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Second-round draft picks do not have the same guaranteed contracts as their first-round counterparts. Instead, they must negotiate their own deals, which can vary greatly in terms of salary, guarantees, and contract length. Here are some common salary structures for second-round picks:
Minimum Salary Contracts: Many second-round picks end up signing minimum salary contracts, which are non-guaranteed deals that pay the league’s minimum salary for a rookie. For the 2023-24 season, the minimum rookie salary is $1,119,563.
Partially Guaranteed Contracts: Some second-round picks may negotiate partially guaranteed contracts, where a portion of their salary (usually the first year or two) is guaranteed, while the remaining years are team options. These deals provide a bit more security than a minimum salary contract but still come with some risk.
Multi-Year Guaranteed Contracts: On rare occasions, a second-round pick may secure a multi-year, fully guaranteed contract. These deals are typically reserved for players who have significant leverage or are highly coveted by multiple teams.
Let’s look at some real-world examples of second-round contracts from recent drafts:
Emoni Bates, Cleveland Cavaliers (2023 #49 Overall Pick):
- 1-year, non-guaranteed, two-way contract worth $508,891