Perhaps now more than ever, the NBA has shown the importance of nailing second-round draft picks, as many have played instrumental roles on competing rosters. Hitting on a second rounder means the team gets a productive player on an extremely cheap and potentially long-term deal, providing great bank for your buck.
Since the 2020 NBA Draft, which three second-rounders have panned out the best?
3. Jaylen Wells
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Jaylen Wells with the No. 39 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, and he made immediate impact with the franchise. The 6-foot-8 wing out of Washington State was thrusted into the starting lineup early in the season and made the most of it.
He averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while holding 42.5 / 35.2 / 82.2 shooting splits across 79 games. Even more impressive, however, was his defensive prowess, as Wells often took the top perimeter matchup.