NBA Draft 2026: Grades, analysis, fits for every second-round pick

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Round 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft is underway, 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

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Overall 37 Guard 14

Bruce Thornton Ohio State

Undersized but has potential as a backup guard with his strength and scoring chops.

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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

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32. Memphis Grizzlies

Richie Saunders | 6-5 | 24 years old

Overall 26 Wing 4

Richie Saunders BYU

Terrific shooter and mover who is a tailor-made rotation wing if his knee is healthy.

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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

Overall 35 Wing 6

Isaiah Evans Duke

An off-ball movement shooter with length who needs to get stronger.

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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

Overall 31 Guard 11

Meleek Thomas Arkansas

A gifted scorer and shooter whose poor defense and wild decision-making raise questions.

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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

Overall 46 Big 12

Trevon Brazile Arkansas

One of the draft’s best athletes, but his motor and instincts leave you wanting more.

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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.

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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

Overall 39 Forward 9

Baba Miller Cincinnati

Rare tools at this size but needs work on his frame, defensive fundamentals and shooting.

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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

Overall 40 Guard 16

Ryan Conwell Louisville

A shooter and defender who is stuck between positions and needs more on-ball creativity.

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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

Overall 38 Guard 15

Braden Smith Purdue

Elite passer and playmaker but may be too small to be anything more than a backup guard.

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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

Overall 41 Guard 17

Jack Kayil Alba Berlin

A physical, jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none combo guard who struggles to separate from his defender.

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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

Overall 52 Wing 9

Dillon Mitchell St. John’s

Elite athlete and defender who can pass, but it would be nice if he could shoot or score.

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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 highly. 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

Overall 44 Guard 18

Ja’Kobi Gillespie Tennessee

Undersized lead guard who is a killer shot-maker and helps win the possession battle.

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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

Overall 54 Forward 10

Tyler Bilodeau UCLA

Outside shooting is his superpower; is it enough to overcome speed and strength issues?

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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

Overall 36 Big 9

Maliq Brown Duke

Ultra-aggressive, high-energy defender who doesn’t provide much on offense.

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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 ultraaggressive 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

This story will be updated.

NBA Draft 2026: Grades, analysis, fits for every second-round pick

31. Houston Rockets

32. Memphis Grizzlies

33. Minnesota Timberwolves

34. Cleveland Cavaliers

35. Denver Nuggets

36. LA Clippers

37. Miami Heat

38. Indiana Pacers

39. New York Knicks

40. Boston Celtics

41. Oklahoma City Thunder

42. San Antonio Spurs

43. Brooklyn Nets

44. San Antonio Spurs

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2026-06-25 04:58:41