The Warriors and Rockets have given up the second place one after another, but the returns are huge!

The Warriors and Rockets won the second pick in 2020 and 2021 respectively, and traded one after another a few years later, but the returns of the two teams were huge.

The Warriors selected power forward Wiseman with the second pick in 2020. They were once considered by Golden State as the successor of the "Splash Brothers". Unfortunately, things went against their expectations. Wiseman's strength is really far from the second pick. In February 2023, the Warriors, Pistons and Hawks reached a three-party deal. Wiseman was sent to the Pistons to exchange for 5 second-round picks and Knox. The Warriors used these chips to exchange for Payton Jr. from the Trail Blazers.

The Warriors went around in circles, which was equivalent to exchanging Wiseman for Payton Jr. It was a huge loss.

Rockets selected Jaylen Green with the second pick in 2021, known as "the top and the top and the bottom", but their actual performance in the arena has never been popular, and they have repeatedly lost their chains at critical moments, which is useless. In July 2025, the Rockets sent Jaylen Green, Dillon, No. 10 to the Suns to exchange for Durant.

Rockets actually upgraded Jaylen Green to Durant and became a strong contender for the championship.