It is widely believed that to select the best prospect for your team, you must get them in the lottery.
Recent times have proven this is not the case.
Think about shopping for clothes with your friends. You enter a luxury store and buy the first expensive shirt you see. You think you’re the man because you’re wearing a clothing item associated with a luxurious brand.
Your friend, on the other hand, went to Goodwill and searched there for hours. Your friend ended up finding a t-shirt not associated with a big name for eight dollars. It is a cool shirt. But surely your shirt will end up getting more compliments when you go out with your friend later that night.
To your surprise, your friend ended up being the most complimented person in the club.
You do not always need a high lottery pick to find an important player for your NBA basketball team. There are players in the second round that can end up being vital for your team’s success.
If NBA front offices want to find a pivotal piece for cheap and an NBA scout wants to earn a humongous bonus, they should focus on selecting one of these three players in the second round.
If an NBA team is looking for a guy off the bench who can be a spark plug, three-point shooter, Koby Brea is their man.
Brea shot 43.6% from deep during his five years of college basketball. He also showcased brilliance at the NBA combine, shooting 21-of-30 on shots off the dribble, 19-of-25 on spot-up shots, 15-of-25 in the three-point star drill and 17-of-25 on three-pointers from the corner.
Having five years of college experience allowed Brea to mature into a smart player. While he is not a flashy playmaker, he knows when to move the ball instead of holding onto it in the corner like a toddler with an oversized lollipop.
Brea evolved into a player who can score from all levels instead of just the three-point line. He had a two-point percentage of 45% during his first three seasons of college basketball. Brea had a two-point percentage of 56% during his last two seasons.
Along with being a taller guard, Brea has the tools to be an offensive weapon off the bench for any NBA team.
Jamir Watkins is a talented two-way wing who might not make it to the second round. He has plenty of redeeming traits, which make him an eye-popping talent.
Watkins measured great at the combine with a six-foot-eleven wingspan and 37.0 maximum vertical. He has used his size and athleticism to make himself a Tasmanian devil on the defensive side of the ball. His ability to guard multiple positions should transition well at the NBA level. Watkins’s high motor also allowed him to grab 5.1 rebounds per game at the college level.
Watkins could also attack the rim whenever he wanted during his two years at Florida State. He averaged 17.1 points per game while shooting 50% from within the arc during his tenure with the Seminoles.
His three-point shooting was okay at college as he shot 33% on 3.5 attempts per game. However, you would like to see that improve at the pro level.
Despite that knock on his game, Watkins is an exciting athlete who can compete on day one if given the opportunity.
A six-foot-eleven forward who can score efficiently, grab rebounds and block shots will always be an exciting player who can contribute at the next level.
Grant Nelson averaged 13.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game during his last three years of college basketball. He did this while having an effective field goal percentage of 55%.
Nelson is a big game player. He scored 23 points against Auburn and 25 points against Kentucky last season.
With Alabama constantly playing at 100 mph, Nelson should be ready for the pace of the NBA. He has the size and skills that NBA front offices want in their forwards.
Second-round picks have been considered throwaway picks. They have also been considered a shot in the dark. However, the analysis on these players should shed some light in the dark. These three players are second-round picks who will succeed in the NBA.