The Atlanta Hawks traded up to No. 52 to draft North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, a projected first-rounder whose slide may have cost him millions.
The Atlanta Hawks traded up in the NBA Draft's second round to select North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, who was projected as a first-round pick but slid to No. 52.
The Hawks traded cash and their draft rights to No. 57 Narcisse Ngoy to the Clippers in order to move up for Veesaar, surpassing the Lakers, who had targeted him at No. 56.
Veesaar's slide was likely due to his contract preferences. Teams interested earlier in the second round knew he wouldn't sign a two-way deal and sought a guaranteed contract, reducing the number of viable landing spots he had as the round played out. Additionally, his representation preferred landing in Atlanta over Los Angeles, and the Knicks also showed interest.
The drop probably cost him money. A college coach told Jeff Goodman that Veesaar could have earned at least $5.5 million by returning for 2026-27 and had turned down offers over $6 million. Only the top 10 draft picks will earn more than $6.1 million next season.
Second-round money involves higher risk. Unlike first-round picks, who had two guaranteed years on a fixed scale, second-rounders negotiate their deals after the draft without any guarantees.
Veesaar recognized the risk of remaining in the draft, citing factors like college funding and gaining experience in Real Madrid's youth system and his first college year. Similarly, Austin Reaves went undrafted in 2021, signed with the Lakers, and recently secured a four-year, maximum contract.
Veesaar's lone season at North Carolina followed three quiet years at Arizona, where he redshirted in 2023-24. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 31.4 minutes over 31 starts, earned second-team All-ACC honors, and was a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award candidate. He was eighth in ACC scoring, fourth in rebounding, second in field-goal percentage, with 15 double-doubles, second-most in the conference.
He also became the first player in ACC history to make at least 30 3-pointers and block at least 30 shots while shooting better than 60% from the field in a single season, finishing with 40 3-pointers and 37 blocks. He shot 60.8% from the field and 42.6% from 3-point range, though he made just 61.5% of his free throws.
Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Veesaar represented his country in qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The 6-foot-11 center joins a frontcourt that includes Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Mouhamed Gueye after the Hawks took Houston guard Kingston Flemings at No. 8 and St. John's forward-center Zuby Ejiofor at No. 23 earlier in the draft.
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