2024 NBA Draft Thread - the hawks might be on the clock

ace said:
We gotta take Sarr. He’s exactly what we don’t have. A legit 7 footer than can handle the ball, athletic and can knock down shots. He could be a Chet for us. Trade a couple pieces to get BI from NO, maybe Murray. Get capela off our books. Trae, Jalen, BI, Okongwu and Sarr. This needs to be the starting roster come October.
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I don't expect the Thunder to all of a sudden change their minds about playing five-out at all times, but if they did, they could easily absorb Capela's salary for one of their many first round picks. It would open up minutes for Sarr, get them out of the tax and give them enough breathing room to re-sign Bey (if they want to?).
 
pmatic said:
I don't expect the Thunder to all of a sudden change their minds about playing five-out at all times, but if they did, they could easily absorb Capela's salary for one of their many first round picks. It would open up minutes for Sarr, get them out of the tax and give them enough breathing room to re-sign Bey (if they want to?).
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I was calling for them to trade for Capela all season :lol:
 
Bub Carrington could be an interesting upside play for the Knicks if he’s there late first round. Young kid, decent handle and footwork, floater and jumper look ok. Working out with Brunson and McBride could be helpful and turn him into a rotation player.
 


Rockets draft notebook 1.0: Options at No. 3, Donovan Mitchell question and more

We are officially knee-deep into draft season. In a few weeks, you’ll be sick of mock drafts, projections and hot takes surrounding this draft class.

The Houston Rockets are in an interesting spot, coming off of a successful 2023-24 regular season and armed with the No. 3 pick. There are several directions the team could go between now and June 26. I spent the past week in Chicago trying to figure it out through conversations with league executives, scouts and agents. Here is version 1.0 of our draft notebook.

• Because of the intrigue of the current draft-eligible players — its overall parity and lack of a true No. 1 prospect — this year’s draft preparation might prove to be difficult.

“I think this year, there’s going to be quite a few guys coming from backgrounds that are a little bit different,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone told reporters last week. “And it makes the evaluation process a little harder, but it doesn’t mean they’re less talented.”

Sorting through this class will require a holistic approach in more ways than scouting, for example, Amen Thompson or Jabari Smith Jr.

Houston’s brass has yet to meet formally to construct its initial big board. May 29 is the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft to maintain their college eligibility and Eurocamp begins June 1 in Treviso, Italy, which tends to delay in-person gatherings as things become solidified. Head coach Ime Udoka will attend pro days this week in Los Angeles, getting a closer look at potential green room invites. Before the lottery, Stone had been looking at Zaccharie Risacher, Tidjane Salaun and others in Europe.

Rockets officials also met with some of the players projected to go at the top of next month’s draft — including UConn’s Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle, Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis — during the combine. One team source cited Buzelis’ interview as excellent, which correlated with his group availability, showing confidence in his NBA readiness, commitment to defensive discipline and the simplifying of his offensive game to translate to the pros.

• The casual nature of the combine — conversations with league executives, agents, media and scouts held either in the lobby and restaurant area of the Marriott Marquis or on the concourse of the adjacent Wintrust Arena — gave an early peek into outside interest in the Rockets’ No. 3 pick. Talks have largely been informal, the bulk of concrete offers likely won’t come in until draft night, but a handful of teams have expressed interest in acquiring the pick, team and league sources told The Athletic. Interested teams would either like to move up to No. 3 or ones that would like to move into the first round altogether, sources said.

• There is an assumption, given Houston’s 19-win improvement and Udoka’s preference for older, experienced players, that the Rockets would prefer to trade the pick. That isn’t necessarily the case.

“I don’t think there’s only one way to develop young players and I don’t think there’s only one way to build a roster,” Stone told reporters last week. “We definitely would draft someone and bring him into the fold if it makes sense.”

The Rockets have options.

“Because we like our current roster so much, it provides us with more flexibility to explore creative deals of all sorts,” Stone told The Athletic last week. Since the rebuild started, six first-round picks have been added to the roster and, to varying degrees, all six have contributed to Houston’s improvement. It’s not outlandish to think the right player, even in a draft class considered weak, could add to the mix.

Team sources said Houston will listen to offers. For example, moving back and collecting additional assets should not be ruled out as a possibility, not this early in the process. Since 29 other teams may have 29 opinions on the top of the draft, big boards could vary. Last season, the Rockets expected Cam Whitmore (who had been highly graded) to be gone by the time their 20th pick came around. They were prepared to trade out of the draft entirely — and were surprised he was still on the board when the pick arrived. A similar situation could arise next month, with a player they like at No. 3 potentially available at say, No. 9.

• Another possibility, if the Rockets were to move the No. 3 pick, is packaging it with additional assets for a star. Houston is flush with young talent and draft capital that could appeal to teams with elite talent in flux. One player who fits is Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell. The Rockets are among those interested in the 27-year-old and have been monitoring his situation for months, league sources say. The Cavaliers guard’s delay in inking a long-term extension, coupled with another disheartening playoff exit, only adds to speculation about his future. Such a move for an All-NBA type player would be more suitable than for others who could potentially be available — New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges — for example.

• Houston also could look to acquire future draft picks, such as Brooklyn’s array of assets courtesy of the Phoenix Suns/Kevin Durant trade. The Houston Chronicle first reported the Rockets’ interest in the Suns’ unprotected first-round picks (Brooklyn has ownership of 2025, ’27 and ’29 Phoenix firsts in addition to swaps beginning in 2028). Per team sources, the Rockets will re-engage with the Nets leading up to the June 26 draft.

• All signs point toward the Rockets picking up the options on veteran forwards Jae’Sean Tate and Jeff Green, team sources said. This list also includes reserve center Jock Landale, even with the expectation Steven Adams, who was acquired in February, will be a sizable contributor next season. From a cap space standpoint, this would put the Rockets around $9.5 million under the tax threshold, according to The Athletic’s salary cap expert Danny Leroux. Houston would still be able to access the full non-taxpayer midlevel exception, which has a projected starting salary of $12.9 million and a max value of $55.3 million for four years.

Leftover musings
• Based on Houston’s recent draft profile (although Stone recently said he doesn’t have a player type) — leaning more toward size and versatility and away from team fit — my personal Rockets big board likely differs from the field. Mock drafts are a tough exercise because the level of influence from the general manager, head coach and owner is different in each team.

Although Stone makes the decision on draft night for the Rockets, Udoka’s voice is clear. Here’s how I would rank the upcoming prospects from a Rockets point of view:
  1. Zaccharie Risacher | 6-8 wing/forward | 19 years old | JL Bourg
  2. Matas Buzelis | 6-9 wing/forward | 19 years old | G League Ignite
  3. Stephon Castle | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
  4. Dalton Knecht | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Tennessee
  5. Ron Holland | 6-7 wing | 18 years old | G League Ignite
In my next tier, I would have Alex Sarr, Sheppard, Nikola Topić, Rob Dillingham and Clingan. Again, this is just how I see it right now. It can change. But if I’m looking for the sweet spot between talent, versatility and fit, this is where I’m at.

• Houston has identified floor spacing and shooting as an area of need this offseason privately and publicly and have an interest in veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley, league sources said. Beasley, who is also attracting early interest from Orlando and Golden State, spent the past season in Milwaukee, starting 77 games and shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point distance.

• On the subject of the Magic, there is a clear need for an overhaul in the shooting department, and Orlando could benefit from adding guards with playmaking and floor-spacing capabilities. “… And having a guy who can set the table and be reliable,” Magic star Paolo Banchero told The Washington Post recently. “We have a lot of talented guys who can make shots and make plays: me, Franz (Wagner) and Jalen Suggs. I would rather be more of an offensive hub than the point guard if that makes sense.”

Orlando is interested in Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, league sources tell The Athletic. Russell has an $18.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season he can opt out of if he chooses to test the open market.

• The Spurs are said to be big fans of UConn’s Castle, league sources said, and he is moving up their draft board. San Antonio has two top-10 selections and could take Castle with either the No. 4 or No. 8 pick.

• After sitting through all four combine scrimmages and a long week in Chicago, AJ Johnson’s stock is on the rise. The 6-foot-6 Illawarra point guard tested well — sixth among all participants in both the shuttle run and pro lane drill, two important factors in lateral quickness and more importantly, defensive potential and ability. But on the floor, his presence is clear. I’m not sure how often a player is asked to switch teams mid-drill, but the white team was getting outplayed so badly in four-on-four that Johnson was asked to switch to balance things out.

Once the games started, he was one of the best players on the floor over both days, less so because of his counting stats (17 points on 7 of 14 shots, 10 assists, one turnover) and more because of his intangibles. Johnson has a great feel for the game, understanding how to create half-court opportunities for his teammates, so much so that opposing coaches were screaming for traps and doubles once he touched the ball.

He still needs to add pounds to his frame and show defensive consistency, as well as his overall aggression, but there’s a real maturity with the ball in his hands that is rare for young players, especially having been glued to the bench for the majority of his only NBL season. Teams came away impressed with his impact and how he interviewed, and the buzz of Johnson jumping into the first round is legit.
 


2024 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 58 picks post-combine

1. Atlanta Hawks
Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia) | Age: 19.0
The Hawks jumped all way from No. 10 to 1 in the draft lottery, a rare stroke of luck that gives the team a chance to select a different caliber of prospect than the one their front office was preparing to pick all season. In an interview at the combine, general manager Landry Fields said he plans to "cast a wide net" in evaluating the Hawks' options at No. 1, which makes sense in a class with no consensus top prospect. Fields flew to France at the conclusion of the combine to watch potential No. 1 pick candidate Zaccharie Risacher drop 14 points with 6 rebounds in a playoff game but was not in attendance for Risacher's breakout game two days later when he had a career-high 28 points.

At this stage, NBA executives don't have a firm grasp of what the Hawks might ultimately do, as word coming out of their front office is they are still at a very early stage of decision-making and have plenty of work to do in gathering information and finding alignment. Many around the league expect the Hawks to select Sarr with the top pick, as there are compelling reasons to consider him the best prospect in this class with his elite physical tools, mobility, defensive versatility, finishing ability and potential as a perimeter shooter. He'd fit in nicely in a frontcourt alongside the likes of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, and should develop into a formidable rim-protector who can also cover ground on the perimeter, which is attractive in minimizing the defensive shortcomings of Trae Young.
We'd expect Fields and the Hawks front office to consider other options here as well, including Risacher, Donovan Clingan and trade opportunities. -- Givony

2. Washington Wizards
Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France) | Age: 19.1
Washington was the only team with top-four odds lucky enough to hold serve in the lottery, giving them a chance to take a long-term swing atop the draft. And while the Wizards have kept information tight under top executive Michael Winger, some around the league are working under the assumption that Winger and general manager Will Dawkins -- both with roots in the Thunder organization -- will follow Oklahoma City's long-term blueprint, presuming they'll be granted the patience to execute that type of full-scale rebuild. With that in mind, and positional fit less of a concern, at this early juncture, many rival teams are expecting the Wizards to target whichever of Sarr and Risacher falls here, working under the assumption that the Hawks select one of the two at No. 1.

Risacher turned in his best game of the season at the right time over the weekend, scoring 28 points in an impressive all-around display that included quality shot-making and explosive dunks attacking downhill -- in a road playoff game, no less. While he has work to do expanding his game off the dribble, he has the size and skills to become an excellent complementary wing and versatile defender, with untapped upside if he can develop into a more capable creator with the ball. -- Woo

3. Houston Rockets (via Nets)
Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky | Age: 19.9
The Rockets jumped six spots into the top three in the draft lottery, via a pick owed to them by the Brooklyn Nets from the James Harden trade in 2021. Firmly in win-now mode, coming off a 19-win improvement from the previous season and flush with talented young players, NBA executives expect the Rockets to weigh several options with this pick, including the possibility of trading back or out in acquiring assets that better fit their timeline of making the playoffs next season with their existing roster.

Continuing to add shooting, either through trades or the draft, will likely be a priority after finishing towards the bottom of the league in that category last season. With that in mind, adding a sharpshooter like Sheppard, who converted over half of his 3-point attempts and proved capable of playing on or off the ball, could be attractive. Sheppard's unselfishness, feel for the game and sharp defensive instincts could make him a strong fit alongside the Rockets' core moving forward. -- Givony

4. San Antonio Spurs
Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky | Age: 19.3
As the only team holding two picks in the top 10, the Spurs have an intriguing opportunity to take multiple big swings as they work to build a competitive roster out around Victor Wembanyama. Considering their glaring need in the backcourt, expect San Antonio to target a guard, with players like Sheppard, Dillingham, Stephon Castle and Nikola Topic profiling as top candidates. In addition to order of preference, the other strategic question San Antonio has to answer is how to make these two picks work in conjunction: It could feasibly target a different position at No. 4, and still wind up with a guard it's comfortable with at No. 8.

Dillingham has been one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, with some scouts projecting him as more of a microwave bench scorer due to his defensive shortcomings, and others seeing a Darius Garland-like upside if he can refine his game enough to handle a starting role. His shot-creation ability and offensive upside -- as well as the level of defensive cover he'd have with Wembanyama behind him -- makes him an intriguing upside bet for the Spurs specifically. -- Woo

5. Detroit Pistons
Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite | Age: 19.6
It's difficult to peg who the Pistons might pick before knowing who might be making that decision, as Detroit is currently searching for a new president of basketball operations to oversee the front office. With the existing players in place, including somewhat of a logjam in the backcourt and frontcourt, it makes sense to look at small forward options who can connect the roster and bring defensive versatility, perimeter shooting and playmaking.

Buzelis has terrific size at 6-foot-10, explosive athletic ability and has shown promising signs of perimeter shooting and rim-protection prowess over the past few years. The fact that he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be successful but has significant upside to grow into with his developing frame could be attractive with this pick. -- Givony

6. Charlotte Hornets
Donovan Clingan, C, UConn | Age: 20.2
After immensely boosting his stock with dominant play in March, Clingan looks ready to contribute as a long-term defensive anchor, best suited to drop coverage and using his size to wall off angles in the paint. He's been aiming to showcase skill potential and three-point range in workout settings, helping teams envision offensive upside and versatility, and has earned looks at the very top of the draft. Clingan was arguably the top prospect most harmed by how the lottery shook out, as none of the teams picking in the top five as constituted have an express need to select a true center -- even if NBA executives expect him to be firmly in play with Atlanta, Washington and Houston.

Charlotte looks like a soft landing spot, with a clear need at the five to help shore up their defense behind Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Landing Clingan, arguably the top rim protector in the draft, would be an ostensible coup for the Hornets after their pick slipped here. -- Woo

7. Portland Trail Blazers
Nikola Topic, PG, Mega MIS (Adriatic League) | Age: 18.7
The status of Topic's knee will play a big part in determining how high he ends up being selected -- something we'll learn more about following the NBA Global Camp in Treviso in two weeks, where he's expected to undergo a battery of physical examinations. He missed a big chunk of the season with a ligament strain he suffered in early January and then again reinjured the same knee, which ruled him out of the Adriatic league Finals.

The Trail Blazers drafted what they hope is their point guard of the future last year in Scoot Henderson and have two talented backcourt players in the fold already in Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons. Topic's size, playmaking ability, feel for the game and improving perimeter shooting should allow him to play in a variety of lineup configurations, but Portland will also likely look at pure wing prospects in addition to frontcourt players who may fill a more immediate need. -- Givony

8. San Antonio Spurs
Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France) | Age: 18.7
Salaun turned in an excellent performance last week in the French LNB playoffs and has closed the season on a more productive stretch offensively, showcasing his tools, energy, and flashes of talent as a stretch forward. Yet to turn 19, Salaun offers plenty of untapped upside, making him an intriguing lottery name in an uncertain draft where long-view organizations will want to swing big on potential.

San Antonio looks like a viable top-end landing spot for Salaun, particularly if it opts for a guard at No. 4; he might offer more optimal spacing and athleticism from the four spot than Jeremy Sochan in the long run, and as a potential complementary player alongside star countryman Wembanyama. -- Woo

9. Memphis Grizzlies
Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee | Age: 23.0
An injury-plagued season gives the Grizzlies a chance to add more talent to a roster already featuring three significant building blocks in Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Considering the team's timetable, and the urgency surely in place to make a run back to the NBA playoffs next season, finding plug-and-play options who can contribute immediately without too long of a development runway will likely be important.

At 23 years old, coming off an All-American season, Knecht looks like an attractive option with that in mind. He's one of the best shooters in this class, but can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways and has the frame and length to play either wing position. -- Givony

10. Utah Jazz
Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn | Age: 19.5
The versatile role Castle supplies, coupled with room to grow offensively, puts him in play all over the mid-to-late lottery -- but it's worth noting that he appears to be marketing himself to teams as a point guard. Accordingly, Castle is being selective with where he works out, targeting teams that have a need for a lead ball handler. The new CBA rules have granted teams wider access to medicals, reducing agents' leverage in steering players to specific destinations -- but it's always easier from an optics standpoint to select a player who wants to play for your team.

Castle's versatile perimeter defense and playmaking potential makes him an interesting fit next to smaller, offensive-minded guards, which the Jazz have several of. As Utah aims to improve the league's worst defensive rating, grabbing a player who addresses needs both present and future would be a win here at No. 10. Castle makes a lot of sense from that vantage point, and if he can improve his shaky three-point shooting, he could provide quite a bit of lineup versatility in the long-term. -- Woo

11. Chicago Bulls
Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite | Age: 18.8
The Bulls have been treading water for several years and now are staring at an aging roster with few prospects for improvement internally. Rolling the dice on an 18-year old prospect like Holland, at one point ranked the No. 1 player in his high school class and a strong candidate at the top of this draft, could make sense at this point in the draft. Holland's competitiveness, aggressiveness and scoring instincts gives him a chance to emerge as a very productive NBA player as his perimeter shooting and decision-making continue to evolve. -- Givony

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Rockets)
Cody Williams, SG/SF, Colorado | Age: 19.4
The Thunder can go in any direction here, with depth and young talent across positions as the team shifts forward into what could be a contention window ahead of schedule. Finding players who fit their mold and successfully developing them on cost-controlled deals is still imperative, considering general manager Sam Presti will eventually need to start consolidating the roster. Once viewed as a potential candidate near the top of the draft, Williams' stock appears to have slipped into this range; at the moment, teams view him as a more likely candidate to come off the board in the late lottery on down than in the top 10. His long-term upside as an oversized, two-way wing contributor does fit the Thunder's typical mold, if they swing for upside. -- Woo

13. Sacramento Kings
Ja'Kobe Walter, SG/SF, Baylor | Age: 19.7
The Kings could look to bolster their wing depth with key reserve Malik Monk entering free agency, through either the draft or other means. A movement shooter such as Walter who can run off screens and bring high-level intensity defensively makes plenty of sense. He also has plenty of upside to grow into at 19 years old. Other perimeter shooters such as local product Jared McCain and sharpshooting wings Johnny Furphy and Kyshawn George will also likely be in play here. -- Givony

14. Portland Trail Blazers (via Warriors)
Zach Edey, C, Purdue | Age: 22.0
Edey's incredible productivity and size profile makes him a unique option for teams looking to develop a big in this part of the draft. While it's probable he winds up as more of a situational role player in an NBA context due to his defensive limitations, it's also hard to totally rule out the type of impact he could still have as a play-finisher and screener. With two lottery picks and a collection of young perimeter players on the roster, Portland could stand to experiment here and shore up its depth behind DeAndre Ayton, considering Robert Williams III' struggles to stay healthy. -- Woo

15. Miami Heat
Jared McCain, PG, Duke | Age: 20.2
The Heat offense -- ranked second worst among playoff teams -- may need a jolt coming off a gentleman's sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Enter McCain, one of the best shooter/scorers in this draft class, who brings quite a few of the off-court intangibles the Heat often covet with his competitiveness, work ethic and smarts. The Heat will likely hope to see the Duke freshman grow into more of an on-ball threat as his career progresses, but have some playmaking reps to offer on this roster. -- Givony

16. Philadelphia 76ers
Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence | Age: 22.1
The blend of experience, athletic tools, defensive motor and high-level intangibles Carter brings figures to hold strong appeal to playoff-caliber teams in this range of the draft. Carter tested quite well at the combine and fared well in four-on-four drills, electing to play and showcase his competitiveness, which likely helped further his case. The 76ers are in position to grab whichever prospect falls to them here outside the lottery, but creating some short-term value is likely imperative as Philadelphia pushes to improve the team around Joel Embiid. -- Woo

17. Los Angeles Lakers*
Tristan Da Silva, SF/PF, Colorado | Age: 22.1
The Lakers are still waiting to hear about New Orleans' plans, as it has until June 1 to decide whether to take this pick or defer it to 2025. Should the Lakers be picking, they'll likely be in the market for proven players who can play an immediate role on an experienced roster centered around soon-to-be 40-year old LeBron James. Da Silva is a plug-and-play option at 23 years old who brings coveted defensive versatility, feel for the game and perimeter shooting, making 40% of his 3-point attempts this past season. Expect this pick to be in trade talks as well as the Lakers weigh the option of adding a third star to the roster. -- -- Givony

18. Orlando Magic
Johnny Furphy, SG/SF, Kansas | Age: 19.4
Orlando has built a young, playoff-caliber roster and may not be selecting early in the draft anytime soon, making this pick a possible opportunity to swing on upside one more time rather than target an immediate contributor. The late-blooming Furphy is the type of tall, skilled, low-maintenance perimeter prospect the Magic have favored in recent drafts, and Orlando has enough talent on the roster to afford him some low-pressure development time.
Although Furphy left the door open for a return to Kansas, the likelihood he hears his name called in the first round may be enough to keep him in the draft -- his youth, athleticism and shooting potential give him pretty real upside, provided he can get up to speed on the defensive end. -- Woo

19. Toronto Raptors (via Pacers)
Kyshawn George, SG/SF, Miami | Age: 20.4
The Raptors were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last year both in terms of 3-point makes and accuracy and will need to continue to surround Scottie Barnes with enough floor spacing to keep opposing defenses honest. George is the type of oversized, long-armed wing this front office often covets, making 41% of his attempts at Miami and still having plenty of upside to grow into thanks to his feel for the game, playmaking and the unique developmental trajectory he's on, having grown nine inches in the past five years. -- Givony

20. Cleveland Cavaliers
Carlton Carrington, PG/SG, Pittsburgh | Age: 18.8
Teams view the 18-year-old Carrington as one of this draft's true upside swings, with positional size (measuring just under 6-foot-4 barefoot) and flashing the talent as a scorer, playmaker and defender to deliver a strong return outside the lottery. He's still raw enough that there's some downside here, and some scouts felt he missed an opportunity to help himself by playing in the combine scrimmages, but there's certainly optimism around his long-term potential as his body fills out. With the future of the Donovan Mitchell/Garland pairing in Cleveland uncertain, the Cavs could justify swinging on a younger guard at this spot. -- Woo

21. New Orleans Pelicans (via Bucks)
Isaiah Collier, PG, USC | Age: 19.6
This would be a big slide for Collier, who slated 11th in our previous mock and was at one point considered a candidate at No. 1. With few teams in the 12-20 range in the market for a lead guard with questionable shooting ability, Collier has a wide range due to the amount of playmaking usage he'll likely need to reach his full potential and the fact that most of the teams picking outside the top 10 are in win-now mode. The Pelicans might be a team willing to take a longer view, as they don't have any glaring needs on their roster that they are likely to fill at this stage of the draft. -- Givony

22. Phoenix Suns
Kyle Filipowski, PF/C, Duke | Age: 20.5
The Suns are in a precarious position as they attempt to construct a contender around their trio of highly paid stars. Phoenix is spending more aggressively than any team in the league and has also traded away control of its future drafts with picks and swap rights outgoing through 2030. It's imperative they it cultivates talent on rookie contracts to help balance the roster.
Expect the Suns to look for a ready-made contributor at this spot, with Filipowski's size and skill level adding a potentially useful dimension to their frontcourt. Phoenix also has a glaring need for a true point guard, which is something it will likely consider here as well. -- Woo

23. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans)
Yves Missi, C, Baylor | Age: 20.0
The Bucks have needs at several positions and will likely be opportunistic depending on which player falls to their pick. Missi's impressive size, length, mobility and explosiveness gives him significant upside to tap into long-term. He's only been playing organized basketball for three years but showed notable progress offensively at Baylor this past season, along with flashes of rim-protection prowess. -- Givony

24. New York Knicks (via Mavericks)
Tyler Smith, SF/PF, G League Ignite | Age: 19.5
It's unclear at this stage whether the Knicks will make both these picks or try to leverage them into improving the roster via other means, but this is an opportunity to shore up their depth as they try to sustain this season's success into the future. Smith made positive strides with G League Ignite and has the blueprint to develop into an effective floor-spacing forward, as well as enough size to hold his own on defense. That could be appealing to the Knicks, with a roster presently lacking for stretch bigs. -- Woo

25. New York Knicks
Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana | Age: 20.0
When healthy, the Knicks have strong depth and versatility at nearly every position and can afford to take a couple of swings on long-term upside if they decide to keep one or both of their first-round picks. Ware has tremendous physical ability with his size, length and mobility as well as his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim in small doses. If he can buy into playing the type of toughness and intensity that Tom Thibodeau requires, he could be a steal in this part of the draft. -- Givony

26. Washington Wizards (via Clippers)
Bobi Klintman, SF/PF, Cairns (Australia) | Age: 21.2
Klintman has been a polarizing name for teams for the past couple seasons, but he supplies real size, shooting and skill potential at either forward spot. He's the type of project that might make sense for the Wizards, who are in a talent collection phase, and can afford to bet on upside at all stages of the draft. Consistency has been the issue for Klintman to this point in his career, as he can be selectively competitive and doesn't always harness his physical gifts as effectively as he could. There's palpable upside here for a team that trusts its player development and believes it can get more out of him, which might make him a worthy bet in the late first round. -- Woo

27. Minnesota Timberwolves
Baylor Scheierman, SG/SF, Creighton | Age: 23.6
The Timberwolves are in the midst of a fantastic season, currently competing in the Western Conference finals, and have enviable depth and talent at nearly every position. Like every team, adding wing depth and shooting will likely be priorities to continue to space the floor effectively for their twin-towers lineup, which have been very successful. Scheierman was one of the big winners of the combine, being one of the best players on the floor in the live action and looking like a plug-and-play option with his excellent combination of size, perimeter shooting versatility, feel for the game and competitiveness. -- Givony

28. Denver Nuggets
Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette | Age: 23.1
Kolek opted not to play at the combine, feeling secure in his stock as a first-round pick, and has suitors in the 20s as a potential plug-and-play guard. His pick-and-roll acumen and notable competitive streak should appeal to playoff-caliber teams looking for immediate help. The Nuggets have primarily targeted experienced college talent in recent drafts as they work to build out a sustainable roster around Nikola Jokic. Expect them to consider shoring up perimeter depth at this spot, particularly with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson holding player options this summer. -- Woo

29. Utah Jazz (via Thunder)
Justin Edwards, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 20.4
Edwards did not have the season many expected at Kentucky but is still worthy of consideration in this area of the draft at 6-7 with some perimeter shooting acumen and upside to grow into after one season in college. The Jazz have multiple picks at their disposal and can afford to take a swing on a player many considered a top-10 candidate entering the season. -- Givony

30. Boston Celtics
Kevin McCullar, SF, Kansas | Age: 23.1
Late season injuries put a bit of a damper on McCullar's season, but a strong first month helped reframe his NBA readiness and moved him from two-way contract candidate into what will likely be guaranteed money on draft night. The Celtics are in a contention window and have a need for wing depth behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Grabbing an experienced player on a cheap contract at this spot could be a valuable route for Boston. -- Woo
*The New Orleans Pelicans have the option to take the Los Angeles Lakers' pick at No. 17 overall or defer it to 2025. They have until June 1 to decide.

ROUND 2
31. Toronto Raptors (via Pistons)
Ryan Dunn, SF, Virginia | Age: 21.3
32. Utah Jazz (via Wizards)
Jaylon Tyson, SG/SF, California | Age: 21.4
33. Milwaukee Bucks (via Trail Blazers)
Terrence Shannon Jr., SG/SF, Illinois | Age: 23.8
34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Hornets)
A.J. Johnson, SG, Illawarra (Australia) | Age: 19.4
35. San Antonio Spurs
Cam Christie, SG, Minnesota | Age: 18.8
36. Indiana Pacers (via Raptors)
Alex Karaban, PF, UConn | Age: 21.5
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Grizzlies)
Juan Nunez, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | Age: 19.9
38. New York Knicks (via Jazz)
Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Academy Showcase (Africa) | Age: 18.3
39. Memphis Grizzlies (via Nets)
Adem Bona, C, UCLA | Age: 21.1
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Hawks)
Jonathan Mogbo, C, San Francisco | Age: 22.5
41. Philadelphia 76ers (via Bulls)
Nikola Djurisic, SG/SF, Mega MIS (Adriatic League) | Age: 20.2
42. Charlotte Hornets (via Rockets)
Pelle Larsson, SG, Arizona | Age: 23.2
43. Miami Heat
Pacome Dadiet, SG/SF, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | Age: 18.8
44. Houston Rockets (via Warriors)
Ajay Mitchell, PG, UC Santa Barbara | Age: 21.9
45. Sacramento Kings
KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado | Age: 21.7
46. LA Clippers (via Pacers)
Harrison Ingram, SF/PF, North Carolina | Age: 21.4
47. Orlando Magic
Keshad Johnson, PF, Arizona | Age: 22.9
48. San Antonio Spurs (via Lakers)
Melvin Ajinca, SG/SF, Saint Quentin (France) | Age: 19.8
49. Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers)
Dillon Jones, SF/PF, Weber State | Age: 22.5
50. Indiana Pacers (via Pelicans)
DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton | Age: 21.7
51. Washington Wizards (via Suns)
Payton Sandfort, SF, Iowa | Age: 21.8
52. Golden State Warriors (via Bucks)
Izan Almansa, PF/C, G League Ignite | Age: 18.8
53. Detroit Pistons (via Knicks)
Jamal Shead, PG, Houston | Age: 21.8
54. Boston Celtics (via Mavericks)
Bronny James, PG/SG, USC | Age: 19.6
55. Los Angeles Lakers (via Clippers)
Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest | Age: 21.1
56. Denver Nuggets (via Timberwolves)
Jalen Bridges, SF, Baylor | Age: 23.0
57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Thunder)
Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne (Australia) | Age: 22.1
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Celtics)
Isaac Jones, PF/C, Washington State | Age: 23.8

Note: The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns forfeited a 2024 second-round draft pick.
 
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