The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Round 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft is in the books, and as they did with first-round selections, The Athletic’s draft expert Sam Vecenie and front-office insider John Hollinger are analyzing each choice right after it happens.
Explore Vecenie’s scouting summary from the 2026 NBA Draft Guide, Hollinger’s team fit for each second-rounder and more below.
31. Houston Rockets
Bruce Thornton | 6-0 | 22 years old
I’m probably going to be higher on Thornton than the consensus. He’s so polished as a scorer and has such a well-rounded set of on- and off-ball skills that could translate. He takes the advantages that are given to him and maintains them in ball screens. He can score in the midrange at an exceptionally efficient level and takes advantage of his shots at the rim. His 3-point volume could take a leap, too. He wins the possession game by never turning the ball over.
I’m certainly worried about him getting taken advantage of on defense. But I also think he has more pathways toward being OK on that end than most 6-foot guards because of his power. Thornton needs to improve his passing vision and needs to maximize himself on defense. The margin for error for guards this size is essentially non-existent in the NBA, and I think there’s a chance we look back at this class and Thornton ends up as one of the best players outside the NBA. But he’s one of my top two-way grades in the class.
Hollinger’s analysis: This feels slightly high for Thornton, a hugely productive college player but one who is quite undersized to play off the ball and not really a natural point guard. Houston gave up draft capital to move up eight spots and grab him, when he might have been there at No. 39. One positive: He has the same fire-hydrant body type as Fred VanVleet, and maybe can learn from him. The other positive: Thornton is from my current hometown of Alpharetta, Ga. Grade: B
NBA Draft 2026: Winners and Losers from Round 1
Zach Harper and CJ Moore
32. Memphis Grizzlies
Richie Saunders | 6-5 | 24 years old
Saunders’ game has a simple translation to the NBA. He’s a good shooter who is extremely reliable off the catch and can do just enough beyond to be a role player in an era when you can’t just be a specialist anymore. He’s a smart defender who knows where he’s supposed to be, and he can help you out on the glass. He makes quick decisions and can attack closeouts at a high level.
The issue is that he’s nearly 25 and not overly athletic for what he’ll be asked to do. A player like Sam Merrill is twitchier than Saunders and certainly was a better shooter entering the league as an older player. Still, Saunders is worth a second-round pick and is one of my favorite bets in the second round because of his ability to provide a ready-made NBA skill as a shooter, with potential for more. If not for the injury, I might have had a late first-round grade on him.
Max Strus similarly suffered a torn ACL early in his career, and he needed a second stop to establish himself. I’d be worried that Saunders might take longer to figure it out, but he seems smart and talented enough as a shooter to stick.
Hollinger’s analysis: Saunders is recovering from a torn ACL. He told me at the combine that he thinks he’ll be ready to go at the start of the season, but this might be a situation where he plays the first half of the year on a two-way deal while he rehabs the injury, which is my underlying assumption behind this grade (Memphis’ roster is rush-hour crowded). Pre-injury, Saunders had a chance to get into the first round. He can shoot, has some defensive playmaking and has a nice left hand around the basket. Grade: B+
33. Minnesota Timberwolves
Isaiah Evans | 6-6 | 20 years old
The Evans projection is very easy. If you think he can get stronger, improve on defense and clean up his decision-making, he’s a good bet to turn into the kind of shooter every team wants. He’s big and has a clean shot with great footwork and a high release point. Plus, he’s comfortable already within NBA-style actions at knocking down shots off movement.
There is a good chance Evans can become a valuable player in the NBA with further development. But we’re a ways away from that, given his flaws. He does not read the court well enough, and his defensive flaws are based on his feel for the game on that end and on his physical tools. We’ve seen many players like this come through the draft in recent years, where shooting off the catch is the primary selling point. Players such as Gradey Dick, Jordan Hawkins, Dalton Knecht, Julian Strawther and others have struggled to establish themselves as NBA rotation players. Some of them will figure it out, and some won’t.
Hollinger’s analysis: I love this pick for Minnesota. Evans can really shoot and showed strong improvement in his sophomore season, and I think teams overthought things on his thin frame. He is by far the best prospect available, and his deep shooting ability is something the Wolves really need around Anthony Edwards. He might be able to play right away on that roster. Grade: A
34. Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas | 6-3 | 19 years old
I love the freedom with which Thomas plays. He’s fearless and could become one of the 30 or so best shooters in the world once he hits his prime. That has a ton of value, and if someone takes him in the 20s thinking they can moderate his game a bit, I wouldn’t be stunned. But there is too much to clean up for my liking, and I’m skeptical that he can fix all of it by the time his rookie deal runs out.
Thomas is a poor team defender who ball-watches so much that I don’t think coaches can have him on the floor in the NBA early. Second, his shot selection and lack of vision are out of whack. That could be fixable, but I’m not convinced the inconsistent vision will improve. I also worry about Thomas not decelerating after he gets moving. He goes from fast to slow. He’s excellent at going from slow to fast with his first step. But he needs to slow down to play more under control.
I could believe in Thomas becoming a useful sixth man by the time he’s 25. He has talent. But I’m not convinced that the first team that has Thomas will get the most out of him.
Hollinger’s analysis: Thomas is a good developmental play for a Cleveland team that needs to get some young talent in the pipeline. The one-and-done has clear offensive talent as a shooter and scorer but needs to clean up some of the other fundamentals before he’s game-ready. He’ll occupy a minimum salary slot to help the Cavs navigate the second apron while he gets reps in the G League. Grade: A-
35. Denver Nuggets
Trevon Brazile | 6-10 | 23 years old
If you put together a three-minute highlight reel of Brazile’s best plays from this season, you’d wonder why he isn’t going in the lottery. He’s an elite athlete who could be asked to participate in the dunk contest next year, and he makes plays on defense. He also has the potential to shoot effectively.
Unfortunately, there has always been something missing from Brazile’s game. There isn’t a lot of glue holding it together because his motor doesn’t run hot enough. When you watch him, you want him to play with urgency. You want him to say, “Yeah, I’m skinny, and I’m going to get knocked to the ground, but I’m going to put myself right back in that position the next play down the court.”
Also, you wish there were more of a natural feel to his game beyond the highlight-reel plays. Brazile is unequivocally worth investing in as a two-way player because if he ever does play with that kind of urgency, he could be awesome. But it’s an indictment of his game that even in his best season at 23 years old, three years removed from his knee injury, he was not an All-SEC player or All-SEC defender despite his athletic tools. Hopefully, that urgency comes once he hits the NBA because Brazile still has loads of potential.
Hollinger’s analysis: I’m pretty amazed that a team that has had a years-long glaring hole at backup center would pass on Henri Veesaar, but Brazile is a talented combo forward who showed well at the combine and was within my next five best players available. Grade: B-
36. LA Clippers
Baba Miller | 6-11 | 22 years old
Miller has always been a fascinating NBA prospect, even when he was not particularly good at Florida State, because of his physical tools. It’s hard to find players with a 9-3 standing reach who move like Miller does, with balance and coordination. At the very least, that size and athleticism would make him worth a two-way slot.
And yet, I couldn’t get much beyond a priority two-way grade with Miller despite his terrific combine performance. There is still so much for him to work on. He needs a lot of time on his defensive fundamentals, even if he has a ton of realizable upside on that end. Offensively, I don’t know how he’s going to score because I don’t buy the jumper.
Miller would probably be the two-way bet I’d most want to take a flier on. But I couldn’t get excited enough for a guaranteed contract grade.
Hollinger’s analysis: Baba Miller’s switchable defense and handle make him a Swiss Army-knife type with bench units, and there’s some upside if the Clippers can straighten out his shooting. The Clippers have had a paucity of big forwards on the roster, so this helps there as well. Grade: B+
37. Miami Heat
Ryan Conwell | 6-2 | 22 years old
I wish Conwell were a slightly better shooter or ballhandler. He feels stuck between positions, as he’s not an elite shooter, and he’s not creative enough to be a primary on-ball player. He’s not a perfect defender, but he gives enough effort to at least survive on that end. I’m worried about him being valuable enough on offense, though.
Still, this is a solid flyer to take thanks to his frame and shooting potential, and he’s one of my top two-way grades because of that. If the shooting takes another leap, there is typically space for a player like this who can hold his own on defense. But he needs to be a great shooter, not just a good one, to stick.
Hollinger’s analysis: Conwell is a willing 3-point launcher on a team that suddenly has a paucity of such players following the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. That said, I had several other players rated higher, and the Heat are another team that could have taken a long look at Henri Veesaar. Miami’s complicated dance with the first apron may necessitate a roster deal for the bare rookie minimum of $1.3 million. Grade: B-
38. Indiana Pacers
Braden Smith | 5-10 | 22 years old
I want to love Smith because of his clear elite feel for the game and shooting ability. He also plays hard on defense. But ultimately, I can’t quite get there. At less than 170 pounds, he won’t be able to effectively defend in the NBA enough to be anything more than a table-setting backup point guard.
These players undeniably have value, and I think Smith will end up playing in the NBA for a solid period of time. But I don’t know if I can see him becoming a truly elite backup point guard like T.J. McConnell, who can beat guys off the bounce and get paint touches. Ty Jerome is drastically bigger and more of an isolation scorer. Payton Pritchard is stronger and more of a scoring threat. Yes, Smith is a better passer than these players, but to fully take advantage of that skill set in the NBA, you have to consistently touch the paint. Smith feels more like a mid-tier backup point guard.
Hollinger’s analysis: Narrative-wise, Smith to Indiana is too perfect: a pure point guard from Purdue joining the local pro team. He’s undersized and joining a very crowded backcourt in Indy and might have to start on a two-way. That said, I had several other players rated higher. Also, kudos to the Bulls for basically selling both their second-round picks. New GM, same owner. Grade: Pacers B-, Bulls F+
39. New York Knicks
Jack Kayil | 6-4 | 20 years old
Kayil is an interesting stash bet in the second round. He took a big leap this year in Germany, but the German league is not a particularly athletic league, and we’ve seen several strong or athletic players put up numbers there while not translating to the American style of uptempo basketball.
My worries with Kayil are that he doesn’t separate well enough from his opposition and doesn’t have a great answer for how to score, while also not being a high-level passer. I like that he’s a physical defender, but he’s not overly quick. Kayil does a lot of things well but doesn’t do anything at an NBA level yet.
If he’s set on coming over this season, he’s worth a two-way contract to continue to develop. But I would be equally comfortable stashing him in Germany for another couple of years.
Hollinger’s analysis: My 39th-ranked player went …. 39th. Kayil could be a stash for New York, although the Knicks also need second-rounders on the rookie minimum. Talent-wise, he’s in the same tier as the other guys being picked right now, although the Knicks already seem heavy on combo-guard types like him. Grade: B+
40. Boston Celtics
Dillon Mitchell | 6-7 | 22 years old
Mitchell is an awesome defender and can make a strong impact on that end in the NBA. I love how hard he plays. His motor doesn’t quit. He rebounds well for his position and tries to sprint out in transition to create early offense.
It’s exceptionally hard to employ non-shooters outside of the center position, though, and I’m skeptical that Mitchell will ever consistently make even wide-open catch-and-shoot jumpers. Mitchell won’t be for everyone. There are some roster situations where he won’t work, but there are some situational spots where he might find a role. The defense is that valuable, and he moves the ball incredibly well.
Hollinger’s analysis: Mitchell can’t shoot at all but does enough other things on the court that he might be able to stick in a rotation and help anyway, in a Jarred Vanderbilt-type of way. I remain puzzled by Henri Veesaar’s slide, but enough teams are passing on him that you have to wonder what they know that we don’t. Grade: B
41. Oklahoma City Thunder
Otega Oweh | 6-4 | 23 years old | Kentucky
Vecenie’s rank: N/A
Oweh was among the most productive scorers in the SEC last year, and he’s a tough, physical defender on the ball. He’s a downhill driver in the half court who absorbs contact really well, but I’m a bit skeptical of the shot, and I’m worried about his defensive ability away from the ball. It felt like he was not always engaged in the action in the way he needed to be.
Hollinger’s analysis: I’ve been a big fan of Oweh’s and am pleased to see him go this high. While I don’t think he’s a star or anything, the open spaces of the NBA floor should help him, and he has a real chance to be a rotation player if he can just shoot a bit more consistently. There are some Ajay Mitchell similarities here. I presume the Thunder will have him on a two-way given the crowded roster. Grade: A-
42. San Antonio Spurs
Ja’Kobi Gillespie | 6-0 | 22 years old
Gillespie is a winner, through and through. From his high school days to his final two years of college, the teams Gillespie has run have almost always exceeded expectations.
That’s because he helps his team win the possession battle as a low-turnover, high-steals player who is also a fearless shot-maker. In the second round, you can certainly do worse than someone who knocks down shots, makes good decisions and works hard on defense. He’s a lead guard who you can employ to run your G League team for a year and maybe move up to the NBA later in the year if you need depth. There are size-based limitations, but Gillespie has a chance to stick as a third guard.
Hollinger’s analysis: Gillespie is a nice get for a San Antonio team that needed one more point guard on the roster and made do with journeyman Jordan McLaughlin last season. I had him 30th on my board and am surprised he lasted this long after an impressive draft combine. Grade: A
43. Brooklyn Nets
Tyler Bilodeau | 6-7 | 22 years old
I believe in Bilodeau’s jumper enough that I think he’s worth a two-way contract. It’s as pure a jumper as I’ve seen in a long while. He needs to speed up the release, and I’d love to see him make more 3s off movement.
But finding players with this level of touch from distance is rare, even if he has to fix some flaws in his game. Bilodeau is a hard worker, and the hope is that he can maximize his footwork and quickness to become playable on defense. But NBA teams love having guys who space the court for their stars, and at the very least, he’s worth a flier as a potential elite shooter.
Hollinger’s analysis: I can’t really call it a “reach” when 42 of my top 43 players are already off the board, but I did have Bilodeau lower than this. He’ll likely start on a two-way in Brooklyn but should get plenty of chances on that roster if he shows any promise at all. Grade: B-
44. San Antonio Spurs
Maliq Brown | 6-8 | 22 years old
Brown is one of the more interesting prospects in this class because his outcome depends almost purely on finding the right coach, roster fit and scheme to take advantage of his skills. He needs a coach who will let him be ultra-aggressive with his hands while living with some of the overaggressiveness. He needs a roster that has a bigger-bodied center next to him who can shoot 3s and rebound on the defensive end.
If Brown finds the right scheme, he has a chance to be a valuable energy player at the hybrid big position. He passes incredibly well, he’s a diligent screener, and he does just about all the little things you want. Scoring is important, and Brown needs to find answers there. But between the havoc creation on defense and the potential as a passer and playmaker on offense, he has a chance to be a rotation player if he can find the right landing spot.
Hollinger’s analysis: Brown is a one-trick pony as a defensive specialist with a very limited offensive game, but at this point in the draft, the bar is pretty low. In terms of athletic forwards with size, this is a body type that the Spurs’ roster lacks in numbers. Grade: B
45. Sacramento Kings
Emanuel Sharp | 6-3 | 22 years old
I tend to like players who come from the Houston ecosystem and have been there for multiple years because they’re tough and enter the NBA with an understanding of defensive principles. Sharp fits into that lineage well. He was a Big 12 All-Defense player who crawled underneath his opponents and tried to frustrate them. He also knocks down shots at a high level with a quick release and good shot prep.
I couldn’t give a first-round grade to Sharp largely because he’s too small and doesn’t have the skill level outside of shooting. I worry that his intersection of athleticism and size will cause too many issues. Still, I’d love to take him in the second round and see if it works.
Hollinger’s analysis: Did the Kings just do something smart? Or, Sharp, dare I say? Sharp was one of my favorite sleepers, a 3-and-D guard who launches bombs and, despite being undersized, willingly checks top guards and wings. He’ll fit in nicely on a roster that could use his skill set. I wonder if he could play right away. Grade: A
46. Washington Wizards
Felix Okpara | 6-10 | 22 years old
Okpara’s fit in the NBA is simple: He’s an excellent defender with NBA size and athleticism at center. He plays with a great motor and is reliable and consistent on that front. You can play him in a variety of ball-screen coverages, and he’s relatively effective in all of them.
There are skill deficiencies here, and he isn’t quite the rebounder you’d want for a center. But it’s hard to find players with this size, athleticism, motor and defensive versatility. There should be a wide variety of teams interested in giving Okpara a two-way contract because of the scheme versatility he offers.
Hollinger’s analysis: I didn’t have Felix Okpara in my top 60 and find it utterly bizarre that he would be drafted ahead of Henri Veesaar. Not sure what’s going on here. Washington actually traded up with two later seconds to get him, which I also don’t understand. Okpara’s skill level is so low that I doubt he ever gets past a two-way. Grade: C-
47. New York Knicks
Tyler Nickel | 6-6 | 22 years old
NBA teams are always looking for guys who can play off the ball and threaten defenses as Nickel can as a shooter, because of the space these guys create for star players. The bigger they are, the better because that gives them a chance to defend. And at 217 pounds, Nickel at least has a chance on defense.
He needs to keep improving his footwork and quickness, but he at least has some potential to hold up and not get powered through in switch situations when opposing players try to attack him through his chest. He’ll need to maximize his quickness, and his footwork will be essential. But Nickel has a shot to stick in the NBA and should be prioritized on a two-way deal for teams that value 3-point rate.
Hollinger’s analysis: Nickel had enough fans to get an invite to the combine, but I had a hard time seeing it at the next level. He does have a size-shooting combination that could be intriguing in a Sam Hauser-ish way if everything clicks. Presumably, he’ll be on a rookie minimum deal as part of the Knicks’ strategy to skirt the second apron. Grade: C
48. Dallas Mavericks
Tobi Lawal | 6-7 | 23 years old | Virginia Tech
Vecenie’s ranking: N/A
Lawal is an elite athlete; there is no doubt about that. He’s an explosive leaper who rises off the ground quickly and can finish well above the rim. He’s twitchy and has some length. Ultimately, he’s going to have to embrace being an elite defender because I don’t think the offensive skill set is quite there.
Hollinger’s analysis: Lawal can jump out of the gym, but he’s yet to translate that into impactful high-level basketball beyond his stellar rebound rate. Dallas takes a flier on yet another frontcourt player; will the Mavs have any guards on their roster this year? Grade: C
49. Denver Nuggets
Bryce Hopkins | 6-6 | 24 years old | St. John’s
Vecenie’s ranking: N/A
Hopkins is a big-bodied wing/forward who was best as a small-ball four in college but will need to transition to the wing. He’s aggressive on the glass and tough, but defensively, I don’t love how quickly he can flip his hips. The key for Hopkins will be the jumper. He made 37 percent from 3 this season in a small sample. If that continues, he has a chance. I would assume he’ll be on a two-way deal.
Hollinger’s analysis: Wow. I mean … I get the options are dwindling here, but I wasn’t really expecting him to get picked. The five-year player battled injuries and became more of a perimeter player in his last college season at St. John’s, but he’ll have to play small forward in the pros, and I haven’t seen many encouraging flashes that he can do it. Grade: C-
50. Toronto Raptors
Jaden Bradley | 6-3 | 22 years old
I love Bradley’s fearlessness. He was one of the best players in the country in big moments last year, leading Arizona to the Final Four. He makes excellent decisions and is a gamer.
I think he needs to work on some of his base-level skills to become an NBA rotation player, however. He needs to get better at fighting through screens on defense. He needs to improve his vision as a playmaker, particularly when looking outward. And he needs to get more comfortable shooting 3s. This is a great profile for a team to take a shot on as a two-way player, but I couldn’t get to the level of a multiyear guaranteed contract off the bat.
Hollinger’s analysis: Bradley somehow won Big 12 Player of the Year over the player taken 49 spots ahead of him. He has a good midrange game but has been weirdly reluctant to shoot 3s his entire college career. If Toronto can stretch out his perimeter game, the Raptors might have something. Grade: B
51. Orlando Magic
Izaiyah Nelson | 6-8 | 22 years old
I came away more impressed after a deep dive into Nelson than I expected, largely because of the versatility he brings defensively. He needs to find the right coach who is willing to mix and match coverages regularly, as opposed to simply playing out of a base drop-coverage scheme. But there is room to imagine what he could become if he finds that spot.
Offensively, he’s robotic, but he was athletic enough in a down year in the AAC to average 16 points per game. If the jumper comes around, I could buy into Nelson being a useful combo big. He’s not someone I would give a guaranteed deal to because of his lack of size and strength, but he’s worth a two-way to see if he can add the weight, skill and processing ability.
Hollinger’s analysis: Nelson is only the second college player picked who didn’t play in a Power 5 league last season. He has some promise as a switchable big man who can play power forward or center, especially if he can develop the 3-point shot that he started pulling in his senior season. He’s also Orlando’s type of player: a handsy, mobile defender. Grade: B
52. Atlanta Hawks
Henri Veesaar | 6-11 | 22 years old
An NBA team should be excited about taking Veesaar if it believes its strength and conditioning department can do high-level work on his frame. He needs to add about 15 to 20 pounds over time without diminishing his movement skills on offense or becoming more injury-prone, while playing more consistently with bend. His offensive skill set as a floor-spacing big man who can attack closeouts, pass and finish at the rim with touch is difficult to find.
If you think that Veesaar’s frame is close to being maxed out, you probably shouldn’t have a first-round grade on him, as he’d likely struggle too much with the physical aspects of the NBA, especially in ball-screen coverages. I’ve gotten mixed responses about how NBA teams feel about Veesaar’s frame long term. Given that, I have ended up with a middle-ground grade on him.
Hollinger’s analysis: The Hawks move up from 57th to finally end the long saga of Henri Veesaar. He adds another stretch big option and is their only big with legitimate size. He was also by far the highest-rated player left on my board. Grade: A
53. Detroit Pistons
Ugonna Onyenso | 6-11 | 22 years old
On some level, you have to love that Onyenso plays such a simple game. He rim runs, he’s terrific in the dunker spot and he is a lob threat. On defense, he’s one of the elite shot blockers in the class and contests opponents at the rim regularly.
His game might be too limited, however, given that he’s also skinny and doesn’t have a ton of power to his game for his size. The skill may never reach a high level, so Onyenso maximizing his frame while maintaining his athleticism will be the key to him sticking as a backup center in the NBA. He certainly has a chance, and I’d be happy to draft him somewhere in the top 50 to find out.
But I think this is a two-way contract bet that could pay dividends as opposed to a guaranteed contract. The good news is that he’s only 21, so time is on his side.
Hollinger’s analysis: Onyenso is an awesome shot blocker whose rim protection alone may give him value as a third center for Detroit. However, he otherwise still needs to fill out physically and develop his offensive game. Grade: B+
54. Golden State Warriors
Lajae Jones | 6-7 | 22 years old | Florida State
Vecenie’s ranking: N/A
Jones is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none wing who is probably most useful on the defensive end. He’s somewhat switchable and a solid playmaker with good hands. He’ll rotate across the weak side and get into passing lanes. The key for him will be the jumper, which just hasn’t quite been consistent enough over the course of his well-traveled collegiate career.
Hollinger’s analysis: The Warriors have done a great job scouting the bottom end of the draft in recent years, and Jones has a chance to be another find. He’s an NBA athlete who just needs to shoot more consistently and improve his decisions when he puts it on the deck. Grade: B+
55. LA Clippers
Nick Martinelli | 6-7 | 22 years old
I’m higher on Martinelli than most because of the reviews of his work ethic. You can rely on him to keep trying to improve. The most likely outcome is that he turns into a terrific player overseas, where European coaches will know how to use his game and his inherent basketball IQ.
Martinelli is big and smart, plays hard and has touch and skill level. He thinks the game well. You can make worse bets on two-ways than on a player who has those traits while you spend a year trying to remold his game into something slightly different from what it was in college. The swing skills are getting his shot to a high level and improving his defensive footwork. But I’m willing to take a two-way flier on him and see what happens.
Hollinger’s analysis: I was lower than consensus on Martinelli after an underwhelming combine, but he had a strong senior year at Northwestern and could have enough of a size-shooting combo to stick as an offense-oriented forward. Grade: B-
56. Dallas Mavericks
Vsevolod Ishchenko | 6-7 | 21 years old | Lokomotiv Kuban
Vecenie’s ranking: 61
Breakout player in Russia this season who can dribble, pass and shoot for his size. Ishchenko was the later international riser this year who popped around the midseason mark for scouts in Russia as a bigger wing who has real dribble, pass and shoot abilities. He’s a big-time shooter off the catch and is going to have to get stronger and a bit more athletic while hopefully playing at a bit of a higher competition level next season. But this should be a pure stash pick for the Mavericks.
Hollinger’s analysis: The Lakers bought this pick from the Bulls and then … traded it? Dallas used it on what appears to be a stash pick in Ishchenko. I was told he was unable to work out for teams due to visa issues, but he had a strong season in the Russian VTB League. Grade: B+
57. LA Clippers
Narcisse Ngoy | 7-0 | 21 years old | Poitiers Basket 86
Vecenie’s ranking: N/A
Ngoy is probably the largest human drafted this year, a massive near-7-footer with exceptionally long arms who threw down over the second division of French basketball and has better footwork than you think. I would bet he has something like a 9-9 standing reach. But he’s never played at a particularly high level for a reason, and it’s because he’s a 22-year-old who was averaging four points per game in second-division France last year. It’s a screen, catch the ball, dunk, and it needs to be limited to that.
Hollinger’s analysis: Narcisse Ngoy is an auto-eligible international by virtue of turning 22 later this year. He had a pretty solid year in the French league, with notable rates of blocks and rebounds even for that mid-tier league. He’s a pure stash, and by virtue of that, will probably be on the New York Knicks. But at this point in the draft, the player pool is tapped out. Grade: B
58. New Orleans Pelicans
Jaron Pierre Jr. | 6-5| 23 years old | SMU
Vecenie’s ranking: N/A
The chaos actor is back! Troy Weaver goes off my top-100 board to take Pierre, who can dribble, pass and shoot. He’s a talented player. But if there is a player I enjoyed watching less in college basketball this year, I’m not sure I can think of one, given his decision-making and dribbling. It’s always the Pelicans. Always.
Hollinger’s analysis: New Orleans went local with this one, as Pierre is a New Orleans kid who is not really a kid after his six-year(!) college career finally ended at SMU. He’s a skinny guard with some athletic pop and can shoot, but I didn’t have him in my top 75. Grade: B-
59. Minnesota Timberwolves
Trey Kaufman-Renn | 6-8 | 23 years old | Purdue
Vecenie’s ranking: 62
Kaufman-Renn is a tough interior presence who can rebound the ball and got tougher on defense with his movement ability in space this past season. He’s going to have to shoot to stick in the NBA, but I love that he’s been a part of several winning teams.
Hollinger’s analysis: Kaufman-Renn was a good enough college player that I won’t totally dismiss his chances, but he has a lot of adjustments to make to his game to have anywhere near the same success at the NBA level. Developing a 3-point shot and giving himself a true position would go a long way toward making him usable as something more than a G League center. Grade: B-
60. Milwaukee Bucks
Malique Lewis | 6-8 | 21 years old | SE Melbourne
Vecenie’s ranking: 91
Lewis is a long, athletic wing who plays with a high motor in Australia’s NBL. He was a Next Star who has now been drafted and presumably will be on a two-way deal. Ultimately, I’m a bit worried that he doesn’t process the game quickly enough and doesn’t have enough skill to stick, which is why I ranked him in the 90s. But maybe that can improve.
Hollinger’s analysis: And we end on one final stash pick. Lewis is a good athlete and rebounder who played for Mexico City in the G League before moving to Australia this past season. With passports from Trinidad and Spain, he’s likely to stay overseas unless his skill level makes a sharp uptick. For what that’s worth, I like him better than Hugo Besson and Georgios Kalaitzakis. Grade: B+
