The Atlanta Hawks have reached a four-year agreement worth approximately $9.3 million with second-round draft pick Henri Veesaar, according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports.
The 22-year-old Estonian center was selected No. 52 overall in last Wednesday’s draft after Atlanta moved up from No. 57 to secure his rights. The contract, completed via the NBA’s second-round pick exception, carries Veesaar’s rookie-minimum salary throughout the term.
Multiple teams reportedly showed interest in Veesaar during the second round, but his representatives prioritized a franchise willing to offer a standard NBA deal and a spot on the 15-man roster. While the agreement fulfills that requirement, specific guarantee figures remain undisclosed. Deals signed with the second-round exception include a team option for the fourth season, and portions of years two and three can be partially or non-guaranteed.
Veesaar entered the draft projected by several analysts as a late first-round choice and ranked No. 28 on ESPN’s final big board compiled by Jeremy Woo. After two limited seasons at Arizona—redshirting as a sophomore—he transferred to North Carolina and emerged as the Tar Heels’ starting center in 2025-26. Over 31 games, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks while converting 67.7% of his two-point attempts and 42.6% from beyond the arc on 3.0 tries per contest. He shot 61.5% from the free-throw line on 3.8 attempts.
The 6-foot-11 big man joins a crowded Atlanta frontcourt that already features Onyeka Okongwu, Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye, Asa Newell and fellow 2026 draftee Zuby Ejiofor.
Source: Hoops Rumors
