Best Available Players in Second Round of 2026 NBA Draft
Best Available Players in Second Round of 2026 NBA Draft
Duke’s Isaiah Evans was the lone green room invitee to not be picked Tuesday night, but he likely will hear his name early in Round 2.Kevin Sweeney|
The first round of the NBA draft has come and gone without a ton of surprises. The top played out as expected, with AJ Dybantsa headed to the Wizards and Darryn Peterson off to the Jazz. And later in the first, there weren’t many head turners: All 30 picks were in the top 33 of Rookie Scale’s consensus big board, which surveys draft prognosticators across the country. There could be more variety in the second round, especially in the latter half as teams negotiate two-way deals in exchange for getting picked. And the second round isn’t overly strong given the vast majority of those who weren’t out of college eligibility returned without assurances they’d land in the first round.
Still, there’s always value to be found in the second round, whether future stars like Nikola Jokić and Jalen Brunson or simply useful role players who can defend or space the floor at a high level.
Who are the best available prospects as we head into Wednesday’s second round? Sports Illustrated updated its board overnight with the 10 names you should know.
1. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
Veesaar had strong interest from a number of the frontcourt-needy teams with picks in the mid-20s but ended up drawing the short straw and will have to wait for the second round. Shooting bigs are in short supply, so teams will undoubtedly value a near 7-footer who shot 43% from deep like Veesaar did as a junior at North Carolina. He’s not a major lob threat though and could struggle defensively at the next level.
2. Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
I had a first-round grade on Thomas coming out of Arkansas. While he has work to do to add strength so he can guard bigger NBA wings, there’s a lot to like here. He’s a big-time shooter who made 80 threes alongside Darius Acuff Jr. in the Arkansas backcourt in his lone college season, and he’s confident playing off the bounce or the catch. He shouldn’t wait long to hear his name called Wednesday night.
3. Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans was the lone green room invitee to not get picked Tuesday, an indicator that teams around the league were surprised he fell out of the first. He did himself no favors with a poor showing at the NBA draft combine in May that put on display his athletic limitations, and after the playoffs saw teams really value size and physicality the slender Evans likely had less appeal in the 20s. Still, someone with his lightning-quick release as a shooter is a solid bet in the 30s at worst.
4. Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Miller got late steam in the past few weeks about potentially sneaking into the first round in the final few picks. Instead, he’ll likely be among the first picked on Wednesday. Teams value his rare skill level for a big, even though his three-point shooting has been inconsistent. He’s worthy of a multiyear guaranteed deal with real upside if he continues his upward trajectory.
5. Richie Saunders, BYU
Everyone needs more shooting, and Saunders is arguably the best available sharpshooter on the board. He’ll likely miss the start of the regular season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in February and there isn’t a ton of upside in drafting someone as old as Saunders. But if you told me Saunders was making meaningful contributions in next season’s playoffs it wouldn’t shock me.
6. Braden Smith, Purdue
There’s no question Smith is fighting an uphill battle given how short he is. He measured a hair over 5'10" without shoes at the combine. But Smith is a pick-and-roll savant with all kinds of game, incredibly crafty with his floater game to find ways to score against elite size in college basketball. The Pacers are known to love him and could try to trade their way into this draft to grab him, but that’s likely not the extent of his interest. The success of another tiny PG in Ryan Nembhard who went undrafted last year might help Smith’s case.
7. Vsevolod Ishchenko, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)
Ishchenko is a man of intrigue coming over from Russia, moving the needle with his defensive versatility after a strong season with Kuban. Teams could also look to negotiate a stash scenario here depending on how much he falls in the second round as well, but there’s intrigue in bringing him over this year.
8. Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin (Germany)
Kayil spurned a college commitment to Gonzaga to head straight to the NBA from Germany. He had some hope he’d sneak into the first round, but the early part of the second was always more realistic. But in a second round full of college upperclassmen, Kayil represents a younger, higher-ceiling option.
9. Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Sharp’s toughness, defensive intensity and three-point shooting give him clear equity as a role player. There’s a reason Kelvin Sampson found him indispensable on some of the best teams in college basketball over the last three seasons. If the Rockets remain at No. 39, he’s a logical fit there.
10. Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
We saw throughout the first round teams really value rim protection after a playoffs that saw size, strength and control of the paint be critical. Onyenso was perhaps the best shot blocker in college basketball last season at Virginia and has an elite frame. His hands are rough and he’ll likely never turn into much offensively, but that might not stop him from turning into a valuable bench commodity.
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Published 7 hours ago | Modified 7 hours ago
KEVIN SWEENEYKevin Sweeney is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated covering college basketball and the NBA draft. He joined the SI staff in July 2021 and also serves host and analyst for The Field of 68. Sweeney is a Naismith Trophy voter and ia member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
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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.'
