Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge best No. 2 picks of last 15 years
Kevin Durant, chosen No. 2 overall by Oklahoma City in 2007, was the NBA MVP for the 2013-14 season.
The Lakers won the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft in Tuesday’s lottery, behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since 2000, a number of elite players were selected second -- along with many who never lived up to their potential.
Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics) is the best two-pick of the millennium thus far, winning the NBA’s most valuable player award for the 2013-14 season.
Portland Trail Blazers All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge is second only to Durant, and could be a free agent target of the Lakers this summer. Durant is certainly on the team’s radar when his contract expires after the 2015-16 season.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Jabari Parker in June. After a strong start to the season, he suffered a knee injury. Through 25 appearances, Parker averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
Tyson Chandler, who started with the Chicago Bulls, helped the Dallas Mavericks win a title in 2011.
Others haven’t fared as well, including Darko Milicic (Detroit Pistons), Hasheem Thabeet (Memphis Grizzlies), Marvin Williams (Atlanta Hawks), Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Michael Beasley (Miami Heat).
The Lakers appear likely to draft either Duke’s Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns with their No. 2 selection on June 25. Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell may be a dark horse, among other prospects.
Past 15 second overall picks:
2014 -- Jabari Parker -- Bucks
2013 -- Victor Oladipo -- Orlando Magic
2012 -- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist -- Charlotte Hornets (formerly Bobcats)
2011 -- Derrick Williams -- Timberwolves
2010 -- Evan Turner -- Philadelphia 76ers
2009 -- Hasheem Thabeet - Grizzlies
2008 -- Michael Beasley -- Heat
2007 -- Kevin Durant -- Thunder (formerly Seattle Supersonics)
2006 -- LaMarcus Aldridge -- Portland Trail Blazers (via trade from the Chicago Bulls)
2005 -- Marvin Williams -- Atlanta Hawks
2004 -- Emeka Okafor -- Charlotte Hornets
2003 -- Darko Milicic -- Detroit Pistons
2002 -- Jay Williams -- Bulls
2001 -- Tyson Chandler -- Mavericks (via trade from the Clippers)
2000 -- Stromile Swift -- Grizzlies (formerly of Vancouver)
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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