With the NBA Finals out of the way, it’s time we turn our attention to the next big date on the league calendar: the NBA Draft. With the first round slated for June 26, teams are running out of time to hone in on their favorite prospects.
Unlike this past year, the 2024 NBA Draft class does not feature a surefire No. 1 pick. It’s also viewed as a relatively weak group of soon-to-be rookies, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a superstar waiting in the mix.
For the sake of keeping things from getting too complicated, I won’t be projecting any trades.
With that disclosure out of the way, let’s dive into my 2024 NBA mock draft.
NBA Mock Draft Round 1 Lottery Picks
1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, F, France
The Hawks (36-46) lucked into the No. 1 pick despite ending the season with an early exit from the play-in tournament. Atlanta is now at something of a crossroads, and there’s a good chance it trades this pick to a franchise more desperate to nab its top prospect.
Should the Hawks keep this one, though, Risacher would make the most sense to be the first player off the board. The 19-year-old forward has plenty of upside and makes sense on this roster regardless of whether the franchise opts to deal Trae Young or Dejounte Murray.
Either way, I’m a fan of Risacher’s fit alongside Jalen Johnson, who looks like Atlanta’s most untouchable asset. The 22-year-old broke out this past year following quiet rookie and sophomore campaigns, and Risacher’s 3-and-D potential makes him a natural complement.
2. Washington Wizards: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Washington is in desperate need of a long-term answer at center, and Clingan is arguably the best prospect at the position in this class. The 20-year-old big is a force on both ends of the floor, averaging 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in his second year at UConn.
Clingan’s physical tools and upside make him a particularly intriguing option at No. 2 overall. Standing 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, he would easily be the biggest guy on the Wizards’ roster. This team could use a player of his caliber, too, after allowing a league-high 123 points per game in 2023-24.
Alexandre Sarr is the more popular prediction in this spot, and I certainly understand the appeal. Clingan may be the more NBA-ready player, though, and the fact that he comes from a winning program could be a plus for this Washington front office.
Betting Tip: Clingan has the third-best odds to be the second pick in the NBA Draft, but this price looks appealing at (+500). Lock it in with your NBA bet of the day.
3. Houston Rockets (via BKN): Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
The Rockets have young, talented players at virtually every position, but the team’s point guard depth is lacking behind Fred VanVleet. Enter Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, who could potentially address several needs and help Houston build upon its newly-discovered identity.
Ime Udoka led the Rockets to a 41-41 record in 2023-24, and his team did most of its damage on the defensive end of the floor. Sheppard averaged 2.5 steals as a freshman at Kentucky, and his 52.1% clip from three-point range and 4.5 assists per game would help improve Houston’s 20th-ranked offense.
Sheppard is still young, so the ability to play behind VanVleet would be a plus while he works on building out his body. In the meantime, he can be a serviceable backup point guard and continue to make winning plays on both ends of the floor.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Matas Buzelis, F, G League
Once thought to be the potential No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, Buzelis would be a steal for San Antonio at four. Building around Victor Wembanyama is the Spurs’ top priority right now, and Buzelis is about as ideal a fit as you’ll find.
The 19-year-old averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.9 assists in the G League this year, highlighting his two-way versatility. He can also play a handful of positions, and although he shot just over 27% from three, San Antonio has proven to be a terrific developmental franchise.
The Spurs already have young, complementary pieces around Wembanyama in Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, but their wing depth is relatively weak outside of Keldon Johnson, who plays his best basketball off the bench. This front office will be celebrating if Buzelis is still there at No. 4.
5. Detroit Pistons: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee
The first big surprise of the NBA Draft comes at No. 5, where the Pistons select Tennessee standout Dalton Knecht. The Wooden Award finalist averaged 21.7 points per game on 49.9% shooting from the field (39.7% from deep) in his final season with the Volunteers.
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Knecht would not be the best player available at this stage of the draft, but this pick prioritizes his position and spacing, which Detroit desperately needs. The Pistons are devoid of wing depth and made the second-fewest three-pointers per game at an ugly 34.8% rate this past season.
If Knecht is the guy, Detroit may be able to trade down a few spots to grab him. There are several guards and bigs who should go ahead of him, but the Pistons already have their players of the future at those positions in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Stephon Castle, G, UConn
Charlotte has a penchant for drafting players from college basketball’s most prestigious programs, so this feels like an obvious choice at No. 6. Castle’s ability to play both guard positions also makes him an ideal backcourt pairing with LaMelo Ball, and his upside is off the charts.
Castle impressed as a freshman at UConn, averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 27 minutes per game. Perhaps most notable is the fact that he started in 30 out of 34 games for the title-winning Huskies, which is a strong indicator of his maturity and readiness for the pros.
His jumper still needs some work, but the Hornets have plenty of time for him to develop. In the meantime, Castle can stay on the floor by being a plus-defender and playmaker.
Betting Tip: There’s a chance Castle could go earlier than No. 6, but betting his draft position to go Over 5.5 is worth the risk at (+105).
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Alexandre Sarr, C, France
Someone has to fall, right? Sarr may well end up being a top-two pick, but if he slips outside of that range, his potential landing spot is less clear. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone trades up to grab him, but if not, it’s hard to see him sliding further than Portland at No. 7.
This would be a terrific pick for the Trail Blazers. Sarr is listed as a center for now, but his two-way versatility could allow him to be an intriguing frontcourt pairing alongside Deandre Ayton for the foreseeable future. Plus, his mobility would take some pressure off of Ayton defensively.
Sarr can contribute right away, but this selection is all about upside. The 19-year-old has a sky-high ceiling, and his seven-foot frame (and 7-foot-4 wingspan) makes him an especially intriguing prospect.
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR): Nikola Topić, PG, Serbia
After nabbing a versatile forward at No. 4, the Spurs pick up a much-needed playmaking guard at No. 8. San Antonio often struggled to work the ball inside to Wembanyama throughout the season, so Nikola Topić’s skillset makes him an ideal fit in San Antonio.
The Spurs have a solid guard on the roster in Tre Jones, but it’s clear that he’s not the answer as the team’s long-term starter. Topić, who is still just 18 and stands 6-foot-6, is more in line with what the franchise needs out of a pick-and-roll partner for its seven-foot superstar.
His jumper still leaves something to be desired, but he’s a strong finisher at the rim, and it’s fair to expect some positive development should he land in San Antonio. With Buzelis potentially in tow, the Spurs could be well on their way to building a fluid offense with multiple ball-handlers and playmakers.
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Cody Williams, F, Colorado
The Grizzlies are another team in need of a wing, and Williams would be the best available at this stage of the draft. A former five-star recruit — and the younger brother of Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams — the 6-foot-8 forward has the tools to become a key piece in Memphis.
Williams didn’t put up huge numbers at Colorado in his freshman campaign, averaging 11.9 points in just over 28 minutes per game. He also made meager contributions in other statistical categories (3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists), and his 41.5% clip from deep looks enticing until you notice the low volume.
With that said, Williams is already an impressive defender and finisher, and he’s at least shown the potential to be a reliable outside shooter. Alongside Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., he could blossom into something much more.
10. Utah Jazz: Devin Carter, G, Providence
Utah would be wise to pounce on Providence guard Devin Carter should he still be available at No. 10. The Jazz have perhaps the worst perimeter defense in the NBA — they allowed opponents to shoot a league-high 39.5% from deep in 2023-24 — and Carter is at the top of his class in that regard.
Despite standing just 6-foot-3, Carter also led the Friars with a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game this past season, and he chipped in another 2.8 stocks to boot. He’s someone Utah could comfortably slot in alongside Keyonte George, and his overall skillset isn’t unlike Derrick White’s.
Beyond defense, Carter will put pressure on opponents at the rim and beyond the arc, where he sank 37.7% of his 6.8 attempts per game in 2023. The Jazz would be foolish to pass on someone who checks this many boxes on both ends of the floor.
11. Chicago Bulls: Ron Holland, F, G League
The Bulls have a lot of holes to fill, and they’ve only hit in a handful of drafts over the last decade or so. If the franchise has any hopes of righting the ship, it should target Ron Holland at No. 11.
The 18-year-old forward isn’t a strong shooter just yet, but he’s an excellent defender and athletic finisher with a ton of upside of both ends of the floor. Whether he reaches his All-Star potential is up for debate, but the Chicago can afford to take the gamble.
The Bulls may need to commit to a rebuild to get Holland some quality playing time in 2024-25, but with DeMar DeRozan entering free agency this summer and rumors of a potential Zach LaVine trade, now looks like as good a time as ever to hit the reset button.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU): Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
The playoffs proved that Oklahoma City could benefit from some additional scoring. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander often had to shoulder too much of the load, and Josh Giddey was virtually unplayable in the second round against Dallas.
The Thunder know that it’s tough to go wrong with Kentucky guards, so perhaps they’ll take a swing on Rob Dillingham at No. 12. Once considered a top-five pick, the crafty Wildcat is as dynamic a scorer as you’ll find in this class, though his slight 6-foot-1 frame doesn’t leave much room for him to be an effective defender.
Dillingham is a terrific creator off the dribble and a threat from just about anywhere on the court, and he’s shown the ability to be a solid facilitator as well. He’s the kind of sparkplug OKC needs, and he’d be a great choice as long as the franchise feels it can address its other weaknesses via free agency.
13. Sacramento Kings: Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado
The Kings need help on defense, and ideally, they’d get that from someone who can contribute right away. At this stage of the draft, there may not be a player better suited to fit that role than Colorado’s Tristan da Silva.
The 23-year-old forward is a winner on both ends of the floor, knocking down nearly 40% of his looks from three-point range while defending multiple positions. I look at him as someone like Nicolas Batum — he can be a great supporter and excel by making the right pass or coming up with key steals.
da Silva would be a perfect addition to a frontcourt featuring Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, providing the team with more spacing on offense and some much-needed defensive versatility. You can never have too many glue guys.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW): Ja’Kobe Walter, G, Baylor
Portland could go a lot of different ways at No. 14. Trading back is probably the most likely option as a contender looks to get into the lottery, but if it keeps this pick, I could see the team taking a chance and reaching for Walter.
The 19-year-old guard is largely unproven, but he has the tools to become a star. Walter averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as a freshman at Baylor, and while he was unafraid to let it fly from deep, he connected on just 34.1% of his looks.
Even if he never pans out as an efficient scorer, Walter can make contributions elsewhere. His energy is contagious, and he has a drive for making clutch plays on the defense. The Blazers could benefit from having a player with that kind of character as they look to climb out of the depths of the Western Conference.
