HENRI VEESAAR FALLS TO 52ND PICK IN NBA DRAFT AFTER REJECTING MULTI-MILLION...

Henri Veesaar, a centre from the University of North Carolina, became the draft's biggest faller on Wednesday after the Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Clippers then traded Veesaar to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the 57th pick and cash considerations. Veesaar had been widely expected to be selected early in the second round after an excellent junior season at UNC.

During the 2025-2026 season, Veesaar recorded 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks per game over 32 minutes. Yahoo Sports ranked him as the draft's 26th overall prospect, describing him as an agile big man with shooting ability, playmaking skills and defensive capability. Reports from CBS Sports and Field of 68 stated that Veesaar had rejected an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal worth more than £5 million to remain eligible for the draft, which sources characterised as one of the strongest in recent memory. The reported value of that NIL offer exceeded the projected salary for the 14th overall pick.

The Hawks' selection of Veesaar at 52nd overall leaves his future compensation uncertain, as no set salary scale exists for second-round NBA picks. Reports indicated that the Hawks could potentially offer additional financial arrangements to offset Veesaar's decision to forgo the NIL agreement. The outcome represents a significant financial impact for the player, who declined a guaranteed income to pursue the draft.