MILWAUKEE, WI -MAY 06: Jon Horst, Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, introduces new head coach Taylor Jenkins on May 06, 2026 at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks did not have a selection when the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft began, but that changed when they acquired the No. 60 overall pick from the Orlando Magic for cash considerations.
The Washington Wizards held this pick going into the night, but sent it to the Magic for the draft rights to Tennessee big man Felix Okpara. With the final pick in the draft, the Bucks selected small forward Malique Lewis, who has played in the NBL with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the past two seasons.
Lewis, 21, is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but moved to Spain at the age of 16 to grow and develop. Lewis spent two years in Spain with Gwen Labrada before moving to the G League to play for the Mexico City Capitanes in the 2023-24 campaign. That season, he played in 50 games and averaged 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Lewis’ experience in the G League should be intriguing for the Bucks, and it’s possible that he could be a contributor for the Wisconsin Herd going into the upcoming season.
At 6-8, Lewis has the frame for an NBA player and his defense is his calling card. His 3-and-D profile is something worth investing in for the Bucks as they move towards the future.
Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about the Bucks going back into the second round to take Lewis? Start the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 23: The 2026 NBA Draft completed its first round and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson were viewed as the top four players in the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
It’s time for night two of the 2026 NBA Draft.
After 30 first-rounders were selected on Tuesday night, another 30 players will hear their names called in Wednesday’s second round.
As of the time of publishing, the Philadelphia 76ers do not have a pick in the second round. The franchise made their lone pick last night, selecting Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 overall. The guard was the first pick made by new Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey. Gansey, speaking to reporters after the first round concluded last night, spoke on the possibility of the Sixers trading into Wednesday’s second round.
Gansey said he's "going to be aggressive." Said the team has several needs and they could look to target someone in the second round. https://t.co/3nLPv6h7eT
Whether something actually comes of that or not, we’ll just have to wait and see. There were already a number of second round picks traded around the league last night, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more movement tonight.
The second round begins at 8 p.m. ET! Just as we did throughout the first round, we will keep you posted on all of the picks live as they happen, right here on this page. Follow along and discuss in the comments below!
Round 2
No. 31 – Bruce Thornton (Ohio State, G) to the Houston Rockets* (via NYK).
No. 32 – Richie Saunders (Brigham Young, G) selected by the Memphis Grizzlies.
No. 33 – Isaiah Evans (Duke, G) to the Minnesota Timberwolves* (via BKN, pick acquired in the Julius Randle trade).
No. 34 – Meleek Thomas (Arkansas, G) to the Cleveland Cavaliers* (via SAC).
No. 35 – Trevon Brazile (Arkansas, C/F) to the Denver Nuggets* (via SAS).
No. 36 – Baba Miller (Cincinnati, F) selected by the Los Angeles Clippers.
No. 37 – Ryan Conwell (Louisville, G) to the Miami Heat* (via OKC).
No. 38 – Braden Smith (Purdue, G) to the Indiana Pacers* (via CHI).
No. 39 – Jack Kayil (Germany, G) to the New York Knicks* (via HOU).
No. 40 – Dillon Mitchell (St. John’s, F) selected by the Boston Celtics.
No. 41 – Otega Oweh (Kentucky, G) to the Oklahoma City Thunder* (via MIA).
No. 42 – Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee, G) selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
No. 43 – Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA, F) selected by the Brooklyn Nets.
No. 44 – Maliq Brown (Duke, C/F) selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
No. 45 – Emanuel Sharp (Houston, G) selected by the Sacramento Kings.
No. 46 – Felix Okpara (Tennessee, F) to the Washington Wizards* (via ORL).
No. 47 – Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt, F) selected by the New York Knicks.
No. 48 – Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech, F) selected by the Dallas Mavericks.
No. 49 – Bryce Hopkins (St. John’s, F) selected by the Denver Nuggets.
No. 50 – Jaden Bradley (Arizona, G) selected by the Toronto Raptors.
No. 51 – Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida, F) to the Orlando Magic* (via WSH).
No. 52 – Henri Veesaar (North Carolina, C) to the Atlanta Hawks* (via LAC).
No. 53 – Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia, C) to the Detroit Pistons* (via NYK).
No. 54 – Lajae Jones (Florida State, G) selected by the Golden State Warriors.
No. 55 – Nick Martinelli (Northwestern, F) to the Los Angeles Clippers* (via HOU).
No. 56 – Vsevolod Ishchenko (Russia, G) to the Dallas Mavericks* (via LAL).
No. 57 – Narcisse Ngoy (Auburn, C) to the Los Angeles Clippers* (via ATL).
No. 58 – Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU, G) selected by the New Orleans Pelicans.
No. 59 – Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue, F) selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
No. 60 – Malique Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago, F) to the Milwaukee Bucks* (via WSH).
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2026/06/01: Vsevolod Ishchenko (23) of Lokomotiv Kuban and Andrey Vorontsevich (33) of Zenit in action during the VTB United League basketball match, Playoffs, the series for the 3rd place, 1 match, between Zenit Saint Petersburg and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar at "kck Arena". score; Zenit 82:80 Lokomotiv Kuban. (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks traded back into the late second round and selected Russian guard Vsevolod Ishchenko with the 56th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dallas bought the pick from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Mavericks sent cash to the Lakers for Vsevolod Ishchenko at 56, sources said. https://t.co/638X6OhLVi
Needless to say, Ishchenko is a very raw prospect. A 6’8 guard with a 7’0 wingspan born in Russia and brought up through their youth basketball development system, Ishchenko averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, two assists, and 1.3 steals per game across 43 games during the 2025-2026 season for Lokomotiv Kuban, a pro team from the Russan VTB United League.
Some scouts love the potential Ishchenko has as a future two-way player, but he will obviously need a lot of seasoning and need to face better competition. This feels like either a draft-and-stash move, or a G-League addition, which Ishchenko will need to get used to NBA basketball. As a dart throw, it seems fun! The chances of Ishchenko ever stepping on an NBA court in a Mavericks jersey are very low, but you can never find a hidden gem if you never give yourself a chance, something the previous two Mavericks front office regimes never seemed to understand.
The Lakers buy back into the draft to select Kuban's Vsevolod Ishchenko with the 56th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The 6'8" Russian with a 7'0" wingspan brings two-way versatility, flashy playmaking, and athletic upside to the table.
This marks the fourth Maverick drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, after Dallas used their ninth overall pick for Morez Johnson Jr., traded up from 30 to 25 to grab Sergio de Larrea, then earlier in the second round drafted Tobi Lawal. While we have no idea how any of these guys will pan out, it’s clear this new Mavericks front office values the draft and wanting as many bites from the apple as possible.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - NOVEMBER 15: Ugonna Onyenso #33 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots a free throw in the second half during a game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at John Paul Jones Arena on November 15, 2025 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Moments after trading backup center Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pistons traded into the second round and selected college basketball’s premier shot blocker in Ugonna Onyenso of Virginia. It’s hard to get too excited by a player who lasts until the 53rd pick in the draft, but Onyenso has some eye-popping stats.
Draft analyst Rich Stayman says, “Onyenso ended up 29th on my board, because I think his shot blocking is extremely special (the only high major player to have 15+ BLK% and under 3 fouls per 40 minutes, which he did TWICE in college). He can play in the NBA, especially since his shot has been growing.”
Let’s dig a bit deeper.
Onyenso is a legit 7-footer with a 7-foot, 4.75-inch wingspan. He blocked 17.4% of shots at Virginia and 15.1% of shots overall during his four-year college career at Kentucky, Kansas State, and Virginia.
He projects to add legitimate rim pressure as a vertical big man, and he is not shy about trying to add a 3-point shot to his game as he looks to stick in the NBA. He is far from a high-usage player, but more than 20% of his field goal attempts were threes during his senior season. He connected at a 27.8% clip. He also shot 76% and 72% from the free-throw line the past two season, so there is reason to believe an actual shot could develop if given time.
The NBA.com draft profile is a nice summation of why its OK to be excited by Onyenso.
Onyenso protects the rim at an elite level with a lengthy seven-foot frame. He led his draft class in block rate by a wide margin and capped his college career with nine blocks against Duke in the ACC Tournament. He doesn’t bite on pump fakes, stays vertical and keeps himself out of foul trouble. His footwork holds up well enough to switch onto guards in short bursts. On offense, he’s a vertical spacer who dunks lobs and cleans the offensive glass. As a senior, Onyenso started flashing the willingness to extend his shooting range.
Projection
Onyenso projects as a defensive-anchoring center who can step into an NBA rotation right away and protect the paint. The shooting touch he started to flash at Virginia hints at another layer of offensive growth still coming. He’s drawn NBA comparisons to Daniel Gafford and Moussa Diabate. NBA front offices have always found rotation minutes for Onyenso’s playstyle. He could carve out a long career as the paint-protecting big that contenders covet on the back end of their rotation.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 15: Meleek Thomas #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on in the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores of 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Meleek Thomas 34th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6’4″ combo guard has 3-and-D potential for Cleveland, even if he doesn’t fit their most pressing needs.
Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists as a Freshman for Arkansas. He served as the secondary option behind Darius Acuff, thriving without the ball as a 40% three-point shooter. Thomas also ranked in the 69th percentile in scoring off of screens, giving him one of the most transferable skill sets for today’s NBA.
The Cavs will have to develop the rest of his game from there. Thomas isn’t seen as a great decision maker with the ball, as shot selection was one of the primary concerns for him in college. This is a player who loves the mid-range jumper… and only the most elite shooters can get away with those at the NBA level.
Thomas also isn’t a plus athlete. He’s not as explosive as his peers, struggles to get to the rim, and has a slightly undersized frame despite decent height at his position. These are traits the Cavs have mostly undervalued in recent years (size and athleticism), and Thomas does not break from that trend.
Thomas improved as a defender in his freshman season. Though his off-ball awareness is a concern. If Thomas can tighten up his defense and package it with elite shooting, then he’ll always have a home in the NBA.
Best outcome? The Cavs are betting on him to round out his defensive game and complement anyone he shares the backcourt with. Any upticks in his ability to create with the ball, whether it be playmaking or driving to the rim, would be cherries on top.
There’s a difficult needle to thread when grading this selection. Thomas, or anyone else the Cavs could have selected tonight, would almost certainly play zero role next season. Cleveland is looking to compete for a title, and the 34th pick doesn’t factor heavily into those plans. This was always going to be a long-term project. So, we don’t want to focus too heavily on how this affects the current team.
Nonetheless, Cleveland really doesn’t need another guard right now. Even a top prospect would have trouble cracking this rotation with the logjam currently happening in their backcourt. To no fault of his own, Thomas is joining a team that has overindexed on his position.
Worse, the Cavs are taking another flyer on someone who lacks athleticism and clocked in at 6’3″ barefoot. His collegiate profile is comparable to that of players like Cam Thomas, Jordan Poole, Collin Sexton, and Coby White. Those aren’t winning archetypes and could indicate a systemic failure in which skills the Cavs have prioritized over the years.
Thomas might have a higher floor given his ability to play without the ball and knock down three-pointers. He’ll certainly have a long NBA career if he can do that while being a plus defender. Maybe the Cavs will even need him in a few years when James Harden and/or Donovan Mitchell are either both aging or off the roster entirely. That scenario would align better with Thomas’s timeline and give him a real path toward playing in Cleveland.
Finally, the last qualifier I want to add before handing out this grade is simple. We’re talking about the 34th pick. Warts are inevitable. I can’t pretend that anyone selected here would have warranted a very high grade.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Javohn Garcia #1 of the McNeese Cowboys defends Tyler Nickel #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There may not have been any team that moved as much in the 2026 NBA Draft than the champion New York Knicks, who built for the future to try and dance around the salary cap for the upcoming season.
The Knicks traded out of the first round last night to try and avoid paying a player guaranteed money, but they leave the Barclays Center with a pair of picks in Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel.
Kayil, the No. 39 overall pick, was acquired in a trade with the Houston Rockets for No. 31 and 53. Kayil played for Alba Berlin last season in the Bundesliga, marking the second time in three years where the team has selected a player that played in Germany. While some may suspect Kayil could be a draft-and-stash prospect, the German point guard made his intentions clear about coming over to the States.
Jack Kayil says he does not plan to return to Germany for another year after being drafted by the Knicks pic.twitter.com/micv9vL2Ee
There is a good chance Kayil ends up with the Westchester Knicks in the G League, where he could also be joined by Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel, the No. 47 overall pick.
Nickel began his collegiate career at North Carolina before transferring to Virginia Tech after his freshman year. He spent one season in Blacksburg before heading to Vanderbilt for his junior and senior seasons. This past season at Vanderbilt, Nickel averaged 13.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while making 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
P&T community, how do you feel about the Knicks’ picks in the second round? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Warriors selected Florida State guard Lajae Jones with their second-round pick (No. 54 overall) of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24.
Jones is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard who is coming off a senior season in which he averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Getty Images
Golden State has placed an emphasis on drafting lengthy, versatile players with recent draft picks, and Jones absolutely fits that archetype. He will be able to defend multiple positions, and the fact that he is a capable shooter from 3-point range (32.5% last season) suggests why the Warriors had him circled.
The Warriors initially received the No. 54 pick in the draft from the Lakers by trading Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Raptors in February.
This draft pick has a strangely long history, as the Lakers initially acquired it way back in 2020 after a deal with the Cavaliers. When a trade includes a draft pick so far in the future, it’s easy to forget about it. But the Warriors were ultimately the ones who benefited from it, which ended up in them drafting Jones.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This selection comes a day after the Warriors selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick. He will likely be expected to perform for the Warriors as a rookie. It will be interesting to see whether Jones can secure a spot on the Warriors’ roster next season. He’ll certainly be given a fair opportunity to do so.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: AJ Dybantsa is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers and Mavs have made another trade, but this time with slightly lower stakes.
After trading into the second round, LA ultimately did not make a selection, instead trading the No. 56 pick, Vsevolod Ischenko, to the Mavericks for cash.
The Mavericks sent cash to the Lakers for Vsevolod Ishchenko at 56, sources said. https://t.co/638X6OhLVi
Vsevolod Ishchenko to the Dallas Mavericks via a late trade with the Lakers… he was linked to Dallas before the draft, and that plays out. Sneaky athletic wing from Russia who can really shoot it. Imagine this is a stash, but an interesting one nonetheless.
LA originally moved up into the draft by sending cash to the Bulls for the No. 56 pick. Most expected them to follow up by making more deals to move up in the draft. However, that never happened.
We're expecting a ton of trade activity throughout tonight's second round.
Among that movement: I'm being told the Lakers are working to trade up even higher in the second round, after already acquiring the No. 56 pick tonight.
Instead, the Lakers sat pat and watched Henri Veesaar fall with most expecting him to land with the Lakers. The big man from North Carolina was expected to go as high as the first round but plummeted down the board. However, the Hawks jumped LA and selected him, leaving the Lakers without any options.
Had been a lot of noise with the Lakers and Veesaar, but the Hawks jump them and get him in a trade with the Clippers.
It’s pretty clear the team bought the pick with the expectation of targeting someone or multiple players but, by the time they were on the clock, those targets weren’t available.
Ultimately, the team moved the pick. It’s unclear how much money was involved in either transaction, whether from the Lakers to the Bulls or from the Mavs to the Lakers. It probably wouldn’t be a great look if the Lakers lost money in this deal, but it was a gamble that only really cost them Mark Walter’s money and his has plenty to spare.
At the end of the day, it turned out to be much ado about nothing. The Lakers did not add another draft pick and will turn to undrafted free agency to find the next Austin Reaves.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Ugonna Onyenso participates in the pro lane drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a breakout season with the Virginia Cavaliers, Ugonna Onyenso is headed to the NBA. The shot-swatting center had his name called with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday evening. Though Onyenso briefly donned a Houston Rockets cap after being selected, his final landing spot is with the Detroit Pistons due to a pair of trades that funneled the 53rd pick from the Rockets to the New York Knicks and, ultimately, to Detroit.
A 6-foot-11 former top-30 high school prospect, Onyenso is the first ’Hoo to hear his name called in the NBA Draft since Ryan Dunn went off the board in the first round to the Phoenix Suns in 2024. Onyenso’s collegiate career, however, took longer than expected to get off the starting blocks. During a pair of seasons at Kentucky and another at Kansas State, Onyenso averaged no more than 3.6 points per game while making just 16 total starts.
The Owerri, Nigeria, native, however, finally found his second home in Charlottesville just in time for his senior season. Making up one-half of Virginia’s dynamic center rotation alongside Johann Grunloh, Onyenso averaged career-highs in points (6.5), rebounds (4.9), blocks (2.9), and steals (0.6) per game on his way to earning ACC All-Defensive Team honors.
An elite shot-blocker with outstanding timing, jump discipline, and natural length, Onyenso continued to improve throughout his senior season, culminating in an otherworldly string of games during Virginia’s ACC Tournament run that earned him a First-Team All-Tournament selection. In a trio of contests against NC State, Miami, and Duke, Onyenso blocked an ACC Tournament record 21 shots, including nine against the Blue Devils in the tournament final. His herculean effort against Duke helped limit Cameron Boozer (the third-overall selection in the draft) to 3-of-17 shooting from the floor.
The Detroit Pistons (via HOU, NYK) have selected Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso with the 53rd pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The 7'0" Nigerian center with a 9'5 standing reach is one of the best rim-protectors in the draft class. pic.twitter.com/x4ap2F73R4
While Onyenso’s offensive game is still a work in progress (though he debuted a much-improved outside jump shot while at UVA), his defensive prowess could earn him NBA minutes sooner than later. With a 7’4.75” wingspan and a sturdy frame, Onyenso possesses an NBA-ready body and the skillset to step in as a lob threat and rim protector from day one.
In Detroit, Onyenso will have some room to climb the depth chart after the Pistons dealt Isaiah Stewart, another known defensive stopper, to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier on Wednesday night. The former ’Hoo will get his first taste of professional action and his first shot at earning a roster spot in the NBA Summer League, which gets underway in early July.
Some of the other notable undrafted free agents we have seen succeed in the league include Fred VanVleet, Austin Reaves, and Jose Alvarado. It is clearly important for front offices to find value on the edges even after the draft has concluded.
We will continue to update this post with where each of the most significant undrafted free agents will begin their NBA careers.
BEST UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
This section will be updated as signings are made.
This list is based on consensus rankings tracked by USA TODAY Sports.
The Sacramento Kings selections continue to win the 2026 NBA Draft.
On Night 2, the Kings selected Emanuel Sharp with the No. 45 pick of the second round.
The 6-foot-3 guard out of Houston should not be slept on. He's a defensive guy, who can spread the floor with his shooting capability.
Sharp helped the Cougars advance to the Elite Eight. In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 15.5 points on 37.2% from 3-point range. He set the school record for most career 3-pointers with 309, passing current Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser.
He was a 2025-26 All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team selection as a senior. He can come in and claim minutes in Sacramento by being a guy who plays alongside Darius Acuff Jr., coexisting through the intangibles of knocking down shots and guarding perimeter players.
Here's our grade for the Sacramento Kings' second round selection:
NBA Draft grades: Grading Kings' second-round pick: Emanuel Sharp
Here's how USA TODAY Sports grades the Sacramento Kings' second-round draft selection:
The grade: A
Why?: If you've read our recent Kings draft coverage, then you'd know that Sharp was one of the players suggested that Sacramento should target. For good reason, too. Again, Sharp is offensively sharp. He gets to the rim, he slashes. He plays defense. This is a fitting piece to the pillars that the Kings continue to discuss.
Mar 13, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Felix Okpara (34) blocks the shot of Vanderbilt Commodores guard Tyler Tanner (3) during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Tennessee Volunteers saw their third expected player to go off the board in the NBA Draft, and the second in the second round in center Felix Okpara.
Tennessee’s rim protector last season was picked by the Orlando Magic with pick No. 46 overall.
With the 46th pick of the NBA Draft the @OrlandoMagic select Felix Okpara!
It seemed like Okpara was heading to central Florida to join a young Magic team on the rise. However, as very often is the case in the NBA Draft, a curveball landed a few minutes later.
Okpara was quickly traded to the Washington Wizards.
Sources: Orlando traded No. 46 Felix Okpara to Washington for Nos. 51 and 60.
I find Okpara’s prospects to be very interesting. While he doesn’t possess the offensive game to make too much of an impact in the NBA, there’s no denying his abilities on the defensive end and on the glass at both ends. That ability brings a lot of value in at least a rotational role on the Wizards’ bench. You never know for sure if a second-round pick will stick, but I’m willing to bank on a big body in the lane who can guard the rim like he does.
Okpara will be joining a Wizards team that’s undergone quite the facelift. They have some interesting pieces in guard Trey Young and big man Anthony Davis. The Wizards also took BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick, so there’s star potential there.
Like Gillespie, we’ll see how summer ball goes for Okpara, and what kind of impact he can make with his new team.
Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) celebrates after a play against the VCU Rams in the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Welcome to the NBA Henri Veesaar. With the 52nd pick in the second round, the Atlanta Hawks selected the former Tar Heel center and starting his NBA career. So what does Veesaar bring to the NBA?
Strengths
In today’s NBA there is nothing more valuable than a stretch four and despite playing the five at North Carolina, Veesaar should fit in great in that role. Not only does he bring the obvious size, but he also brings the three point shooting to help stretch the floor and create space for driving guards and big men with less range. Additionally, Veesaar knows how to use his size on defense getting rebounds and blocks. Finally, Veesaar is also a good passer after averaging over two assists per game last season for the Tar Heels.
Areas of Improvement
There are two main areas that Veesaar is going to need to improve on. The first is adding weight. Despite being seven feet tall, Veesaar is not very big at a slim 225 lbs. The smaller frame will make him susceptible to injury when going up against much bigger post players in the NBA. Luckily for him, that is something that can be quickly remedied by just being drafted and getting into a full professional strength and conditioning program.
Secondly, he needs to work on his free throw shooting. Veesaar’s free throw shooting percentage of 61.5% was the tenth worst on the Tar Heels this past season and something that other NBA teams will take advantage of which in turn will limit his minutes. This is probably one of the more disturbing aspects of his game as his percentage has dropped every season in college as his attempts per game went up as well.
If he can get these areas fixed he should be able to provide some minutes for his new team this season.
New York continued their trend of trading down, moving from No. 31 to No. 39 in a deal with the Houston Rockets, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The Knicks also sent pick No. 55 in exchange for No. 53 and a 2029 Kings second-rounder.
Houston used the No. 31 pick on Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted that "by trading out of first pick in second round of draft, the Knicks have positioned themselves to find players more likely to accept rookie minimum deal via second round pick exception."
Second round, pick No. 39: guard Jack Kayil
With the pick acquired from Houston, the Knicks selected German guard Jack Kayil.
The 20-year-old from Berlin is listed at 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds. He joined the Alba Berlin youth academy in 2022 and rejoined the organization in 2025. In 2026, Kayil wan named the Bundesliga Best Young Player and FIBA Champions League Best Young Player, in addition to making the All-FIBA Champions League Second Team.
Kayil has represented Germany in international tournaments, helping them win gold at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket in 2022, the bronze at FIBA U18 EuroBasket in 2023, and the gold in 2024. He also led them to the silver medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2025, where they lost to the United States, averaging 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the tournament.
Kayil said in his post-draft news conference that he expects to be with the Knicks for the 2026-27 season as opposed to being a draft-and-stash prospect.
Second round, pick No. 47: forward Tyler Nickel
The Knicks selected Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel with the No. 47 overall pick. This pick was one of the three second-round picks acquired from the Phoenix Suns for Koa Peat.
At 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds, Nickel is a sharpshooting wing who averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 44.5 percent from three in 7.6 three-point attempts per game during the 2025-26 season. The 22-year-old from Harrisonburg, Virginia, played four seasons of college basketball, transferring from North Carolina to Virginia Tech after one season, then doing the same to spend his final two seasons at Vanderbilt.
Second round, pick No. 53: center Ugonna Onyeso (traded)
To round out their 2026 NBA Draft, New York selected center Ugonna Onyeso from Virginia.
Although he was quickly traded to the Detroit Pistons for cash considerations, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Onyeso, listed at 6-foot-11 and 237 pounds, used his size to record 2.92 blocks per game (leading the ACC and second nationally) last year with the Cavaliers. Born in Nigeria, he played three years at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal before moving to the United States for high school at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. There, Onyeso developed into a five-star recruit and committed to Kentucky, where he played for two years with a transfer stop at Kansas State before going to UVA.
DAY 1
First round, pick No. 25: guard Sergio De Larrea (later traded)
New York started Tuesday night's first round with the No. 24 overall pick, but moved back a slot in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and took De Larrea out of Spain.
However, his Knicks tenure was over in the blink of an eye.
After the first round was completed, New York sent De Larrea to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 30 pick Koa Peat and two second-round picks. Peat would then be quickly traded to the Phoenix Suns for three second-round picks and cash considerations.
Mar 12, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (0) celebrates after getting fouled and making the basket against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Tennessee Volunteers finally had another player come off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s quite the team who picked him.
Vols guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie was tabbed by the current Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs with pick No. 42 overall in the second round of the draft on Wednesday night.
It’s obviously a tremendous opportunity for Gillespie in San Antonio, if he can carve out a role for himself on a team that’s right on the edge of the pinnacle of the sport. The Spurs have themselves to blame for losing the NBA Finals in five games to the New York Knicks. They blew massive leads in multiple games, including a 29-point gag job in Game 4 in Madison Square Garden. So, clearly, they’re good enough to win it all, and having a superstar like Victor Wembanyama makes another run a distinct possibility in 2026-27 and beyond.
So, it’s a great situation for Gillespie to land in as far as potential to win. How he fits and what kind of role he earns for himself remains to be seen.
