Sunday, June 16, 2024

2024 NBA Mock Draft: Second Edition

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

1. Atlanta Hawks- 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)- Reed Sheppard, Guard, Kentucky: Courtesy of the James Harden trade, the Rockets end up with a top three pick. 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.

4. San Antonio Spurs- Stephon Castle, Guard, Connecticut: The Spurs need the most help at the either guard position and Castle here makes sense. 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.

5. Detroit Pistons- Cody Williams, Guard/Forward, Colorado: The Pistons need more young building blocks to go around Cade Cunningham and Williams here makes sense. Williams has great all around play with his three-point shooting, defense, and and playmaking upside.

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- Donovan Clingan, Center, Connecticut: Clingan also benefited from being on the back-to-back National Champions and could go even higher than this. I like the fit on this Blazers team to go with Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson and Clingan plays super hard and has a solid all-around game.

8. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Rob Dillingham, Guard, Kentucky: Courtesy of the Jakob Poeltl trade from a while back, the Spurs end up with a second lottery pick. 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- 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 along with Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler would be interesting.

11. Chicago Bulls- Ron Holland, Forward, Ignite: The Bulls are one of the more interesting teams when it comes to the draft, considering they feel like a franchise at a crossroads. Holland brings defense, energy, and versatility to the table as well as high upside, despite not having a great season in the G-league.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston Rockets)- Tidjane Salaun, Guard/Forward, France: The Thunder end up with a lottery pick courtesy of the Russell Westbrook/Chris Paul trade all those years back. Salaun has potential and upside to be a solid all around player as he showed in the LNB Pro A league playoffs.

13. Sacramento Kings- 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 Kings as Topic has great all around play with his passing and playmaking and has great size for a guard as well.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State Warriors)-  Devin Carter, Guard, Providence: Apparently, Carter got a promise from a lottery team that they'd pick him, but maybe it's the Blazers and they want to move Anfernee Simons. The Blazers need shooting in the worst way and Carter can hit it from three well and is an excellent defender.

15. Miami Heat- 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.

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Ja'Kobe Walker, Guard, Baylor: Walker makes sense here for Philly if they were to keep the pick since they can use some young shooting off the bench. Walker isn't the best athlete, but he has a solid skill set and good length.

17. Los Angeles Lakers- 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. I like this fit with the Lakers as he can help ease minutes for LeBron and Anthony Davis with his interior play.

18. Orlando Magic- Tyler Kolek, Guard, Marquette: This would be a decent pick for the Magic, who can use some guard depth. Kolek is a wizard with the ball and he is a good decision maker as well.

19. Toronto Raptors (from Indiana Pacers)- Kel'el Ware, Center, Indiana: The Raptors get this pick in the Pascal Siakam trade and the Raptors go with a position of need pick with Ware. He is a great athlete and has massive frame and he'd also help space the floor and protect the rim.

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)- Yves Missi, Center, Baylor: The Pelicans get this pick swap courtesy of the Jrue Holliday trade a while back. Missi is somebody that provides good rim potection and defensive upside.

22. Phoenix Suns- DaRon Holmes II, Forward, Dayton: There are talks about Holmes getting a late first round promise from someone and the Suns make some sense. Holmes can stretch the floor and shoot it from three and that's what the Suns can use off the bench.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans Pelicans)- KyShawn George, Forward, Miami: This would be an interesting pick for the Bucks as they add some much needed youth. George excels at spacing the floor and knockdown shooting.

24. New York Knicks (from Dallas Mavericks)- Ryan Dunn, Forward, Virgia: This would be a solid pick for the Knicks as they can use some depth at power forward. Dunn is someone that is a good defender that Tom Thibodeau would love.

25. New York Knicks- Tyler Smith, Forward, Ignite: Barring a trade, with their second pick in a row, the Knicks get more 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- Justin Edwards, Forward, Kentucky: The Timberwolves can use some forward depth so Edwards here makes sense. Despite inconsistencies at Kentucky, Edwards showed flashes at the combine that can make him a later first round pick.

28. Denver Nuggets- Kyle Filipowski, Center, Duke: I'm not sure if I like this pick for Denver considering he would be playing behind Nikola Jokic and not have the minutes. Filipowski has the mobility and shooting to succeed.

29. Utah Jazz (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Pacome Dadiet, Forward, Germany: This would be an interesting possible draft and stash possibility for the Jazz or whomever selects Dadiet. He is one of the youngest players in the draft and has good all-around skills.

30. Boston Celtics- Baylor Scheierman, Guard, Creighton: Depending on how the draft board falls, I can totally see the Celtics trading out of this pick. Scheierman has shown play making and three-point shooting ability to be a player in the league.

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