Every first-round pick from the 2026 NBA Draft has signed. The second round remains a little messier.
Nine of the 30 second-round picks remain unsigned with training camps approaching, as relayed by Hoops Rumors. Some will eventually land NBA contracts. Others may not be coming to the league this season at all.
The unsigned group consists of Richie Saunders (Grizzlies), Braden Smith (Pacers), Tyler Nickel (Knicks), Bryce Hopkins (Nuggets), Lajae Jones (Warriors), Vsevolod Ishchenko (Mavericks), Narcisse Ngoy (Clippers), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Timberwolves) and Malique Lewis (Bucks).
And no, unsigned doesn’t necessarily mean something has gone wrong.
Ngoy, for instance, had already committed to Auburn before surprisingly being selected by the Clippers and could spend the season in college while Los Angeles retains his NBA rights. Ishchenko and Lewis could remain overseas.
Saunders presents another unusual case. The No. 31 pick suffered a torn ACL in February, and Memphis already has a roster crunch. A two-way contract or even a stint in the G League before signing an NBA deal later could make sense.
Indiana appears to have a clearer plan for Smith. The Pacers recently opened a two-way spot, and reports since draft night have indicated that’s where the former Purdue guard is headed.
Money matters here, too. Several teams on the list are navigating luxury-tax or apron concerns, and the difference between carrying a second-round rookie on a minimum deal and filling the same spot with a veteran can matter.
So nine picks remain unsigned. But in August, unsigned and unwanted are two very different things.
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