Is Henri Veesaar a candidate for the Sixers to move back and target?
For the subsequent month earlier than 2026 NBA Draftwe’ll take an in-depth have a look at totally different prospects right here at Liberty Ballers and strive to determine which gamers could be the greatest match for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up on this sequence is UNC’s Henri Veesaar.
The Sixers solely have one choose on this week’s NBA Draft. Given their want to discover extra cost-controlled expertise whereas persevering with to pay huge cash to Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul Georgeit’d make some sense to move back kind the 22n.d. total choose. Philadelphia may move the choose for a younger participant on one other NBA roster, move back in the first spherical and add an extra asset or two, or maybe commerce out of the first spherical all collectively. In the occasion of a commerce back, Henri Veesaar is an fascinating goal at the finish of the first spherical or early in the second spherical.
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Profile
2025-26 Stats: 31 video games, 31.4 minutes, 17.0 factors, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks, 60.8% FG, 42.6% 3P, 61.5% FT
Team: North Carolina Tar Heels
Year: Senior
Position: c
Height & Weight: 7’0” | 200 lbs
Born: March 28, 2004 (22 years previous)
Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia
Strengths
When you simply have a look at the stats, the most evident determine that stands out in a optimistic course for Veesaar is the 42.6% from three-point land. He was taking three triples per sport with the Tar Heels in 2025-26 so he is clearly coming into the NBA with a refined leap shot. Should Veesaar be drafted at the finish of the first spherical, he is most likely going to land with a contender who may permit him to play 10-Quarter-hour per sport off the bench as a pick-and-pop huge man who could be a good means for him to ease his means into the affiliation.
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Perhaps what makes him a harmful pick-and-pop participant is his fluidity as a move. Veesaar may simply as simply roll to the basket off of ball screens and get behind defenders who’re anticipating him to hold on the perimeter and get straightforward dunks.
Veesaar’s good footwork additionally permits him to be a good assist defend in the paint. He may not be an elite athlete, neither is he an elite shot blocker, however he is a competent rim protector and it might be unfair to name him a defensive legal responsibility. Veesaar combines a sturdy basketball IQ together with his above-average mobility to be extra than simply a spot-up shooter.
Weaknesses
While the three-point proportion is an apparent plus for Veesaar, his 61.5% from the charity stripe is an apparent purple flag. It’s laborious to clarify somebody being such a good shooter from deep however not even being league common at the free throw line. Maybe Veesaar will want the proper taking pictures coach to iron out some kinks from the line, however that is going to be the case with any prospect that is a fringe first-rounder.
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His 200-pound body is actually one other evident weak spot when the measurables. In concept, you possibly can make the argument that if Veesaar ended up on a staff with a middle of a minimum of seven toes tall who was stronger, he may cross as a energy ahead in greater lineups due to his mobility. But that is enormously limiting the match for Veesaar in the NBA. There’s little doubt he wants to bulk up and a minimum of give you the option to maintain his personal towards bigs he is at present giving up a minimum of 40 kilos to. Not solely is that this a concern defensively, but it surely limits his skill to end contested photographs in the paint. Veesaar can completely be an efficient pick-and-roll scorer, however can he end by contact or when defenses rotate effectively in the pick-and-roll?
Positional Fit
The purpose Veesaar is pegged in direction of the finish of the first spherical and not nearer to the lottery is as a result of he is a developmental huge — going back to the want to add muscle — who occurs to be 22 years previous. He’s nearly undoubtedly a middle in the NBA, however how a lot is his body going to maintain him back throughout the early years of his profession? It’s a wager groups would rather more simply make if Veesaar had been 19 as opposed to 22. The greatest match for Veesaar is on a staff that has a greater energy ahead who may match up effectively towards entrance courts with plenty of dimension. However, for as a lot concern as there may be over Veesaar’s lack of physicality, his taking pictures contact from deep may additionally pose issues for opposing facilities who wrestle to defend the perimeter.
Draft Projection
SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 29, Cleveland Cavaliers
Veesaar leads to Cleveland on this mock draft, sneaking into the first spherical at 29th total. It’s price questioning what sort of bundle Philly may get for shifting back seven or eight spots in the first spherical. If Mike Gansey acquired a compelling provide, drafting Veesaar as a backup to Embiid and permitting him to take his time to add weight whereas Embiid’s contract stays on the books is not the worst technique for the Sixers in the first spherical.
