Second-round picks are often viewed by fans as expendable assets that can be thrown into trade offers without much risk of losing a future building block. And that may be true of many playoff teams’ second-rounders, which fall in the 45-60 range. Those selections are frequently used on draft-and-stash prospects or two-way players and don’t have a particularly high hit rate.
However, second-round picks that land in the 30s are only slightly less valuable than late first-round picks. Since 2015, Malcolm Brogdon, Devonte’ Graham, Montrezl Harrell, Cedi Osman, Ivica Zubac, Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson, Richaun Holmes, Semi Ojeleye, and Patrick McCaw are among the players that have been selected in the 31-39 range.
With that in mind, it’s worth considering which teams have acquired an extra second-round pick that projects to fall in that range in 2020. For a contending team, those draft picks are valuable trade chips that could be dangled in negotiations this winter, especially if the contender in question doesn’t have its own first-round pick to offer.
No club is better positioned in this regard than the Sixers. As our tracker shows, Philadelphia projects to have two early second-round picks in 2020, based on the NBA’s current reverse standings. The Sixers will receive the more favorable of the Nets‘ and Knicks‘ second-round picks and will also receive the Hawks‘ second-rounder. Currently, Atlanta’s pick projects to land at No. 32, while New York’s will be No. 34 or 35.
The 76ers have traded their own 2020 first-round pick to Brooklyn, but if they want to upgrade their roster at this season’s deadline, the Hawks’ and/or Knicks’ second-rounders figure to be on the table and should appeal to rebuilding teams.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, owe their 2021 and 2023 first-round picks to New York, which prevents them from offering their 2020 first-rounder in a trade due to the Stepien Rule. However, they control the Warriors‘ second-round pick for ’20, which should be nearly as good as a first-rounder — it currently projects to be the No. 31 overall pick, since Golden State has the league’s worst record. Attaching that pick to Courtney Lee‘s expiring contract could be the start of a promising trade package for Dallas.
The Sixers and Mavericks are the only contending teams that own early 2020 second-round picks, but a few more of those early second-rounders have been moved. Here are the other traded 2020 picks that appear likely to land high in the second round:
- Hornets own Cavaliers‘ second-round pick (projected to be No. 34 or 35).
- Pelicans own Wizards‘ second-round pick (No. 36).
- Wizards own most favorable of Grizzlies‘ (No. 37) or Bulls‘ (No. 38) second-round pick.
- Note: The Bulls will receive the least favorable of these two picks.
I was trying to suss this out. It seemed according to one of the draft sites that the GSW second rounder was protected for 31-39 although it wasnt clear on the site breaking down picks if that was protected by the Warriors or another team that subsequently traded it. It did appear though that they would have both the picks in 20 if they were bottom 10.
There’s a semi-complicated series of protections/swaps related to the Rockets’ and Warriors’ second-rounders. The Rockets’ pick was the one that had the 31-39 protection.
Since we essentially already know that Houston won’t be a bottom-10 team and will finish with a way better record than Golden State, the upshot is that Dallas will get the Warriors’ second-rounder and Sacramento will get Houston’s second-rounder.
Well the Sixers can go and get Dennis Smith Jr then!!!!
Their own 2nd rounder should easily get DSJ. He worth nothing after what Dallas and the Knicks have done to him. Give them Neto or Burke, actually straight up.