The Top 10 Second Round Picks of the Decade

There's been a list of surprising second round picks in this decade. One of the most common names you'll find is Manu Ginobili, but who else from the decade belongs on the list.

Some are big time names others are role players. I will count down the best of the group of the decade. There's a list of players as honorable mentions and there's even one for Undrafted Players who have made an impact in the decade.

Best of the Rest

Daniel Gibson second round 42 pick of the 2006 NBA Draft

Leon Powe second Round 49th Pick of the 2006 NBA Draft

Matt Barnes second Round 45th Pick of the 2002 NBA Draft

Ronny Turiaf second Round 37th Pick of the 2005 NBA Draft

Brandon Bass second Round 33rd Pick of the 2005 NBA Draft

Steve Blake second Round 38th Pick of the 2003 NBA Draft

Trevor Ariza second Round 43rd Pick of the 2004 NBA Draft

No. 10: Anderson Varejao

Whether you love him or hate him, Anderson Varejao is a player that does the dirty work. Sure, most often he's flopping around on the floor acting like he just got shot by a cannon, but he does offer valuable minutes for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He's not going to be a double double player because he's very limited offensively, but he'll hit the boards and he won't back down from anybody and he does a good job of being a pest and getting underneath other players skin. He was selected in the second round as the 30th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 draft.

His career numbers are 6.6 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, .8 assists per game, .8 steals per game, and .6 blocks per game.

Shooting wise he is at 50.2 percent and from the free throw line 58.7 percent.

As I mentioned before he's not going to do things offensively to score points, but he is the player that will annoy, he'll defend aggressively, and he'll rebound the ball.

No. 9: Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap was drafted in the second round as the 47th pick of the 2006 draft. Before last season he was used primarily as a key sub for the Utah Jazz, but last year with the injury to Carlos Boozer, he stepped his game up.

He's become a solid rebounder and considering he came out of Louisiana Tech he resembles another Jazz great in Karl Malone in terms of size, strength, and skill.

The Blazers were interested in him and signed him to an offer sheet, but the Jazz matched the offer to Millsap.

For his career he has averaged:

9.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game , 1.2 assists per game , .9 steals per game, and .9 blocks per game.

He shoots 52.3 percent from the field and 68.5 percent from the free throw line.

If the Jazz end up trading Boozer look for Millsap to become a double double machine.

No. 8: Luis Scola

Luis Scola has become a solid player for the Houston Rockets. Now he'll have to step his game up with the injury to Yao Ming. Offensively, Scola has a pretty decent mid-range jumper and he's good around the basket as well.

He should be able to average close to a double double this year considering last year he was pretty close to averaging one and with Yao out he should be able to rebound a little bit more.

Scola was actually a second round pick No. 55 overall in the 2002 draft by the San Antonio Spurs.

For his career he has averaged 11.5 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, and .8 steals per game.

Shooting wise he's at 52.3 percent from the field and 71.6 percent from the free throw line.

No. 7: Mehmet Okur

Okur was a second round pick by the Detroit Pistons 37th overall in the 2001 NBA draft. Okur is not a prototypical big man he plays offensively more on the outside and he is a capable three-point shooter.

Which means he's not going to shoot as a high for a percentage as most big men and he doesn't average as many rebounds. Defensively he's not going to wow you, but he's not terrible either.

He's a capable scorer and decent rebounder and for a big guy shoots very well from the free throw line.

His numbers for his career are 13.9 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, .8 steals per game, and .7 blocks per game.

Shooting wise he is at 46.1 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from three, and 79.5 percent from the free throw line.

No. 6: Mo Williams

Mo Williams has become one of the better shoot first point guards in the NBA. A former Utah Jazz second round choice No. 47 overall. Willams is also not the type of player who's going to be looking to dish the ball and register 8-10 assists per contest, but he'll get you around five or six per game.

With that shooting mentality it also hurts his field goal percentage it's pretty low career wise at 44.9 percent, but having Shaq and Lebron James as teammates his field goal percentage should improve this year.

Williams is also a threat from beyond the arc and at the free throw line he's one of the better foul shooters in the NBA.

For his career he averages 13.5 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and .9 steals per game.

Shooting wise he's at 44.9 percent for his career, beyond the arc he hits at 38.6 percent, and he's an 86.3 percent free throw shooter.

No. 5: Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer was a second round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft No. 34 overall. He is most remembered there for verbal agreeing to a contract with the Cavs, but changing his mind to play for more money in Utah.

Boozer is a solid rebounder and scorer he's had seasons where he averages 20 plus points and 10 rebounds per game. Yet, the biggest knock on Boozer is his defense.

For his career age he averages:

16.8 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 1 steal per game, and .5 blocks per game.

Shooting wise he is at 53.6 percent from the field and 72.5 percent from the free throw line.

No. 4: Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis makes the list as the only one out of high school in the second round as the 40th overall pick. Ellis has become one of the most exciting players in basketball. In fact so much so he's one of Kobe Bryant's favorite players to watch.

What makes Ellis so great is the fact that he can finish at the rim with the best of anybody and he has an outstanding mid-range jumper. When Ellis is healthy he is one of the quickest players in the league.

At any time Ellis can turn on his speed and get to the rim. The one knock on him is his defense but it has improved.

For his career Ellis has averaged:

16 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 1.4 steals.

Shooting wise: 48.8 percent from the field, 28.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.8 percent from the free throw line.

Look for Ellis now healthy to come back with a vengeance. He should be the comeback player of the year. He should be the leading scorer on the team and if Stephen Jackson gets traded he'll be the focal point of the Warriors offense.

No. 3: Michael Redd

Michael Redd has improved his game tremendously since entering the league in 2000. He was drafted as the 43rd overall pick in the 2000 draft. He didn't look like he was going to make a huge impact in the league especially after his rookie season, but has turned out to be one of the NBA's better scorers.

Redd can drive to the rim effectively and has one of the prettiest strokes from the outside in the NBA. The knock on Redd early in his career was his defense, but he has improved. He also was a member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team.

Now, the only perceived knock on Redd is that he doesn't contribute in other aspects of the game such as rebounding and in assists.

Career wise his numbers are these:

20.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and one steal per game.

Shooting wise: 45.2 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from downtown, and 84.3 percent from the free throw line.

Injuries did take away most of his season last year, I believe he'll be in the running along with Ellis for comeback player of the year.

No. 2: Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili was drafted as the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft he didn't enter the league until 2002. Ginobili is fearless, he plays tough defense, and like Anderson Varejao he tends to flop when trying to take a charge.

So, basically Ginobili is a great actor. Even without that knock on him, he's an effective scorer he can drive, he can pullup from 15 feet, can hit the three, and he can handle the ball.

His numbers aren't going to be as good as some of the other players, but that's because Ginobili is a bench player for the San Antonio Spurs. He provides instant offense, defense, and energy.

His career averages are:

14.7 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game.

He shoots for 45.4 percent from the floor, 37.6 percent from the three point line, and 82.1 percent from the free throw line.

Ginobili has also been apart of three Championship teams as a member of the Spurs. He's the only player on the list who has won a ring, except for Glen Davis who was a role player on the Boston Celtics team.

Like Michael Redd and Monta Ellis, Ginobili's season last year was cut short by injuries. So, there's another competitor for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

No. 1: Gilbert Arenas

In 2001 the Golden State Warriors drafted Gilbert Arenas in the second round as the 30th pick in the NBA Draft. He has turned into one of the better scorers in the NBA.

A lot of people want to put him as a point guard because he's 6'3. The fact is he's not, like Allen Iverson, Arenas is an undersized shooting guard. Arenas has worked to become a very effective passer.

For Arenas the one knock on him is his shot selection. He doesn't shoot for a high percentage, but he finds away to score. He's also among the league leaders in free throw attempts as well.

Also with Arenas success he helped create the rookie contracts that exist today that allows for teams to be able to match offers for second round picks.

For his career Arenas averages:

22.8 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 1.8 steals per game.

Shooting wise: 42.7 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.9 percent from the free throw line.

Arenas has missed most of the last two season due to injury, so he's on the list along with Monta Ellis, Michael Redd, and Manu Ginobili for Comeback Player of the Year.

Undrafted Free Agents

There's only two players that I can think of who have made an impact without being drafted. Both happen to play for the Golden State Warriors. Those are Anthony Morrow and Kelenna Azubuike.

Azbuike has come on strong is one of the better defenders on the Warriors, shoots for a high percentage from the outside, and has proven to be a capable finisher at the rim.

Anthony Morrow was the first rookie to ever lead the league in three point percentage which was at 46.7 percent along with that he showed that he has one of the prettiest strokes in the NBA.

Morrow does need to work on his ball handling capabilities. Yet, Morrow set a record for most points scored in a game by an undrafted rookie which was 37 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, which also happened to be Morrow's first start of his career. Morrow also shot 87 percent from the free throw line last year as well.