Aday Mara's path to minutes in OKC, Spurs get Wemby some help and more fantasy basketball takeaways from the 2026 NBA Draft
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Dan TitusFantasy analystThu, June 25, 2026 at 3:29 AM UTC·5 min readThe 2026 NBA Draft is in the books — if you missed my winners and losers breakdown from Round 1, go check that out. Now that the second round is complete and the full picture is clear, here are my overarching fantasy basketball takeaways across both nights of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Atlanta Hawks crushed both nights
Grabbing Kingston Flemings at No. 8 and Zuby Ejiofor at No. 23 overall gave the Hawks two players who can crack the rotation right away. Then they came back in Night 2, adding Henri Veesaar at 52nd overall — a 7-footer out of UNC who gives them additional center depth that many thought they would address with their first two picks. Stack that on top of the Aaron Wiggins trade, and you have a franchise that added four legitimate pieces to a playoff-caliber roster.
AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom a fantasy perspective, Flemings is the priority target in dynasty drafts, but the depth Atlanta built could give them less incentive to bring back Jonathan Kuminga and former No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher.
Aday Mara's path to minutes could come sooner than we think
Mara landing in Oklahoma City alongside Chet Holmgren is already a scary defensive proposition. But the real fantasy intrigue is what happens with Isaiah Hartenstein's contract this summer. With the Thunder in cost-cutting mode to duck the aprons, bringing in Mara could lessen the blow if they decide not to exercise their $28.5M team option for Hartenstein. Should they move on from Hartenstein, Mara's path to meaningful minutes accelerates dramatically.
Labaron Philon Jr. was a good pick for Philadelphia
Hometown bias aside, I watched Philon tape all day and I'm sold on the 6ers’ choice at 22nd overall. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe played the most minutes of any backcourt in the league last season — a workload that's not sustainable long-term. The Jared McCain trade was under a different regime, led by Daryl Morey, so while I get the criticisms of getting an undersized, smaller-framed guard, the current front office recognized the need and addressed it. Philon was one of the best players, not just guards, in the NCAA at finishing near the rim. He consistently kept defenders off balance and could walk into a sixth-man role immediately on a playoff-contending roster. He averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists on 50/40/80 splits at Alabama and if the reported work ethic is as advertised, he's a factor for Philly now — not later. He's moving up my dynasty board.
AdvertisementAdvertisementSan Antonio brought in reinforcements for Wemby
The Spurs took Jayden Quaintance at 20 and then acquired Tarris Reed Jr. from Denver. Quaintance is a high-upside rim protector and lob threat who is reportedly considering another procedure on his surgically repaired knee that could keep him sidelined for upwards of six months. The good thing is, he'll have plenty of time to focus on his recovery. In the meantime, Reed is an NBA-ready rebounder and play-finisher who delivered in big moments throughout UConn's run to the title game this past season. Wemby looked gassed by the NBA Finals and Luke Kornet and the Spurs’ undersized power forwards weren't effective in the non-Wemby minutes. Both 'guys' dynasty stocks should be reasonably priced.
Charlotte Hornets, job well done
The Hornets walked away with Hannes Steinbach at 14 and Christian Anderson at 18 on Night 1. In those picks, they were able to snag the best rebounder in the class and a 41.5% 3-point shooter with real playmaking chops behind LaMelo Ball. Steinbach shores up their frontcourt with Moussa Diabaté, and Steinbach is more talented than last year's second-round pick, Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Anderson selection provides insurance if Coby White doesn't re-sign or if LaMelo Ball is on the move, as recently reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. Charlotte quietly had one of the better overall drafts of any team in the lottery.
Dallas went big
The Mavericks took Morez Johnson Jr. at ninth overall, traded for G Sergio De Larrea at 25th and added Virginia Tech F Tobi Lawal at 48th, while acquiring Vsevolod Ishchenko via trade at 56th. With De Larrea and Ishchenko likely not coming over anytime soon, Dallas appears comfortable with what it has from a guard perspective. The silver lining for fantasy managers? Kyrie and Cooper Flagg are going to generate a considerable number of assists next season. I'll definitely give Flagg a boost after seeing how Dallas played its draft.
Second-round names worth monitoring
A few under-the-radar picks from Night 2 worth adding to your dynasty watch list:
AdvertisementAdvertisementIsaiah Evans (pick 33) lands in Minnesota as a long, athletic Duke wing who fits well behind Anthony Edwards.
Bruce Thornton (pick 31) went to Houston and gives the Rockets a tough, competitive guard who has outperformed his recruiting ranking every single year at Ohio State.
Ryan Conwell (pick 37) is headed to Miami. Good timing for him since the Heat will need to fill out their roster. He'll benefit from Giannis' gravity as a knockdown shooter on the perimeter.
Baba Miller (pick 36) lands with the Clippers in one of the murkier roster situations in the league. Brook Lopez is a question mark, John Collins is gone and Kawhi Leonard's contract situation is still unresolved. That uncertainty is actually what makes Miller worth monitoring; if the Clippers continue shedding veterans and pivot toward youth alongside Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler, his motor and two-way tools put him in a position to earn real minutes sooner than a 36th pick typically would. None of these are redraft priorities, but all could be decent late-rounders in dynasty formats.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
