I still remember sitting in my living room during the 2017 NBA Draft, watching the first round selections with bated breath like every other basketball enthusiast. We all knew the big names - Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo - but what fascinated me more were the stories unfolding in the second round, those hidden gems that often slip through the cracks of mainstream coverage. Having followed basketball scouting for over fifteen years, I've developed this peculiar habit of paying closer attention to picks 30 through 60, where real scouting genius often reveals itself. The second round of that particular draft has proven especially fruitful, producing several players who've dramatically outperformed their draft positions.
What many casual fans don't realize is that second-round success stories aren't just lucky breaks - they're the result of meticulous evaluation that looks beyond conventional metrics. Take Monte Morris, selected 51st overall by the Denver Nuggets. During his college career at Iowa State, he recorded an astronomical 4.65 assist-to-turnover ratio, something I'd flagged in my personal scouting notes as historically significant. Yet somehow 49 teams passed on him before Denver finally scooped him up. Morris has since developed into a reliable starting point guard, averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 assists while maintaining that incredible efficiency that made him special in college. Then there's Dillon Brooks, chosen 45th by the Houston Rockets (though immediately traded to Memphis). I'll admit even I underestimated his potential - I had him projected as a defensive specialist, but he's blossomed into a legitimate two-way threat, even dropping 39 points against San Antonio during his rookie season.
The international prospects from that second round have been particularly intriguing. I've always maintained that European leagues provide a better developmental pathway for certain types of players than the NCAA, and Frank Mason III's journey somewhat validates this perspective. Selected 34th by Sacramento, Mason won the G League MVP in 2018 before carving out a solid rotational role, averaging 18.3 points per game in the G League that championship season. His story reminds me of the developmental philosophy I observed during my research trip to the Philippines last year, where I witnessed how former governor Rene Pardo visited the Magnolia practice session, warmly welcomed by the team led by successor Jason Webb and long-time team manager Alvin Patrimonio. There's something special about these environments where basketball wisdom gets passed down through generations, much like how second-round picks often benefit from veteran mentorship in ways lottery picks rarely experience.
What strikes me about these second-round success stories is how they consistently defy the conventional draft narratives. Thomas Bryant, picked 42nd by the Utah Jazz, has developed into a legitimate starting center despite barely registering on draft radars. I remember watching his pre-draft workout footage and being impressed by his shooting touch for a big man - he's since proven me right by shooting 40.7% from three-point range during his best season. Meanwhile, Jordan Bell, purchased by the Chicago Bulls for $3.5 million and immediately traded to Golden State, provided crucial minutes during the Warriors' 2018 championship run. These players represent what I call "value anomalies" - talents whose true worth becomes apparent only after they've had time to develop in the right system.
The financial implications of hitting on second-round picks are staggering - teams can secure starting-caliber talent at a fraction of the cost. While first-round picks come with guaranteed contracts often worth millions, second-round selections can be signed to much more team-friendly deals. Monte Morris's initial contract was for just $2.1 million over two years, representing perhaps the best value contract in the entire league during that period. From a team-building perspective, finding these hidden gems is what separates good front offices from great ones. The Toronto Raptors, for instance, built their championship roster partly by identifying and developing second-round talent like Pascal Siakam (though from the 2016 draft), demonstrating how crucial these later picks can be to constructing a contender.
Reflecting on the 2017 second round five years later, what stands out to me is how these players have collectively outperformed expectations. Approximately 64% of second-round picks from that draft have become rotation players, significantly higher than the historical average of around 48%. This suggests either that the 2017 class was particularly deep or that NBA teams are getting better at identifying talent in the draft's later stages. Personally, I lean toward the latter explanation - the proliferation of advanced analytics and international scouting networks has created more pathways for overlooked talents to be discovered. The success stories from this draft should serve as a reminder that basketball talent comes in many forms, and sometimes the players who help you win championships aren't the ones everyone's talking about on draft night.
