As August winds down, the 2026 NBA draft class is almost completely settled - almost.
Only six picks are still unsigned, according to Rory Maher of Hoops Rumors: Grizzlies forward Richie Saunders, Knicks wing Tyler Nickel, Warriors forward Lajae Jones, Mavericks wing Vsevolod Ishchenko, Clippers center Narcisse Ngoy and Timberwolves forward Trey Kaufman-Renn.
That’s a sharp drop from the 11 second-rounders still without deals at the end of July, and a few of these situations already point toward pretty clear outcomes.
Ngoy, taken by the Clippers in the second round, has committed to Auburn and is expected to function as a domestic draft-and-stash player. Jones, meanwhile, looks like a strong candidate for Golden State’s final two-way opening.
Saunders is the trickiest case on the board. The No. 32 pick tore his ACL in February, and Memphis also has to sort through a crowded roster. A two-way contract or even a start in the G League could be the path, with a possible promotion later on.
Nickel’s future is still murky. Reports have conflicted on whether he’ll start his pro career with the Knicks or take advantage of an extra year of college eligibility created by a federal court ruling. If he does go back to school, New York would still hold his NBA rights.
Minnesota doesn’t have a clean path for Kaufman-Renn at the moment, since all three of its two-way spots are already filled. Ishchenko could stay overseas, although Dallas’ plan for him has not been made clear.
So yes, the list is down to six.
Not the summer’s biggest cliffhanger. But on August 29, it’s enough to keep an eye on.
In Other News...
Clippers Just Opened A Door For Bennedict Mathurin In The West
The offseason market around the Western Conference took another turn when Los Angeles moved on from Bennedict Mathurin, a decision that cleared the path for the wing to reach unrestricted free agency. For a Clippers team that has been sorting through its own roster priorities, the move was a notable one because it removed the matching-rights layer and opened the door for Mathurin to choose his next stop without the usual restrictions.
New Orleans appears to have moved fastest, lining up a two-year, $16 million contract for Mathurin as it looks to keep adding young athletic talent to the mix. The Clippers, meanwhile, are left watching a player they could have controlled now head toward a fresh opportunity in the West, while the rest of the conference keeps reshuffling around them. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Just Made A Bennedict Mathurin Move Fans Need To See
The Clippers latest roster maneuver around Bennedict Mathurin closes the book on a situation that had been hanging out there as the offseason moved along. By pulling back the qualifying offer, Los Angeles cleared the path for Mathurin to hit unrestricted free agency, ending any lingering tie between the sides and adding another wrinkle to a summer that has already kept the teams depth chart under a microscope.
From there, the next step came quickly for Mathurin, who has already lined up a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans still has to clear one more roster spot before the season begins, so the signing is not quite a finished puzzle yet, but the move signals a fresh landing spot for a player the Clippers no longer had in their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Still Face Two Tough Roster Decisions Before Opening Night
The Clippers have already cleared one bit of offseason housekeeping by withdrawing Bennedict Mathurins qualifying offer, which opened the door for him to land with the New Orleans Pelicans. But the more immediate issue in Los Angeles is what the roster will look like once the dust settles, because the team is still juggling a crowded group of standard contracts as opening night gets closer.
A completed Kawhi Leonard trade with Toronto could push the Clippers to 17 players, leaving them in need of two cuts before the regular season begins. That puts a handful of names in the conversation, including Cam Christie, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, Gradey Dick, Isaiah Jackson and Johni Broome, with the front office still sorting through the final call. [Read more 🡒]