2011 NBA Draft: Nolan Smith and the Best Prospects Available in Round 2

Finding value in the second round of the NBA draft is a hard thing to do, but this year there are some nice prospects that could not only make NBA teams, but become rotation or role players in the future.

Winning teams in the NBA always make good picks in the late rounds and there are plenty of guys in this years draft pool that will have teams very interested. Here are just a few of them.

JaJuan Johnson PF/C

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Center JuJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a dunk against the Northwestern Wildcats during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2010 in Indianapolis

Johnson stands at 6-foot-10 with a wing span of 7-foot-2. He put up great numbers at Purdue, posting 20 points and eight rebounds per game last season. He can block shots, and if he gets bigger, he can become a solid NBA defender.

Johnson slipped to the second round because of his size and his "tweener" label. His strength is a major issue, but an NBA lifting routine will help him out a lot.

He has won in college basketball and has put up numbers and has great athleticism. He can run the floor well for a big man and is very good from the free throw line. He is a polished player and at 22-years-old is NBA ready.

Johnson should come off the board early in the second round and should be able to help a team right away. 

Reggie Jackson PG/SG

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 11: Reggie Jackson #0 of the Boston College Eagles moves the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the second half in the quarterfinals of the 2011 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2011 in Gr

Jackson is a very good prospect that is right now a projected second round pick.

Jackson is 6-foot-3 but has a 7-foot wingspan which should make NBA teams drool over his potential to play defense with his length.

He has a high basketball I.Q., and while he isn't the fastest guy on the court, he has great athleticism and can dunk as well as finish around the basket.

Questions come up about what position Jackson will play in the pros but he could be a very good combo guard that plays shutdown defense.

Jackson has good footwork and his greatest strength in the NBA will be his defense, and any NBA team with any hopes of winning needs a lot of that. 

Shelvin Mack PG/SG

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Shelvin Mack #1 of the Butler Bulldogs with the ball while taking on Connecticut Huskies during the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on April 4, 2011 in Houston,

Mack isn't a great athlete, but he is a very smart player who has a good jump shot, which all NBA teams are in need of.

With some work Mack could easily be a backup guard on an NBA team, and his experience and successful college career will help him in the NBA.

He is also polished and ready to play in the NBA, which is always nice to find in the second round of the draft.

Mack will have to play point guard in the NBA and needs to work on his defense, but once he finds the right team and system, he should have a nice NBA career.

Norris Cole PG

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - MARCH 22: Forward Jordan Hill #43 of the University of Arizona Wildcats blocks the shot of guard Norris Cole #30 of the Cleveland State University Vikings during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the American

Cole is a scoring point guard who could become a spark off the bench for an NBA team in the future.

He can get to the rim as well as shoot the ball well and has underrated passing ability.

He has good speed and can get by his man and finish at the rim as well as hit shots off the dribble.

He isn't a conventional NBA point guard and has a score-first mentality, but that can help some teams, and with some work, he can become a quality backup in the NBA.

Nolan Smith PG/SG

Harry How/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Nolan Smith #2 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Arizona Wildcats during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by

Smith played a big role on a national championship team while at Duke and put up excellent numbers while playing for the Blue Devils.

Smith has good size for an NBA point guard and while he lacks explosiveness, his high basketball I.Q. and solid outside shooting should help make up for it.

Smith plays excellent defense and uses his length and hustle combined with his basketball smarts to be effective on that end.

Smith has a ton of experience and is ready to step in and play right away for the team that drafts him.

If Smith lands in the right place, he could be a very good NBA rotation player and maybe even a starter someday.