from nba.com. wow, 3 of the 29 are houston picks. do you agree with the list? Who says there are no second acts in American lives? Second Chances By Rob Peterson, NBA.com March 12, 2003 -- Let's face it, the No. 2 doesn't get much love. February, the second month of the year, is the shortest. Without Google, can you name the second man to set foot on the moon? And who wants to be the Vice President of the United States? As former veep Nelson Rockefeller said: "I go to funerals. I go to earthquakes." Well, we're about to give some number twos their due. We've thrown all the second-round draft picks currently on NBA rosters -- No, we did not include undrafted free agents such as Ben Wallace and Brad Miller, so back away from the e-mail -- into a draft pool. From No. 1 to No. 29, we rank those players who would give an NBA team an immediate boost, like a dispersal draft. Here's how these second-round picks, who have first-class games, fared this time. 1. Gilbert Arenas, G • Golden State Warriors Drafted by: Golden State, 2001 College: Arizona Selection: 31st overall pick Reason he's No. 1: The winner of the got milk? Rookie Challenge MVP at the 2003 All-Star Game, is playing well enough to leave the kiddies' table and play on Sunday. Behind Jason Kidd and Gary Payton is the top free agent point guard for 2003. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 63 63 34.7 .442 .358 .783 4.8 6.2 1.57 0.22 18.1* 2, Rashard Lewis, F • Seattle SuperSonics Drafted by: Seattle, 1998, High school: Alief Elsik, Tex. Selection: 32nd pick Reason he's No. 2: He has Tracy McGrady-type skills and T-Mac size, but does he have a T-Mac sized heart? G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 58 58 39.4 .437 .315 .837 6.7 1.7 1.26 0.48 17.6 3. Nick Van Exel, G • Dallas Mavericks Drafted by: L.A. Lakers, 1993 College: Cincinnati Selection: 37th overall pick Reason he's No. 3: This former All-Star could start at point guard for most NBA teams, but he's proven to be a team player in Dallas coming off the bench. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 54 1 27.0 .394 .369 .741 2.9 4.2 0.59 0.06 11.3 4. Antonio Davis, F-C • Toronto Raptors Drafted by: Indiana, 1990 College: Texas-El Paso Selection: 45th overall pick Reason he's No. 4: All-Star big men are tough to find in any round, and Davis, in his 10th NBA season, is as steady as ever, though his poor shooting percentage may scare off some. Many teams would love to have his veteran presence down low. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 43 42 36.2 .411 .000 .750 8.4 5.7 2.5 2.28 14.2 5. Eric Snow, G • Philadelphia 76ers Drafted by: Milwaukee, 1995 College: Michigan St. Selection: 43rd overall pick Reason he's No. 5: Provides steady point guard play and excellent defense for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Gritty, will play in pain. Offensive skills leave something to be desired, although 2002-03 is shaping up to be a career year. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 62 62 38.7 .457 .174 .861 3.9 6.9 1.68 0.18 13.1 6. Cuttino Mobley, G • Houston Rockets Drafted by: Houston, 1998 College: Rhode Island Selection: 41st overall pick Reason he's No. 6: With Steve Francis, forms one of the better backcourts in the NBA. Mobley, who averages 42.1 minutes per game, provides consistency and a great third option on offense behind Francis and Yao Ming. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 54 54 42.1 .436 .328 .840 4.4 2.9 1.33 0.52 18.2 7. Michael Redd, G • Milwaukee Bucks Drafted by: Milwaukee, 2000 College: Ohio State Selection: 43rd overall pick Reason he's No. 7: Has gone from being "injured" during his rookie season to becoming a leading candidate for the Sixth Man Award in his second season. Bucks have so much confidence in his skills that they parted with Ray Allen. One of the sharpest shooters in the NBA. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 63 14 28.3 .466 .434 .784 4.4 1.4 1.11 0.14 14.8 8. P.J. Brown, F • New Orleans Hornets Drafted by: New Jersey, 1992 College: Louisiana Tech Selection: 29th overall pick Reason he's No. 8: This consummate pro is savvy, skilled and does the dirty work well for the Hornets. He's a big man who can defend other big men and is having his best year offensively. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 63 63 33.4 .528 .000 .849 8.9 2.0 0.89 1.00 10.7 9. Clifford Robinson, C-F • Detroit Pistons Drafted by: Portland, 1989 College: Connecticut Selection: 36th overall pick Reason he's No. 9: Still remarkably consistent and durable after 14 years in the NBA. Can play inside or outside and would be a great veteran addition to any team. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 62 50 34.6 .402 .349 .663 4.0 3.2 0.98 1.19 12.5 10. Alvin Williams, G • Toronto Raptors Drafted by: Portland, 1997 College: Villanova Selection: 48th overall pick Reason he's No. 10: Williams has proven himself to be a capable starting point guard in the NBA. At 6-5, he creates matchup problems for smaller guards. His scoring numbers and assists have gone up each season in the league. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 59 59 34.3 .447 .345 .768 3.40 5.4 1.42 0.29 13.9 11. Gordan Giricek, G • Orlando Magic Drafted by: Dallas, 1999 From: Croatia Selection: 41st overall pick Reason he's No. 11: Giricek's numbers have exploded since his trade to Orlando at the deadline this season. The 6-6 shooting guard may have trouble getting his own shot sometimes, but when left open, he's deadly from the outside. Must improve his defense. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 59 45 26.8 .452 .409 .768 2.70 1.6 0.53 0.12 12.2 12. Toni Kukoc F • Milwaukee Bucks Drafted by: Chicago, 1990 From: Croatia Selection: 29th overall pick Reason he's No. 12: Kukoc, who was instrumental off the bench in the Bulls' second run of three straight titles, still knows how to play when healthy, which has been a problem throughout his career. Kukoc lends a savvy, veteran presence to any team. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 46 0 27.1 .414 .364 .669 4.20 3.5 1.24 0.41 11.3 13. Carlos Boozer, F • Cleveland Cavaliers Drafted by: Cleveland, 2002 College: Duke Selection: 35th overall pick Reason he's No. 13: Boozer has had the biggest impact of any second-rounder from the 2002 Draft. Made veteran Tyrone Hill expendable. Has Chris Webber-like hands on the block (catches everything) and his back-to-the-basket game is a welcome presence from a big man these days. G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 63 36 24.2 .529 .000 .767 6.80 1.0 0.70 0.62 9.3 And the rest ... 14. Manu Ginobili, G • San Antonio Spurs Drafted by: San Antonio, 1999 From: Argentina Selection: 57th overall pick 15. Ruben Patterson, F • Portland Trail Blazers Drafted by: L.A. Lakers, 1998 College: Cincinnati Selection: 31st overall pick 16. Malik Rose, F-C • San Antonio Spurs Drafted by: Charlotte, 1996 College: Drexel Selection: 44th overall pick 17. Eduardo Najera, F • Dallas Mavericks Drafted by: Houston, 2000 College: Oklahoma Selection: 38th overall pick 18. Predrag Drobnjak, F-C • Seattle SuperSonics Drafted by: Washington, 1997 From: Yugoslavia Selection: 49th overall pick 19. Voshon Lenard, G • Toronto Raptors Drafted by: Milwaukee, 1994 College: Minnesota Selection: 46th overall pick 20. Bryon Russell, G • Washington Wizards Drafted by: Utah, 1994 College: Long Beach St. Selection: 45th overall pick 21. Lucious Harris, G • New Jersey Nets Drafted by: Dallas, 1993 College: Long Beach St. Selection: 28th overall pick 22. Howard Eisley, G • New York Knicks Drafted by: Minnesota, 1993 College: Boston College Selection: 30th overall pick 23. Othella Harrington, F • New York Knicks Drafted by: Houston, 1993 College: Georgetown Selection: 30th overall pick 24. Chris Whitney, G • Orlando Magic Drafted by: San Antonio, 1993 College: Clemson Selection: 47th overall pick 25. Shammond Williams, G • Denver Nuggets Drafted by: Chicago, 1998 College: North Carolina Selection: 34th overall pick 26. Marko Jaric, G • Los Angeles Clippers Drafted by: L.A. Clippers, 2000 From: Yugoslavia Selection: 30th overall pick 27. Moochie Norris, G • Houston Rockets Drafted by: Milwaukee, 1996 College: West Florida Selection: 33rd overall pick 28. Eddie House, G • Miami Heat Drafted by: Miami, 2000 College: Arizona St. Selection: 37th overall pick 29. Jerome James, C • Seattle SuperSonics Drafted by: Sacramento, 1998 College: Florida A&M Selection: 36th overall pick *All stats for 2002-03 season
I sure as hell don't agree that Rashard Lewis has "TMac type skills". I think Mobley should be a little higher, Arenas lower, and I wouldn't put guys like Giricek above players like Toni Kukoc until they have been consistent for more than one season.
Doesn't the fact that we traded him for Langhi make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Granted, Najera doesn't make any where near the impact Mobley, Lewis, or many of the others on the list do.
macalu, you said 3 of the 29 are Houston picks? Did you mean Houston-city related or Houston Rockets?
Othella Harrington, Eduardo Najera, and Cuttino Mobley were all drafted by Rox. It'd be nice to still have Harrington.... but nah.
Wasn't Harrington drafted in 1996? Also, I think Anthony Mason was a 2nd round pick and he's been a pretty good player.
i count moochie, harrington, and mobley. i don't count najera b/c i feel that pick was more for dallas than us.
actually, now, that someone mentioned it, moochie wasn't drafted by houston. so, maybe only 2 of the 29.
Houston has three of them because Rudy is hands down the best scout in the league. Pretty good coach...excellent scout.
Say what you want about the Rox, they've been able to pick some good 2nd rounders, but some of their 1st rounders have sucked...
Najera was drafted by the Rockets but we didn't pick him. Dallas told us to take him in our draft pick trade. He really doesn't count.
