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The expectation entering night one of the NBA Draft was that there would be a ton of trades. Well, the first trade didn’t happen until pick 16, and while there was some movement, only draft picks were dealt.
However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a fun draft. Morez Johnson Jr. to Dallas at pick No. 9 was the first surprise of the night, which reunited him with head coach Dusty May after the pair helped lead Michigan to a National Championship last season.
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The Knicks made some cost-cutting moves that may help them retain more of their championship team. They moved out of the first round after multiple trade downs from 24 and acquired future second-round picks and cash considerations.
This is a loaded class with plenty of talent already gone, but there is still a lot left for teams to be excited about. Here are the 10 best available players after round one.
C Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
Veesaar was one of the stars for the Tar Heels last season after spending two years at Arizona. He’s a floor-spacing seven-footer that can pass and rebound, which led to him averaging 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 triples per game last year while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor and 42.6 percent from deep. There were definitely a few teams that could’ve used his services that opted for a different center at the end of the first round. Veesaar should immediately slot in as a strong backup option down low for whichever team drafts him.
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G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
After being a five-star prospect out of high school, Thomas was disappointing during his freshman year for the Razorbacks. That led to his slide to round two, but there is still plenty of talent to be intrigued by. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 triples per game last year while playing alongside Darius Acuff Jr. He didn’t test well at the combine, but he’s one of the few upside swings left in the draft entering the second round.
G Richie Saunders, BYU
Saunders will turn 25 in September, making him one of the older prospects in the class. He also tore his ACL in February, which…
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Publish date : 2026-06-24 04:53:00
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