2024 NBA Draft Recap, Rd 1
10 min read
NBA G League Ignite SF Matas Buzelis (No. 0 pictured during 2022 Nike EYBL for Expressions Elite AAU) was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bulls in this year's NBA Draft.
The 2024 NBA Draft didn’t take long for the Atlanta Hawks to make its pick, choosing a Frenchman at the top. For the second consecutive year, France could proclaim “sa domination du repechage.” Aside from Zaccharie Risacher going first overall, France produced the second -Alex Sarr (Wizards)- and sixth -Tidjane Salaun (Hornets)- overall selections.
American-born
Make no mistake about it, however, the United States still covers its own turf when it comes to the NBA. 21 of the first 30 picks were American-born, with one being Lithuanian (Matas Buzelis).
The first to go off the board was Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard at No. 3 overall. Sheppard missed just 69 of his 144 three-point attempts in 2023-24.
His Wildcats teammate –SEC Sixth Man of the Year Rob Dillingham (Timberwolves via Spurs)- also went in the draft’s first 10 picks.
Doubles
The NBA G League Ignite made an impact for the second year in a row, albeit in sour fashion. After guard Scoot Henderson (Portland) went third overall in last year’s draft, the G League Ignite had two players selected in this year’s lottery. One was the aforementioned Buzelis, and the other was Detroit Pistons fifth overall pick Ron Holland II.
It was a bittersweet moment for the team, who shut down operations after the season.
The Colorado Buffaloes football team may need to take a backseat to its basketball squad for a moment. Cody Williams (Utah Jazz) went 10th overall while veteran teammate Tristan da Silva got selected 18th by the Orlando Magic.
And who did it better than UConn on draft night? Two players went in the draft’s first seven picks. The Huskies continues to build its Castle around Dan Hurley’s current dynasty.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Baylor Bears produced at least a Top 20 NBA Draft pick. Both were freshman sensations. Former five-star recruit Ja’Kobe Walter went 19th overall to the Toronto Raptors. And the Bears also had Cameroon native Yves Missi go 21st overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.
We review all of the draft’s first 30 selections in our Round 1 recap.
| 2024 NBA Draft recap | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Team | Position/School | ‘Nasty’ Take: | |||
| 1. Zaccharie Risacher | Atlanta Hawks | 6’9 195 SF-JL Bourg (France) | A two-way wing with legitimate three-point range, Risacher should fit in well with a Hawks team that needs more defenders. The 19-year old’s ability to shoot from depth and guard multiple spots expands the team’s roster. Improving at the free throw line should be a focus moving forward. | |||
| 2. Alex Sarr | Washington Wizards | 7’0 224 C-Perth (Australia) | The Wizards have a lot of work to do on the defensive end of the floor. They ranked last in the NBA in points allowed (130 PPG). Sarr’s defensive capability was highlighted by an ability to help secondary defenders in recovery situations. Sarr has some NBA bloodlines. Can he develop more range on his shot in the next couple of seasons? | |||
| 3. Reed Sheppard | Houston Rockets | 6’2 182 SG-Kentucky | Last year’s No. 3 overall pick -Portland’s Scoot Henderson- averaged 14 points per game and 5.4 assists per game as a rookie. If the Rockets get similar production from Sheppard, then they could very well make a playoff-run in 2024-25. Aside from being arguably the best shooter in the draft, Sheppard’s 42-inch vertical flashed his hops off the floor. | |||
| 4. Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | 6’6 210 SF-UConn | Castle can do whatever a team needs when it comes to locking down on the defensive end of the floor. His swagger, strength and 6’9” wingspan helped him become just the seventh Husky to get drafted in the Top Five of the NBA Draft. He has some physical similarities to current Spur Keldon Johnson. | |||
| 5. Ron Holland II | Detroit Pistons | 6’6 196 SG-G League Ignite | The Pistons took the back-to-back Overtime Elite Finals MVP a year ago and now they go to the NBA G League Ignite for one its best player. The former Duncanville HS (Tex.) standout is just 18 years old. Could his addition create subtractions in the near future? How will he mesh with fellow Texan native and current Piston Cade Cunningham? | |||
| 6. Tidjane Salaun | Charlotte Hornets | 6’9 217 SF-Cholet (France) | Yet another Frenchman with ball handling capability and potential as an off the ball scorer. The draft’s youngest player could mix well with last year’s second overall pick Brandon Miller, who averaged 17.3 points per game as a rookie wing. | |||
| 7. Donovan Clingan | Portland Trail Blazers | 7’2 282 C-UConn | Clingan connected on a higher percentage of his shots from the field than the free throw line. The Blazers picked him, however, for his ability to alter shots at the rim. He averaged nearly two-and-a-half blocks per game in 2023-24. Can Clingan eventually extend the floor to any degree? More importantly, will that even matter if he continues to improve his footwork. | |||
| 8. Rob Dillingham | San Antonio Spurs (traded to Minnesota) | 6’1 164 G-Kentucky | The SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year is arguably the most exciting player in the draft. His electricity with the ball in his hands is complemented by a 44.4% three-point percentage. Dillingham could infuse a jolt of energy off the bench. The team got younger, which needed to be a focus in this year’s draft. | The Minnesota Timberwolves traded for the 8th overall pick and the rights to Dillingham. | ||
| 9. Zach Edey | Memphis Grizzlies | 7’4 299 C-Purdue | The former IMG Academy star became a two-time AP Player of the Year in school and was consistently one of college basketball’s best. Edey improved every year in school, averaged over 12 rebounds per game in each of the last two seasons and impressed at the NBA Combine with a respectable 3.01-second timing in the NBA shuttle run. | |||
| 10. Cody Williams | Utah Jazz | 6’6 1/2” 178 SF-Colorado | Williams needs to add some weight for the NBA-grind, as injuries sidelined him at times in his only year on campus. He can go to the hoop with either hand and understands spacing on the floor. His game comes with a calm, but the defensive intensity can improve over the next year-and-a-half. Williams’ 7’1” wingspan gives the team flexibility on that end of the floor. He shot an impressive 41.5% from three-point range as a freshman. | |||
| 11. Matas Buzelis | Chicago Bulls | 6’9 197 SF-G League Ignite | Buzelis has all of the tools to become a potential star at the next level. The former five-star recruit can put the ball on the floor, anticipate shots on the defensive end and runs well in transition. A big-time leaper with defensive upside, he needs to become more consistent from beyond the arc and at the free throw line. He became the sixth G-League Ignite player to go in the Top 11 picks of the NBA Draft. | |||
| 12. Nikola Topic | Oklahoma City Thunder | 6’6” 203 G-KK Craven Zvezda (Serbia) | The partially torn knee ligament is a concern -especially after re-injuring the knee- but the 86-percent free throw shooter showcases on-court vision and savvy. The 18-year old joins Nikola Jokic, Darko Milicic and Vlade Divac (among others) as fellow Serbians in the NBA. The Thunder continue to stockpile talent from a number of different countries. | |||
| 13. Devin Carter | Sacramento Kings | 6’2 193 G-Providence, South Carolina | The Big East’s 2023-24 Player of the Year follows in his father’s (Anthony) footsteps but may leap out of them. His 42” max vertical jump was among the best at the 2024 NBA Combine, as was his 35” standing vertical jump. Perhaps more impressive? His 2.87-second three-quarter court sprint. He runs the floor and plays with unbridled energy. | |||
| 14. Carlton “Bub” Carrington | Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State via Boston through Memphis) | 6’4 195 G-Pittsburgh | The Panthers football team had a “Bub” (Means) selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and the basketball team followed suit. Carrington shot just 32% from three-point range and had seven games with four or more fouls (twice fouled out). With that said, he filled up the stat sheet as a rebounding guard and scored 20 or more points in three of his final five contests as a freshman. | The Portland Trail Blazers traded the draft rights of Carrington to the Washington Wizards. | ||
| 15. Kel’el Ware | Miami Heat | 7’0 230 C-Indiana, Oregon | After signing Bam Adebayo to a three-year extension, the Heat concentrated on improving its rebounding. They ranked 26th in that category this past season. Ware averaged nearly 10 rebounds per game, but also shot a respectable 42.5 % from three-point range on 1.3 attempts per contest. In addition, he protected the rim in the Big Ten (1.9 BPG). | |||
| 16. Jared McCain | Philadelphia 76ers | 6’2 203 SG-Duke | McCain is not a player with definitive explosiveness, but his change of direction gets high marks. The defensive capability is a question mark. McCain operates effectively using screens and moves well without the ball to get open. McCain rebounded well for a guard, and made his mark from beyond the arc (41.4% three-point) and at the free throw line. The 76ers add another shooter to its roster off the bench. | |||
| 17. Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers | 6’6 212 SF-Tennessee, Northern Colorado | Is it any surprise that the Lakers take a shooter after hiring JJ Redick as its new head coach? Knecht’s athleticism may not receive high enough marks (39” max VJ). The Northern Colorado transfer had six games with five or more three-pointers this past season. Can the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year defend consistently at the next level? | |||
| 18. Tristan da Silva | Orlando Magic | 6’8 217 SF-Colorado | For all of the talk about Colorado’s football squad, it was the basketball team that landed two first round picks. The grizzled veteran wing posted 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists vs. Miami (Fla.) in early December 2023. He shot well down the stretch in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, connecting on 9-of-16 three-point attempts in three games. The Magic continue to add range to its quartet of small forwards. | |||
| 19. Ja’Kobe Walter | Toronto Raptors | 6’4 198 G-Baylor | Walter is another advanced athlete in this year’s first round with hops, floor speed and lateral agility (2.92 NBA shuttle). The Big 12 Freshman of the Year has an NBA-ready frame. Walter can stand to improve as as an outside shooter, but few 6’4” guards contain a 6’10” wingspan and a quick release. The Bears have produced four consecutive Top 20 picks in the NBA Draft. | |||
| 20. Jaylon Tyson | Cleveland Cavaliers | 6’6 218 SF-Texas, Texas Tech, Cal | The Plano, Texas native moved around quite a bit before settling in at Cal as a junior. As a result, the All-Pac-12 performer averaged nearly 10 more points per game in 2023-24 than he did in 2022-23. How? He posted 17 games with 20 or more points. If he can speed up his release, then Tyson has a chance to earn minutes in the team’s rotation. | |||
| 21. Yves Missi | New Orleans Pelicans (from Milwaukee) | 6’11 229 C-Baylor | Missi won’t extend the floor, but he provides the Hornets with a shot blocker that contains quick hops off the floor. His 7’2” wingspan makes the most sense for a team that was in the market for a center who could protect the rim. Jonas Valaciunas is an unrestricted free agent and they lack depth at the spot. Missi, an All-Big 12 defender, posted an impressive 31” standing vertical jump and 3.12-second three-quarter court sprint at the NBA Combine. | |||
| 22. DaRon Holmes II | Phoenix Suns | 6’9 236 PF-Dayton | Holmes rebounded at a high rate for the Flyers and also extended the floor as a shooter. He led the Atlantic 10 in double-doubles and stretched the floor with effectiveness. He adds a front court presence for the Nuggets off the bench. | The Phoenix Suns traded the 22nd overall pick to the Denver Nuggets the 28th overall pick in this year’s draft, 56th overall pick in this year’s draft and two future second round draft picks | ||
| 23. AJ Johnson | Milwaukee Bucks | 6’5 167 SG-Australian (NBL) | The Bucks needed to add defenders on the wing and an injection of backcourt youth. The team decided to add a playmaker with handle, open court skill and rise off the floor. He needs to work in the weight room for the NBA game. Johnson played limited minutes after initially committing to play at Texas out of high school. | |||
| 24. Kyshawn George | Washington Wizards (pick made by New York Knicks) | 6’7 208 SF-Miami (Fla.) | George went to high school in France but ended up at Miami (Fla.). He started slow, picked it up in the middle of the season and flashed an all-around game in January and February. The physical development needs work, but he has a solid feel for the game and a 6’10” wingspan. | New York Knicks traded this pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the 26th overall pick. | ||
| 25. Pacome Dadiet | New York Knicks (from Washington Wizards) | 6’9 217 SF-Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | Dadiet is another young French-born baller with a soft shooting touch and upside. Adept off the dribble going either left or right, he continues to improve his handle. The versatility helps to expand his prospects at the next level. | |||
| 26. Dillon Jones | Oklahoma City Thunder (from New York Knicks via Washington Wizards) | 6’4 1/2” 237 SG-Weber State | If Jones can improve the outside shooting, then he could find a role on the Thunder’s second unit. From a size perspective, his 237-pound frame is complemented by a 6’11” wingspan. The three-time All-Big Sky selection posted a 30-point, 23-rebound, nine-assist performance against Northern Colorado in late February. | The Oklahoma City Thunder (receives the pick from the NY Knicks via Washington) | ||
| 27. Terrence Shannon, Jr. | Minnesota Timberwolves | 6’6 219 SG-Illinois, Texas Tech | The Big Ten Tournament MVP was a consistent free throw shooter throughout his career. And he got to the free throw line with regularity (8.6 FTA in 2023-24). He plays downhill, defends with intensity and improved as an outside shooter this past season. | |||
| 28. Ryan Dunn | Phoenix Suns | 6’6 214 SF-Virginia | One of the draft’s best defenders, Dunn’s 7’1” wingspan is rare at his size. Dunn posted seven blocks vs. Wake Forest in February and five blocked shots against Duke in early March. That type of defensive production is unmatched at the small forward position in this year’s class. | |||
| 29. Isaiah Collier | Utah Jazz | 6’2 1/2” 205 PG-USC | Collier changes speeds well on the floor and he projects as a smaller version of Jazz 2023 first-round pick, SF Brice Sensabaugh. Nearly four inches shorter, Collier finishes with even greater fury going to the hoop. On the downside, he posted 11 games with four or more turnovers. Collier scored in double figures in all but two of 27 appearances for USC. | |||
| 30. Baylor Scheierman | Boston Celtics | 6’6 201 SG-Creighton, South Dakota State | The last pick of the first round had more than a few good moments in the Big East. When left open, Scheierman made teams pay. The All-Big East selection had four games with at least six three-point makes. He can be a bit streaky, but his average of nine rebounds per game featured 16 double-doubles. |
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