2013 NBA Draft: 5 Second-Round Prospects Who Will Shine


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Second Round Prospects Who Will Shine From NBA Draft

Draft
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As always, the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft will get all of the attention. Guys like Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter Jr., Ben McLemore and Trey Burke will receive all of the attention in the coming weeks leading up to the draft. The attention is very deserving, these first round prospects have had great NCAA careers and will probably make outstanding NBA players. Once the lottery picks are over, many people stop paying attention to the draft. This is a mistake. While the elite talent will be taken with the lottery picks, there are still some very good players that will be selected throughout the rest of the draft. Year in and year out, players slip to the second round and become NBA stars.

Manu Ginobili was taken with the second-to-last pick in the 1999 draft. While he did not join the San Antonio Spurs until 2002, Ginobili will go down as one of the greatest draft picks ever. He has been a key contributor on three NBA championship teams, a two time All-Star and was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. Dennis Rodman is another guy that was an incredible second round steal. Before he became arguably the best rebounder in NBA history, Rodman was an undersized forward from Southeastern Oklahoma State. While he did not spend the bulk of his career with the Detroit Pistons, they certainly made an incredible pick with Rodman. Other well known second round picks include Mark Price, Carlos Boozer, Dennis Johnson, Alex English and Gilbert Arenas.

There is no doubt that there is value in the second round. As you can see with the guys I mentioned above, great players come out of the second round all of the time. You just have to find the right guys. Here are five guys who I think are being overlooked as probable second round picks, but will shine for the team that selects them.

Daniel is a writer for www.RantSports.com. He also contributes to TotalSportsBlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @D_Schmelzer and add him to your network on Google.

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Brandon Paul, SG

Paul
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While he is a little bit small for a two-guard, Brandon Paul is an elite scorer. He is a very good shooter and is able to make plays on his own. He really grew as a decision maker while at the University of Illinois. I think Paul is being overlooked and could have a nice NBA career.

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Trevor Mbakwe, PF

Mbakwe
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Trevor Mbakwe is simply a banger inside. At 24 years old, he is one of the oldest players in the draft, so his potential is limited. Also, his outside game is pretty much non-existent. That being said, what he can do on the inside is special. He is a very good rebounder and shot blocker, using his 7'4'' wingspan very well. He also has a nice array of low post moves that he uses effectively to score down low. Mbakwe is what he is, if you draft him knowing that you have strictly an inside presence, I think you would be very happy with the pick.

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Vander Blue, SG

Blue
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While Vander Blue may not have very good size at 6-4, he is very good at creating his own shot. While his outside shot does need some work, it has improved drastically over the years and should improve more as time goes on. He is a very athletic player who is a fantastic finisher around the rim. Blue is also one of the best prospects in the draft when it comes to scoring in transition. I think he has a great future as an elite scorer coming off of the bench in the NBA.

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Deshaun Thomas, SF

Thomas
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Thomas is a very capable and versatile scorer that you can get in the second round. He is a very good shooter and also does a nice job of creating his own shot off of the dribble. He has good size at 6-7 and also has very good strength for a perimeter player. I do not think Thomas will become a superstar in the league, but I think it is a safe bet that he will become a solid player that does many things to help your team win.

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Pierre Jackson, PG

Jackson
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Pierre Jackson is a lottery ticket that could really pay off for the team that selects him. He is very short at 5-10, but has very good build to him, which gives him very good strength. Jackson is a guy that can create his own shot and also creates chances for others. He has great ball handling skills that allows him to constantly get to the rim and finish. He is also a very good passer. His jump shot is a little inconsistent, but he does have good range and is one of those players who is not afraid to take the last shot. Overall, I think Jackson has the potential to be a very good starting point guard in the NBA.



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