Search any NBA franchise's fan base and you won't find anyone who is truly passionate about their team going into the draft without a first-round pick, much less a lottery pick. .
After the Warriors' chances of jumping into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery closed ever so slightly, they officially fell into that hole last week.
They will have to make do with one pick, the 52nd overall pick in the second round, at least for now.
As undesirable as it may seem, the Warriors have a chance to shine. Rarely does a draft go by without at least one second-round pick becoming a star. Some become All-Stars. One is a three-time MVP winner.
Acquiring a second-round pick requires scouting acumen, roster fit, and ability determination. Oh, and good luck.
Here are three teams with all second-round picks from the past 10 drafts, limited to active players.
First army
Center: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets). A three-time NBA MVP and one-time NBA Finals MVP, he was selected with the 41st overall pick in 2014. Fellow center Jusuf Nurkic was selected 16th overall in the same draft.
Forward: Draymond Green (Warriors). A four-time NBA champion, three-time All-Star, and eight-time All-Defensive Team selection, he was taken 35th overall in 2012. Power forward Thomas Robinson, who has been out of the league since 2017, was taken fifth overall.
Forward: Herb Jones (Pelicans). It's rare for the No. 35 overall pick (2021) to start as a rookie, but he's an elite defender with a reliable three-ball. James Bouknight, No. 11 overall, struggled but was waived by Charlotte in February.
Guard: Khris Middleton (Bucks). A three-time All-Star and second-leading scorer on the NBA championship team, he was the 39th pick in 2012. Fellow shooting guard Dion Waiters had unwarranted confidence and was selected fourth overall in that draft.
Guard: Jalen Brunson (Knicks). The 33rd pick in 2018 is an NBA All-Star and a team leader who finished fifth in the 2024 MVP voting. Jacob Evans III was drafted five picks ahead by the Warriors and has struggled in the Canadian League recently.
second team
Center: Daniel Gafford (Mavericks). He stuck with the Wizards as the 38th pick in 2019 and made an impact as a starter in Dallas. Both ends are solid. First-round pick and center Mifiondu Kabengele is a two-way player.
Forward Bruce Brown (Raptors): Taken 42nd overall in 2018, he is a connector and one of the most valuable utility players in the NBA. Lottery pick Jerome Robinson (13th overall) finished last season as a two-way player for the Warriors.
Forward: Bojan Bogdanovic (Knicks). He was selected 31st overall in 2011 and twice ranks in the top 12 in 3-point percentage, making 306 more career 3s than Allan Houston. Forward Chris Singleton, the No. 18 pick, stayed for three seasons.
Guard: Norman Powell (Clippers). He was taken 46th overall in 2015, won the NBA Finals (2019) with Toronto, and is one of the top bench scorers in the NBA. Guard Emmanuel Mudiay, the No. 7 overall pick, disappeared from the NBA two years ago.
Guard: Malcolm Brogdon (Trail Blazers). He was selected 36th overall in 2016, was named Rookie of the Year, and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2023. Point guard Wade Baldwin, the No. 17 pick, has been out of the league since 2019.
third team
Center: Isaiah Hartenstein (Knicks). The 43rd pick in 2017 is a starter on a team that is doing well in the playoffs. Center Justin Patton, who was drafted 27 times earlier, appeared in 22 NBA games before traveling to the G League and overseas.
Forward: Jae Crowder (Bucs). The No. 34 pick in 2012 is a solid veteran who is on the All-Defensive Team and voted for Sixth Man of the Year. Royce White, the power forward ranked No. 16 overall, had a three-game career stretch.
Forward: Jared Vanderbilt (Lakers). The 41st overall pick in 2018 is a greedy rebounder and elite defender. Fellow wing Chandler Hutchison was drafted 23 years ago and bounced around for three years before retiring in 2022.
Guard: Gary Trent Jr. (Raptors). Selected 37th overall in 2018, he shot 38.6 percent from deep and twice finished in the top 10 in steals. Guard Zaire Smith, the No. 16 overall pick, has spent the past four years in the G League.
Guard: Jordan Clarkson (Jazz). He was selected 46th overall in 2014, was named All-Rookie for the first time, and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2021. Shooting guard Nik Stauskas was selected eighth overall.
Hardest call: Vanderbilt outscored Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers) and Terrence Mann (Clippers). I went on defense.
Deepest position: center. There are many big men with similar value but different attributes, making it a difficult decision to move past Jokic. Mitchell Robinson (Knicks) was a second-round pick, as was Clippers 7-footer Ivica Zubac. So did Nets center Nic Claxton. In a field packed with solid veterans, Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors) had no chance of breaking into the top three.
Other highlights: Dillon Brooks (Rockets), Spencer Dinwiddie (Lakers), Talen Horton-Tucker (Jazz), Isaiah Joe (Thunder), Monte Morris (Timberwolves), Paul Reed (76ers), Josh Richardson ( Heat).
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