The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly come to an agreement with one of their newcomers from the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly come to an agreement with one of their newcomers from the 2026 NBA Draft.
According to Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports, the Hawks have signed No. 52 pick Henri Veesaar to a four-year deal worth $9.3 million.
For Veesaar, it appears to be a pretty good deal for a player drafted that late in the second round.
Veesaar, a 7-footer who spent the 2025-26 season at the University of North Carolina, is an intriguing addition for the Hawks.
This past season at UNC, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from beyond the arc.
He is a good 3-point shooter and interior scorer, two attributes that will work in his favor for a player his size. There are some question marks defensively, but all things considered, it's easy to understand why the Hawks like him.
Veesaar was expected to be selected earlier than No. 52, but a report from the night he was drafted offered a hint into why he might've slipped.
Prior to playing at UNC, the big man spent time at the University of Arizona, where he saw mixed results. He wasn't a consistent starter with the Wildcats and also missed a season due to injury.
His fortunes changed after he transferred, and his stint with the Tar Heels ended with an All-ACC selection.
Now, he will look to make an impact at the NBA level. Second-round picks often need time before getting opportunities to contribute, but Veesaar will have a chance this offseason to show that he's ready. He will be a part of Atlanta's Summer League team, giving him a prime chance to show off his skill set.
The Hawks have made some moves this offseason in an effort to position themselves for the 2026-27 season and beyond. The squad had a solid 2025-26 campaign despite trading away former franchise star Trae Young and thus starting a bit of a reset.
The team ended up in the playoffs and was able to win two games against the eventual champion New York Knicks in the first round before being eliminated.
Atlanta will look to crack the playoffs again this coming season, and Veesaar would certainly be thrilled to get some minutes along the way. But after signing a four-year deal, he has plenty of time to crack the rotation in the coming years.
