2024 NBA Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first edition of my 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Atlanta Hawks- Zachaire Risacher, Forward, France: Many people expect the Hawks to take Alex Sarr here, but I can see Risacher being the choice. Risacher is a versatile player and can be a sharp shooter as a stretch four. He may not be that savior that teams usually get at the first overall pick, but it's worth the risk for the Hawks in a weaker draft.

2. Washington Wizards- Alex Sarr, Center, France: The Wizards take the player many feel is the best in this class in Sarr. He is an elite rim protector and excels in pick-and-roll situations. Sarr and last years lottery pick Bilal Coulibaly make a nice foundation for a Wizards team that is in dire need of young talent.

3. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)- Stephon Castle, Guard, Connecticut: Courtesy of a pick swap in the James Harden trade, the Rockets end up with a top three pick. Castle's stock rose due to a great NCAA Tournament run caped off with another championship. Castle's size and two-way play can make him a star in a draft that isn't perceived to have stars.

4. San Antonio Spurs- Reed Sheppard, Guard, Kentucky: The Spurs need the most help at the either guard position and Sheppard here makes sense. Sheppard's a perfect player for today's NBA with his shot creativity, athleticism, and passing. Sheppard has the upside to be another blue chipper from this draft.

5. Detroit Pistons- Tidjane Salaun, Guard/Forward, France: The Pistons need more talent around Cade Cunningham and Salaun would be an interesting fit here. Salaun has potential and upside to be a solid all around player as he showed in the LNB Pro A league playoffs.

6. Charlotte Hornets- Matas Buzelis, Forward, Ignite: The Hornets need more help around Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball and Buzelis would be an interesting fit. Buzelis is somebody that can help space the floor and score and that is something that the Hornets can use.

7. Portland Trail Blazers- Cody Williams, Guard/Forward, Colorado: The Trail Blazers take another guard here in Williams to go with Arfenee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson. Williams has great all around play with his three-point shooting, defense, and and playmaking upside.

8. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Rob Dillingham, Guard, Kentucky: Wouldn't it be fun for the Spurs to double down on Kentucky guards for their lottery picks? Dillingham would benefit from playing in the Spurs system with his scrappiness and efficiency.

9. Memphis Grizzlies- Dalton Knecht, Guard, Tennessee: Knecht became in play to be a lottery pick after the fantastic season he had with the Vols. Knecht could start alongside Ja Morant or even come off the bench and provide a scoring punch and could be slotted on or off the ball.

10. Utah Jazz- Ron Holland, Forward, Ignite: The fit here with Holland and the Jazz makes sense to go with Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. Holland brings defense, energy, and versatility to the table as well as high upside, despite not having a great season in the G-league.

11. Chicago Bulls- Nikola Topic, Guard, Serbia: If Topic didn't tear his ACL, he would be talked about as a possible top five pick. This would be a fun, but risky pick for the Bulls as Topic has great all around play with his passing and playmaking and has great size for a guard as well.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston Rockets)- Kel'el Ware, Center, Indiana: The Thunders big weakness is their lack of size and Ware would help the cause. Ware is a great athlete and has massive frame and he'd also help space the floor and protect the rim.

13. Sacramento Kings- Donovan Clingan, Center, Connecticut: Clingan also benefited from being on the back-to-back National Champions and could go in the lottery. Clingan's fit on this team would be interesting with Domantas Sabonis in the fold. Clingan plays super hard and has a solid all-around game.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State Warriors)- Ja'Kobe Walker, Guard, Baylor: The Blazers struggled shooting the ball this past season so it would make sense to double down on shooting with their lottery picks. Walker isn't the best athlete, but he has a solid skill set and good length.

15. Miami Heat- Devin Carter, Guard, Providence: Apparently, Carter got a promise from a lottery team that they'd pick him, well, in this case, I have him going here to Miami. Carter is just a perfect fit for the Heat- an excellent defender and three-point shooting ability.

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Jared McCain, Guard, Duke: I feel that there is a good chance this pick is traded for veteran help, but if it's not, McCain isn't a bad choice here. He has a good IQ and shot really well in the combine.

17. Los Angeles Lakers- Carlton Carrington, Guard, Pittsburgh: The Pelicans defer this pick to the Lakers, which was the right call considering the draft class is not as strong as next years. Carrington has great play making ability and size for a point guard.

18. Orlando Magic- Isaiah Collier, Guard, USC: Collier was thought out to be a top five pick from a talent standpoint, but injuries and inconsistencies have hurt his stock. His game could translate to the league and Collier and Paolo Banchero would be fun together.

19. Toronto Raptors (from Indiana Pacers)- KyShawn George, Forward, Miami: The Raptors get this pick in the Pascal Siakam trade and the Raptors get an interesting prospect here. He excels at spacing the floor and knockdown shooting.

20. Cleveland Cavaliers- Johnny Furphy, Guard, Kansas: The Cavaliers are a strong candidate to trade their pick for veteran help and if they were to keep the pick, Furphy would be an interesting long term play. Furphy is good in transition and has a solid three-point shot.

21. New Orleans Pelicans (from Milwaukee Bucks)- Tyler Kolek, Guard, Marquette: This would be a decent pick for the Pelicans, who can use an older, smarter, player. Kolek is a wizard with the ball and he is a good decision maker as well.

22. Phoenix Suns- Kyle Filipowski, Center, Duke: Despite the reports about the Suns wanting to trade the pick, Filipowski isn't a bad fit here. The Suns could use some help at the center position and Filipowski has the mobility and shooting to succeed.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Zach Edey, Center, Purdue: There is a would where Edey is picked higher than this, heck even the lottery considering he was the back to back National Player of the Year. Brook Lopez isn't getting any younger and Edey would be an interesting long term play here.

24. New York Knicks (from Dallas Mavericks)- Baylor Scheierman, Guard, Creighton: This would be a solid pick for a Knicks team that can use more depth from a shooting standpoint. Scheierman has shown play making and three-point shooting ability to be a player in the league.

25. New York Knicks- Tyler Smith, Forward, Ignite: Barring a trade, with their second pick in a row, the Knicks get forward depth with Smith. He has good length and a decent jump shot.

26. Washington Wizards- Jaylon Tyson, Guard, Cal: With their second first rounder, the Wizards go with an interesting prospect in Tyson. He has shown a good scoring touch, despite his height.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves- Pacome Dadiet, Forward, Germany: This would be an interesting possible draft and stash possibility for the Timberwolves or whomever selects Dadiet. He is one of the youngest players in the draft and has good all-around skills.

28. Denver Nuggets- DaRon Holmes II, Forward, Dayton: There are talks about Holmes getting a late first round promise from someone. Holmes can stretch the floor and shoot it from three and that's what the Nuggets can use.

29. Utah Jazz (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Trey Alexander, Guard, Creighton: Whether it's the Jazz or someone else here, Alexander at this spot is decent. Alexander has an intriguing skill set despite questions about speed and ability.

30. Boston Celtics- Tristian da Silva, Forward, Colorado: I think this is another possible traded pick, but da Silva would be an interesting pick for the Celtics. da Silva is a good floor spacer and a decent athlete in the open floor.