17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philly) - Yaxel Lendeborg
- 2025-26 stats (Michigan): 15.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, and 3.2 apg
Even after picking Mara earlier in the draft, OKC could still use more frontcourt depth to deal with Wemby. Lendeborg is a versatile frontcourt player who can guard multiple positions. His age, which seems to have been the biggest detriment for teams in the lottery, wouldn’t matter to a win-now franchise such as the Thunder.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando) - Jayden Quaintance
- 2024-25 stats (Arizona State): 9.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg
With another top-20 pick to work with, Charlotte could go with a high-ceiling prospect who has time to develop. A year ago, Quaintance looked like a future top-5 pick but needed an entire year to recover from a lower-body injury, hurting his stock. He’s an athletic big man who can block shots and run the floor when healthy. As good a first year as Ryan Kalkbrenner had this past year, the Hornets could use a better center for when they’re truly ready to contend in the East.
19. Toronto Raptors - Christian Anderson
- 2025-26 stats (Texas Tech): 18.5 ppg and 7.4 apg
Scottie Barnes has emerged as an All-Star as their go-to option, but he’s also a wing and not a true point guard. The Raptors haven’t had a quality playmaker since Fred VanVleet and will likely target a playmaker. Anderson is one of the best after the first tier of guards, a quality shooter who can also create for others.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta) - Karim Lopez
- 2025-26 stats (New Zealand): 11.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg
By reaching the NBA finals, the Spurs can put themselves in a “win now” spot. But they can still rack up young talent with potential, including the likely first international player off the board, Lopez. He’s a skilled forward who can handle the ball and play multiple forward positions, and he would add depth on the wings, one of the few areas of weakness.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota) - Cameron Carr
- 2025-26 stats (Baylor): 18.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg
Carr had a breakout sophomore campaign at Baylor, shooting almost 40% from three-point range and being a three-level scorer. Detroit lacked perimeter offense outside of Cade Cunningham, and Carr would be an ideal off-ball scoring option to work with.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston) - Koa Peat
- 2025-26 stats (Arizona): 14.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg
If it wasn’t for the questions with his shooting, Peat would’ve been a clear lottery pick. That kind of ceiling is why the 76ers would be interested at this point in the draft, filling a clear need at the power forward spot. Peat playing in Arizona’s frontcourt should allow for an easy transition to playing next to Joel Embiid inside.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland) - Henri Veesaar
- 2025-26 stats (North Carolina): 17 ppg and 8.7 rpg
The 7’0 big man is one of the best scoring centers in the NBA Draft and would have a lot of talented Hawks to work with. They need a big man, a clear area of need, and assuming they don’t draft Mara early on at No. 8, this would be the next best option.
24. New York Knicks - Chris Cenac
- 2025-26 stats (Houston): 9.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg
The Knicks won the NBA title, but owner Jim Dolan has said he wouldn’t go into the second apron, meaning that roster decisions are coming. That could mean Mitchell Robinson, who played a big role at center, could go elsewhere. A big man with a high ceiling is Cenac, a former five-star prospect who is a versatile defender but showed little on offense as a freshman. Cenac wouldn’t need to score with the Knicks, but still can give them plenty as a frontcourt addition.
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