2024 NBA Mock Draft 1
Every year, I release 3 mock drafts prior to the NBA Draft, and this is the first! While there has been a lot of commentary on the fact that this is considered a weak draft class and it is possible that there are no franchise altering players in this class, there are still several players who are really interesting and could play a large role for a team.
All of my drafts are aggregates of several drafts and are
intended to give an idea of what the draft is looking like at this point in
time (while I would love it if I am right on several picks in the mock, there’s
movement that I won’t know about until during the draft). While I account for need in certain picks
(more so in the first round, especially the lottery), these are not a
reflection of what I think of each pick or how I would rank the prospects. The picks are divided into three
sections: for the lottery, I provided
vitals, in depth analysis, comparison, and the fit with the team. For the remaining first round picks, I
provided vitals, brief analysis, and comparison (I didn’t include fit with the
team since many of these picks get traded on draft night). For the second round, I provided vitals. The comparison is based on project style if
all goes well in the NBA with their potential; this does not indicate what
their careers will be. Lastly, note that
I am doing this as a hobby and will almost certainly miss something that
professionals will see; take my analysis with a grain of salt in that regard,
and please do not think my opinions should supersede any other scouting
reports, especially in a draft that contains so many different opinions.
This is the first mock draft and is meant to give an overview
of picks prior to the lottery on May 12th and after the initial
deadline to declare. The second will be
released after the final declaration deadline, and the third and final will be
released prior to the draft.
1: DET – Alexandre
Sarr
Perth Wildcats (Australia), 19, PF/C, 7’1, 216 lbs.
Style Comp: Jaren
Jackson Jr.
Sarr is a skilled player who looks like he’ll easily be the
top pick in the draft. He is an amazing defender,
incredible athlete, great finisher, and has some playmaking potential; he also
has a decent handle for a big at his age, so he will also probably be able to
drive off the pass immediately and could probably develop into a good
transition handler. He is still raw and
will make rookie mistakes on both ends; I also don’t believe in his shot, but
if he could develop into an okay shooter (he is a poor shooter at this time),
that could open his game more. His
defensive versatility and athleticism reminds me of Jackson, where he will be
an amazing shot blocker and be able to switch onto most offensive players. I think his ceiling is probably a second or
third best player on a contender; while I’m not sure what his floor is, I’d be
surprised if he isn’t a starting big.
At this point, there isn’t the perfect fit for Detroit as
long as Monty Williams continues to throw guys who aren’t their point guards or
their bigs in the corners to shoot threes (which is why Ausar Thompson is a
horrible fit for them). I don’t think
anybody in the draft would be a fit, but Sarr is typically considered the top
player in this class (I don’t have him there, but that’s beside the point), and
he can probably fit with Cade Cunningham due to his ability to cut off the
ball, defend, and finish.
2: WAS – Zaccharie
Risacher
LNB Pro A (France), 19, SF, 6’10, 204 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing
Style Comp: Maybe some
combo of Harrison Barnes and Michael Porter Jr.?
Risacher’s stock could be among the most interesting to
watch as the draft approaches, as he struggled mightily lately. He has great size, has shown defensive
potential, has shown some passing potential, and has shot well this year. With all of this, I will give the caveat that
I am not a fan of him and have legitimate concerns. My biggest concern is how good of a shooter
he is; while he shot very well from deep prior to a recent slump, he has never
shot well consistently and has never been a good free throw shooter (he’s still
hovering just above 70%, which is better than past seasons). On top of that, he struggles at the rim,
doesn’t appear to be an elite athlete by NBA standards, isn’t a great playmaker
at this time, and is incredibly raw (any team that drafts him needs to expect
him to be rough for a couple years). My
biggest concern about players who can’t shoot or finish consistently is that
there will be no way that they could be viewed as an offensive threat. I genuinely don’t know what the best comp is
for him, but if he hits 3’s, I expect he’ll be compared to Porter at his
size. If his other skills develop, he
could play a lot like Barnes. While I
think his ceiling is the third or fourth best player on a team, I have serious
questions about his floor; he is rawer than people think, and it is possible
that he flames out quickly.
At this point, Washington is so early in their rebuild that
they could take anyone they think will be good.
They’re in no rush for Risacher to be good, so they have time to develop
him. If he pans out, he joins a team
that has some young pieces that are all long, which isn’t the worst place to
start.
3: CHO – Nikola
Topic
Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), 18, PG, 6’6, 201 lbs.
Style Comp: Goran
Dragic with some early career Lonzo Ball
In my opinion, Topic is the best player in this class,
though most wouldn’t agree with me. To
me, the most important skillset a player can have is being a big playmaker,
which describes him. He is a crafty ball
handler and creative playmaker who thrives at going downhill to the rim; he
also has some nice ability finishing.
Right now, he is not a good shooter at all, and while I think he has the
upside to be an average shooter, it will be a struggle if a team isn’t patient
(like if he ends up in Detroit); he also will need to improve as a defender,
though I’m not sure whether it is that his fundamentals are poor or if he
doesn’t try. He was injured for a while
this year, though he appears to have recovered and is still amazing with that
considered. The comparison many have
given is Luka Doncic, though that is a horrible comp in terms of playing style;
a better one in Dragic, due to his craftiness with his handle and ability to go
downhill. I also think Topic could
emulate some of how Ball played when he first started, especially with pushing
the tempo in transition. Assuming he
doesn’t end up somewhere that expects him to be a corner shooter (again,
Detroit), I think his floor will be a starter or very high-level bench player,
and his ceiling is a second best player on a contender; I don’t get why more
people aren’t as high on him as I am.
At this point, there have to be questions about what
everyone’s future is in Charlotte except for Brandon Miller. While players like LaMelo Ball and Mark
Williams are super talented and have high upside, there should be questions
about their health after the last couple seasons. Even if they are healthy, I think a
Ball/Topic guard combo could work with their size, especially as both improve
off the ball. If Miller is the only
player remaining for the future, the fit is obvious given Miller’s athleticism and
ability off the ball.
4: POR – Matas
Buzelis
G-League Ignite, 19, SF/PF, 6’10, 195 lbs., 6’10 Wing
Style Comp: Raw Franz
Wagner, prospect Deni Avdija
Every year, there appears to be at least one forward who is
a really skilled player who ends up being drafted in the lottery, and this
year, Buzelis is likely that player. He
has a really high basketball IQ on both ends of the court, which should make
the game come a little easier for him once he gets used to the pace and
athleticism. He is a good passer and
help defender, and also has shown glimpses of a midrange game. I think there are still several questions
about him; I don’t believe in the 3-pointer at all, I don’t think he is a great
athlete for NBA players (though he doesn’t always use his athleticism when
playing, so that could just be me not recognizing it), and I think he’ll
struggle as an individual defender.
While there have been several instances of skilled forwards flaming out,
Wagner and Avdija are great examples of what a roadmap for Buzelis to succeed
in the NBA, though I think both (especially Avdija) are more athletic than
Buzelis. His ceiling might be the third
best player on a contender, but I think the floor is lower than people are
giving him credit for; these types of players often take the right coach,
system, and team to succeed.
While they could go with one of the guards that are still
remaining, Portland has several younger guards/wings who are already going to
compete for playing time; while you could argue they should take the best
player available, picks 4-6 all scored close, so I could see them taking a
combination of one of the best players with someone who can fit as an off-ball
player who is so smart while pairing with a bunch of younger freak athletes who
want to score.
5: SAS – Rob
Dillingham
Kentucky, Freshman, 19, PG, 6’1, 160 lbs.
Style Comp: Hybrid of
Lou Williams and smaller De’Aaron Fox
I have often expressed disdain about the idea of drafting a
smaller point guard since I believe these are typically the most easily
replaceable players. In order for me to
be convinced to rate one highly, they have to be a very skilled player at
several offensive traits; after much consideration, I believe Dillingham fits
this mold. He plays at an incredibly
high motor on both ends and is an aggressive scorer; unlike a lot of
high-volume scorers he has been compared to, he is also a good playmaker who
continues to improve at it and a great shooter.
He is an impressive athlete who was a better finisher than someone his
size should be. That said, at his size,
there are always going to be questions about his defense and finishing ability,
which limit his upside. While the
natural comp is Williams based on size and his likely role over his first few
seasons, I think his playing style reminds me a lot of Fox with his aggressiveness
and scoring ability. While he likely
will be a scoring bench player, Fox’s success makes me think there is an
interesting upside; if everything goes right for Dillingham and he is in the
right system, I think he could be the third best player on a contender.
While San Antonio is hoping to win soon and could trade for a
more established guard, Dillingham’s fit could work well since San Antonio has
so much size at their wing/forward sports, as well as Victor Wembanyama already
proving that he is an elite defender.
Even if he’s their guard for the future, Tre Jones can hold the ropes as
the starting point guard for now, which can allow Dillingham to come off the
bench and develop.
6: TOR – Stephon
Castle
UConn, Freshman, 19, SG, 6’7, 190 lbs.
Style Comp: Jalen
Suggs without a consistent jumper
Castle is one of the fastest risers after the tournament,
and he genuinely could end up rising more if he does well in the combine and
workouts. He already looks like an
incredible and versatile defender who plays so hard on that end. He also has rapidly improved as a finisher
and playmaker, both of which I think he will be really good at. To me, the biggest weakness is his jumper,
which is currently poor, but his free throw percentage indicates he could at
least be an average shooter; if the shot develops (I’m pretty optimistic about
this), he could be a really special player, but the lack of a jumper would
limit his role. He reminds me a bit of
Suggs, who can handle the ball some and is a good passer, but his bread and
butter is on the defense (I’m not sure if Castle will ever be the shooter that
Suggs has become, though I also didn’t expect Suggs to be this). With his athleticism, finishing ability,
playmaking, and defense, a developed jumper could make him the second or third
best player on a contender, though not developing the jumper will probably
limit him to a bench defender role (I think he’d command time with that).
Toronto could draft several players with this pick (assuming
they keep it, since it is top-6 protected, and would go to San Antonio
otherwise). Castle fits their recent
mold of acquiring big versatile players who can defend and handle the
ball. I also think there is a safe
argument that he is one of the best players remaining, so that helps him
out. Still, there are several players
they could go with who would make sense.
7: MEM – Donovan
Clingan
UConn, Sophomore, 20, C, 7’3, 260 lbs.
Style Comp: Ivaca
Zubac with some Mason Plumlee touch
While he might not have the ceiling as others in the
lottery, Clingan should be able to find a role due to his size, ability, and
IQ. He is an amazing player at both ends
of the court inside the paint; he is an amazing finisher with anything close to
the rim and is a great defender inside the paint (especially as a drop
defender). What differentiates him from
other young bigs who are forces in the paint is that he also has a really high
IQ and doesn’t just rely on size/athleticism.
He also has showcased ability as a passer and in the pick and roll. I think he will struggle outside of the paint
on both ends; I also do not expect him to be a good shooter at any point, which
will limit his upside. That said, I
still think he could be a very good starter; his floor is still probably a
solid backup big if he stays healthy (I’m not worried about his health, but he
was injured to start the year. I think
his role will be a traditional big who can set screens, defend the paint, dunk,
and rebound, probably exactly like Zubac; his passing touch does make me wonder
if there’s some Plumlee in his game.
Memphis’ biggest weakness when Steven Adams wasn’t playing
was that they could not rebound at all.
Now that Adams is not with the team, this will be a glaring weakness for
a team that will be ready to compete once Ja Morant is healthy. Clingan might be able to provide 15-20
minutes immediately as a screener and rebounder. With Jaren Jackson Jr. also there, he
wouldn’t need to be an above average defender immediately.
8: UTA – Reed
Sheppard
Kentucky, Fr, 20, PG/SG, 6’3, 170 lbs.
Style Comp: Malcolm
Brogdon with some Mike Conley glimpses
While there are questions about how he will translate to the
league, Sheppard will be a lottery pick since he is an elite shooter. I consider Sheppard to easily be the best
shooter in this class; while he likely won’t shoot above 50% from 3 like he did
in college, I think he could consistently top 40%. He is also a good playmaker (while I wasn’t
sure he would be able to, he might be good enough to be the point guard for a
team), plays hard on both ends, and is a smart defender at forcing
turnovers. I think the biggest questions
come down to his size and defensive ability, which could really dictate what he
could be in the NBA; I also wish he would improve his handle and his
aggressiveness looking for his own shot.
I’m not sure who the perfect comp is since I don’t think he’s as good
defensively as some analytics projections would say he is (I know it’s crazy
that I’m straying from analytics, but I don’t put quite as much of an emphasis
on getting steals), but I could see some combination of Brogdon and Conley, as
both are great shooters who are good playmakers and can play both on and off
the ball. I wouldn’t be surprised if
Sheppard is a quality starter (maybe 4th best option on a contender,
or 3rd on one less top heavy), but I could also see his size and
defense forcing him to be a key shooter off the bench.
I’m not sure exactly what Utah would go for here, but they
do have an exciting core, as players like Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton,
Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, and Taylor Hendricks have all shown anything
ranging from stardom (like Markkanen) to potential (like Hendricks). I think Sheppard is an easy fit with this
team who also has a solid upside. Even
if they plan on making a massive trade to get another star, shooting off the
ball is always essential to have.
9: HOU (from BRK)
– Ron Holland
G-League Ignite, 18, SF, 6’8, 206 lbs.
Style Comp: Jerami
Grant, what everyone hoped Josh Jackson would be
Holland’s stock suffered due to the G-League Ignite’s
atrocious season, but I think he has proven enough to be one of the best
players in this class. He is an amazing
athlete who looks like a great defender, is an explosive finisher, and has
potential to be a good playmaker as well (while his turnover numbers were high
for a while, I think part of that was inflated due to a few rough games
early). He is really versatile and plays
really hard on both ends; I think his playing style will mesh better in the NBA
than many seem to think. While some have
questioned if he can be a leader of a winning team after G-League Ignite
couldn’t win, I would counter by pointing out that the team never was
successful in wins and losses. He isn’t
a good shooter from anywhere away from the rim at this point, though I think
there is upside; he also isn’t the best scoring in isolation right now. I think it’s a little tougher to find a
perfect comparison for Holland, but I think his playing style reminds me a bit
of Grant’s, as he is a talented defender, has some passing chops, and is
aggressive with looking for his own shot (I also included Jackson since this
was what Jackson was projected to be by many, though I was much lower on
him). While I think Holland’s floor
would be a bench scorer who plays hard, I think his ceiling is the second or
third best player on a contender (likely third best).
It wouldn’t surprise me if Houston doesn’t keep this pick,
but if they do, Holland could be eased into the NBA. His aggressiveness on both ends will likely
earn favor of Ime Udoka, and I think his versatility will fit smoothly with a
team that has several versatile defenders already.
10: ATL – Cody
Williams
Colorado, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’8, 180 lbs.
Style Comp: Maybe
Jaden McDaniels?
While I’m not as high on Williams as some people are (Yahoo!
Sports at one point had them first in their mock draft, which surprised me),
there are still some interesting skills that he possesses. He has nice size, is really smart on both
ends, has defensive versatility, and has a solid handle. I have several concerns about him, including his
unwillingness to shoot 3’s, what his upside as a shooter is, how he will finish
at the rim, how he is as a passer, his size, and if he would be so high on
boards if he had a different family. I
fear that a lot of people are high on him since they missed out on Jalen
Williams, his older brother (that’s not to say that Cody isn’t a good player,
but I think people are inflating him a bit).
I also think he is raw, so those selecting him would need at least a
year or two of development. I’m really
not quite sure what the best comparison is; the best I can think of with the
size, defensive versatility, and handle is McDaniels, but McDaniels is a better
athlete at the rim and I still think is a different player. While Williams could end up being a solid
starter, I fear that he won’t make it since he is a hesitant shooter and I
think will struggle finishing at the rim.
I have no idea what Atlanta will do here, especially since
their future is up in the air until we know if they finally pull the plug on
their two guard experiment that has failed.
While he will likely struggle at first since he is raw, he can develop
for a couple years and then provide some defensive versatility, kind of like
how they developed Jalen Johnson.
11: CHI – Dalton
Knecht
Tennessee, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’6, 204 lbs.
Style Comp: Leaner
Corey Kispert
Likely the first senior off the board, Knecht is a natural
scorer who has an easy path to transition to the NBA. He can score pretty much anywhere on the
court, especially from deep, and I think he’ll thrive in an off-ball role in
the NBA. He also is improving as a
playmaker (though I don’t expect he will have the ball in his hands a ton) and
plays very hard on both ends. I think
the biggest thing to note about him is that he feels like a player who would
accept a role where he isn’t a star immediately, which isn’t always the case
with lottery picks. I don’t think he
will ever be a good defender, and improving his playmaking will probably be
needed if he wants to be better than a role player. While Kispert favored the 3 more than Knecht
did in college and Knecht focused on inside the arc, I think that the ability
to shoot from everywhere, scoring instincts, and intensity suggest that Kispert
is the guy that Knecht could watch to easily transition to the NBA. While he could be the 5th starter
on a contending team (possibly 4th, though unlikely), I think he
more likely will be a high-volume shooter and scorer off the bench; that said,
he could fit on a contending team or rebuilding one immediately.
I’m not even going to pretend to know what Chicago is doing
in the long-term, let alone this season.
That said, Knecht will give them an amazing shooter and a natural scorer
that can help them if their offense stalls.
If they bring back DeMar DeRozan and stick with their current core, he
can fit smoothly there. Even if they
rebuild around a guy like Coby White, I think Knecht could contribute a bunch
of scoring quickly to ease the burden of some of the other young players.
12: OKC (from HOU)
– Tidjane Salaun
LNB Pro A (France), 18, 6’10, 205 lbs., 7’4 Wing
Style Comp: More
chaotic Herb Jones
Many years, there is at least one international prospect who
is so incredibly raw, but has such an enticing upside due to either
athleticism, skill, or both; this year, Salaun is the epitome of this. He is such an amazing athlete who plays hard
on both ends of the court; he already looks like he could be an impressive and
versatile defender. He is also a really good
cutter and has shown some glimpses of a jumper (more on that in a second). That said, he doesn’t have a good handle and
appears to rely on his athleticism defensively.
While there have been glimpses of the jumper, I have no idea what’s real
about it; he is so inconsistent with hitting 3’s, and he was never a good free
throw shooter until this year. I think
the comp of what he could be is a longer 3-and-D player who can also drive and
cut, which reminds me of Jones; that said, it’s a calm and comforting ride with
Jones, but is a chaotic adventure with Salaun.
I think he has the upside of being one of the best defenders in this
class, but it’s also possible that he’s back in Europe in a few years.
The Thunder do not need a rookie who will contribute immediately,
so they can take a swing on someone who is raw and they can develop in
G-League. They have historically loved
raw international players (though they haven’t been as great with developing
them lately), and also appear to love long versatile defenders. It feels right for Salaun to end up there.
13: SAC – Ja’Kobe
Walter
Baylor, Fr, 19, SG, 6’5, 185 lbs.
Style Comp: Raw
Austin Reaves
Walter has dropped a bit since the start of his freshman
year, but there is still some interesting talent. He has nice size, plays hard on both ends,
has shooting upside, and doesn’t turn the ball over a ton. He has also shown some upside as a passer,
though I think a lot more development is going to be needed before he can be a
primary or secondary ball handler consistently.
At this time, he hasn’t been a good shooter or finisher (though I think it’s
been more his shot selection than his scoring ability), isn’t the best athlete
in terms of finishing ability, and is just incredibly raw at this time. I think it will take a couple years of development
before he pans out, but I’m higher than some others on him. I’m not sure what the perfect comp is, but
the ball handling, scoring mindset, and aggressiveness on both ends of the
court reminds me a bit of Reaves. I
think his ceiling is probably the third or fourth best player on a contender,
though his floor is probably a fringe rotation guy if he doesn’t develop or has
a rougher transition than I expect.
While raw, Walter gives Sacramento an aggressive player on
both ends of the court, which will be nice to have off the bench. It wouldn’t surprise me if they are unable to
resign Malik Monk, so they could always try Walter filling in that role. It might take him a year or two, but if he
pans out, he could be a steal.
14: POR (from GSW)
– Isaiah Collier
USC, Fr, 19, PG, 6’4, 210 lbs.
Style Comp: Tyreke
Evans
After a tough year at USC, Collier has dropped like crazy on
boards, but I still think he should be considered in the lottery. He is incredibly strong and is really
aggressive at getting to the rim and finishing; he also is a good passer and is
a solid defender (though he wasn’t always focused on it). The biggest questions to me are that he isn’t
an amazing athlete (which will likely cause some struggles finishing initially)
and the shot, which I don’t believe is real.
While not the perfect comp since I think Collier is a better playmaker, the
size, strength, and driving ability reminds me of Evans, who really was a
menace when healthy. I think the most
likely outcome is a high-volume bench scorer since I don’t expect the effort to
be there defensively; that said, I think it’s possible for him to be a good
starting point guard.
Portland is in the early stages of a rebuild, so it makes
sense to just take the best player remaining regardless of position. Collier was at the top of a lot of boards early
in the season and might be the most justifiable out of the picks remaining. They could give him immediate minutes off the
bench, where he could grow a little more slowly.
15: MIA – Jared
McCain
Duke, Fr, 20, 6’3, 195 lbs.
Style Comp: Seth
Curry
McCain is one of the best shooters in this class (he might
be number 2 behind Sheppard), and he is elite at creating a shot for himself;
he is also an aggressive defender and a better playmaker than he is given credit
for. I think his size and lack of athleticism
will limit his defensive upside, and he might not be big enough to start the 2
or a good enough playmaker to start at the 1.
16: PHI – Devin
Carter
Providence, Jr, 22, SG, 6’3, 195 lbs.
Style Comp: Bruce
Brown
Carter is a player who I expect will transition pretty
easily into a supporting role. He can do
a lot of things well, including defending (his specialty), finish, shoot (it is
an ugly looking jumper, but he does project to be a solid shooter), and create
for others; he also plays so hard on both ends of the court. Still, I think his size could cause him to
struggle for a couple years, which will be a turnoff for some competitive
teams.
17: ORL – Yves
Missi
Baylor, Fr, 20, C, 6’11, 215 lbs.
Style Comp: DeAndre
Jordan
I tend to be irrationally excited about raw athletic big men;
needless to say, I absolutely love Missi.
He is an amazing athlete who projects to be an awesome defender, dunker,
and rebounder. That said, he is so raw
on both ends; he doesn’t project to be a good shooter, tries for blocks instead
of the right play a lot (which is normal with young bigs), and is really bad at
fouling.
18: NOP (from LAL,
can defer pick to 2025) – Kyle Filipowski
Duke, So, 20, PF/C, 7’0, 220 lbs.
Style Comp: A strange
combination of raw Alperen Sengun and more complete Mo Wagner
Filipowski could very well be one of the most polarizing
players in this year’s draft, and it likely depends on if you buy his jumper or
not (I for one am not that high on him).
He is a skilled player offensively, a good playmaker, appears to have a
high basketball IQ, and plays hard on both ends. He is not a good defender or finisher due to
his lack of strength and athleticism.
The big question is what he is as a shooter; while he had a hot shooting
stretch, he also struggled late and is not a good free throw shooter, which is
typically a better indicator of shooting success and comfort.
19: TOR (from IND)
– Tyler Smith
G-League Ignite, 19, 6’9, 195 lbs.
Style Comp: Early career
Michael Porter Jr.
Smith is a polarizing player, and it might all depend on his
jumper. He is a great athlete, has a
long body, looks like a good shooter at this point, and has shown a good amount
of skill on offense. That said, he is
slender, often looks lost on defense (though there is defensive upside), and has
been a poor finisher at the rim when not dunking (this is something that is a
massive concern to me).
20: CLE – Tristan
da Silva
Colorado, Sr, 23, PF, 6’9, 217 lbs.
Style Comp: Joe
Ingles
da Silva is one of the most skilled all-around players in
this class. He has proven to be an
excellent shooter, great playmaker, smart defender, and someone who has a high
basketball IQ while also being competitive.
The issue is that he’s not a good athlete, which will likely limit his
impact at both ends.
21: NOP (from MIL)
– Kyshawn George
Miami, Fr, 20, SG, 6’8, 205 lbs.
Style Comp: Sam
Hauser with some passing ability
George has the size and skillset that a lot of teams will
likely be looking for in the 20’s. He is
an amazing shooter, has great size, plays hard on both ends, and has shown some
glimpses of passing ability. That said,
he is still very raw, isn’t a good athlete, and will likely be really bad
defensively for a couple years (that said, his size alone will save him in some
situations).
22: PHO – Zach
Edey
Purdue, Sr, 22, C, 7’3, 306 lbs., 7’10.5 Wing
Style Comp: Boban
Marjanovic
I’ll be blunt and say that I don’t think Edey will translate
to a role greater than 15-20 MPG, but I understand why teams might want
him. He is a skilled player inside the
paint at both ends and appears willing to take on a lesser role as needed. That said, he is not good outside the paint
(though not as horrible as he was as a junior) and isn’t someone who will be
effective in transition.
23: MIL (from NOP)
– Kel’el Ware
Indiana, So, 20, C, 7’0, 220 lbs.
Style Comp: Myles
Turner
While I’m high on Ware, he is such a polarizing prospect at
this point. He is an amazing shot
blocker, finisher, and shooter, each of which are high commodities from a
center. While I’m not as concerned about
his effort as many people seem to be (it’s the 23rd pick; if you’re
getting a guy this skilled, there’s typically something work that needs to be
done), I think he’s really raw, isn’t the best decision maker on the court, and
chases after blocks instead of making the right play defensively (which is
normal for young guards, but still something that needs to adjust).
24: NYK (from DAL)
– Kevin McCullar
Kansas, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’6, 212 lbs.
Style Comp: Josh
Richardson
McCullar had a tough finish in his final season due to injuries,
which could cause his stock to drop until the Combine. That said, he is an awesome defender, is an
improving playmaker, and has shooting upside.
The biggest question is how real his shot it; I think there is potential
with it, but it might take a couple seasons, which might be too long for a team
to wait for an older rookie.
25: NYK – Johnny
Furphy
Kansas, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’8, 202 lbs.
Style Comp: Raw Jalen
Johnson
Furphy has been a rapid riser in this draft due to what he
does very well. In particular, he is an
amazing shooter and great dunker. As for
his other skills, I’m not sure what’s there since he’s so raw; he isn’t that
good with the ball, he is a poor defender, and looks lost shooting in the
midrange game.
26: WAS (from LAC)
– Bobi Klintman
Cairns Taipans (Australia), 21, PF, 6’10, 225 lbs.
Style Comp: John
Collins with defense
Klintman feels like a high risk, high reward pick in this
draft. He has amazing size, is a good
athlete, has shooting potential, looks like a good defender, has passing and
playmaking potential, and has a solid handle for his size. That said, he is incredibly raw on both ends
and will take time to develop; he also has poor shot selection, is a poor
finisher, and isn’t that strong.
27: MIN – Terrence
Shannon
Illinois, RS Sr, 23, SG/SF, 6’5.5, 220 lbs.
Style Comp: Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope
Shannon is probably going to be the most controversial and
difficult to discuss prospect, especially prior to getting more clarity on his
legal situation. He is a great defender who
has shooting potential (his shot is developing) and is a strong finisher. That said, he doesn’t do much on the ball, is
a little smaller for a versatile wing defender, and has a streaky jumper, which
could turn some teams off if they have fear about it in his first couple
seasons. The biggest concern with
Shannon is that he charged with rape; while his preliminary hearing is
scheduled for May 10th, it still is something that teams will likely
be concerned about.
28: DEN – Carlton
Carrington
Pittsburgh, Fr, 18, PG, 6’5, 190 lbs.
Style Comp: Jamal
Crawford
Almost every year, there is a young score-first guard who is
a mid-late first round pick; Carrington absolutely fits that bill. He is a talented scorer who has amazing size,
is an underrated playmaker, has a nice handle, and has shooting upside. At this time, his shot selection is pretty
terrible (he never seems to try to go for the rim and appears to love taking
difficult 3’s) and has not proven to be a good defender yet.
29: UTA (from OKC)
– Tyler Kolek
Marquette, Sr, 23, PG, 6’3, 190 lbs.
Style Comp: Dallas
version of Jalen Brunson
Kolek feels like a really safe pick who I could see rising
as the draft approaches, potentially into the top-20. He is an amazing playmaker, great scorer and
shooter, has a high basketball IQ, plays hard on both ends, and is really
consistent. That said, he doesn’t
project to be that good of an NBA defender, doesn’t have amazing size, and doesn’t
jump that high; I also don’t think he has the highest upside, though it is
possible that he ends up being a starter.
30: BOS – Jaylon
Tyson
California, Jr, 21, SF, 6’7, 215 lbs.
Style Comp: Pacers
T.J. Warren (pre-injury)
Tyson is someone who could rise on boards due to his skillset
and easy transition to being an NBA role player. He is a nice athlete, good shooter, solid
finisher (though I think the transition won’t be as clean to the NBA as others
do), smart defender, competitive rebounder and is really good at handling
mismatches on offense. I think the
biggest things with him is that he often makes silly turnovers and has
stretches where he struggles against bigger defenders in the paint; that said, when
being a role player, he will be more off-ball and not be the first option,
making these not as much of an issue.
31: TOR (from DET)
– Dillon Jones
Weber State, Sr, 21, SF, 6’6, 235 lbs.
32: UTA (from WAS)
– Ryan Dunn
Virginia, So, 21, SF, 6’8, 208 lbs.
33: MIL (from POR)
– Hunter Sallis
Wake Forest, Jr, 21, SG, 6’5, 175 lbs., 6’10 Wing
34: POR (from CHO)
– DaRon Holmes
Dayton, Jr, 21, PF/C, 6’9, 221 lbs., 7’0.5 Wing
35: SAN – Melvin
Ajinca
LBN Pro A (France), 19, SF, 6’7
36: IND (from TOR)
– Ulrich Chomche
APR (Africa – Rwanda), 18, C, 6’11, 235 lbs.
37: MIN (from MEM)
– Justin Edwards
Kentucky, Fr, 20, SF, 6’7, 190 lbs.
38: NYK (from UTA)
– Harrison Ingram
North Carolina, Jr, 21, SG, 6’7, 233 lbs., 7’0 Wing
39: MEM (from BRK)
– KJ Simpson
Colorado, Jr, 21, PG, 6’2, 180 lbs.
40: POR (from ATL)
– Izan Almansa
G-League Ignite, 19, PF, 6’10, 211 lbs.
41: PHI (from CHI)
– Pacome Dadiet
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany). 18, SF, 6’8, 210 lbs.
42: CHO (from HOU)
– Alex Karaban
UConn, RS So, 21, SF, 6’8, 210 lbs., 2’8 Wing
43: MIA – Oso
Ighodaro
Marquette, RS Jr, 21, PF, 6’9, 215 lbs.
44: HOU (from GSW)
– Baylor Scheierman
Creighton, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’6, 205 lbs.
45: SAC – Trey
Alexander
Creighton, Junior, 21, PG, 6’3.5, 184 lbs., 6’10 Wing
46: LAC (from IND)
– PJ Hall
Clemson, Sr, 22, PF, 6’8, 240 lbs., 7’1.5 Wing
47: ORL – Ajay
Mitchell
Santa Barbara, Jr, 21, SG, 6’5, 190 lbs.
48: SAS (from LAL)
– Juan Nunez
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 20, PG, 6’3, 190 lbs.
49: IND (from CLE)
– Trevon Brazile
Arkansas, RS So, 21, PF, 6’9, 215 lbs.
50: IND (from NOP)
– Keshad Johnson
Arizona, RS Sr, 23, PF/C, 6’7, 225 lbs.
51: WAS (from PHO)
– Adem Bona
UCLA, So, 21, PF, 6’10, 235 lbs., 7’4 Wing
52: GSW (from MIL)
– Tristen Newton
UConn, RS Sr, 23, PG, 6’5, 190 lbs.
53: DET (from NYK)
– Antonio Reeves
Kentucky, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’6, 195 lbs.
54: BOS (from DAL)
– Cam Spencer
UConn, RS Sr, 24, SG, 6’4, 205 lbs.
55: LAL (from LAC)
– Payton Sandfort
Iowa, Jr, 21, SF, 6’7, 215 lbs.
56: DEN (from MIN)
– Jaxson Robinson
BYU, RS Jr, 21, SG, 6’7, 190 lbs.
57: MEM (from OKC)
– Trentyn Flowers
Adelaide 36ers (Australia), 19, SF, 6’8, 210 lbs.
58: DAL (from BOS)
– Pelle Larsson
Arizona, Sr, 22, SG, 6’5, 215 lbs.
Next 10
1. Jalen Bridges, Baylor, RS Sr, 23, SF, 6’7, 225 lbs., 6’10 Wing
2. Jamal Shead, Houston, Sr, 21, PG, 6’1, 195 lbs.
3. AJ Johnson, Illawarra Hawks (Australia), 19, PG, 6’5, 165 lbs.
4. Jaylen Wells, Washington State, Jr, 20, SF, 6’8, 210 lbs.
5. Mark Sears, Alabama, Sr, 22, PG, 5’11, 186 lbs.
6. Coleman Hawkins, Illinois, Sr, PG, 6’10, 215 lbs.
7. Ugonna Onyenso, Kentucky, So, 19, C, 6’11, 220 lbs.
8. Mantas Rubstavicius, New Zealand Breakers (Australia), 22, SG, 6’6, 220 lbs.
9. Reece Beekman, Virginia, Sr, 22, PG, 6’1.5, 191 lbs., 6’7 Wing
10. Jamir Watkins, Florida State, Jr, 22, SF, 6’7, 210 lbs.
Who are some of your favorite picks in this draft? Any picks you would like to see? Let me know in the comments!
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