Hawks 2026 Draft: Flemings, Ejiofor, Veesaar graded

Hawks 2026 – Atlanta’s three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft—Kingston Flemings (Round 1, Pick 8), Zuby Ejiofor (Round 1, Pick 23), and Henri Veesaar (Round 2, Pick 53 via trade)—come with a clear theme: the Hawks aimed to repair the guard and interior frontcourt, but the bigge

By the time the New York Knicks pushed the eventual NBA champion into a six-game first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, it was obvious what Atlanta fans were hoping the next offseason would do: turn “almost” into “ready.”

That same pressure hung over the Hawks heading into the 2026 NBA Draft—especially with guard playmaking and frontcourt depth at the top of the shopping list. Atlanta’s draft grades reflect that tension, with two picks falling into place and one decision landing in a debate that feels hard to ignore.

The Hawks’ first selection landed at a familiar crossroads: Kingston Flemings.

Atlanta took Houston guard Kingston Flemings in Round 1, Pick 8, a pick the Hawks acquired in last year’s trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The fit, on paper, addressed a need for a point guard who can create for himself and others—something Atlanta lost when it moved on from Trae Young.

Flemings brought production from his freshman season for the Cougars: he averaged 16.1 points. 5.2 assists. 4.1 rebounds. and 1.5 steals per game. while shooting 38.7% from three-point range. His athleticism stood out. and the Hawks’ roster construction is the kind that can turn a player like that into a long-term engine.

But the Hawks’ center problem didn’t go away—and that’s where the frustration crept in. The story of New York’s playoff run offered a clue: New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns became a key factor in the Knicks’ comeback from a 2-1 series deficit against the Hawks in the first round. That reality made Flemings feel like the right kind of piece, just not the most urgent one.

There was another name on the table that Atlanta didn’t take. Aday Mara ultimately slid to No. 12, where the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him. The draft logic around Mara mirrored another need—Oklahoma City also needed more size after its seven-game series loss to the Spurs.

Flemings is not graded as a miss in talent. The argument is more specific: the Hawks had the wrong priority, and they should have used their first selection to address center immediately.

Grade: B+

Atlanta’s second Round 1 pick looked, at first glance, like it could raise eyebrows. With the 23rd pick, the Hawks selected Zuby Ejiofor.

There was a reason the reaction felt confusing early on. Atlanta already had significant depth at both forward positions, particularly after acquiring Aaron Wiggins. Still, the selection started to make more sense as the roster reshaped. With the Saleh and the Hawks move in the second round, the pick fit a clearer direction: defensive-minded roster building.

Ejiofor’s college profile backed that up. He played four seasons in college—one at Kansas and three at St. John’s. In the 2025-26 season, he put up 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game across 37 games, shooting 53.6% from the field.

He also brought shooting that matters for roster versatility: he made it to 53.6% from the field while hitting 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals. and—just as importantly—his offensive and defensive value blended together. The draft debate around how to use him quickly turned from “what position” to “what role.”.

While some project Ejiofor as a small-ball five. the belief here is that he’ll be most effective as a rugged power forward—doing the dirty work by crashing the glass and thriving in the dunker spot. The plan for growth wasn’t ignored either. The idea is that the Hawks can continue to develop his offensive game to fit their system. and that he has the potential to become one of the league’s better interior defenders.

There’s also the roster math behind the pick. Atlanta still needed center depth. and last season’s roster featured just one player taller than 7 feet. with only two players standing 6-foot-11 or taller in Jock Landale and Mouhamed Gueye. Landale suffered an injury before the start of the playoffs, and Gueye didn’t see significant action against the Knicks.

The Ejiofor pick, then, reads like an effort to strengthen a defensive identity and cover forward needs while the center situation gets addressed with draft maneuvering.

Grade: A+

That brings Atlanta’s final selection in this draft to the part of the plan that Hawks fans had been waiting for.

In Round 2, Pick 53, Henri Veesaar arrived in a trade: the pick was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers as the Hawks moved to select him.

The Hawks originally held the No. 57 pick in the second round. They traded with the Clippers to move up to No. 52 and select Veesaar. The player wasn’t just a depth add; the description of him matched the longing for a true seven-footer in Atlanta’s frontcourt rotation.

Veesaar spent two seasons at Arizona, missing the 2023-24 season with an elbow injury before transferring to North Carolina. At North Carolina, he anchored the frontcourt alongside former UNC star and new Bulls draft pick Caleb Wilson.

His best season produced the kind of numbers that tend to quiet doubts. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 60.8% from the field and 42.6% from three-point range.

That blend is why his profile can matter immediately. While he isn’t Aday Mara, the comparison that matters here is skill-set fit: Veesaar could slot into Atlanta’s center rotation, stretching the floor to complement an offense that relies heavily on dribble penetration in the half-court.

The logic is reinforced by what Atlanta already did. The trade deadline acquisition of Jock Landale proved a proof of concept for that type of player, given that Landale is a stretch five who shot 39.1% from three-point range over 23 games with Atlanta.

Still, the verdict isn’t stamped yet. The draft evaluation coming out of ESPN’s draft analysis included concerns about Veesaar’s physicality, rebounding, and lateral mobility on the defensive end.

But the immediate impact question is simpler for fans: center depth. Atlanta finally has a legitimate 7-footer in the building. and it’s the kind of addition that can set the tone for the next step. For further solidity, the expectation is that the front office adds a proven veteran center in free agency.

Grade: A-

Taken together. Atlanta’s 2026 draft choices trace the same story: two moves that line up with defensive identity and roster structure. and one first-round debate that pivots on whether the Hawks addressed their most glaring need early enough. The Knicks’ first-round fight. Towns’ influence. and the timeline of center injuries and limited playoff action all sharpen what fans expected from these picks.

If the Hawks are serious about becoming a top-tier Eastern Conference contender, the draft answers part of the question. It doesn’t answer all of it—especially when center depth is still expected to be tightened with additional help beyond what this draft delivered.

Atlanta Hawks 2026 NBA Draft Kingston Flemings Zuby Ejiofor Henri Veesaar Aday Mara Jock Landale Mouhamed Gueye Karl-Anthony Towns Trae Young New York Knicks draft grades