Final 2024 NBA Mock Draft (1st Round)
Happy NBA Draft Day! All of the analysis that we have been doing for the past 5-6 months will be proven wrong or right starting tonight. This draft is one of the more intriguing that we've seen in recent memory. There is a reason there is not a consistent mock draft or even a consensus top three. The more you dig into this draft, you can talk yourself into multiple different players going to a bevy of different teams.
I’m on record by saying this draft is not as bad as it seems. It’s deep and littered with quality players who can help elevate a team. I will go as far as saying this – if you remove the top two picks from last year, I think this draft will be better overall than 2023. With that being said, let’s get into the final mock draft for 2024.
Atlanta Hawks – F. Zacharrie Risacher – G-League Ignite
Previous Ranking: 1
All reports have been that Risacher is the safest pick in the draft. The Hawks have numerous question marks as far as what to do with their star players but regardless of that, Risacher is a good fit. The shooting consistency has to get better, especially if the backcourt remains intact. He provides positional size and would be a nice connector in the offense. We've had him at the top over Sarr throughout this process, and I think that comes to fruition tonight when Atlanta selects him.
Washington Wizards – F/C. Alex Sarr – Perr
Previous Ranking: 2
Wizards had two former big men in the NBA Finals this year. Think they have any regrets? Well, they have a chance to get a younger version of that with Sarr. His offensive skillset is not a strength, but he has the ability to rim run and block shots. His versatility defensively is what sets him apart from other prospects. Washington was bottom three in defensive rating and bottom two in offensive and defensive rebounding. Sarr has to get better on the boards but someone of his skill set could help that Wizards frontcourt.
Houston Rockets – G. Reed Sheppard - Kentucky
Previous Ranking: 3
There has been a lot of talk about Houston shopping this pick for a veteran wing. I don’t know if that will get done during this draft, but getting the best shooter in the draft is not a bad secondary option. Fit wise, I don’t think it is the best for Reed with a loaded backcourt, but he brings something Houston lacked, shooting.
San Antonio Spurs – CG. Stephon Castle – Uconn
Previous Ranking: 4
Castle has made it known he wants to be more of a point guard at this level. He refused to work out for teams with a solidified point guard to further solidify his stance. The Spurs are in need for a point guard, so Castle will have every chance to prove his worth there. He’s versatile and can also play off the ball, which is a plus. The shooting is the obvious flaw in his game, but the ferocious defense and his ability to slash to the rim can elevate the Spurs backcourt.
Detroit Pistons – F. Matas Buzelis - G-League Ignite
Previous Ranking: 5
His shooting was an issue during the G-League Ignite season, shooting under 30% from deep. Is that a sign of things to come or can he revert back to what he shot in high school (43%). I believe he can be somewhere in the middle and his size on the wing is something that Detroit does not have. He plays well in transition and rebounds well for his position. If he can get stronger and be more efficient at finishing in the paint, he will be a nice addition next to Cade & Ivey.
Charlotte Hornets – F. Dalton Knecht – Tennessee
Previous Ranking: 9
Charlotte is in a unique spot. Their franchise player is constantly injured, so taking a guard would not be a bad idea. However, the wing depth behind Bridges and Miller is not ideal. Knecht is a veteran player who is ready to step in and contribute immediately. He performed well against quality competition all year and his size mixed with scoring prowess is something that can’t be overlooked. In a wing driven league, you can never have too many, especially ones who can score at all levels.
Portland Trailblazers – F. Cody Williams - Colorado
Previous Ranking: 7
He showed flashes of what so many hoped he would be. Injuries and somewhat of a bad fit resulted in an underwhelming season. Although Cody shot a high percentage from three, it was on a low volume of attempts. So, I would not classify him as a shooter. His biggest attribute is his positional size and ability to get downhill to finish at the rim. None of the wings on the roster possess what Cody has or can potentially become. If the shooting can be steady, he would be a nice positional piece on a guard loaded team.
San Antonio Spurs – G. Devin Carter - Providence
Previous Ranking: 8
Once upon a time, the Spurs had a player named Derrick White. Years later they have the ability to draft a similar prospect. Carter opened the season as the Friars second best player but after an injury, he soared to not only the number one player on the team but one of the best guards in the country. In a tough Big East, he led everyone in scoring and rebounds at a HIGH level for a guard. The guard depth of the Spurs can use some upgrades. Castle and Devin could be cornerstones to compliment Wemby.
Memphis Grizzles – C. Donovan Clingan - Uconn
Previous Ranking: 9
I know it’s crazy to have Clingan this low. Practically every team in the top of the lottery has been linked to him. People close to the Grizzles organization say they would be shocked if Memphis picks here. I think if Clingan is not chosen number one overall – he falls right into Memphis’s hands.
He fits all of their needs as a rim protecting big who can run the floor, set screens and more importantly he frees up Jaren Jackson to be able to roam the dunker spot to clean up everything. There is a little concern for me with his foot issues he had in both years at Uconn but outside of that, he fits this team like a glove – no matter if he’s picked at 9 or they go up to get him.
Utah Jazz – F. Ron Holland - G-League Ignite
Previous Ranking: 10
Nobody knows what Utah is doing with their roster. They have a decent number of young pieces and always start out hot but then the youth catches up to them. I would be surprised if they keep this pick, but Holland does possess some things they need. He has a high motor and despite his poor shooting, he led the G-League Ignite in scoring. I think Collins, Lauri and Clarkson will all be out of Utah soon, so why not continue with the youth movement
Chicago Bulls – G. Rob Dillingham - Kentucky
Previous Ranking: 6
We saw Caruso get traded, reports of Lavine being shopped, and the Lonzo era is likely coming to an end. The emergence of Coby White gives you a proven guard and if you can convince Derozan to stay, you at least have a starting backcourt.
Rob has the ability to come off the bench and be a microwave scorer. He scores at all three levels which is something the Bulls bench lacked last year. Not only can he score, but he also showcased the ability to operate in pick and rolls which was a question coming into the season. With a lot of outgoing guards, it would be a nice jolt of energy with Rob coming in and doing what he does best, score.
Oklahoma City Thunder – C. Zack Edey - Purdue
Previous Ranking: 12
Out is Giddey, in is Caruso who helps with perimeter defense and three-point shooting. Now they need some size on the front line. Chet was beat up throughout the playoffs and had no type of relief. The Thunder were bottom three in rebound% and their biggest player (who gets minutes) outside of Chet is 6’9 240. Edey instantly fills a void for the size and rebounding on the front-line. He may not be able to play a ton of minutes right away, but he can be effective off the bench and even next to Chet.
Sacramento Kings – G. Nikola Topic - KK Crvena
Previous Ranking: 13
Despite receiving bad news on the injury front, Topic still received a green room invite and has met with numerous teams around this range. The Kings could use an upgrade at the guard position, especially next to Fox. He’s going to likely have a redshirt year but that’s proven to be a good thing for multiple prospects. In a system with ball movement and pace, Topic’s size and playmaking could be enhanced.
Portland Trailblazers – F. Tidjane Salaun - Cholet (France)
Previous Ranking: 14
Salaun is a raw talented wing who has showcased his versatility defensively. He has the ability to make an impact on or off ball which is important with the amount of ball handlers the Blazers have. Shooting and lack of playmaking is a minus but when you are drafting one of the younger prospects, the upside could outweigh the risk. The defense is good enough right now to play but if the offense comes around, he and Cody Williams could be two key pieces in the rebuilding process.
Miami Heat – G. Isaiah Collier - Southern California
Previous Ranking: 15
Nikola Jovic showcased his point guard skills after Miami moved on from Lowry and it looked good at times. However, he is not a traditional point guard, and his lack of playmaking was noticeable in the playoffs. Insert, Collier who is a bruising downhill finisher who is comfortable with the ball in his hands. The shooting and decision making has to improve but with one of the best development and coaching staffs in the league, I think he is in good hands.
Philadelphia 76ers – G. Carlton Carrington - Pittsburgh
Previous Ranking: 16
Lowry plans on returning but he is on the downside of his career but is a perfect veteran for Carrington to learn under. You want the ball in Maxey’s hands as much as possible, but I do think it is some value in a point guard setting the table for both he and Embiid.
Carrington is a good playmaker who sees the floor well in the half-court and transition. He can play in the pick and roll with Embiid and knock down the mid-range shot consistently. He does need to bulk up and be able to get to the rim and free-throw line more but that will come with experience.
Los Angeles Lakers – G. Jared McCain - Duke
Previous Ranking: 17
The Lakers three-point% suggest that they were a good shooting team but that was far from the truth. They were 29th in percentage of shots coming from deep. Insert Jared McCain who improved drastically from November to March. During Duke’s Sweet 16 run he had 50/50/90 shooting splits and was by far their best player. He also showed the ability to initiate offense and be pivotal in the pick and roll which raises his floor. Spot up shooters have made a living off of passes from Lebron, and McCain is next in line.
Orlando Magic – F. Johnny Furphy - Baylor
Previous Ranking: 29
Did you watch Orlando in the playoffs? If you didn’t, here are some numbers for you. 32,31,29,26, and 22. Those are what the Magic shot from three in five of the seven games against Cleveland. Furphy shot 35% from deep and his ability to space the floor opens up driving lanes for Paolo and Franz.
He was out of the rotation early but once he got a chance, he elevated his game and was in lottery talks at the top of 2024. If you filter the games where he played 20 or more minutes, he averaged 12.1 points per game. He had eight games where he scored 15 or more and the shooting got better as well. He has a skillset every team is looking for but Orlando is in dire need of it with how their season ended.
Toronto Raptors – C. Ke’lel Ware - Indiana
Previous Ranking: 19
It is a copycat league and Ware could benefit from the success Lively and Gafford had this postseason. Skillset wise he has it all but the talk amongst scouts is the low motor. That is one thing that will scare teams away regardless of how talented you are. Ware is a springy highflyer who can finish through contact. He’s shown the ability to step out and shoot but on a low volume. Toronto could take a swing due to their lack of rim protection and overall rim running bigs.
Cleveland Cavaliers – G. Ja’Kobe Walter - Baylor
Previous Ranking: 18
There are still questions surrounding this roster, more specifically the backcourt. The bigger questions and needs are consistent secondary scoring. We saw that on full display when Mitchell went to the bench or missed games in the post-season. Walter possesses the ability to score in a variety of ways at all three levels.
An underrated part of his game is the ability to defend. He got better with his on-ball defense throughout the year and if he can get bigger and stronger, he has the potential to be a nice 3&D spark for the Cavs.
New Orleans Pelicans – C. Yves Missi - Baylor
Previous Ranking: 21
Pelicans are likely to let Jonas walk in free agency and do not have a backup center. Nance did a great job coming in as a small ball center but not sure he is built to be a high minute producing big man. Missi is a young and raw prospect who can rim run, dunk everything and block shots.
He averaged 2.1 STOCKS (steals + blocks) per game and his motor is always at a high level. Pelicans have good on ball defenders and Missi would be a perfect rim protector which allows the defense to be even more aggressive. He has to get better at defending without fouling but with his motor and athleticism, he is a solid fit for the Pelicans.
Phoenix Suns - Tyler Kolek - Marquette
Previous Ranking: 22
Phoenix has all sorts of issues. A draft or two may not be able to patch those up but that’s okay. Let’s start with one of the more critical positions on the floor. Using Beal and Booker as point guards this year was a disaster. Tyler Kolek is the perfect guy for the job.
He is a maestro in the pick and roll while also being able to work off ball and score at every level. He is an older player that understands how to get guys going and when to be aggressive. Suns fans will be delighted with Kolek and his playmaking to their “big 3”
Milwaukee Bucks – F. Tristan Da Silva - Colorado
Previous Ranking: 23
Another team who is looking for immediate contributions. They took two forwards last year who did not get a ton of minutes but Da Silva’s offense sets him apart from Andre Jackson Jr and Chris Livingston. Look no further than Danillo Gallinari getting significant minutes over both in the playoffs.
Da Silva was the unquestioned leader on the Buffs team who potentially has three top 35 picks, so he understands how to play with other talented players. That is a skill that is not talked about enough, especially for players going in this range to championship contending teams.
New York Knicks – F. Ryan Dunn - Virginia
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Dunn is by far the best defender in this draft. Doesn’t he fit the description of a Thibs player? Long, athletic defender who can guard every position on the floor. The offense is a sight for sore eyes but with the addition of Mikal Bridges, they will not need him to do more than rim run.
New York Knicks - G/F. Kyshawn George - Miami
Previous Ranking: 20
The addition of Mikal Bridges would allow George to learn under him as well as be a pivotal bench piece if the upside does hit. George is a late bloomer who can shoot the lights out and has the ability to showcase more at the pro level than he did in Coral Gables. He has to be better at finishing in through contact and being more locked in defensively.
Will be tough to crack the rotation immediately but with development, he could be a nice young piece waiting in the wings. When you look at the bench depth of the Knicks, it’s not much there on the wing. Thibs does not love playing young guys but with the offensive upside of George, it might be hard to not play him.
Washington Wizards – G. Terrance Shannon Jr - Illinois
Previous Ranking: 26
I’m certainly higher on Shannon than most but his skills all translate to the next level. He is a three-level scorer with great size and can be a pest on the defensive end. His improved ball handling allows him to be effective on and off ball and in today's game, you can never have too many ball handlers.
I have Sarr going to Washington with their 2nd pick to sure up the interior, but Shannon would be a great secondary guard behind Poole. It also gives them some insurance incase Kuzma and/or Kispert are moved.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say this, but if those off the court issues never happened and Shannon had this type of season, He would be closer to the lottery than this specific position.
Minnesota Timberwolves – G. Baylor Schierman - Creighton
Previous Ranking: 27
We saw the Twelves struggle to stretch the floor. It allowed defenses to build a wall to shut down Anthony Edwards while ignoring the perimeter shooting. Baylor is a versatile shooter who can drain shots in a ton of different ways. He moves well without the ball and at his size is a great rebounder. He averaged nearly 10 per game last year with a 14.8 rebound%. He’s an older player that understands a role and if played right, he could find himself in the rotation playing decent minutes.
Denver Nuggets – F. Daron Holmes II - Dayton
Previous Ranking: 28
Aaron Gordon struggled in the game seven and they had no other options at the forward spot. Holmes has a throwback forward skill set that can post up as well as face up to get his own shot. He averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds on almost 40% from deep. Not only that, but he also blocked 2 shots per game which shows how versatile he is on both ends of the floor. Denver lacks depth in general but specifically in the frontcourt. Holmes to me could be similar to what Bobby Portis is for Milwaukee.
Utah Jazz – F/C. Kyle Filipowski - Duke
Previous Ranking: 22
I had Holland being picked with Utah’s first pick and to even more bulk up the front court, I think Filipowski is a nice get here. The shooting has to be more consistent, but I can argue that the Duke system didn’t really cater to his skill set. The entire roster for Utah is basically on the market, and their most important players are in the front court. Filipowski is a versatile big who can rebound, screen, and if the shooting is better, he could be an upgrade over Kessler who regressed this past season.
Boston Celtics – F. Jaylon Tyson - California
Previous Ranking: 25
I would say the Celtics had some success with the last Cal player they took. All reports have been positive on Tyson and his ability to perform in workouts. For players like Tyson, it is always a question of if he is putting up empty calories due to his team or is he just a clear notch or two above the competition.
My eyes tell me it is somewhat of a combination but to Tyson’s advantage, he does not have to be great right away. He can come in and learn under two of the best wings in the league and hope to perform good enough to crack the rotation in a year or two