The Atlanta Hawks got aggressive in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, and they might have landed the steal of the night. After using the No. 8 pick on Houston guard Kingston Flemings and No. 23 on St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, the Hawks swung a trade with the LA Clippers to grab the 52nd overall pick. They used it on North Carolina forward Henri Veesaar, a guy some scouts had pegged as a first-round talent — and maybe even a lottery pick.
How did a player with that kind of projection fall to the 52nd spot? It happens. The draft is unpredictable. But Veesaar’s camp reportedly made it clear they wanted him in Atlanta, steering him away from teams like the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel. The Hawks needed frontcourt depth, and Veesaar brings exactly that — plus he’s a 3-point shooting big man who can stretch the floor. That’s a rare combo.
A Long Road to the NBA
Veesaar spent four years in college but only played three seasons. He redshirted his sophomore year at Arizona because of an elbow injury. After that, he transferred to North Carolina for his final season and put up career numbers. In 31 games with the Tar Heels, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He shot 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three. That’s legit efficiency for a 6-foot-11 forward.
Now the question is what kind of contract he signs. Veesaar probably deserves a standard NBA deal, but the Hawks could offer a two-way contract if both sides agree. That would let him split time between the NBA and the G League, which is common for second-round picks. But given his skills and the fact that Atlanta traded up to get him, a standard deal feels more likely. We’ll know for sure when summer league starts.
The Hawks’ front office had a quiet draft year until they made that move. Flemings is a combo guard with quickness and defensive instincts, and Ejiofor is a physical presence inside. But Veesaar might be the guy who makes people wonder why he fell so far. He’s got size, shooting, and four years of college experience. That’s not a bad pickup at pick 52.
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