2012 NBA Draft: Second-Rounders Bound for a Big Splash

It happens in almost every draft. A team takes a player in the second round and people yawn. For the most part, these second-rounders will fade into NBA obscurity and will likely be relegated to playing in the D-League. Best case, they dominate a team based in a small Croatian town but never make it back to the NBA.

But every once in a while, we see a player who begins to remind us of the excitement that comes with watching an underdog develop into an All-Star like Michael Redd, who was drafted with the 43rd pick in 2000, or Manu Ginobili, who was taken by the brilliant Spurs scouts in Round 2.

Here are a few players who will probably get drafted in the second round but could have an impact in the league for years to come.

Scott Machado

Scott Machado doesn't possess lightning-fast speed, but he's always one step ahead of the defense with his court vision. He could go in the second round and figures to run the offense as a backup quite well whether he's on a run-and-gun type of team or by setting up players in a half-court offense like in San Antonio.

Even though he's not fast, he does have a nice jab step that clears some space for him, and opponents should respect his jumper; he improved his shot from beyond the arc to a respectable 40 percent as a senior and will almost always make the right decision, as evidenced by his impressive three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.

In short, while he's not athletic enough to go in the first round (unless it's late), Machado could be a steal in the second for a team looking for a smart, methodical point guard who can read defenses as well as any guard in the country.

Leon Radosevic

You've probably never heard of him, and there's a good reason for it: He's been camped out in Croatia his whole life.

But Leon Radosevic could become a factor in the NBA because of his ability to pass out of the double-team better than most big men.

He's a lanky 6'10", and big men in the NBA are hard to find. The fact that his passing is his greatest attribute makes "Rado" all the more special.

He plays well away from the ball and does the all things you want out of a big man that you sometimes can't teach. He sets screens, boxes out and helps out with his weak-side defense.

Look for him to go in the second round to a team in need of a formidable backup big man. And don't be surprised if you see him start a few games. Leon Radosevic has all of the intangibles, and with a little bit of work on his offensive game, he could be a nice addition to any NBA roster.

Kim English

Missouri guard Kim English could be one pick that surprises a lot of people. He was quiet in his first few years at Mizzou, but he worked on his game and shot a very impressive 45 percent from beyond the arc in his last season.

He's got a quick release akin to Ray Allen, which is a must on any NBA court, and he shoots well off of screens. If you can pair him with a big man, look for him to curl off the pick-and-roll and score in bunches.

He works hard on defense, too, and should be looked at as an all-around good player who brings it on both ends of the floor. He's got an impressive cut to the basket and can adjust on a dime when confronted by the double-team.

Although he'll likely never be a starter, he could be a nice bench player as a backup shooting guard for years to come.

Kris Joseph

He's a great small forward out of Syracuse with amazing upside. Sound familiar?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Kris Joseph is not the second coming of Carmelo Anthony, but he can definitely fill up a box score with his leaping ability that will allow him to score from anywhere on the court, whether its from tip-ins or beating a man off the dribble.

He faced some tough competition this year and always managed to distinguish himself as one of the best players during Syracuse's March Madness run.

Joseph is also an improved jump shooter who should be seen as a threat to any defender from all spots. He could be an asset for any team that's lucky to snag him if he goes to the second round.