The Cleveland Cavaliers landed a great value pick getting sharp shooting Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas at pick no.34. I think teams will look back and regret passing on him in the late first round. He’s not only a lights out shooter but is a solid defender who really competes and works hard on that end. I could see him being a microwave scorer of the bench type of player early in his career and perhaps developing into a starter. He’s a really talented dude who would have easily been a first rounder in most draft classes.
The Miami Heat select Ryan Conwell with the no.37 pick, via a trade with the Thunder. After depleting their roster to land the superstar Giannis, the Heat needed guys who could come in and contribute in year one. Conwell is a stout, strong scoring guard who has a lot of experience and should prove to be NBA-ready. He might not be a huge upside guy but has a lot of scoring talent and should be ready to go from day one. Really smart pick for the Heat.
The Nuggets got a great fit and a big time talent at no.35 in Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile. It’s hard to imagine a better landing spot for the athletic 6-10 forward who excels at finishing plays around the rim and stepping beyond the arc to space the floor. Playing alongside Jokic should do wonders for his efficiency and give him plenty of opportunities for success.
At pick no.56 the Mavericks made a move to land Russian wing Vesvolod Ishchenko, an intriguing athlete and floor spacer who has really good size and tools. Whether he comes over this season or not, I think this was a good long-term bet that could pay off down the line. Risking a late second round pick on this type of swing was well worth it!
One pick earlier the Clippers landed one of my favorite sleepers in the draft in Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli at pick no.55. The 6-7 wing is a tough, physical and unorthodox player who loves the mid range and just seems to know how to put the ball in the basket. Don’t be surprised if he sticks in the league and becomes a solid rotation piece in time.
One of the strangest parts of the second round was matching North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar fall into the 50’s, where he ultimately got drafted by the Atlanta Hawks at no.52. It seems he was steering his way to this team and might have had a deal already worked out with them. He was the no.21 ranked prospect on my board and I would not have batted an eye if a team took him in the top 20. For the Hawks to get him at no.52 is a major steal.
But my far the strangest part of the second round was seeing French center Narcisse Ngoy get drafted by the Clippers. He is committed to play for Auburn next season but was draft eligible because of his age. And reports are that he will still play college basketball next season, despite being a NBA draft pick. What a world. Ngoy is a big boy. He’s got rare strength and power and a chance to develop into a really good player. It’ll be fun for Clippers fans to get to watch him hone his skills at Auburn next season.
Here are the Full NBA Draft Results and my instant analysis for each pick.
Thanks for reading!
And take a look ahead at the 2027 Draft Class