The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is in the books, and it left a few notable names waiting for the phone to ring on Wednesday. While AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson went 1-2 to Washington and Utah, and the Hawks raised eyebrows with Kingston Flemings at eight, the real story might be the guys who didn’t hear their name called on Tuesday night.
Fifteen freshmen got picked in the first round. That left Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas as the only one-and-done prospect still on the board. He’s not alone though. Duke wing Isaiah Evans and North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar also slid out of the first round despite drawing real interest from teams in the late teens and early twenties.
Why Evans and Veesaar slipped
Evans was getting buzz from teams picking inside the top 25. Then the draft started, and he just kept falling. There’s chatter about a possible medical red flag, though nothing has been confirmed. Questions about his motor during the pre-draft process might have hurt him too. Either way, someone is going to get a steal with a 6-foot-8 wing who can shoot and defend on the perimeter.
Veesaar is the best center left. He’s a stretch five who spaces the floor and rebounds well. The concern? He’s not a rim protector. Teams looking for bench bigs want guys who can guard the paint, and Veesaar doesn’t fit that mold. Still, he could end up being this year’s Maxime Raynaud, a stretch big who falls to the second round and lands in a perfect situation.
Thomas might be the biggest loser of the night. He was the only freshman to not go in the first round. The Knicks, Lakers, and Timberwolves all kicked the tires on him late in the round, but when New York went with Sergio De Larrea (who got flipped to Dallas), Thomas knew he was waiting until Wednesday.
The Spurs went all in on size
San Antonio’s first round was quietly brilliant. They grabbed Jayden Quaintance in the lottery, ignoring the knee injury history that scared off other teams. Then they traded future second-round picks to grab Tarris Reed Jr. for insurance. If Quaintance stays healthy, the Spurs just got a steal. Pairing him and Reed with Victor Wembanyama gives San Antonio two rebounders and rim protectors who can take pressure off the big man.
Oklahoma City also made a move that matters. They took Aday Mara at 12, a 7-foot-3 center who can stretch the floor and pass. The Thunder needed help next to Chet Holmgren after the Western Conference Finals showed they could use another big body against guys like Wembanyama. Isaiah Hartenstein has a team option and might walk. Mara slides right into that role.
Best available for round two
New York owns the first pick of the second round at 31, but expect that pick to get traded. The Knicks left Tuesday with extra cash and five second-round picks. Whoever ends up with 31 will have a shot at Evans, Veesaar, or Thomas — all first-round talents on most boards.
Here’s the full list of the best remaining prospects based on ClutchPoints’ final big board:
- Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke
- Meleek Thomas, PG/SG, Arkansas
- Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
- Trevon Brazile, PF, Arkansas
- Baba Miller, PF, Cincinnati
- Jack Kayil, PG, Germany
- Ryan Conwell, PG/SG, Louisville
- Richie Saunders, SG, BYU
- Ugonna Onyenso, C, Virginia
- Jaden Bradey, PG, Arizona
- Emanuel Sharp, SG, Houston
- Dillon Mitchell, SF, St. John’s
- Nick Martinelli, SG/SF, Northwestern
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie, PG, Tennessee
- Braden Smith, PG, Purdue
- Bruce Thornton, PG, Ohio State
- Felix Okpara, C, Tennessee
- Aaron Nkrumah, SG, Tennessee State
- Tobe Awaka, PF, Arizona
- Otega Oweh, SG, Kentucky
The second round tips off at 8 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday at Barclays Center. Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will handle the announcements.
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