That’s probably not how Henri Veesaar saw the 2026 NBA Draft playing out.
The UNC big man officially became the biggest faller of the draft on Wednesday, moving all the way down to the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 52 overall pick. The Clippers then reportedly flipped him to the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that sent back the No. 57 pick and cash.
Veesaar was considered a potential first-round pick going into the draft after an excellent junior season at UNC. Even after going unselected in the first round, he was widely expected to be one of the first names called once the second round began.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor ranked him as the draft’s No. 26 overall prospect, with the following appraisal:
Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a massive leap in production each year. But he's 227 pounds so his lanky frame can get pushed around, plus he still hasn't fully defined his cornerstone skill.
The UNC big man officially became the biggest faller of the draft on Wednesday, moving all the way down to the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 52 overall pick. The Clippers then reportedly flipped him to the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that sent back the No. 57 pick and cash.
Veesaar was considered a potential first-round pick going into the draft after an excellent junior season at UNC. Even after going unselected in the first round, he was widely expected to be one of the first names called once the second round began.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor ranked him as the draft’s No. 26 overall prospect, with the following appraisal:
Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a massive leap in production each year. But he's 227 pounds so his lanky frame can get pushed around, plus he still hasn't fully defined his cornerstone skill.
2 months ago
