bulls’ pick traded to Sixers
The Bulls attached this pick to Jose Calderon in a salary-dump deal during the 2016 offseason, trading it to the Lakers. L.A., in turn, sent it to Philadelphia as part of a draft-day deal this past summer — it was the price to acquire Isaac Bonga.
It now projects to be the No. 34 pick this year, which could give the Sixers two of the first four selections in the second round.
4. Grizzlies’ pick traded to Bulls
It may seem hard to believe now, but less than a month and a half ago, the Grizzlies were still in buying mode, sending a pair of second round picks – including their 2019 selection – to Chicago for Justin Holiday.
Memphis has slumped badly since then, and that pick would be No. 36 overall if the season ended today. For the Bulls, getting this selection helps make up for having moved their own second rounder.
5. Wizards’ pick traded to Hornets or Nuggets
The Wizards first dealt this pick on draft night in 2015 in a trade that allowed them to move up to select Kelly Oubre. The Hawks, who received it in that deal, flipped it to Denver in a 2017 three-way trade involving Danilo Gallinari and Jamal Crawford.
Here’s where it gets complicated: When they moved up two spots in the 2018 draft to nab Jarred Vanderbilt, the Nuggets agreed to give the Magic the least favorable of Denver’s own 2019 second round pick and that Wizards’ second rounder they got from Atlanta. Orlando then sent the least favorable of those two picks to Charlotte in a deal involving Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, and Bismack Biyombo.
But the Nuggets had sent their own top-55 protected second rounder to New Orleans – by way of Milwaukee – in a separate deal, meaning the “least favorable” pick sent to Charlotte via Orlando had to account for those conditions too. So, if Denver’s pick falls between 56-60, the Pelicans will acquire it and the Hornets will instead get the more favorable pick, Washington’s second rounder. Got all that?
For now, the Nuggets’ second rounder projects to be No. 57 — in that scenario, the Pelicans would receive it and the Hornets would receive Washington’s pick, which would be No. 37. But if Denver’s pick ends up at, say, No. 54, Orlando will get it, New Orleans won’t get anything, and the Nuggets will get the Wizards’ selection.
Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
The Nuggets pick goes to the Pelicans if 56-60. It was part of the package for Mirotic.
Hah, good catch. Just what that section needed – more clarification. Updated it now, thanks.
So if I understand correctly, Denver technically traded their 2019 second round pick in two seperate deals?
Sort of. But not in a way that it’s committed to two teams at the same time. They basically told the Magic (who later traded it to Charlotte), “You’ll get the least favorable of these two picks (Denver’s and Washington’s), unless we don’t end up keeping ours because of this other deal — then you’ll just get Washington’s pick.”
Because the Stepien rule doesn’t apply to trading second-rounders, the protection/swap right details can sometimes get pretty convoluted.
The Pacers 2nd round pick may go to the Nets from the Thaddeus Young trade I think.
That’s not one of the most valuable. This article would be far longer if it was all traded 2nd rounders this year
Only if the Pacers DON’T make the playoffs will the Nets get their pick. It’s protected 46-60 until 2022 or 2023 when it becomes unprotected. Deal has worked out well for both sides on the Thad Young for Caris Levert plus a 2nd trade.
Sixers need to address that depth. I’d like to see Matisse Thybulle in the 2nd.
Wouldn’t hate them using draft capital to move up and get Bol Bol (if healthy) don’t think it’ll happen tho.
Isn’t Bol Bol injured? If so it fits the 76ers draft a dude who gets injured his first year streak.
Why I put if healthy in parentheses but yes he is injured. 7’2 hitting 50% of 3s and 3.9 blocks in those 9 games played tho.
Yeah, but it was also the first 9 games of a season. Those games are the ones where directional schools and other smaller schools are scheduled. The biggest advantage a power conference has over mid-majors is size. So you would expect a giant like Bol to feast on the lower competition where the center is usually around 6’7″ or so.
I’m not saying he is not talented, but it’s really not much more than the competition he faced in high school. So it is really hard to judge.