We handed out grades for every first-round pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. Now it’s time to grade the second round:
Bruce Thornton, 6-0, Ohio State senior guard
Grade: A+
The Rockets traded up to acquire Thornton from the Knicks, giving them a third small guard alongside Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard. Could this make Sheppard, the third pick in 2024, more expendable? Perhaps so, because Thornton is a three-level scorer with playmaking feel and the competitive fire that lifts a locker room. And even though he’s short, he weighs 223 pounds and has a 6-foot-5 wingspan. Players with his intangibles can prove to be important to winning teams though. He was a four-year captain at Ohio State, and improved every year on his way to becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Grade: A+
Saunders might turn 25 years old as a rookie, but he’s a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy, hustling around the floor hunting for steals on defense and jumpers on offense. When he appeared on my podcast, he discussed his recovery from a torn ACL that ended his career at BYU and said when he returns to the court he’s most looking forward to using a swim move on an opponent to crash the offensive glass — that’s exactly the hustle the Grizzlies know they’re gonna get from him. He’s also skilled, though, with a quick-trigger jumper, soft touch on floaters, and a feel for moving the ball.
Isaiah Evans, 6-6, Duke sophomore wing
Grade: A+
With Donte DiVincenzo sidelined due to a torn Achilles, it makes perfect sense for Minnesota to take Evans. He’s a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, which is the key playing next to Anthony Edwards. Evans is the kind of shooter that defenses guard and think they’ve got him contained, then he uses a screen and catches it off a full sprint, moving away from the rim, and he somehow manages to rise into a perfect 3-pointer. But after serving as a shooting specialist as a freshman, he showed off a developing handle as a sophomore which could eventually unlock more creation chances.
Meleek Thomas, 6-3, Arkansas freshman wing
Grade: B+
Thomas was the top-ranked player on my board, but he doesn’t exactly solve any problems for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden primarily handle the ball, and he doesn’t provide size to fill holes for this defense. That said, Thomas is a bucket and this is a “best player available” choice. He’s a legit NBA shooter with deep range, a quick release, and creation juice off the bounce. But he doesn’t get to the rim, his shot selection drifts into hero-ball, and there are questions about how he’ll deal with NBA physicality at 6-3 and 190 pounds — that’s why he fell this far despite receiving consideration from teams in the top 20.
39. New York Knicks
44. San Antonio Spurs
47. New York Knicks
49. Denver Nuggets
52. LA Clippers
53. New York Knicks
55. Houston Rockets
59. Minnesota Timberwolves
60. Washington Wizards
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