The Cleveland Cavaliers passed on the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
The Cavs traded out of the 29th pick, acquiring the 34th pick this year and a future second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.
Who will the Cavs take tonight? The second round of the draft begins at 8 p.m. Here’s who experts think the Cavs will pick:
ESPN has Cavs drafting former five-star recruit from Arkansas
Meleek Thomas was a five-star recruit for Arkansas last season. But the 6-foot-5 guard dropped out of the first round. In ESPN’s second-round mock draft they have the Cavs taking the freshman.
“His NBA success will likely depend on whether or not he can become an efficient scorer,” ESPN wrote about Thomas. “His mix of positional size, shooting and competitiveness gives him a pathway to earning minutes as he mature.”
Sharpshooting North Carolina basketball center projected for Cavs
Going into the first round, several mock drafts had the Cavs taking North Carolina center Henri Veesaar. He wasn’t picked in the first round, and The Athletic thinks he’s the choice for Cleveland at No. 34. The 6-foot-11 sharpshooting center would give the Cavs some frontcourt depth behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — something the team sorely needs. Veesaar is also the choice for the Cavs by on3.com.
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Is a Spanish center who played for Cincinnati the best option for the Cavs?
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has the Cavs taking a center as well in his second-round mock. In it he gives the Cavs Cincinnati center Baba Miller. Miller played for Florida State, Florida Atlantic and Cincinnati in college after coming to the United States from the Spanish island of Mallorca. Maybe he’d like Put-in-Bay.
“Baba Miller is trending upward after measuring almost 6’11” barefoot, testing well during foot speed drills and going for 20 points during Wednesday’s NBA combine scrimmage,” Wasserman said about Miller. “Even if shooting remains a problem, his ability to finish/rebound like a big and handle/pass like a wing remains intriguing.”
CBS Sports also has the Cavs going with Miller, as does USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Who will the Cavs pick at No. 34 in NBA draft? Henri Veesaar, Meleek Thomas in play
Reporting by Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Kadar, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
