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NBA Draft 2016: Round 2 Prospects With Round 1 Talent

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NBA Draft has many diamonds in the rough. Which second-round prospects deserve first-round grades?

Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 is the year of the high-level role player in the NBA Draft. There’s star power at the very top of the annual selection process, but generally speaking, the available prospects project to be starting-caliber players who can round out a rotation.

Everyone’s looking for the home run in Round 1, but in doing so, many teams are overlooking how valuable some prospects with Round 2 grades can be.

Second-rounders thrive almost every year; this past season, it was Josh Richardson of the Miami Heat and Norman Powell of the Toronto Raptors who played big minutes in the postseason. In 2014, starters Jordan Clarkson, Jerami Grant, and Nikola Jokic were found in Round 2.

In 2016, one can expect a gem to be found in the second round again. The question is, who will it be?

In most instances, players are stuck in the second round because of their origin—a small school—or their age. In other cases, however, there are red flags that are scaring some away, but shouldn’t fully define said prospects.

The following second-round prospects could break out as the steals of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Next: Rising Steadily

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