For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is UNC’s Henri Veesaar.
The Sixers only have one pick in this week’s NBA Draft. Given their need to find more cost-controlled talent while continuing to pay big money to Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George, it might make some sense to move back form the 22nd overall pick.
Philadelphia could move the pick for a young player on another NBA roster, move back in the first round and add an additional asset or two, or perhaps trade out of the first round all together. In the event of a trade back, Henri Veesaar is an interesting target at the end of the first round or early in the second round.
Profile
2025-26 Stats: 31 games, 31.4 minutes, 17.0 points, 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 old)
Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia
Strengths
When you just look at the stats, the most glaring figure that stands out in a positive direction for Veesaar is the 42.6% from three-point land. He was taking three triples per game with the Tar Heels in 2025-26 so he’s clearly coming into the NBA with a refined jump shot. Should Veesaar be drafted at the end of the first round, he’s probably going to land with a contender who could allow him to play 10-15 minutes per game off the bench as a pick-and-pop big man which would be a nice way for him to ease his way into the association.
Perhaps what makes him a dangerous pick-and-pop player is his fluidity as a mover. Veesaar could just as easily roll to the basket off of ball screens and get behind defenders who are expecting him to hang on the perimeter and get easy dunks.
Veesaar’s good footwork also allows him to be a good help defender in the paint. He might not be an elite athlete, nor is he an elite shot blocker, but he’s a competent rim protector and it would be unfair to call him a defensive liability. Veesaar combines a strong basketball IQ with his above-average mobility to be more than just a spot-up shooter.
Weaknesses
While the three-point percentage is an obvious plus for Veesaar, his 61.5% from the charity stripe is an obvious red flag. It’s hard to explain someone being such a good shooter from deep but not even being league average at the free throw line. Maybe Veesaar will need the right shooting coach to iron out some kinks from the line, but that’s going to be the case with any prospect that’s a fringe first-rounder.
His 200-pound frame is certainly another glaring weakness when looking at the measurables. In theory, you could make the argument that if Veesaar ended up on a team with a center of at least seven feet tall who was stronger, he could pass as a power forward in bigger lineups due to his mobility. But that’s greatly limiting the fit for Veesaar in the NBA. There’s no doubt he needs to bulk up and at least be able to hold his own against bigs he’s currently giving up at least 40 pounds to. Not only is this a concern defensively, but it limits his ability to finish contested shots in the paint. Veesaar can absolutely be an effective pick-and-roll scorer, but can he finish through contact or when defenses rotate well in the pick-and-roll?
Positional Fit
The reason Veesaar is pegged towards the end of the first round and not closer to the lottery is because he’s a developmental big — going back to the need to add muscle – who happens to be 22 years old. He’s almost definitely a center in the NBA, but how much is his frame going to hold him back during the early years of his career? It’s a bet teams would much more easily make if Veesaar were 19 as opposed to 22. The best fit for Veesaar is on a team that has a bigger power forward who could match up well against front courts with lots of size. However, for as much concern as there might be over Veesaar’s lack of physicality, his shooting touch from deep could also pose problems for opposing centers who struggle to defend the perimeter.
Draft Projection
SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 29, Cleveland Cavaliers
Veesaar ends up in Cleveland in this mock draft, sneaking into the first round at 29th overall. It’s worth wondering what kind of package Philly could get for moving back seven or eight spots in the first round. If Mike Gansey received a compelling offer, drafting Veesaar as a backup to Embiid and allowing him to take his time to add weight while Embiid’s contract remains on the books isn’t the worst strategy for the Sixers in the first round.
