NBA draft signings and small‑guard prospects shape offseason

All 30 first‑round selections from the 2026 NBA Draft have signed rookie contracts, and 19 of the 30 second‑round picks have also reached agreements. Eleven second‑rounders remain unsigned, including Memphis’s Richie Saunders, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Indiana’s Braden Smith, whose two‑way slot is uncertain, as well as several players still overseas or weighing G‑League options.

Analysts note that the 2026 draft featured a group of undersized guards—Ebuka Okorie, Christian Anderson, Bruce Thornton, Braden Smith and Ja’Kobi Gillespie—who helped the New York Knicks win a championship, underscoring the value of smaller backcourt players. Looking ahead to the 2027 draft, prospects such as Elliot Cadeau (Michigan), Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State), Miles Sadler (West Virginia) and Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) are highlighted as potential impact guards despite modest height.