If you think some obscure names are going to be announced in the second round of tonight's draft, you're right.
But it will be nothing compared to the way it used to be.
As hard as it is to fathom, the NBA draft once used to last 20 rounds. Of course, there were a lot fewer teams in the league, but still. Apparently, every Division I collegian got drafted.
In 1974, it was scaled back to 10 rounds, but even then, you had teams using their 10th-round pick on the owner's geeky son or, worse yet, the beat writer for the team.
Just as a joke, of course.
In '85, it went to a seven-round draft, then was shaved to three rounds in '88 and its current two-round length the following summer.
Since 1989, it has remained unchanged, except for the number of teams participating.
--Eddie Sefko
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