With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now’s the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire’s draft big board, one can do so here.

This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.

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Next up in this series is North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar:

Strengths

The biggest attribute Veesaar offers up in his ability to shoot the ball. He shot the 3-ball at 52.6% (40-for-94) in the 2025-26 season at North Carolina. That allows the floor to be spaced for drivers such as Maxey and Edgecombe, for instance, and he can play off somebody like Joel Embiid due to that shot. He has great size at 7-feet tall and that allows him to be an offensive hub at times. He can shoot the ball well, make defenses adjust, and has an ability to get to the basket and a soft touch in the paint to finish well.

He also has a high basketball IQ which makes him an excellent passer. Veesaar isn’t going to wow anybody with any real explosion or athleticism, but he makes up for it with an ability to really play the game at a high level and make winning plays for whatever team he’s on. He was an able rim protector for the Tar Heels as well as he averaged 1.2 blocks per game in 2025-26. One has to wonder if that will translate to the NBA, but Veesaar has a lot of offensive skills that will.

Weaknesses

He is going to have to get stronger. While his size and timing makes up for it, Veesaar can get bumped off the block by a stronger big man. He lacks the core strength to be really body any other big men and that will be a problem against the stronger, more physical centers in the league. There is also the question of whether he can ably switch onto guards on the perimeter when defending a pick-and-roll. These are all questions that will be answered in due time, but this is what holds him back at the moment.

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Potential fit on the Sixers

The Sixers always need help at the backup center spot behind Embiid. While Adem Bona is capable, he is on the smaller side. Veesaar is a legitimate 7-feet and would give Philadelphia some real size off the bench. He would be able to run some offense from the high post or the nail and be able to either knock down a shot if defenders sag or he will be able to make a play with his passing. He can also ably defend the rim and be a presence o the glass.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Henri Veesaar