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2026 NBA Mock Draft: Second Round Projections for Veesaar, Thomas, Evans

Henri Veesaar, Meleek Thomas, and Isaiah Evans are predicted to be early second-round picks in the 2026 NBA mock draft, despite some projections initially placing them in the first round.

CBS Sports·Jun 24, 2026·via CBS Sports

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Second Round Projections for Veesaar, Thomas, Evans

Round one of the 2026 NBA Draft is in the books. The top of the draft went as expected, with A J Dybantsa going No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards , Darryn Peterson going No. 2 to the Utah Jazz , Cameron Boozer going No. 3 to the Memphis Grizzlies , and the Chicago Bulls snagging Caleb Wilson at No. 4.

The freshman lead guards went off the board like this: Keaton Wagler No. 5 to the Los Angeles Clippers , Mikel Brown Jr. No. 6 to the Brooklyn Nets , Darius Acuff Jr. No. 7 to the Sacramento Kings , and Kingston Flemings No. 8 to the Atlanta Hawks .

Brayden Burries went No. 10 to the Milwaukee Bucks . No big surprises there.

The biggest early surprise was Morez Johnson Jr., who the Dallas Mavericks and new coach Dusty May got at No. 10. Johnson went before Michigan teammates Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara. All three Wolverines went in the lottery.

2026 NBA Draft Grades: Analysis for AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, rest of first-round picks Adam Finkelstein

If there were any other surprises, it would be Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, who went No. 16 to the Oklahoma City Thunder , and then Stanford's Ebuka Okorie, who jumped up to No. 17 to the Detroit Pistons .

The major fallers? Koa Peat dropped all the way to No. 30 and the Phoenix Suns .

Now all eyes turn to the second round of the draft that begins on Wednesday night. First-round projections like Arkansas's Meleek Thomas, Duke's Isaiah Evans, and UNC's Henri Veesaar are all still available and give teams at the top of the second round some real value.

The goal for teams at the back end of the draft is to try and bolster their roster with rotation players and maybe hit the jackpot by landing someone who can start long-term in the league. This is where scouting not only the talent but also mentality, work ethic, and potential really can pay off.

Let's dive into all 30 predictions for the second round.

Mock Draft Round 2

From Washington Wizards Round 2 - PIck 31

Henri Veesaar

North Carolina

• Jr • 6'11" / 227 lbs

Projected Team

New York

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

RPG

8.7

APG

2.1

3P%

42.6%

The skilled 7-footer slid out of the first round after leaving millions of dollars in NIL money on the table in college. With the Knicks, he should have a chance to stick because they need depth up front, and he has a unique overlap of size and skill.

From Indiana Pacers Round 2 - PIck 32

Meleek Thomas

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'3" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

32nd

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

15.6

RPG

3.8

APG

2.5

3P%

41.6%

Thomas is a microwave scoring guard and tough shot-maker who needs to prove he can be efficient and solid enough defensively to hold his own, but his upside is significant. He also left a significant amount of money on the table to stay in the draft.

From Brooklyn Nets Round 2 - PIck 33

Isaiah Evans

Duke

• Soph • 6'6" / 186 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

26th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

RPG

3.2

APG

1.3

3P%

36.1%

Evans is one of the best shooters in the draft, and he's proven he can make NBA-caliber threes off movement. In Minnesota, he'll help create some much needed space around Anthony Edwards

From Sacramento Kings Round 2 - PIck 34

Baba Miller

Cincinnati

• Sr • 6'11" / 208 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

37th

POSITION RNK

13th

PPG

RPG

10.3

APG

3.7

3P%

19.2%

Miller is a high upside proposition because of his combination of size, mobility, two-way playmaking, and rebounding. The Kings have few, if any, long-term pieces, so they can take some swings like this.

From San Antonio Spurs Round 2 - PIck 35

Richie Saunders

BYU

• Sr • 6'5" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

34th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

RPG

5.8

APG

2.1

3P%

37.6%

Saunders is rehabbing from his ACL injury, but once he gets back to 100%, there is real belief he's a true NBA player. Saunders has a throwback jump shot with positional size, competitive intangibles, and an understanding of how to space the floor.

From Memphis Grizzlies Round 2 - PIck 36

Ugonna Onyenso

Virginia

• Sr • 6'11" / 237 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

45th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

6.5

RPG

4.9

APG

0.6

3P%

27.8%

Onyenso is a rim protector who wasn't fully utilized as a lob threat last year and just started to stretch the floor with his shooting. It would not be a surprise to see the Clippers find a useful way to utilize those tools.

From Dallas Mavericks Round 2 - PIck 37

Ryan Conwell

Louisville

• Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

36th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

18.8

RPG

4.8

APG

2.7

3P%

34.5%

Conwell is a high-level shooter with a strong body and enough handle to play on or off the ball. OKC doesn't have excess roster space, but if they were to make a consolidation move, he could fight for time at the end of the bench.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 2 - PIck 38

Otega Oweh

Kentucky

• Sr • 6'4" / 216 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

40th

POSITION RNK

8th

PPG

18.6

RPG

4.8

APG

2.7

3P%

33.3%

Oweh's power, physicality, and projected two-way grit should fit the new philosophies in Chicago. When you factor in his improved spot-up shooting, he could have a chance to stick in the NBA.

From Chicago Bulls Round 2 - PIck 39

Braden Smith

Purdue

• Sr • 5'11" / 167 lbs

Projected Team

Houston

PROSPECT RNK

34th

POSITION RNK

10th

PPG

14.3

RPG

3.5

APG

8.8

3P%

36.2%

Smith is a pure point guard and one of the all-time great passers in college basketball history. With Fred VanVleet having a player option, Smith gives the Rockets insurance at the point guard position.

From Milwaukee Bucks Round 2 - PIck 40

Nate Bittle

Oregon

• Sr • 7'0" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Boston

PROSPECT RNK

55th

POSITION RNK

9th

PPG

16.8

RPG

6.9

APG

2.6

3P%

31.9%

Bittle is one of the more skilled and headier bigs expected to be available in the late second round. He's even a little more versatile defensively than he gets credit for.

From Golden State Warriors Round 2 - PIck 41

Emanuel Sharp

Houston

• Sr • 6'3" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

42nd

POSITION RNK

9th

PPG

15.5

RPG

APG

1.7

3P%

37.2%

Sharp is a shot-maker who spent four-and-a-half years under Kelvin Sampson and should thus fit right in with the Miami culture.

From Portland Trail Blazers Round 2 - PIck 42

Trevon Brazile

Arkansas

• Sr • 6'10" / 230 lbs

Projected Team

San Antonio

PROSPECT RNK

38th

POSITION RNK

14th

PPG

13.1

RPG

7.3

APG

1.5

3P%

34.1%

Brazile can space the floor as a lob threat or spot-up shooter and could have the versatility to play alongside Wemby or back him up in smaller lineups.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 2 - PIck 43

Tyler Nickel

Vanderbilt

• Sr • 6'6" / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

50th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

13.5

RPG

3.3

APG

1.2

3P%

40%

Nickel is one of the best pure shooters in this draft. Given the amount of young playmakers Brooklyn could have on their roster, they could utilize some extra floor-spacing.

From Miami Heat Round 2 - PIck 44

Bruce Thornton

Ohio State

• Sr • 6'0" / 223 lbs

Projected Team

San Antonio

PROSPECT RNK

44th

POSITION RNK

12th

PPG

19.9

RPG

5.1

APG

3.9

3P%

40%

Thornton had an unmatched combination of volume and efficiency last year at Ohio State and may prove to be sustainable in a vastly scaled-down role in the NBA.

From Charlotte Hornets Round 2 - PIck 45

Dillon Mitchell

St. John's

• Sr • 6'7" / 202 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

49th

POSITION RNK

16th

PPG

8.3

RPG

APG

3P%

6.7%

Mitchell is an extreme mid-air athlete who showed off defensive versatility and offensive playmaking this year with St. John's. He's not a shooter, but his unique overlap of tools could be interesting for the Kings.

Round 2 - PIck 46

Tyler Bilodeau

UCLA

• Sr • 6'7" / 228 lbs

Projected Team

Orlando

PROSPECT RNK

43rd

POSITION RNK

15th

PPG

17.6

RPG

5.6

APG

1.1

3P%

46.4%

Frontcourt spacing is a priority for the Magic, and Bilodeau is one of the best shooting forwards in this draft. The question will be whether he can hold his own on the defensive end of the floor.

From Phoenix Suns Round 2 - PIck 47

Felix Okpara

Tennessee

• Sr • 6'10" / 237 lbs

Projected Team

New York

PROSPECT RNK

54th

POSITION RNK

9th

PPG

RPG

6.3

APG

0.5

3P%

36.4%

Okpara is a rim protector, offensive rebounder, and lob threat who needs to get stronger but could fight for minutes in a Phoenix frontcourt that is lacking depth.

From Phoenix Suns Round 2 - PIck 48

Jaden Bradley

Arizona

• Sr • 6'3" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

41st

POSITION RNK

11th

PPG

13.3

RPG

3.4

APG

4.4

3P%

39.4%

The Big 12 Player of the Year is a downhill force, quality defender, and improved shooter. This could also reunite him with his former Arizona backcourt mate Brayden Burries.

From Atlanta Hawks Round 2 - PIck 49

Milos Uzan

Houston

• Jr • 6'3" / 186 lbs

Projected Team

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

47th

POSITION RNK

15th

PPG

11.1

RPG

2.7

APG

3P%

34.3%

Uzan projects as an ideal blend player who may be able to carve out a niche by being reliable with the ball, knocking down open shots, content to play off other dynamic creators, and solid defensively.

Round 2 - PIck 50

Izaiyah Nelson

South Florida

• Sr • 6'8" / 218 lbs

Projected Team

Toronto

PROSPECT RNK

57th

POSITION RNK

11th

PPG

15.9

RPG

9.6

APG

1.2

3P%

14.3%

After three years at Arkansas State, Nelson played his way onto the NBA map this year at USF and then made a bigger impression in the pre-draft process. Analytic models are also going to value someone who pulls down 4 offensive rebounds and 3 stocks per game.

From Minnesota Timberwolves Round 2 - PIck 51

Noam Yaacov

Israel

• 6'2" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

70th

POSITION RNK

19th

PPG

4.9

RPG

2.1

APG

4.0

3P%

34.8

The Wizards roster looks crowded, and so Yaacov could give them a draft-and-stash type asset that they could monitor abroad while simultaneously developing the young talent on their own roster.

From Cleveland Cavaliers Round 2 - PIck 52

Rafael Castro

George Washington

• Sr • 6'9" / 224 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

58th

POSITION RNK

12th

PPG

15.3

RPG

9.1

APG

1.7

3P%

Castro's defensive playmaking numbers have been through the roof the last two years at GW and he has very unusual bend and elasticity for someone his size. Whether that's enough to make it in the league remains to be seen, but he's worth the risk at this point.

Round 2 - PIck 53

Maliq Brown

Duke

• Sr • 6'8" / 217 lbs