When the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Rayan Rupert of the New Zealand Breakers with the 43rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, an interesting report popped up. Sources stated that once the second round had started and Rupert was still on the board, the had a guaranteed promise. In turn, it caused all the teams drafting in spots 31-42 to stay away.

Players drafted in the second round aren’t afforded the same luxury of guaranteed money as their first-round counterparts. Many get signed to G League deals or two-way contracts, or just don’t stick at all.

The Blazers immediately offered Rupert the newly-established Second Round Pick Exception contract. Formally established in the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2023, this contract can be 3 or 4 years. It’s guaranteed with the

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