That does it for the first round and the first night of the NBA Draft. Round 2 starts early on Thursday (4 ET) and you can thank the presidential debate for that.
For now, let’s look back at how Round 1 started.
No. 1 & 2 🇫🇷@Zacch_10 x @alexandresarr_ pic.twitter.com/ZUWmspYWr8
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2024
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No. 30, Boston Celtics select: Baylor Scheierman, 6'6" wing, Creighton. A guy who really helped himself at the NBA Draft Combine — one of the standouts of the 5-on-5 scrimmages — Scheierman is seen as an older player (23) who can come in and help now. Which is what win-now Boston needs, and he fits their mold. He is an impressive shooter — 38.1% on 8.3 3-point attempts a game — who has the handles to attack closeouts and even run some pick-and-roll. What teams really like is his quick decision-making. However, he’s not a great athlete by NBA standards and there are concerns about how that impacts him at the next level, particularly defensively.
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No. 29, Utah Jazz select: Isaiah Collier, 6’5” point guard, USC. This could be an absolute steal for the Jazz this late in the round, there were points heading into the NCAA season where he was seen as a top-three pick. Collier fits an archetype that works in the NBA — he is 6’5”, comes with an NBA build and likes to play downhill. His stock dropped during the season because of turnover issues and concerns about his defense (the hand injury didn’t help), but a player who can get downhill, score, and has a good feel for finding the open man can play in the league. He has the size and explosiveness that can’t be taught. There’s a reason he slid down the draft board, but this was much farther than many expected.
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No. 28, Phoenix Suns select: Ryan Dunn, 6’6” wing, Virginia. This is the pick the Suns traded back for with the Nuggets earlier in the first round.
Dunn is the best perimeter defender — and many scouts would say the best defender at any position — in this draft. He’s got a high motor and has the size and quickness to defend multiple positions — and he’s a good rim protector and shot blocker for a wing. The question is can Dunn develop his shot and offense enough to stay on the court. He shot 20% from 3 last season and didn’t play with much confidence on that end for the Cavaliers (he averaged 8.1 points a game last season). It’s up to Phoenix to grow his offensive game, do so and Dunn is a great fit.
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No. 27, Minnesota Timberwolves select: Terrence Shannon Jr., 6'6" guard/wing, Illinois. Shannon might be an older player who can help now, something that the very expensive Timberwolves could use at a rookie scale price (whoever owns the team will appreciate it). Shannon is older at 23 but comes with an NBA-ready body, NBA athleticism and an ability to defend 1-3. However, he comes with a big question: His shooting. He shot 36.2% from 3 this past season but there are questions if he can bring that to the next level. Shannon was found not guilty of sexual assault charges, with the case closing earlier this month.
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No. 26, Oklahoma City Thunder select: Dillon Jones, 6'4" wing, Weber State. This is by far the biggest upset pick of the first round — Jones was projected to go in the late second-round pick if he got selected at all. Nobody had him in the first round. He is a bit undersized on the perimeter, but Jones comes with an NBA — no, maybe more of an NFL — body. He’s got tight handles and a crafty game, he was the primary shot creator for Weber State. He overpowered smaller players in college, that’s not going to work the same way at the next level. He’s not a great athlete (he plays below the rim) and has not shown the quickness to be a great defender. He shot 32.4% from 3 last season. Jones is almost 23, how much will he improve for the Thunder. Sam Presti and company make smart calls, they must have seen something.
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We Have a Trade
The Knicks are sending the No. 26 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, in return the Knicks are getting five second-round picks spread across the 2025, 2026 and 2027 drafts. That’s a good haul for the Knicks, a team that will be fighting to keep costs down as this new roster keeps getting more and more expensive.
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No. 25, New York Knicks select: Pacome Dadiet, 6'8" wing, France. New York has made a long-term bet on one of the younger players in the draft, someone with a raw skillset but with a high upside. Dadiet can shoot the rock, both off the catch and off the bounce (especially from the midrange), and he hit 35.8% last season from 3 playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. He has a good first step when he wants to get downhill, and has displayed good vision but also terrible decision-making at points with his passing. Some scouts wonder if he’s athletic enough to do what he wants at the next level. Dadiet has a lot of work to do on his handles, his playmaking and his defense, but he is young and comes with an NBA body. The Knicks just needs to develop him over time.
Jalen Brunson has some advice for Dadiet.
Rookies, this is a message for you! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/CwAho6g8pQ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 26, 2024
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How much did trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby do for the Knicks championship odds? They are now tied with Denver for the second best odds to win it all.
The New York Knicks now have the 2nd best odds to win the 2025 NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/OSyaL2YiHf
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) June 26, 2024
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No. 24, Washington Wizards select: Kyshawn George, 6’7” wing, Miami. George fits the mold of a shot creator on the wing: He has great positional size and length, he shot 41% from 3 last season for the Hurricanes, plus he is a good passer and dangerous in transition. There’s a lot of potential, but he was not a regular starter or getting heavy minutes in Miami, and his game is raw — George is a development project. The concern is he is not an explosive athlete at the NBA level, so can he learn to create space to get off his shot at the next level? George is young (20), a surprise one-and-done and has work to do for the Wizards, but he’s got a lot of upside. For a rebuilding team, that’s a good bet.
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We Have a Trade
Washington Wizards are moving up and trading for the New York Knicks’ No. 24 pick, with the Knicks sliding back two spots to No. 26, plus getting the No. 51 pick in this draft.
New York will now be picking at No. 25 and No. 26.
The Knicks are trading No. 24 to the Wizards, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024
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No. 23, Milwaukee Bucks select: A.J. Johnson, 6'4" guard, Illawarra (Australian NBL). This Fresno and Southern California product took his talents to Australia last season and struggled, averaging 2.9 points a game and shooting 27.8% from 3. He’s very quick with the ball and has good handles, can find open teammates, but his scoring has been so limited — not just from 3 but inside the arc as well — but until his shooting and scoring improve, there’s only so much Doc Rivers can do. Johnson is a development project.
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No. 22, Denver Nuggets select: DaRon Holmes, 6’9” power forward/center, Dayton. Holmes could have stayed in the draft a year ago, but went back to college and showed off a new 3-point shot (38.6% on 2.5 attempts a game) as well as improvements across the board. He was an All-American for the Flyers averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks a game. He has real potential as a big who can set a pick, pop out and hit a 3, make a play on the short roll, or finish at the rim. Thinking about that skill set, Holmes will plug seamlessly into the Nuggets offense, backing up Nikola Jokic.
That said, Holmes is not quick by NBA standards and there are questions about how he’ll adjust to the speed of the game at the next level, as well as how well he will defend at the next level. Still, this feels like a good pick.
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We Have a Trade:
The Phoenix Suns are sending the No. 22 pick to the Denver Nuggets, which in turn is returning the No. 28 pick and No. 56 this year, plus two future second-rounders back to the Valley of the Sun. The Nuggets get the guys they want — DaRon Holmes II — and if the Suns didn’t love anyone at this spot they save a little money and pick up some future second rounders.
Nuggets send No. 28, No. 56 and two future second round picks to the Suns, sources said. Phoenix moves back several slots and picks up assets. https://t.co/ExNSIr88ml
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2024
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No. 21, New Orleans Pelicans select: Yves Missi, 7'0" center, Baylor. Missi is a bit of a project at the NBA level but there is a clear role for his skill set — he’s going to be a rim-running big who rolls hard to the basket (or operates out of the dunker’s spot) and can finish alley-oops, plus he can protect the rim and defend a little in space. What has impressed teams is Missi’s continued growth and improvement — can he continue that and show his development against a new level of competition? The Pelicans are moving on from Jonas Valanciunas at the five and there are minutes available.
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No. 20, Cleveland Cavaliers select: Jaylon Tyson, 6'6" wing, California. Highly recruited out of high school, Tyson didn’t shine his first two years in college (at Texas then Texas Tech) before breaking out at Cal this season. He is a physical wing who does not shy away from contact and uses that to be a quality shot creator who averaged 19.6 points a game last season for the Bears. He plays at his own tempo and does not get rushed. Good shooter off the catch. While he created shots he turned the ball over a lot last season as well, and he’s not an explosive athlete, but will his physicality translate well to the next level? The Cavaliers are betting he can help their second unit this season.
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No. 19, Toronto Raptors select: Ja’Kobe Walter, 6'5" wing, Baylor. The potential is there: Good size and athleticism for a wing, can shoot on the move, and has a fantastic feel for the game. However, consistency has been his weakness, Walter has been up and down this season. On the big stage of the NCAA Tournament he scored 39 points across two games on 10-of-23 shooting, 4-of-7 from 3. He’s got to improve his handles and develop some craft to his game, plus be consistently aggressive to show he can do it on the next level.
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No. 18, Orlando Magic select: Tristan Da Silva, 6’9” forward, Colorado (via Germany). Da Silva is the kind of player whose stock is going up for playoff teams — like Orlando — because he is older at 23, experienced, and can step in and help right away (even if the ultimate upside isn’t as high as others). Da Silva is solid to good at everything, he can face up and drive from the wing or post up a smaller defender. He has a strong feel for the game and can defend well (particularly in a team setting). He’s not explosive by NBA standards, but he can step in now and help as a solid role player for the Magic.
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No. 17, Los Angeles Lakers select: Dalton Knecht, 6'7" forward, Tennessee. One of the tried and true rules of thumb in the NBA Draft: Take the best shooter on the board. Knecht, a senior, may be that guy this year. After two years at Northern Colorado, Knecht transferred to Tennessee and is shooting 39.7% from 3 on 6.2 attempts a game, averaging 21.1 points a game which are more impressive numbers when you consider he is the guy at the top of the scouting report for every team. Plus, his numbers went up in SEC games. There are questions about his athleticism and with that defense at the next level, but do you think J.J. Redick might know what to do with a shooter?
OFFICIAL: Welcome to the Purple & Gold family Dalton Knecht! pic.twitter.com/IppO0fMMIh
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 27, 2024
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No. 16, Philadelphia 76ers select: Jared McCain, 6’3” guard, Duke. After a slow start to his freshman season with the Blue Devils, McCain showed why scouts are high on his fit in the NBA — he is a pure, knock-down shooter who can put the ball on the floor and get into the paint, plus can make plays in transition. He’s not big (leading to some defensive questions), he’s not explosive at the NBA level is not going to be a primary shot-creator, but he looks to be a solid role player who can help as a rookie. Philly can’t go wrong with the shooting that McCain brings, Nick Nurse will find ways to use him.
As Brian Hamilton of NBC noted, Tyrese Maxey and McCain in the backcourt means “Certainly the most smiles per game.”
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No. 15, Miami Heat select: Kel’el Ware, 7’0” center, Indiana. The upside with Ware is obvious — he’s one of the better athletes in this class and that comes in a 7-foot frame, he shot 42% from 3 for the Hoosiers (on 1.3 attempts a game), plus has good hands and can finish around the rim. He has the skill set to become a real threat as a big setting screens who can roll hard to the rim or pop out and hit a 3. The biggest concern is that his effort and focus have been inconsistent over his career (although it was better last season), He’s not going to be able to play that way for the Heat — focus is critical. This could be a great landing spot for him.
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The Miami Heat are on the clock...
Behind the scenes of draft night 👀 pic.twitter.com/EYJfkmKU8l
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 27, 2024
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No. 14, Washington Wizards select: Carlton “Bub” Carrington, 6’4” guard, Pittsburgh. This is the pick that was traded just before the draft, while Portland is making the selection Carrington is headed to the Pacific Northwest.
Carrington could have a future in the NBA as a player who can just get a bucket. He has good size for a guard and a lot of shots in his bag, including pull ups and a lot of potential from 3 (32.2% last season but he shot it well at the NBA Draft Combine). He also showed the ability find the open teammate when doubled. Carrington is a project — he was a tough shot maker in college but that skill doesn’t always translate well against the length and athleticism of NBA defenders — and he has to develop a steadier 3-point shot. Like many entering the league, he needs to bulk up so he can be a stronger defender. But he’s young (18) and the upside is worth the risk for Washington
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No. 13, Sacramento Kings select: Devin Carter, 6'3" guard, Providence. One of college basketball’s best players last season, Carter is someone who can play some minutes right away and help Sacramento behind D’Aaron Fox. Carter had the reputation of a strong defender at South Carolina — he is aggressive at the point of attack — but when he transferred to Providence his offensive game blossomed, particularly his shooting (37.7% from 3 leading to 19.7 points a game). Carter’s role long term may be that of a 3&D guard who can put the ball on the floor a little. He struggled a little at Providence when defenses threw aggressive doubles at him, but that’s not going to be an issue at the NBA level. Carter has a role in the league.
The Kings talked to a number of teams about potentially trading this pick but eventually decided to hang on to it.
Carter was projected as a top-10 pick by many, bettors who had him dropping to 13th could have hit at +1300.
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No. 12, Oklahoma City Thunder select: Nikola Topic, 6'6" point guard, Serbia. This is a great pick for the Thunder, who can afford to be patient. Topic is likely to miss much or all of next season after surgery to repair a partial ACL tear. Once he heals from that, there’s a lot to like about Topic’s potential as a lead guard in the NBA: He’s got good size, has shown a high basketball IQ and feel for the game, he knows how to use a ball screen, is a gifted passer and has a real scoring touch in the paint. Two big questions about him (outside the knee issue): 1) Can he develop a steady jump shot, he does not have that right now; 2) Will his crafty driving game translate to the NBA, or will the more athletic defenders there swallow him up? Oklahoma City is betting on Topic’s potential, and they hit more bets than they miss.
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Some bettors are happy: Rob Dillingham was +750 to go to the Bulls, Cody Williams was +800 to go to the Jazz.
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No. 11, Chicago Bulls select: Matas Buzelis, 6'9" wing, G League Ignite. While he didn’t always stand out in the G-League (how much of that was a poorly constructed Ignite roster?), Chicago likes his potential. So did a lot of scouts, but he’s got a lot of work to do. Buzelis is an impressive athlete who has shown potential as a shooter and scorer, and he’s patient and will let the game come to him. He works well off the ball. To be effective as an NBA wing, Buzelis is going to have to tighten up his handle, develop a steady jumper and become a better defender. The potential is there, but this will be a bit of a process for a Chicago team in roster flux.
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No. 10, Utah Jazz select: Cody Williams, 6’8” forward, Colorado. This is a great get at 10 for Utah; a number of teams had him higher on their boards. Cody is the brother of Oklahoma City standout Jalen Williams. Cody is a versatile, impressive wing defender who uses his 7-foot wingspan well. Williams has a good handle, is a strong passer, can play fast or in the half court, has a high-IQ game and averaged 12.6 points a game. He was a little uneven at times, and while he’s shooting 42.1% from 3, he is only taking 1.8 per game. Utah is going to give him some reps next to Lauri Markkanen, and Williams is going to get the chance to grow.
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No. 9, Memphis Grizzlies select: Zach Edey, 7’4” center, Purdue. The two-time college player of the year averaged 25.2 points,12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game this season, leading the Boilermakers to the national championship game. While there have long been questions about how his game would fit in the NBA, the Grizzlies are the perfect landing spot for him — remember the Griz traded away the injured Steven Adams and needed a center. Edey’s mobility was better this season, but he’s never going to defend great in space at the NBA level. He will be a solid, old-school center who can protect the rim, get some boards and a few buckets. That’s all the Grizzlies need next to former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
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We Have a Trade
Dillingham is not saying in San Antonio. The Spurs have agreed to trade him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs get the Timberwolves’ 2031 pick and the rights to a 2030 pick swap (protected for the No. 1 pick).
This makes sense — Minnesota is a win-now team that rightfully feels it is close and could use some scoring off the bench. Dillingham can provide that from Day 1, and in that role Chris Finch can hide Dillingham’s defense while they develop him.
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No. 8, San Antonio Spurs select: Rob Dillingham, 6’2” point guard, Kentucky. This is a real roll of the dice by the Spurs, who already drafted a guard four picks ago in Castle. Dillingham’s ceiling is high because he is a flat-out bucket getter — great handles, quick with the ball, strong from the midrange, and he hit 44.4% from 3 last season. He’s also undersized for a guard and struggles on defense, which will limit how Gregg Popovich wants to use him. Can Dillingham be developed into a true point guard? Is his NBA future as a microwave scorer off the bench? The Spurs are going to find out.
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Let’s hope the Hornets’ pick of Tidjane Salaun goes better for the franchise than the one they made 28 years ago today, which they traded away...
28 years ago today, the Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant 🐍
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) June 26, 2024
pic.twitter.com/oHQ74m0LzO
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No. 7, Portland Trail Blazers select: Donovan Clingan, 7'2" center, Connecticut. This was farther back than many expected Clingan to fall. The heart of the defense for the national champion Huskies, we saw in the NCAA Tournament what NBA scouts like about him — he is a shot-blocking, rim-protecting force who can score enough around the rim to keep teams honest. He went back to college and showed off improved mobility and footwork. He’s an old-school, rim-running big, but one with a high floor — he’s solid and he can help from Day 1.
The Trail Blazers already have Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams on the roster, though. Are we going to see them try to trade one of their vets?
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No. 6, Charlotte Hornets select: Tidjane Salaun, 6'9" wing, France. This is a bet on the future by the Hornets. Salaun is one of the highest ceiling guys in this draft and one of the youngest players in the draft (not yet 19). He has size and athleticism that can’t be taught — he has the potential to be a quality NBA wing/power forward. He has shown real promise as a defender. However, he’s got a lot of developing to do, some scouts are not sure about his feel for the game, and while his shot has improved it still has a ways to go. In this draft, with few sure things, this is a good swing by Charlotte to see if they can develop a quality player at a position of need around the league.
And another French player is going to make Wembanyama even happier.
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The top two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft being from France made Victor Wembanyama happy.
C’est la France frère 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
— Wemby (@wemby) June 27, 2024
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As soon as we write about no surprises in this draft... Upset alert: Ron Holland was +2000 to be the 5th overall selection.
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No. 5, Detroit Pistons select: Ron Holland, 6'8" wing, G-League Ignite. The best player on the last Ignite team, he averaged 19.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game with the ability to create shots (although his decision making was hit and miss, which shouldn’t be a shock for a young man not yet 19). One thing scouts like is the energy he plays with on defense — he wants to be disruptive on that end, a good sign going forward. He’s got to become a more consistent jump shooter and will have to figure out how to use his athleticism at the next level, plus he will have to develop a better left hand — he’s a young player with potential who needs development, like a lot of players in this draft. Detroit is a rebuilding team bringing in a development coach (probably, they have to hire one someday) and has made the bet they can bring him along.
Detroit got a lot of calls about trading this pick from teams wanting to move up and select UConn big man Donovan Clingan. Those calls are now going to Charlotte, which may listen.
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No surprises through the first four picks of the draft; each of these guys was the betting favorite to go in that spot. That trend is not going to last.
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No. 4, San Antonio Spurs select: Stephon Castle, 6’6” guard, UConn. This is a fantastic fit next to Victor Wembanyama — a perimeter playmaker who can feed him the ball or play off it. On a loaded Huskies team, Castle stood out during their NCAA Championship run and moved up draft boards because of his standout play (36 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the Final Four). He has good size for a lead guard, has shown real lateral quickness and is a switchable defender. He plays with a high motor. His play in the tournament helped answer questions about playmaking, and the only concern is his shot — the form is fine, but it doesn’t go in. If Castle’s jumper comes around, he can be a star.
With the 4th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select @StephonCastle! pic.twitter.com/WvCN3KMyy6
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 27, 2024
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No. 3, Houston Rockets select: Reed Sheppard, 6’2” guard, Kentucky. Sheppard projects as a potential high-level 3&D guard — he shot 52.5% from 3 for the Wildcats and was a disruptive force on defense, averaging 2.5 steals a game. He’s an NBA-level athlete with a 42-inch vertical, and there were a number of scouts who loved him. What gave some teams pause was Sheppard is not particularly tall or long (6’3” wingspan) and is not a standout athlete. Houston is betting that what he did at Kentucky can translate to the NBA.
There had been a lot of speculation about the Rockets trading this pick — they certainly shopped it around — but after looking at the offers they decided they were going to keep it. And you can’t go wrong drafting shooting.
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No. 2, Washington Wizards select: Alex Sarr, 7’1” center, France (via Perth Wildcats). Sarr was considered by scouts the safest pick at the top of the board because it’s easy to see how he fits in the modern NBA game — an elite, high-flying rim-protector with size who can switch out and hold his own on the perimeter defensively. While his offense is a work in progress, he has potential for a floor-spacing pick-and-pop game, plus he can finish around the rim. He is a bit of a project — he needs to get stronger, his offensive game needs polish — but the potential is there to be a very good NBA big man.
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No. 1, Atlanta Hawks select: Zaccharie Risacher, 6'8" forward, France. Risacher has been near the top of every team’s draft board because he is a prototypical wing, a position highly valued in today’s game. He averaged 13.1 points a game in EuroCup contests playing for JL Bourg in the top French league. He’s shown signs of being a good on-ball defender and has a quality jump shot, which he can knock down from 3. The questions are about how good a shot creator he can develop into, both for himself and others. However, he’s got as high a ceiling as any player in this draft, he’s got positional size, and he makes sense for the Atlanta Hawks, if they can just develop him a little.
That’s two years in a row a French player has gone No. 1 in the NBA draft (Victor Wembanyama).
HE'S NUMBER 1️⃣
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 27, 2024
Welcome to Atlanta, @Zacch_10! pic.twitter.com/1Ro2XPAr6l
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Here’s a final quick Look at the betting odds for the top three picks in the 2024 NBA Draft:
1st Overall Pick
· Favorite: Zaccharie Risacher -350
· Highest Ticket%: Donovan Clingan 22.1%
· Highest Handle%: Zaccharie Risacher 38.3%
· Biggest Liability: Bronny James
2nd Overall Pick
· Favorite: Alexandre Sarr -700
· Highest Ticket%: Alexandre Sarr 32.8%
· Highest Handle%: Alexandre Sarr 80.9%
· Biggest Liability: Alexandre Sarr
3rd Overall Pick
· Favorite: Reed Sheppard -200
· Highest Ticket%: Reed Sheppard 22.7%
· Highest Handle%: Reed Sheppard 36.6%
· Biggest Liability: Dalton Knecht
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In the wake of the Paolo Banchero draft a couple of years ago nothing is set in stone, but reports now from multiple reporters out of Atlanta, as well as a news breaker in ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, point to Atlanta taking French wing Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick. While there has been buzz in the past about UConn’s Donovan Clingan or Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, drafting either of those would suggest a major roster shakeup coming...
Of course, one of those might be coming to Atlanta anyway — the Hawks have been testing the trade waters for both Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
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It’s not directly a draft item, but we’re putting it in here:
Nic Claxton has agreed to return to the Brooklyn Nets on a four-year, $100 million contract, a story broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This is a fair deal for him, and don’t be shocked if other teams start calling the Nets about him at this trade deadline and next summer — that’s a very tradable contract for a player who brings a needed skill in rim protection.
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Time for a fit check on the NBA draft class of 2024:
Introducing the Class of 2024! 📸
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2024
The #NBADraft presented by State Farm begins at 8pm/et on ABC & ESPN! pic.twitter.com/OJsBFzZn75
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We Have a Trade
The Wizards and Trail Blazers didn’t even wait for the NBA draft to start before they made a deal. Portland is getting Deni Avdija — coming off a strong season where he averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game, shooting 37.4% from 3 and finishing sixth in Most Improved Player voting — from the Wizards in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and picks, including the No. 14 one in this draft.
The Washington Wizards are trading F Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon and the 14th pick tonight and 2029 pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/inF8ezNZtL
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Portland maintains the No. 7 pick in this draft. This is a quality move for the Trail Blazers, bringing another facilitator to the lineup.
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Our NBA betting experts put together a list of the odds and their best bets. Here is just a taste:
Fun Bet: Bronny James to be drafted in Round 2 with Pick #54…by the Lakers’ arch-enemy, the Boston Celtics (+6600). Unlikely, but with the abundance of draft capitol they own, the World Champs can afford to take a flyer on a bit of a project while at the same time throwing a shot at a rival.
Best Bets:
Team to Draft Bronny James - LA Lakers (-160)
Seems too obvious but sometimes it pays to not overthink things. Here’s hoping this is one of those times.
Devin Carter to be Drafted in the Top 10 (-160)
The Big East Player of the Year has impressed at every stop of his Pre-Draft Tour.
Stephon Castle to be Drafted #6 Overall (+425)
Castle’s toolbox complements the play of Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball.
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The players are showing up for the draft.
DRAFTEES ARRIVE FOR NIGHT ONE 📸 #NBADraft presented by State Farm begins at 8pm/et on ABC & ESPN! pic.twitter.com/iElUPHCgMX
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2024
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The NBA draft is one of the wildest nights on the NBA calendar — but the Knicks didn’t even wait for the draft to start before making things insane. Their trade for Mikal Bridges — sending five first-round picks to jump-start the Nets rebuild — got things rolling 22 hours before Adam Silver walked on stage.
It can be hard to keep up with all the picks and trades on draft night, and that’s why we are here. This will be a life-changing night for the players selected and a franchise-changing night for some teams, even if we don’t know it right away.
This 2024 NBA Draft Tracker will have it all: breakdowns of every pick, every trade — complete with an analysis of how that player fits (or doesn’t) with his new surroundings. Stick with us and you won’t miss a thing.
Remember, this is a two-night draft this year, with Wednesday night being just round one. Round two — where Bronny James gets selected — comes early on Thursday (4 p.m. ET, the time was pushed up because of the presidential debate, which was not scheduled when the league set the draft dates).
