The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft featured several intriguing selections, with teams targeting upside prospects, experienced college players, and international talent.
Early Round 2 Picks
31
Houston Rockets
Bruce Thornton
32
Memphis Grizzlies
Richie Saunders
33
Minnesota Timberwolves
Isaiah Evans
34
Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas
35
Denver Nuggets
Trevon Brazile
36
Los Angeles Clippers
Baba Miller
Notable Selections
New York Knicks selected Jack Kayil with the 39th pick after trading down earlier in the round.
San Antonio Spurs drafted Ja’Kobi Gillespie at No. 42 and Maliq Brown at No. 44, adding two experienced college standouts.
Dallas Mavericks acquired the 56th pick and selected Vsevolod Ishchenko, a long-term developmental prospect.
Mavs Moneyball
Round 2 Themes
Teams prioritized experienced college contributors over raw projects.
International prospects remained popular, including Jack Kayil and Vsevolod Ishchenko.
Several clubs traded up and down the board to acquire additional future second-round assets.
The headliner of the entire draft remained No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa to the Washington Wizards, but Round 2 produced several potential steals who could make immediate impacts in Summer League and training camp.
