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NBA Draft: Best second round draft picks ever

By Chris Reichert

Dec 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) gestures to a spot on the court against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated San Antonio 97-94. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) gestures to a spot on the court against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated San Antonio 97-94. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Everyone loves a second round steal. Which players are the best second round picks in NBA history?

The 2016 NBA Draft is only a couple weeks away and while the lottery guys get a ton of love, there are always be second round steals to be had. These players have overcome long offs and carved out noteworthy careers despite beginning them with low expectations. Here are our picks for the best second round picks in NBA history.

One disclaimer — the NBA Draft dropped to two rounds in 1989, so that is where our eligibility for this list will begin. This eliminates some of the earlier drafts where “second round picks” were selection No. 14 — now a lottery pick in our current format. Instead this countdown will focus on the draft classes from 1989-2015.

Second round picks can be extremely valuable to NBA clubs as their contracts are not guaranteed and don’t hit the salary cap until said player is signed. This is also where you will see teams use either international — or newly minted, domestic D-League — draft-and-stash option to secure player rights for the future while they continue to develop and improve elsewhere.

There will always be some players left off these sorts of lists so here are some honorable mentions who almost snuck their way in: Cedric Ceballos (1990), Nick Van Exel (1993), Danny Green (2009), Hassan Whiteside (2010) and Isaiah Thomas (2011).

Next: 10. Kyle Korver

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