The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft officially concluded late Wednesday, instantly scrambling the board for teams drafting at the top of the second round. Surprising first-round selections, including the Washington Wizards taking AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 overall and the Dallas Mavericks securing Morez Johnson Jr., pushed several projected top prospects down the board.
As teams prepare for the start of the second round, UNC’s Henri Veesaar, Duke’s Isaiah Evans, and Arkansas’s Meleek Thomas remain unexpectedly available. The sudden shift in available talent follows an unpredictable first night that completely reset the 2026 draft board.
With the New York Knicks holding Pick 31, current updated mock drafts project the franchise will target Veesaar. The Minnesota Timberwolves sit two spots later at Pick 33 and are heavily favored to draft Evans. Minnesota specifically needs Evans to provide essential floor spacing and NBA-caliber three-point shooting off movement around Anthony Edwards, according to updated projections tracking players slipping into Round 2.
The second round is scheduled to commence later today, finalizing the rosters for the upcoming season. Front offices are currently recalibrating their remaining draft capital to secure the sliding lottery-level talent.