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Hawks C Henri Veesaar tears ACL in workout, to miss ‘26-27

By Thomson Reuters Sep 21, 2026 | 4:02 PM

By Field Level Media

Sep 21 (Field Level Media) – Atlanta Hawks rookie center Henri Veesaar tore the ACL in ​his right knee during a ‌workout Sept. 15, the team said Monday.

Veesaar has a surgery scheduled for October and the Hawks expect him to miss the 2026-27 ‌season.

Veesaar, ​22, was the 52nd ⁠overall pick in ⁠this June’s draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He was traded to the Hawks on the same day for ​57th overall pick Narcisse Ngoy and cash.

The 7-footer played two seasons at ⁠Arizona and spent ⁠2025-26 at North Carolina, where ​he was selected to the All-ACC second ​team. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, ‌2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks in 31 games for the Tar Heels.

The Hawks also signed guard Issac McKneely ⁠on Monday after the undrafted free agent played in seven games for Atlanta’s Summer League team.

McKneely ⁠spent ‌his college career at Virginia (2022-25) ⁠and Louisville (2025-26) and was known ​as ‌a 3-point marksman, making 329 ​triples in ⁠his career on 41.4% shooting. He averaged 11.1 points and 2.7 rebounds over 133 career games, including 10.9 points and 3.0 rebounds at Louisville last year.

(–Field ​Level Media)