After trading Nikola Vucevic at this year's trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls now find themselves in need of a long-term fix at the center position. While this year's draft class is not very top-heavy when it comes to big men, there are a couple of potential hidden gems to be found.

One of those gems is North Carolina's own Henri Veesaar. After spending the majority of his college career coming off the bench at Arizona, Veesaar transferred to North Carolina to join projected top-four pick Caleb Wilson and form a dominant frontcourt in the ACC.

Veesaar proved to be the perfect running mate for Wilson, averaging 17 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while blocking 1.2 shots per game. The Tar Heels finished the season 24-9 before falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In the Heels' lone March Madness game, Veesaar finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists on 50% shooting from the field and from three. Veesaar's strong play throughout the season established the Estonian big man as one of the ACC's top frontcourt players and earned him All-ACC Second Team honors. 

Veesaar stands at 6-foot-11 1/4 barefoot and weighs 227 pounds. He also possesses a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a monstrous 9-foot-3 standing reach. In a league full of seven-footers, Veesaar certainly provides the size and length the Bulls have lacked in recent years. Nikola Vucevic stands around 6-foot-9, and many of the players tasked with filling minutes at center have been undersized. While Veesaar's length and height are more than ideal for the NBA, his strength leaves much to be desired. He will have to add weight to his lean frame in order to truly hold his own down low at the next level.

While he lacks physical strength, Veesaar's fundamentals might just be his biggest asset. In fact, he may be the best offensive center available in the 2026 NBA Draft. 

Offensively, Veesaar can do just about everything. He has great footwork in the post and soft touch around the rim, allowing him to finish with finesse in the paint. He also finishes with power, throwing down ferocious dunks off cuts and rolls. Most notably and valuable is his elite floor-spacing ability, as Veesaar shot 42.6% from three-point range on three attempts per game this season.

An underrated aspect of Veesaar's game is his ability to play alongside other big men. He can operate effectively at either spot in a high-low offense, thanks to his passing and finishing ability. There were numerous occasions last season where Veesaar would catch the ball in the high post and immediately throw a lob pass to Caleb Wilson in the dunker spot, showcasing his unique passing ability for a player his size. He has an excellent feel for double teams, showcasing patience when he gets doubled in the post and consistently finding the open man with ease.

Veesaar also isn't afraid to put the ball on the floor. Due to his elite shooting, he faces aggressive closeouts that he is more than comfortable attacking. For a player standing nearly seven feet tall, his ball-handling skills are rather impressive, adding another element to his potential as an offensive hub. Veesaar shot 60% from the field and 67% from inside the arc, finishing the season as one of the most efficient and versatile scoring centers in the country.

Defensively, there is still room for growth. Veesaar struggles at times when defending opposing big men one-on-one in the post due to his lack of traditional strength. On the flip side, his lean frame allows him to move extremely fluidly for his size. This mobility enables him to switch onto guards on the perimeter and rotate from the weakside, where he does a good job protecting the rim.

Perhaps most importantly, Veesaar plays with a fiery competitiveness on the defensive end. He takes pride in winning his matchups, plays physically, and should develop into at least a neutral, if not positive, defender at the NBA level.

Henri Veesaar has a wide range of projections heading into draft night, with some viewing him as a mid-first-round pick, while others see him slipping into the early second round. Conveniently for Chicago, the Bulls own picks in both of those ranges at No. 15 and No. 38.

Floor-spacing seven-footers are a rare commodity in today's NBA and are highly valued across the league. The Bulls could potentially pick up their own stretch five in Veesaar in the 2026 NBA Draft. With Caleb Wilson expected to be a serious target for Chicago at No. 4, Veesaar's proven chemistry with Wilson could provide a major advantage for both players as they transition to the NBA. 

A frontcourt featuring Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Henri Veesaar would offer tremendous versatility. Veesaar's shooting would create driving lanes for Buzelis and Wilson to attack the basket, while his passing ability would allow the Bulls to run a variety of actions, including high-low sets, lobs, and cuts off the ball. He would also provide a valuable pick-and-roll partner for Josh Giddey, capable of finishing at the rim or popping out to the perimeter for three-pointers.

Defensively, Veesaar could fit seamlessly as well. The Bulls have struggled in recent years defending pick-and-roll actions, largely due to Vucevic's inability to consistently switch onto perimeter players. Veesaar helps address that issue with his mobility and comfort guarding in space. Alongside Buzelis and potentially Wilson, the Bulls could field a devastating trio of long, athletic rim protectors, finally giving Chicago the menacing backline defense it has been missing for years. 

All in all, Veesaar's combination of size, elite shooting, offensive versatility and defensive potential makes him one of the most intriguing center prospects in the draft and a player who could provide tremendous value in the middle of the first round.