NEWSLETTER
After months of projections, the big day is finally here. It’s Draft Day in the NBA. However, things still feel incredibly up for grabs as we inch closer to the Hawks officially going on the clock.
Let’s rip through one final 2024 NBA Mock Draft before the 1st Round gets started tonight.
Original 2024 NBA Draft Lottery Odds & Order
While we know how the NBA Draft Lottery shook out, it’s fun to take a look at where the odds were and where everyone ended up. Here are what the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery odds for the No. 1 overall pick were via Tankathon.
- Detroit Pistons (14-68): 14% – Actual Pick: 5th
- Washington Wizards: (15-67): 14% – Actual Pick: 2nd
- Charlotte Hornets: (21-61): 13.3% – Actual Pick: 6th
- Portland Trail Blazers: (21-61): 13.2% – Actual Pick: 7th
- San Antonio Spurs (22-60): 10.5% – Actual Pick: 4th
- Toronto Raptors (25-57): 9.0% (Spurs own pick, Top-6 protected) – Actual Pick: 8th
- Memphis Grizzlies (27-55): 7.5% – Actual Pick: 9th
- Utah Jazz (31-51): 6.0% (Thunder own pick, Top-10 protected) – Actual Pick: 10th
- Brooklyn Nets (32-50): 4.5% (Rockets own pick) – Actual Pick: 3rd
- Atlanta Hawks (36-46): 3.0% – Actual Pick: 1st
- Chicago Bulls (39-43): 2.0% – Actual Pick: 11th
- Houston Rockets (41-41): 1.5% (Thunder own pick) Actual Pick – 12th
- Sacramento Kings (46-36): 0.8% – Actual Pick – 13th
- Golden State Warriors (46-36): 0.7% (Blazers own pick, Top-4 protected) Actual Pick: 14th
2024 NBA Mock Draft
1. Atlanta Hawks – F Zaccharie Risacher – JL Bourg, France – 18 Years Old – 6’9, 204 lbs
I’ve had Alexandre Sarr here I think in every mock that I’ve done thus far, but as we get to Draft week, Risacher seems to be gaining momentum to go first overall. He’s a bit of a unicorn and has the type of high ceiling that teams at the top of the lottery should take a chance on. Atlanta got lucky grabbing the first pick, they should take a big swing. He’s a typical three-and-D player that any team would want, and his size and frame combined with that skillset might vault him up to the top choice.
2. Washington Wizards – F/C Alexandre Sarr – Perth, France – 18 Years Old – 7’1, 218 lbs
Alexandre Sarr has a lot of similar traits to Victor Wembanyama. To be clear, that is not to say he’s anywhere near the prospect Wemby was – he isn’t – but the playing style and physical traits are similar. He’s over 7 feet tall and has the athleticism to do a little bit of everything on the court. I don’t think he’s by any means out of the running to go first overall, it just seems that Risacher is gaining a bit of momentum toward that spot.
3. Houston Rockets – G Reed Sheppard – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 187 lbs
If the Hawks were the biggest winner, the Rockets were probably the second biggest by jumping up six spots to No. 3 overall (via the Nets pick). Houston has one of the most entertaining and talented young cores in the NBA. Sheppard was a lethal three-point shooter at Kentucky, and he has some defensive upside. Drafting a shooter as good as Sheppard and throwing him into the mix with an already young and talented core feels like a really good fit for both parties.
We should keep an eye on this pick as a potential trade piece, however. The Rockets appear adamant about returning to the playoffs sooner rather than later.
4. San Antonio Spurs – G Stephon Castle – UConn – 19 Years Old – 6’6, 190 lbs
Castle showed throughout the NCAA Tournament just how good he can be. He’s a matchup nightmare defensively for guards. He has very good ball-handling skills and can finish strong at the rim. While there are some questions about his jumper, there is enough there to instill confidence in his ability to become a reliable threat. There’s a lot to like about Castle as a prospect.
The closer we get to draft day, the more mocks and reports suggest that Castle is the pick here. San Antonio really likes him, and he feels like exactly the type of prospect Gregg Popovich would love to develop.
5. Detroit Pistons – SF Matas Buzelis – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 195 lbs
Buzelis is versatile on offense, though his ball handling could be more consistent. Defensively, he’s capable of guarding multiple positions. He won’t be a top option offensively early in his career, but his catch-and-shoot ability gives him quite the upside. His ability to play multiple positions throughout the lineup would give the Pistons some really nice flexibility with their young core that is somewhat missing that “unicorn” type skillset.
Matas Buzelis spoke with Bleacher Nation earlier this season …
6. Charlotte Hornets – Dalton Knecht – Tennessee – 22 Years Old – 6’6, 213 lbs
Knecht had a fantastic season with Tennessee and took the Vols farther than they’ve been able to go in the NCAA Tournament in recent history. He proved he can score in different ways, but his biggest asset is his shot-making. Knecht shot just a tick under 40 percent from three on the year and nearly carried the Vols by Purdue in the Elite Eight with a 37-point performance.
His fit in Charlotte wouldn’t be tough to see. His three-point shooting would be a nice compliment to what LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller provide offensively. The closer we get to the draft, the more it seems like Knecht is creeping up boards.
7. Portland Trail Blazers – SF Cody Williams – Colorado – 19 Years Old – 6’8, 185 lbs
Brother of OKC’s Jalen Williams, Cody can also do a little bit of everything. Defensively, he can guard just about any position. Offensively, he’s dangerous in transition, a great finisher at the bucket, and a solid catch-and-shoot player. Could they go with Clingan here? Sure. But with where Portland is at, they should be taking risks on higher-upside players and Williams is just that. Donovan Clingan is a very nice player, but he’s a defense-first center and the Blazers already have a big man who’s making $30+ million for the next two years.
Williams has a chance to make an immediate impact wherever he ends up. A team like Portland in the early stages of a rebuild would be able to afford him that opportunity.
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) – C Donovan Clingan – UConn – 19 Years Old – 7’2, 265 lbs
If the Spurs, who I think would consider Clingan at 4th Overall, see him drop to 8th I think they’ll take him no questions asked, and get the UConn Huskies’ band back together. While Victor Wembanyama is technically a center, he kind of plays just about everywhere and Clingan would give them that true, traditional down-low player. A pairing of Wemby and Clingan down low would be really tough to go against for opposing offenses and throw Castle into that mix and the Spurs are an incredibly tough team to play against with a very solid foundational core.
9. Memphis Grizzlies – Ron Holland – G League – 18 Years Old – 6’8, 200 lbs
Holland would be a little bit of a project, but the traits are there and would be very tempting for the Grizzlies if he falls here. He’s a solid ball handler who can get to and score at the rim. He’s also a menace defensively. Holland might be raw and would certainly come with some growing pains, but Memphis has a solid young core in place so he wouldn’t be asked to come in and have to carry too much of the load right away.
Time to develop will be huge for Holland, and Memphis can afford to give him that. His ceiling is high, and if he can hit that here the Grizzlies will be in a fantastic spot going forward.
10. Utah Jazz – PG Nikola Topic – Red Star, Serbia – 18 Years Old – 6’6, 201 lbs
Thanks to a partially torn ACL, Topic has been falling down draft boards after at one point being considered a potential top 3 pick. is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He can overpower smaller defenders and blow by bigger bodies. He struggles on the defensive end of the floor, but his offensive upside is fantastic. He can finish in traffic, he’s a great passer, and he’s a dangerous shooter.
He would be a really nice piece to pair with Lauri Markkanen, but if he slips here it will come down to what the Jazz want in this pick and next season. Do they want to try and get back in the playoff race ASAP, or can they be patient and wait for Topic to heal? With where they’re at, embracing that latter and being patient with Topic’s high ceiling would seem like a smart move.
11. Chicago Bulls – PG Devin Carter – Providence – 21 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
After the addition of Josh Giddey, the pick here might get a little bit murkier, but the Bulls reportedly like Carter, and his skillset would provide them with a need. His defensive prowess in the backcourt is something the Bulls could use, and he averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals in his junior season, so he has the potential to bring a bit of an all-around game to whoever drafts him.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – C Zach Edey – Purdue – 22 years Old – 7’4, 300 lbs
Edey is a name that a few months ago was projected to be an end-of-the-first-round pick, but since the season ended and he’s gone through workouts he’s been rising up draft boards. Oklahoma City feels like a logical fit if the draft dominos fall a certain way. He provides them with some size and strength in the post and would be a great fit as a running mate for Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt. Edey can provide the Thunder with a new element to their offense while also being a monster on the boards.
13. Sacramento Kings – F Tidjane Salaun – Cholet Basket, France – 18 Years Old – 6’9, 203 lbs
Salaun is going to be one of the younger prospects in the draft. He’s developed the ability to score at all three levels, and at his height that’s an enticing trait for any NBA team. He’s shown the ability to create his own shot as well, which again at his size is a big plus. He has to fill out a bit and defensively he needs to make some strides, but he’s got many of the traits that a lottery team could fall in love with.
Sacramento is in more of a ‘ready to win’ mode so a pick like Salaun would be a risk, but if that high-ceiling comes into play the Kings could be very dangerous.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW) – G Rob Dillingham – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 176 lbs
It’s farther than I thought he’d fall, but someone unexpectedly drops every year. Dillingham can beat you in so many different ways on offense. He can get to the hoop, finish at the rim, find the open man, and get hot shooting the ball. He’s a versatile guard who showed special flashes at Kentucky but might need some development time in the NBA. He’s not an awful defender, but not particularly noteworthy on that end either. He has a very high ceiling and needs time to develop.
Portland can give him that time as their nowhere near a ‘win-now’ mode and also have a guard in Scoot Henderson that they like.
15. Miami Heat – Jared McCain – Duke – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 197 lbs
Versatile on the offensive end and can beat you in multiple ways. Would be a nice “Heat Culture” fit.
16. Philadelphia 76ers – G Carlton Carrington – Pittsburgh – 18 Years Old – 6’5, 190 lbs
Big guard with the ability to score on the perimeter. Has a little bit of developing to do, but the raw talent and ability are certainly there.
17. Los Angeles Lakers – C Kel’el Ware – Indiana – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 223 lbs
Rim protector that has the ability to score at the rim and potential three, as well. Would let Anthony Davis not have to play as much of a true center role.
18. Orlando Magic – PG Tyler Kolek – Marquette – 23 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
Experienced guard who can hit big shots and distribute the ball. Would be a nice fit with Orlando’s young core that’s missing a true point guard.
19. Toronto Raptors (via Pacers): SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’5, 180 lbs
Walter is a solid three-and-d option that could potentially go in the lottery. His floor appears to be pretty high with his skillset and intangibles, but the room for development is there.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers – F Tristan da Silva – Colorado – 22 Years Old – 6’9, 229 lbs
Versatile option on the wing that would be ready to step in from day one. Brings experience, shooting ability, and defensive instinct.
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via Bucks) – C Yves Missi – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’10, 235 lbs
Possesses elite tools and skillset as a big man. Whether or not Jonas Valanciunas is back, Missi provides the Pelicans with an explosive big man they don’t have.
22. Phoenix Suns – G Isaiah Collier – USC – 19 Years Old – 6’4, 205 lbs
Struggles to shoot consistently, but his ability to attack the rim would help open things up for KD, Booker, and Beal.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans) – G Johnny Furphy – Kansas – 19 Years Old – 6’9, 202 lbs
Furphy is raw but there’s so much potential with his size and ability to score. Milwaukee might not be the perfect fit in terms of a timeline, but his ceiling might be worth the shot.
24. New York Knicks (via Mavericks) – C Kyle Filipowski – Duke – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 230 lbs
Isaiah Hartenstein is likely out the door in free agency after the Mikal Bridges addition. Filipowski might not be the perfect replacement in terms of skillset, but he would provide with Knicks with some size and ability to score on multiple levels.
25. New York Knicks – G Terrence Shannon Jr – Illinois – 23 Years Old – 6’6, 220 lbs
Shannon had an amazing NCAA Tournament and can score with the best of them. He’s experienced, tough, and feels like a player with the mindset that Tom Thibodeau would love.
26. Washington Wizards (via Clippers) – F Bobi Klintman – Cairns, Sweden – 20 Years Old – 6’10, 225 lbs
Spot-up shooting threat and can guard multiple positions. He’s a similar player to Sarr, but there’s room for multiple players with that versatile of a skillset on the floor at the same time.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves – G KJ Simpson – Colorado – 21 Years Old – 6’0, 187 lbs
The Timberwolves will need their Mike Conley replacement at some point, and Simpson seems like a nice fit to sit and learn for a year or two before taking the reins.
28. Denver Nuggets – F DaRon Holmes II – Dayton – 21 Years Old – 6’10, 221 lbs
He’s a versatile big man who can space the floor and provide some explosiveness. He’s canceled several workouts and is being linked to Denver.
29. Utah Jazz (via Thunder) – F Ryan Dunn – Virginia – 6’6, 214 lbs
The shooting needs to come along, but his defensive prowess could help him get on the floor ASAP.
30. Boston Celtics – G Kyshawn George – Miami – 20 Years Old – 6’8, 205 lbs
He shot over 40 percent from three last year and possesses the size and all-around skillset that could be dangerous in Boston.
