Eastern Conference team grades
The Atlanta Hawks earned an A- grade for their draft performance. They re-signed CJ McCollum to a one-year, $21 million contract and selected Flemings, who is seen as a potential successor. Flemings brings an explosive first step, midrange touch, and passing vision, though questions remain about his efficiency against stronger competition and his 183-pound frame in the 3-point focused league. The Hawks also added Ejiofor, a player who developed significantly after being told he wasn’t good enough for major minutes in the Big 12. Ejiofor became the unanimous Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Tournament MVP, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in a single season. Despite being undersized for a center, his motor, length, and defensive versatility are noted. The team also acquired Henri Veesaar with the No. 52 overall pick, an agile big with shooting touch and playmaking ability, who is expected to sign a full NBA contract.
The Boston Celtics received an A grade. They drafted Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 27 overall, aiming to upgrade their center position after losing to the Sixers. Cenac Jr. is described as a superb athlete with length and perimeter shooting potential, though he struggled with foul trouble and efficiency in college. The Celtics also selected Mitchell, a left-handed power player known for finishing around the rim and defensive playmaking, despite a non-existent jump shot. His athleticism and defensive versatility could allow for a long career in Boston’s system.
The Brooklyn Nets were given a B+ grade. They added Tyler Bilodeau at No. 43. Brown, a guard prospect, has an unstoppable pull-up jumper and ambidextrous finishing ability, but his freshman year was impacted by a back injury. Jefferson, another pick, does many small things well but needs to improve his jumper and off-the-dribble game. Bilodeau, a 6-7 stretch-4, was one of the most efficient in college basketball, making 48% of his catch-and-shoot 3s as a senior, which aligns with Brooklyn’s needs. However, his defense is a concern.
The Charlotte Hornets earned an A grade. They addressed frontcourt needs by drafting Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 and Christian Anderson at No. 18. Steinbach, who played professionally in Germany, brings interior scoring and rebounding, with massive hands and flashes of 3-point touch. He increased his weight from 220 to 248 pounds. The Hornets also added point guard Anderson, who developed into a first-round prospect with dynamic pick-and-roll creation and perimeter shooting.
Second round value and conference finalists’ strategies
The 2026 NBA Draft‘s second round saw several players with first-round projections selected, highlighting the value found deeper in the draft. Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas, projected as a first-round pick in some mock drafts, was chosen by Cleveland at No. 34. Duke swingman Isaiah Evans went to Minnesota at No. 33, and BYU guard Richie Saunders was selected by Memphis at No. 32. German guard Jack Kayil, a borderline first-round selection, was acquired by the Knicks at No. 39.
The Knicks, who built a championship team, traded out of the first round and acquired two second-round picks, including Kayil and Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel, a top 3-point shooter in college. The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara with the No. 12 overall pick and acquired Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz in the first round. They also added Kentucky guard Otega Oweh at No. 41. The San Antonio Spurs had two first-round picks, selecting Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance at No. 20 and UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26. They also used the No. 42 and No. 44 picks to draft Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Duke forward Maliq Brown.
Cleveland moved out of the first round, acquiring the No. 34 pick from Sacramento for the No. 29 selection. They obtained the draft rights to Meleek Thomas with that second-round pick. Other teams with multiple second-round picks included Minnesota, Denver, the LA Clippers, Chicago, Washington, and Houston. The Rockets acquired Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton at No. 31. Minnesota targeted shooting with Evans and took Purdue center Trey Kaufman-Renn. Denver used its two second-round picks on Arkansas big man Trevon Brazile at No. 35 and St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins at No. 49. The Clippers came away with three second-round players: Cincinnati forward Baba Miller at No. 36, Northwestern scoring wing Nick Martinelli at No. 55, and French center Narcisse Ngoy. The Wizards traded up to get Tennessee forward-center Felix Okpara with the No. 46 pick. The Mavericks added Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal at No. 48 and Russian guard Vsevolod Ishchenko at No. 56.
Upcoming NBA offseason events
Following the draft, the NBA offseason calendar includes several key events. Free agency negotiations are set to begin on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, allowing teams to start discussions with upcoming free agents. The signing period for free agents will commence on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.
Summer league action is also scheduled, providing opportunities for new draftees and other players. The California Classic Summer League will take place from July 3-6, with games held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, and the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Teams participating in San Francisco include the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs. In Sacramento, the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings will compete. The Salt Lake City Summer League is scheduled for July 4, 6-7 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, featuring the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Additionally, the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is set to run from July 9-19.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.