5) Paul Millsap: The Ultimate Second-Round Steal (2006)
The Utah Jazz have generally done pretty well for themselves in the second round of the draft. In addition to the second-round picks making this list, you could probably point to Jeremy Evans, C.J. Miles, Jarron Collins and Shandon Anderson as second-round picks whose careers exceeded their draft position over the last two decades.
However, none of them have had the same kind of success that Paul Millsap has achieved.
Although he led the NCAA in rebounds per game for three straight seasons at Louisiana Tech, Millsap’s measurables didn’t thrill anybody when he entered the draft in 2006. So he fell to the Jazz at No. 47. Since that time, all he’s done is prove the doubters wrong.
In seven seasons with the Jazz, he averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal per game. He’s been even better since signing with the Atlanta Hawks, picking up four All-Star nods and making the All-Defensive second team in 2016.
11 years after he was drafted, he’s in position to potentially sign a deal worth more than $30 million per season this summer.
Next: No. 4