Meleek Thomas Is Still On The Board, And NBA Teams Are About To Get A Gold Mine

Alright, fellow hoops junkies, can we talk about what just went down in the 2026 NBA Draft? Round one is in the books, and while a lot of the top picks went exactly as expected, there were some *shocks* that are going to make Wednesday night's second round absolutely insane. We're talking about legitimate first-round talent, guys who left serious NIL money on the table, still sitting there waiting to get picked up! If you thought the first round had drama, you haven't seen anything yet. Get ready for some serious value plays.

First Round Shocks Set the Stage

The top of the draft was pretty chalk, right? AJ Dybantsa to the Wizards at No. 1, Darryn Peterson to the Jazz at No. 2, Cameron Boozer heading to Memphis at No. 3, and the Bulls snagging Caleb Wilson at No. 4. Then we saw the freshman lead guards fly off the board: Keaton Wagler to the Clippers, Mikel Brown Jr. to the Nets, Darius Acuff Jr. to the Kings, and Kingston Flemings to the Hawks. Brayden Burries went to the Bucks at No. 10. No massive surprises there, but then things got wild. Morez Johnson Jr. going to the Mavericks at No. 10? That was a curveball, especially with Michigan teammates Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara still on the board, though all three Wolverines still went in the lottery. Iowa's Bennett Stirtz jumping to the Thunder at No. 16, and Stanford's Ebuka Okorie to the Pistons at No. 17, those were definite eye-openers. But the *real* jaw-dropper? Koa Peat falling all the way to the Phoenix Suns at No. 30. That set the tone for what's coming next.

The Second Round Lottery Tickets Are Here

Now, hold up. Because of those wild swings in the first round, the second round is loaded with dudes who absolutely should have been first-rounders. We're talking about serious valu

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e here, folks! Henri Veesaar, the 6'11" junior center from North Carolina, is still available! This skilled 7-footer, who put up 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with a ridiculous 42.6% from three, slid out of the first round after leaving millions in NIL money on the table. The New York Knicks are projected to grab him at Pick 31, and he's exactly the kind of depth up front they need with his unique size and skill. That's a straight-up steal. Then there’s Meleek Thomas, the freshman shooting guard from Arkansas. This dude is a microwave scorer, a tough shot-maker who averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, hitting 41.6% from deep. He also left a ton of money on the table to stay in the draft. Sure, he needs to prove efficiency and defense, but his upside is HUGE. The Memphis Grizzlies are looking to snag him at Pick 32. And don't forget Duke's Isaiah Evans, another shooting guard, still out there! He's one of the best shooters in the draft, making NBA-caliber threes off movement, with 15 points per game. Minnesota, who needs space around Anthony Edwards, is projected to get him at Pick 33. We also have Baba Miller, the Cincinnati PF, projected to the Cavaliers at Pick 34, and Richie Saunders from BYU to the Nuggets at Pick 35.

Wednesday Night Is Going To Be Epic

Listen, teams at the back end of the draft aren't just looking for warm bodies. They want rotation players, and if they hit the jackpot, a long-term starter. That's why scouting talent, mentality, work ethic, and potential is absolutely critical now. Wednesday night, when the second round officially kicks off, is going to be a clinic in finding value. Who's going to grab these fallen first-rounders? Who's going to land the next hidden gem? You bet I'm gonna be glued to the screen. This is where champions are built, one smart pick at a time. Let's go!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.