We handed out grades for every first-round pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. Now it’s time to grade the second spherical:
Bruce Thornton, 6-0, Ohio State senior guard
Grade: A+
The Rockets traded as much as purchase Thornton from the Knicks, giving them a 3rd small guard alongside Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard. Could this make Sheppard, the third decide in 2024, extra expendable? Perhaps so, as a result of Thornton is a three-level scorer with playmaking really feel and the aggressive fireplace that lifts a locker room. And although he’s brief, he weighs 223 kilos and has a 6-foot-5 wingspan. Players along with his intangibles can show to be essential to successful groups although. He was a four-year captain at Ohio State, and improved yearly on his approach to turning into the varsity’s all-time main scorer.
Grade: A+
Saunders would possibly flip 25 years previous as a rookie, however he’s a hard-nosed, two-way wing who performs with manic vitality, hustling across the flooring trying to find steals on protection and jumpers on offense. When he appeared on my podcast, he discussed his recovery from a torn ACL that ended his profession at BYU and mentioned when he returns to the courtroom he’s most trying ahead to utilizing a swim transfer on an opponent to crash the offensive glass — that’s precisely the hustle the Grizzlies know they’re gonna get from him. He’s additionally expert, although, with a quick-trigger jumper, delicate contact on floaters, and a really feel for shifting the ball.
Isaiah Evans, 6-6, Duke sophomore wing
Grade: A+
With Donte DiVincenzo sidelined resulting from a torn Achilles, it makes excellent sense for Minnesota to take Evans. He’s a reputable sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive with out even working any offense for himself, which is the important thing enjoying subsequent to Anthony Edwards. Evans is the sort of shooter that defenses guard and assume they’ve acquired him contained, then he makes use of a display and catches it off a full dash, shifting away from the rim, and he someway manages to rise into an ideal 3-pointer. But after serving as a capturing specialist as a freshman, he confirmed off a creating deal with as a sophomore which may finally unlock extra creation probabilities.
Meleek Thomas, 6-3, Arkansas freshman wing
Grade: B+
Thomas was the top-ranked participant on my board, however he doesn’t precisely resolve any issues for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden primarily deal with the ball, and he doesn’t present dimension to fill holes for this protection. That mentioned, Thomas is a bucket and it is a “best player available” selection. He’s a legit NBA shooter with deep vary, a fast launch, and creation juice off the bounce. But he does not get to the rim, his shot choice drifts into hero-ball, and there are questions on how he’ll cope with NBA physicality at 6-3 and 190 kilos — that’s why he fell this far regardless of receiving consideration from groups within the high 20.
Trevon Brazile, 6-10, Arkansas senior large
Grade: B
Brazile was a projected first-rounder earlier than tearing his ACL 9 video games into his sophomore 12 months at Arkansas, and the following two years have been spent rebuilding the explosiveness that made him a prospect within the first place. He lastly put it collectively as a fifth-year senior with a profession 12 months by anchoring Arkansas’ protection. His lengthy wingspan, explosive vertical, switchability, and perimeter jumper will instantly inject much-needed athleticism into Denver’s frontcourt. Since Brazile can each defend the perimeter and make 3s — at 35% in his school profession — he may play in lineups subsequent to Nikola Jokić. But there’s no assure that his shot interprets, which shall be vitally essential for his match on the Nuggets.
Baba Miller, 6-11, Cincinnati senior ahead
Grade: C+
The Clippers are constructing fairly the athletic frontcourt after taking Yanic Konan Niederhauser final 12 months, and now Miller, who retains the fluidity that he had rising up enjoying guard earlier than a late development spurt. Miller has perimeter talent with the best way he can deal with within the open flooring, make superior strikes, and swap throughout positions on protection. The large concern, and the primary cause why he has spent 4 years in school, is that he nonetheless can’t shoot. Unless the Clippers have a repair for that downside, spacing could possibly be tight for the offense.
Ryan Conwell, 6-2, Louisville senior guard
Grade: A+
Miami badly wants shot creation within the backcourt after dumping almost the whole lot to accumulate Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, so it’s a logical option to commerce into this spot for Conwell. After his school profession took him from South Florida to Indiana State to Xavier, after which to Louisville, he acquired higher at each cease. By the tip of his senior 12 months he was the main scorer for the Cardinals at 18.8 factors per sport as a knockdown shooter with deep vary and a bruiser on the rim who absorbs contact like a fullback. My high comparability for him? Norm Powell, who shined this 12 months with the Heat however is reportedly anticipated to go away in free company. Maybe Conwell can fill these sneakers as a rookie.
Braden Smith, 5-10, Purdue senior guard
Grade: A
The Pacers acquired Smith from the Bulls for Kam Jones and swaps, which is kind of an fascinating resolution by Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton shall be again subsequent 12 months. Andrew Nembhard handles the ball a lot. And T.J. McConnell stays one of many sport’s greatest backup guards. However, McConnell is 34 so including Smith appears like they’re taking a successor for that Sixth Man position. Smith left Purdue because the NCAA’s all-time assists chief, breaking a 33-year-old document. He’s arguably the highest-IQ participant within the draft who may orchestrate an offense on the school degree whereas additionally offering scoring off the bounce. But the difficulty is the one each 5-foot-10 guard faces: he is not a plus athlete, and larger guards are going to hunt him the second he steps on an NBA flooring. That’s exactly why he’s a projected second-rounder and might want to work his approach up.
39. New York Knicks
Jack Kayil, 6-4, Alba Berlin guard
Grade: A
Kayil simply gained the German League championship, and now he’s becoming a member of the NBA champions in New York. Kayil is a combo guard with a robust body, a really feel for the sport that exceeds his youth, and the grit to change into a high-level defender. He simply grew to become one of many youngest gamers to ever win the German League’s Under-22 Player of the Year, becoming a member of Franz Wagner and Dennis Schröder on a listing that bodes effectively for his NBA prospects. He dedicated to Gonzaga again in October, however has determined to remain within the draft — a choice that stunned some scouts since he has but to show he can shoot persistently or run an offense full-time. But there’s no denying his upside and he may find yourself one of many late risers on this class.
Dillon Mitchell, 6-7, St. John’s senior ahead
Grade: A
Mitchell confirmed up at Texas as a McDonald’s All-American, and again then it appeared like a soar shot was the one factor standing between him and stardom. Four years and three faculties later, the jumper continues to be nonexistent. Maybe the Celtics may be the workforce to lastly repair it. And but, he’s a top-40 decide in a deep draft class as a result of he’s a left-handed energy participant who finishes the whole lot across the rim, wrecks video games on protection, and blossomed right into a high-feel passer as a senior at St. John’s. The non-shooting is an issue, however Boston is an ideal scenario to mitigate it since he can play in lineups the place he’s surrounded by capturing. Even with out the shot, his athleticism on offense and defensive versatility may permit him to carve out an extended profession.
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