Back to the Top News Newsfeed

The rise of second-round picks: How the once undervalued draft assets are now shaping a new market landscape

While the minutes ticked away before the NBA’s annual trade deadline last Thursday, team after team landed player after player for second-round pick after second-round pick.

A handful of transactions snowballed into three- and four-team deals, but the Los Angeles Clippers effectively landed Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets for two second-rounders. The Memphis Grizzlies sent out three second-rounders in exchange for Clippers guard Luke Kennard. New Orleans traded four second-rounders and Devonte’ Graham to San Antonio for Josh Richardson. And the Hawks essentially shipped five second-rounders to Golden State for Saddiq Bey, only for the Warriors to reroute that number of picks to Portland and reunite with Gary Payton II.