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Potential gems picked in 2026 NBA Draft second round: Isaiah Evans, Tyler Nickel
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- Potential gems picked in 2026 NBA Draft second round: Isaiah Evans, Tyler Nickel
Potential gems picked in 2026 NBA Draft second round: Isaiah Evans, Tyler Nickel originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Another 30 picks are in the books.
The second round of the2026 NBA Draftconcluded in Brooklyn , N.Y., Wednesday following theanticipated first roundon Tuesday.
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Some notable prospects dropped to the second round, but they eventually heard their names called whether it was early on or later.
Bruce Thornton of Ohio State went first to the Houston Rockets , adding guard depth to a team that struggled in that department without Fred VanVleet for the entire year.
Center Henri Veesaar of UNC was the biggest slide of the class, going from a potential first-rounder all the way to No. 52. Eventually, the Los Angeles Clippers added the 7-foot big in the absence of Ivica Zubac .
Let's analyze some of the second-round picks that could evolve into gems down the line:
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G Isaiah Evans : No. 33 to Minnesota Timberwolves
Evans was the only player who attended the green room Tuesday and didn't hear his name called. He had to wait another few selections until the Timberwolves picked him up at No. 33. A 6-foot-6 guard, Evans was a streaky but key player for a Blue Devils side that made the Elite Eight this past season. Evans averaged 15 points as he made a leap as a sophomore, making 36% of his triples on 7.4 attempts a game. His 3-point percentage did dip, but his size and willingness to score could work out alongside Anthony Edwards .
G Braden Smith : No. 38 to Indiana Pacers
Indiana is preparing for the highly anticipated return of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton . So it added a similar profile in senior Purdue guard Smith. Despite only being 6-foot, Smith was a consistent presence all four seasons and is an Indiana native. He most notably averaged 8.8 assists across 39 games this past season, a career high. That'll work well off the bench and perhaps even alongside Haliburton, as Smith also shot 38.5% from deep on 4.2 attempts across his four years.
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F Tyler Nickel: No. 47 to New York Knicks
The reigning champion Knicks are gaining a pure shooter in Vanderbilt forward Nickel. The 6-foot-7 Nickel played four seasons: one at UNC and Virginia Tech each before spending his last two at Vanderbilt. He most recently shot 40% from deep on a whopping 7.6 attempts, increasing his volume from his junior year but maintaining similar efficiency. That should be a perfect bench piece for Jalen Brunson , who could collect plenty of dimes from Nickel.
C Henri Veesaar: No. 52 to Los Angeles Clippers
Unless Veesaar was angling for a move to a certain team, his draft slide this far didn't make sense. Regardless, the Clippers could have tremendous value with him falling to No. 52. He's coming off a season at UNC where he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks. The 7-foot big also showed an improved 3-point ability, knocking down 42.6% of his 3.0 attempts. The Clippers are in need of a youth resurgence, and Veesaar checks plenty of important boxes.
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F Nick Martinelli: No. 55 to Los Angeles Clippers
Speaking of more promising young talents, the Clippers added forward Martinelli just three picks later. A 6-foot-7 wing, Martinelli spent all four seasons at Northwestern where he emerged as a junior and senior, going from just 8.8 points to over 20-plus in both campaigns. He's an underrated do-it-all player who can stretch the floor well on offense, though how his athleticism translates on defense will determine his ceiling. But at pick No. 55, there's no risk to taking this type of profile. Stretchy wings are always coveted.
