Grade: B
New Orleans Pelicans
58. Jaron Pierre Jr.
- 2025-26 stats (SMU): 17.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg
The Pelicans had just one pick in the draft, and it went to Pierre, who proved to be a quality perimeter scorer at multiple stops in college basketball. Ultimately, they lucked out with their first round pick ending up at No. 8 to Atlanta, or else, they would’ve missed out on a potentially generational prospect at the top of the draft.
Grade: C
New York Knicks
39. Jack Kayil
- 2026-26 (Mega): 7.7 ppg and 2.8 apg
47. Tyler Nickel
- 2025-26 stats (Vanderbilt): 13.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg
53. Ugonna Onyenso
- 2025-26 stats (Virginia): 6.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg
For what’s being viewed as financial reasons, the Knicks made several trades in the draft to move down and accumulate more picks in the future. Among those they did take are Kayil, a young prospect from Germany who they hope will become an NBA player in the future, and Nickel, a capable scoring wing. Onyenso could be the hidden gem, as he had a breakout senior campaign at Virginia as primarily a shot-blocker. If he can give New York some minutes and block some shots, that’ll be a great find.
Grade: B
Oklahoma City Thunder
12. (via Los Angeles Clippers) - Aday Mara
- 2025-26 stats (Michigan): 12.1 ppg and 6.8 rpg
16. (via Memphis and Phoenix) - Bennett Stirtz
- 2025-26 stats (Iowa): 19.8 ppg and 4.4 apg
37. Ryan ConwellÂ
- 2025-26 stats (Louisville): 18.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg
41. Otega OwehÂ
- 2025-26 stats (Kentucky): 18.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg
Since OKC doesn’t need a star, it can focus on the player most likely to help it beat San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama. That would be Mara, a 7’3 center and elite interior defender who will bolster the team’s frontcourt rotation. Stirtz is one of the top point guards in the class, while Conwell and Oweh are solid scoring guards who can make some of the more expensive rotation players expendable if the franchise needs to make financial decisions. Overall, it’s a great two days for the Thunder.
Grade: A+
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