The 2026 NBA Draft wrapped up with its usual mix of surprises and narratives, and one of the more intriguing stories was the unexpected journey of Henri Veesaar. The former North Carolina Tar Heels center, standing tall at 6-foot-11 and weighing in at 227 pounds, saw his name called at No. 52 overall by the Atlanta Hawks, a bit later than many anticipated.
Veesaar's fall in the draft was a hot topic, especially given his decision to bypass over $5 million in NIL deals. It's a move that some might see as a gamble, but for Veesaar, it was about chasing the dream of playing in the NBA. As the second round unfolded, several teams showed interest, yet it was the Hawks who made the decisive move, trading with the Los Angeles Clippers to secure his talents.
During his first press conference with the Hawks, Veesaar emphasized the significance of family and his excitement about joining the team. He discussed how he fits into Atlanta's plans, bringing a sense of optimism despite the draft-day slide.
This year's draft class was notably deep and talented, which contributed to Veesaar's slip. Some might argue that waiting another year could have secured him a first-round spot in 2027, assuming he maintained his strong performance. But now, as a Hawk, Veesaar faces the challenge of carving out playing time in a competitive environment.
His journey to the NBA was not without its hurdles. Skipping lucrative college offers to declare for the draft, Veesaar's performance at the scouting combine didn't exactly boost his stock, leaving some league executives and scouts with reservations. His slide from a potential late first-round pick to a second-round selection was a wake-up call that perhaps his camp should have heeded.
For Veesaar, the road ahead is about proving himself and earning his place on the court. It's a lesson for future college players: sometimes taking the secure path with guaranteed money is the safer bet if a first-round selection isn't assured. Yet, for Veesaar, the journey is just beginning, and the Hawks are now part of his story as he aims to make his mark in the NBA.
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Michael Malones First UNC Roster Faces One Huge March Test
Michael Malone is building his first North Carolina roster with a very different look, and the early shape of it says a lot about how he wants to play. The Tar Heels are bringing back only a small core from last season, with Isaiah Denis, Jarin Stevenson and Jaydon Young the only familiar holdovers, while the rest of the rotation is being pieced together through additions at both guard and forward. The makeover is obvious enough that depth, versatility and how quickly the newcomers settle in figure to matter just as much as talent on paper.
The backcourt has been overhauled with Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Kevin Thomas and Neoklis Avdalas among the new names expected to see real minutes, while Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov give UNC more options inside. Even with that kind of influx, there is a sense that the frontcourt could have looked even stronger with Henri Veesaar in the mix, which is the kind of offseason what-if that lingers around a roster this new. For Malone, the challenge is not just finding enough pieces, but getting them to fit quickly enough to survive the kind of March test that has a way of exposing teams still learning each other. [Read more 🡒]
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The timing makes this more than just a payday for White. Charlotte has already moved on from LaMelo Ball in a trade with Minnesota, and that opens the door for White to step into a far bigger responsibility going into 2026-27. For a player who has kept improving since arriving, it is a chance to move from useful guard to the one expected to steer the offense. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Has A Real Shot At Elite 2027 Big Man
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For UNC, the intrigue is in how quickly the opportunity arrived after the June 18 offer and how much ground still has to be made up. Wabbington already has three official visits on the books, but the Tar Heels have not yet lined one up, leaving Hubert Davis and his staff with work still to do if they want to turn an unexpectedly real opening into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]