[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

19 of the 27 players associated with the NBA All-Star game this year (5 injury replacements) were top 10 picks. 22 of the 27 were taken in the lottery, up to 25 of the 27 taken in the top 16 picks (Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo both #15, Nikola Vucevic #16).

Basically, it is very rare to find an All-Star with a later pick, and the two that were taken at #27 and #41 respectively in Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic, changed the course of their franchises. So, this week Viseland looked at NBA draft steals, focusing as much as possible on players drafted by the team they are currently playing for (whether that was straight up or through a draft day trade).

https://youtu.be/y_vgw_7t52E

People point to successful second round picks as proof you can find star power in that part of the draft. It has happened, it is just incredibly rare. Nikola Jokic is set to become the lowest picked MVP in league history. Beyond Jokic, we go over picks or players who were fantastic value playing for each play-off team. Was a really fun one to go over, and will see that many top teams have a number of good candidates in terms of steals in terms of where they were drafted.

Thank you to anyone who watches or listens, leaves a like or review or comments. Subscribers also greatly appreciated! The question is, who are some of your favorite draft steals currently in the play-offs? Who are some of your favorite in the league?

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Not the best draft steal, but I really liked the Monte Morris pick a few years back. He’s one of my favorite players and has been since college and was a player I knew would be good no matter where he would go. Denver is tough to get minutes, and he has still found his way. Anyways, great work again!

[OhCanada-Participant]

I honestly don’t believe it matters where a player is drafted or if they are drafted at all, if a team really wants a player to improve and dumps all their resources into a players development with todays methods that player will get better and the skys the limit as to how good they can become. Problem is most teams either only use those resources on the higher picks or just dont have those resources at all.

Half of Miami’s roster consists of non lottery picks that have been in the league 1-3 years and alot of those guys were in the finals last year. Duncan Robinson and Kenrick Nunn are looking just as good as Tyler Herro and they were undrafted.

Toronto won a championship without any lottery picks on the team. Pretty sure thats the first time thats ever happened but thats also one of the few teams that cares about developing their young players. I mean these guys like OG Anunoby, Norm Powell, Van Vleet, Siakam, Terrence Davis, O’Shea Brissett, Malachi Flynn and Jalen Harris/Freddie Gillespie potential being added to that list. The key is these are already good players but just having a system for them to work in and help them stay focused really helps. You go to team X in the NBA there is no support like that unless you are a top 5 pick.

I understand you weren’t trying to mention Toronto because the theme is based around this years playoffs and players that were drafted but I just thought I would point that out since they made the playoffs every other year and even won it all. Pretty sure you knew this was coming too.

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