When the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft rolled around, most expected Henri Veesaar to be one of the first players off the board. Instead, reports came in that Veesaar's agency was maneuvering to get him to fall to a specific team. It seems the Atlanta Hawks were that franchise.
Veesaar tumbled all the way to No. 52 overall, but despite the money he potentially left on the board, it all appears to have gone according to plan—and the Hawks have thus replaced Kristaps Porzingis.
Veesaar stands at 6'11.25" without shoes and 227 pounds with a 7'2" wingspan. He's also one of the better shooters in this class. With those factors in mind, it seemed all but certain that he'd be an early pick on night two of the NBA Draft.
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported during the second round, however, that Veesaar's agency was helping him avoid being drafted by less desirable destinations.
SOURCE: Henri Veesaar's agency is guiding him to a certain team, and teams before them are willing to pass on him.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 25, 2026
He has a promise later in the draft.
Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports corroborated the report that Veesar's agent pushed for their client to avoid being drafted by teams that intended to sign him to a two-way contract.
Henri Veesaar falling to the Hawks at #52 is quite a shock. But teams drafting earlier in the second round say Veesaar and his agent were adamant that he won't sign a two-way contract. So that certainly seems to be the reason for his slip, much like Austin Reaves in 2021.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) June 25, 2026
Siegel later reported that it was the Hawks that Veesaar had been angling to end up with, as he ultimately did at No. 52 overall.
Veesaar's agent was guiding him to the Hawks, who had been working to trade up and add him in front of teams like the Knicks and Lakers.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 25, 2026
They did not want him in LA. https://t.co/Dq8JxPGXkx
Amidst a sea of chaos, the Hawks ended up with a player who can fill the role they wanted Porzingis to occupy in 2025-26.
Henri Veesaar is the floor-spacing big Hawks wanted KP to be
Veesaar, 22, turned in a tremendous 2025-26 season. He averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 offensive boards, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 three-point field goals made in 31.5 minutes per game, shooting at a clip of .608/.426/.615.
An efficient finisher inside, elite three-point shooter, and gifted passer who can play both with and without the ball, Veesaar checks many of the boxes that Porzingis is able to.
Veesaar will now join what's become a deep interior with 2026 first-round pick Zuby Ejiofor, All-NBA forward Jalen Johnson, and starting center Onyeka Okongwu. With Ejiofor projecting as more of a hybrid big than a true center, Veesaar should have a chance to step in as the backup 5.
Jock Landale would likely complicate the matter if he re-signs this summer, but either way, Veesaar has a clear path to meaningful long-term minutes.
It was a wild ride to get to this point, as Veesaar went from a potential pick in the low 30s to a selection in the late 50s. It's a move that's gifted the Hawks the type of big man they thought they were getting when they traded for Porzingis a season ago but never truly had due to injuries.
The NBA Draft never ceases to produce memorable storylines and Veesaar's journey to the Hawks is as intriguing as any in recent memory.
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