2024 NBA Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is the third 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)- 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- Matas Buzelis, Forward, Ignite:  The Pistons need more young building blocks to go around Cade Cunningham and Buzelis would be an interesting fit. He is somebody that can help space the floor and score and that is something that the Pistons can use.

6. Charlotte Hornets- Dalton Knecht, Guard, Tennessee: Knecht became in play to be a lottery pick after the fantastic season he had with the Vols. I actually like the fit here with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller for Knecht with his scoring ability.

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)- Tidjane Salaun, Guard/Forward, France: Courtesy of the Jakob Poeltl trade from a while back, the Spurs end up with a second lottery pick. Salaun has potential and upside to be a solid all around player as he showed in the LNB Pro A league playoffs.

9. Memphis Grizzlies- Ron Holland, Forward, Ignite: The Grizzlies here go with one of the drafts more interesting prospects in Holland. He brings defense, energy, and versatility to the table as well as high upside, despite not having a great season in the G-league.

10. Utah Jazz- Cody Williams, Guard/Forward, Colorado: This would be a nice pick for the Jazz from a fit standpoint to put with Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. Williams has great all around play with his three-point shooting, defense, and and playmaking upside.

11. Chicago Bulls- Devin Carter, Guard, Providence: Apparently, Carter got a promise from a lottery team that they'd pick him, and the Bulls do make sense. Carter can hit it from three well and is an excellent defender.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston Rockets)- Ja'Kobe Walker, Guard, Baylor:  The Thunder end up with a lottery pick courtesy of the Russell Westbrook/Chris Paul trade all those years back. Walker isn't the best athlete, but he has a solid skill set and good length.

13. Sacramento Kings- Rob Dillingham, Guard, Kentucky: Dillingham to the Kings would be interesting considering it would tell us how they feel about Davion Mitchell and/or replacing Malik Monk, who's a free agent. Dillingham has a great scoring touch and a good shot creator.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State Warriors via Memphis Grizzlies/Boston Celtics)- KyShawn George, Forward, Miami: The Blazers end up with a second lottery pick because the Warriors attached this pick in the Andre Igoudala trade back in 2019 to Memphis. George excels at spacing the floor and knockdown shooting.

15. Miami Heat- 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 Heat as Topic has great all around play with his passing and playmaking and has great size for a guard as well.

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Kyle Filipowski, Center, Duke: I'm not sure if I like this pick for Philly considering he would be playing behind Joel Embiid and not have the minutes. Filipowski has the mobility and shooting to succeed.

17. Los Angeles Lakers- Tristian da Silva, Forward, Colorado: This would be an interesting pick for the Lakers as they get some front court depth. Teams all seem to like his positional size, shooting versatility and all-around polish, on and off the floor.

18. Orlando Magic- Jared McCain, Guard, Duke: This would be a decent pick for the Magic, who can use some guard depth off the bench. McCain has a good IQ and shot really well in the combine.

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- 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 would be an interesting bench piece for this team.

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 protection and defensive upside.

22. Phoenix Suns- Tyler Kolek, Guard, Marquette: This would be a decent pick for the Suns, who need some bench pieces that can help right away. Kolek is a wizard with the ball and he is a good decision maker as well.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans Pelicans)- DaRon Holmes II, Forward, Dayton: There are talks about Holmes getting a late first round promise from someone and the Bucks make some sense. Holmes can stretch the floor and shoot it from three and that's what the Bucks can use off the bench.

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- 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 Knicks as he can replace Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson if one of them is not on the team next season.

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 Timberwovles- Johnny Furphy, Guard, Kansas: The T-Wolves are a candidate to trade their pick for veteran help and if they were to keep the pick, Furphy would be an interesting pick. Furphy is good in transition and has a solid three-point shot.

28. Denver Nuggets- Tyler Smith, Forward, Ignite: This would be an interesting pick for the Nuggets, who can use some forward depth. Smith has good length and a decent jump shot.

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- Cam Christie, Guard, Minnesota: The Celtics after winning the NBA title feel likely to trade the pick, but you never know. Christie is a late riser and could sneak into the back half of the first round with how well he’s been performing in team workouts.