Hawks Select Henri Veesaar at No. 52 After Trade with Clippers
A projected first-round talent fell to the second round, costing a player millions in guaranteed salary.
Former North Carolina forward Henri Veesaar was selected with the 52nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. The pick was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN.
The Financial Impact of Falling in the Draft
Veesaar had been projected as a borderline first-round pick. A delay in his name being called has significant financial consequences.
One college coach told Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68 that Veesaar would have earned a minimum of $5.5 million if he had stayed in college for the 2026-27 season. Similarly, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported that Veesaar received offers of at least $6 million to transfer to other schools.
Guaranteed Money vs. Negotiation
The disparity between the first and second rounds is stark.
- Only the top 10 picks in the draft are guaranteed to earn more than $6.1 million for the 2026-27 season, per Spotrac.
- First-round picks receive two guaranteed years on their rookie contracts.
- Second-round picks, however, negotiate contracts with front offices after the draft and do not have such guarantees. This leaves Veesaar in a position with significantly less financial security than his college options provided.