2025 NBA Draft Thread



2024 NBA draft rankings: Jonathan Givony's top 25 prospects

A French prospect sits at No. 1 on our NBA draft board, but it's not Perth's Alex Sarr.

Zaccharie Risacher, the 18-year-old wing on JL Bourg, has emerged as ESPN's current top 2024 NBA draft prospect. With his excellent 3-point shooting and 6-foot-10 frame that should fill out with age, Risacher will likely be selected early during the NBA's two-night draft.

Sarr, the 7-1 big, slides to No. 2 as he works his way back from injury. With just five weeks to go before Selection Sunday, keep an eye on the college prospects on the list. Kentucky guards Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard continue rise, Colorado's Cody Williams remains steady as a top-five prospect, while USC's Isaiah Collier is back from injury and looks ready to rebound from his recent draft slide if his return game was any indication.

The rankings -- compiled by NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony, with Jeremy Woo assisting in providing analysis -- continue to change throughout the draft cycle.

Check back all season as we inform you of the risers and fallers of this unpredictable draft class.

1. Zaccharie Risacher | SF | JL Bourg
6-10 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 2
Risacher takes over the No. 1 spot due to the remarkable productivity, efficiency and consistency he's displayed all season for a JL Bourg team ranked second in both the French Pro A and EuroCup. He's shooting 46% from 3 on the year while typically guarding the opposing team's best player and switching 1 through 5 in pick-and-roll. Risacher is starting to show increased flashes of ballhandling and passing confidence, which is notable considering all the other ways he impacts the game. He has both a high floor and real upside to grow into considering he's 18 years old with a frame that should fill out nicely in time as well as terrific basketball instincts and pedigree. Every NBA team could use a player in his mold, which means he has plenty of opportunities to be drafted very high on draft night regardless of how the draft lottery shakes out. -- Jonathan Givony

2. Alex Sarr | PF/C | Perth
7-1 | Age: 18.6 | Previously ranked: 1
Sarr has been inconsistent since returning from an ankle injury, turning in one of his best games of the season with 18 points and five blocks against Southeast Melbourne on Jan. 27, but also logging less than 10 minutes and notching zero points in Perth's two recent losses. He remains a strong candidate in the mix for No. 1, with palpable upside as a mobile rim protector and the potential to space the floor adequately. Sarr's projection still includes some theoretical elements, however, including his jumper, and his lack of strong rebounding production despite his physical gifts is a concern. Regardless, it's been a positive year for Sarr's development trajectory, placing him on track to get drafted early. -- Jeremy Woo

3. Cody Williams | SG/SF | Colorado
6-8 | Age: 19.2 | Previously ranked: 3
Williams came back strong from a wrist injury that sidelined him for a month, looking aggressive hunting open jumpers and taking opponents off the dribble -- both points of emphasis for scouts this season. He'll have to play with a mask on for the time being after taking an elbow to the eye in practice and missing a game last week. Williams' defensive activity and versatility -- switching 1 through 5 in pick-and-roll -- gives him a relatively high floor with his ability to fight over screens and make plays at the rim. Scouts still want to see Williams increase his 3-point volume and show more shot-creation prowess, but his season as a whole has been positive thus far, with plenty still to be revealed over the next month. -- Givony

4. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.0 | Previously ranked: 7
While many prospects have seen their productivity falter in conference play, Dillingham has found another gear with his aggressiveness and shot-making prowess in SEC play, averaging 22.8 points (56% from 3) and 4.8 assists over the past four games. Dillingham's open-court explosiveness, jittery handle, live-dribble passing creativity and ability to hit pull-up, stepback and sidestep jumpers from anywhere on the floor makes him one of college basketball's most difficult covers -- drawing some comparisons to the Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young. However, his defense is one of the reasons Kentucky has dropped several games the past few weeks with Dillingham giving up too many blow-by layups while being targeted relentlessly off the ball -- something scouts are hoping to see improve. It will be interesting to see how his role evolves when starting point guard D.J. Wagner returns from an ankle injury. -- Givony

5. Nikola Topic | PG | Red Star
6-7 | Age: 18.3 | Previously ranked: 5
Topic is on his way back from a knee injury suffered in early January and could return to action around the end of February. He remains in the mix near the top of the draft and will likely be high on the board for teams in search of playmaking due to his mature, patient style that belies the fact he's one of the youngest prospects in the draft. That skill set at 6-7 distinguishes him from the other lottery-level talents in this class, but NBA teams will be hoping to see signs of growth from Topic as a shooter (just 28% from 3) and on the defensive end when he returns. He will have a strong platform to further improve his draft position with Adriatic League playoff games and EuroLeague competition still ahead. -- Woo

6. Matas Buzelis | SF | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 19.2 | Previously ranked: 10
Buzelis has looked more comfortable at the G League level as the season has rolled on with projectable versatility and a good skill level for his size while improving his contribution on the defensive end. He's going to have to be able to handle increased physicality over time, and his lack of explosiveness off the dribble is a bit of a limiting factor right now. Still, he's improved as a shot-maker this season, and has the type of all-around skillset NBA teams are looking for at the forward spots. There's a lot of room for growth left in his game as his body continues to fill out, which should keep him in the mix as a lottery-level talent on draft night. -- Woo

7. Ja'Kobe Walter | SG/SF | Baylor
6-5 | Age: 19.3 | Previously ranked: 4
Mired in a shooting slump (2-of-13 on 2s, 5-of-22 from 3 in his past four games), Walter's areas for improvement have been on display of late. He's one of the draft's more gifted shot-makers from range, but struggles to create for himself and teammates with a limited handle, average foot speed and vision. Walter projects comfortably as a viable 3-and-D two-guard in the future, but will be tested for the rest of the season as defenses continue to focus on shutting him down. His long-term upside is tied to his growth as an elite shooter, and how much he can ultimately expand his offensive floor game. -- Woo

8. Tidjane Salaun | PF | Cholet
6-10 | Age: 18.4 | Previously ranked: 6
Salaun cooled off somewhat after a blistering month of December, making 14-for-47 from 3 (30%) in 10 games since. Still, it's hard not to be intrigued with the upside offered by the 6-10, 18-year-old forward who plays with outstanding activity on both ends of the floor and can shoot running off screens, pulling up off the dribble and has well beyond NBA range. Salaun's paltry rebounding, sped-up approach and lack of ballhandling ability make him somewhat of a situational fit for many NBA teams. The fact that he doesn't turn 19 until August and is getting his first taste of professional basketball this season gives Salaun significant potential to grow into. -- Givony

9. Kyle Filipowski | PF/C | Duke
7-0 | Age: 20.2 | Previously ranked: 9
Filipowski is having an ACC player of the year-caliber campaign for Duke, but still has another gear he can get to with his productivity and consistency. He's the most skilled big man in college basketball, a force in the post, operating out of pick-and-roll, handling the ball on the perimeter and knocking down 3-pointers, with some defensive versatility as well. Scouts want to see Filipowski stretch the floor (35% from 3), protect the rim and bring toughness on both ends of the floor consistently, especially in Duke's biggest games come March. -- Givony

10. Ron Holland | SF | G League Ignite
6-7 | Age: 18.4 | Previously ranked: 11
Holland has continued to rack up counting stats as the focal point of a struggling Ignite team, but has struggled with his 3-point shooting and decision-making throughout the season. His offensive role will likely be scaled down in the NBA, which should put his defensive capabilities and overall motor at the forefront of his ultimate value as a high-energy, two-way wing. While no longer a strong candidate at No. 1, Holland remains in the lottery mix, albeit as more of a work in progress than expected entering the season. He may have to assuage concerns about his shooting in the pre-draft process, but his accomplishments before this season should work in his favor. -- Woo

11. Donovan Clingan | C | UConn
7-2 | Age: 19.9 | Previously ranked: 13
Clingan is back after again missing time due to a foot injury. He's been inconsistent against better competition, but is still one of the most productive players in college basketball on a per-minute basis, scoring in the lane, offensive rebounding and blocking shots at impressive rates thanks to his instincts, intensity and physicality on both ends. Clingan's durability issues, struggles defending in space and lack of explosiveness are things NBA teams will want to study in the pre-draft process, but it's possible Clingan can get to another gear as his conditioning improves post-injury. How Clingan plays in UConn's biggest games in March will likely play an outsized role in how he's viewed due to his injury-plagued regular season. -- Givony

12. Reed Sheppard | PG/SG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 16
Sheppard has continued to light it up from 3, making 53% of his shots beyond the arc on solid volume through 22 games. He's built a case as the best shooter in the draft, and has helped facilitate quality offense with his decision-making, passing and unselfishness. The level at which he's playing will force teams to think about him early in the draft, despite his below-average physical profile. Defensively, Sheppard has excellent disruptive instincts, but his lack of size and length will always be a limiting element in his projection. He remains a bit polarizing for teams, but his play has created optimism around his upside. -- Woo

13. Zach Edey | C | Purdue
7-4 | Age: 21.7 | Previously ranked: 14
Edey continues to be the most dominant player in college basketball, even if his role has decreased somewhat for a well-balanced Purdue team that is ranked No. 2 (21-2) in the country. Nearly unstoppable around the basket, drawing fouls and crashing the offensive glass, the improvement Edey has made with his conditioning, mobility, quickness off his feet and defensive versatility stepping outside the paint has forced NBA teams to look at him through a different lens in his fourth season in college. He's not just a 7-4 big, he's also incredibly competitive and has been extremely durable throughout his career, only missing one of 123 games (due to the flu). Opposing coaches will try to come up with ways to challenge Edey on both ends of the floor for the remainder of the season, providing ample opportunity for NBA teams to evaluate him in a variety of situations. -- Givony

14. Isaiah Collier | PG | USC
6-5 | Age: 19.3 | Previously ranked: 8
Collier surprised many by making a quicker return than anticipated following a hand injury, initially scheduled to sideline him for four to six weeks. His decision to return this season -- and return in excellent shape off the bench in USC's overtime loss to Cal -- says something about his competitiveness and will be viewed as a positive indicator for NBA scouts. Cal struggled to keep him out of the lane, pushing in the open court, creating out of pick-and-roll, getting to the free throw line 16 times and finishing powerfully at the rim for several and-1 opportunities. He appeared to be playing harder defensively than in the past as well. Collier's finishing, decision-making and shooting are still major question marks from an NBA standpoint, but his size, ballhandling, sheer power accelerating off hesitation moves and scoring instincts are rare and coveted qualities. -- Givony

15. Stephon Castle | PG/SG | UConn
6-6 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 17
Consecutive 20-point performances in wins over Providence and St. John's were nice to see from Castle, whose contributions this season have come more on the defensive side where his game is way ahead of his offense. Castle's agility and size make him a terrific perimeter defender at either guard spot and have continued to earn him minutes as his scoring has been inconsistent. He's started to flash some shot-making skill, but he remains a work in progress as a creator and doesn't comfortably project as a point guard due to average vision and limited playmaking acumen. This places more emphasis on his ability to consistently space the floor and play off of cuts, but he could succeed in that type of role and provide value in the future. -- Woo

16. Kevin McCullar Jr. | SG/SF | Kansas
6-7 | Age: 22.9 | Previously ranked: 15
McCullar continues to play at an All-American level for a Kansas team with Final Four aspirations. He's one of the best defenders in college, an outstanding passer and connector and has made significant strides with his perimeter shooting, hitting 3-pointers with significant volume at a strong clip all season. Some NBA teams might be leery about McCullar's sudden transformation in his fifth season of college (he turns 23 in March) from a limited role player to a go-to guy and significant force on both ends of the floor. Others will look at the success of older players in previous drafts and be excited to add a potential contributor of his caliber on a cheap rookie-scale deal. Continuing to produce in Kansas' biggest games will only solidify McCullar's candidacy as a potential lottery pick. -- Givony

17. Devin Carter | PG/SG | Providence
6-3 | Age: 21.8 | Previously ranked: 43
The son of longtime NBA player Anthony Carter, Devin Carter has emerged as a Big East Player of the Year and an All-American candidate as a junior, making noteworthy offensive improvement while continuing to be one of the most impactful defenders in college. He's made a barrage of tough shots all season despite unorthodox mechanics, while shouldering significant shot-creation duties for Providence and contributing plenty of late-game heroics. Likely to play a more compact role in the NBA, Carter's ability to defend multiple positions, hit open shots at an excellent clip and play an unselfish, winning brand of basketball gives him an easy niche to fill as a De'Anthony Melton-type player, likely best-suited for playoff teams. -- Givony

18. Dalton Knecht | SG/SF | Tennessee
6-6 | Age: 22.8 | Previously ranked: 24

The Northern Colorado transfer is an SEC Player of the Year candidate thanks to his impressive scoring exploits that go deeper than just his outstanding shot-making ability. He's a significant weapon pushing in the open floor, operating out of pick-and-roll, posting up weaker opponents, attacking closeouts, finishing above the rim, getting to the free throw line and mostly making good decisions with the ball as a high-usage option. While there are some questions about how many aspects of his scoring game will translate, his movement shooting gives him a strong niche as an NBA prospect. The fact Knecht can do more than that with his solid size, length and explosiveness might get him some lottery looks depending on how he finishes the season. Showing better ability defensively would help his case, as he struggles to hold his own both one-on-one and especially off the ball, having a difficult time navigating screens. -- Givony

19. Tyler Smith | SF/PF | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 18
Smith has put together a productive stretch of games for Ignite, draining a huge 3-pointer to tie the game late in their recent win over Iowa and continuing to display the perimeter shooting that makes him intriguing at 6-10. His youth, frame and ability to finish plays gives him a nice upside, but he's still a work in progress defensively and on the glass while learning how to impact the game without scoring. He remains on a positive trajectory this season, and, due to the wide need for players in his mold, could reach the back end of the lottery if it continues. -- Woo

20. Ryan Dunn | SF/PF | Virginia
6-8 | Age: 20.9 | Previously ranked: 12
There hasn't been much visible progress from Dunn as a jump shooter -- just four 3-pointers attempted in January -- although some of that is by design with the way Virginia wants to play. His physical tools and defensive skills remain strong calling cards, even as his production has regressed a bit in the ACC. It seems most likely at this point his ultimate draft position will hinge heavily on how he shoots the ball in private workouts and what he's able to show pre-draft. It's hard to find wings capable of guarding the way Dunn does at his size, but it's also difficult to deploy non-shooters at the 2 or 3 and win games. NBA teams have to square the value of those two things as they consider where to place him on their boards. -- Woo

21. Yves Missi | C | Baylor
6-11 | Age: 19.7 | Previously ranked: 20
Missi's production has fluctuated throughout the season, but his appeal is the impressive size, reach and verticality he offers as a pick-and-roll finisher. He's shown some flashes creating his own shot from the mid-post or high-post areas as well, using an explosive first step and long strides, helping him draw fouls consistently. Missi's ability to make a more regular impact as a defender and rebounder are areas that will be scrutinized in the final weeks of the season, as he's been hit or miss protecting the rim and offering physicality on the interior, things he'll have to do to play a role in the NBA early in his career. -- Givony

22. Bobi Klintman | SF/PF | Cairns
6-10 | Age: 20.8 | Previously ranked: 21
Klintman is another prospect who will need a strong pre-draft process to help support what's been an inconsistent season in the NBL. His size, length, explosiveness and versatility at forward make him a very capable player theoretically, but his contributions have remained a bit sporadic, which was his reputation at Wake Forest last season. He has work left to do to solidify himself as a potential first-rounder. -- Woo

23. Kel'el Ware | C | Indiana
7-0 | Age: 19.8 | Previously ranked: 22
Ware's decision to forgo entering the 2023 NBA draft after a disappointing freshman season at Oregon appears to be paying off, as he's in the midst of a productive sophomore campaign at Indiana. There aren't many 7-footers who can cover ground, score with explosiveness and touch around the basket, space the floor and protect the rim such as Ware, especially at 19 years old, giving him a coveted stretch-5 niche and upside to grow into long-term. He has significant questions to answer about his physicality, feel for the game and intangibles, but his skill level, age and tools should keep him in the NBA conversation for a long time. -- Givony

24. Izan Almansa | PF/C | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 18.4 | Previously ranked: 23
Almansa has been a challenging evaluation for scouts in the context of his role with the Ignite -- an offensive framework that hasn't regularly played to his strengths. He brings a valuable skill set to the table potentially as a pick-and-roll player, which is something that could be better highlighted in a different team setup with stronger guards. Almansa doesn't space the floor effectively yet nor does he offer much rim protection, but a creative team might be able to better utilize him at the next level. His feel and success playing for Spain in FIBA competitions will help bolster his case, even though his season hasn't been what scouts hoped for. -- Woo

25. Trevon Brazile | PF/C | Arkansas
6-10 | Age: 20.9 | Previously ranked: 19
Sidelined with a knee injury since Jan. 24, Brazile hasn't remained healthy or played up to his potential consistently, but offers good versatility at his size as a possible development addition. Athletic bigs who can shoot 3s and block shots will always be interesting investments for teams, but his actual production has left something to be desired in college. Brazile should be able to find a more natural role playing along the baseline and spacing from the corners at the next level, however. He'll likely need more development time at the pro level in any scenario. -- Woo
 
Is dillingham like the luxury version of cole Anthony? He’s been putting up numbers I feel like he should at least be able to replicate what Anthony has so far
 
addict4sneakers said:
Wemby obviously. I like sarr and bilal. Risacher doesn’t create for himself so I don’t see #1 pick upside.

Frank niketalk got cut. Don’t think maledon is employed. Killian got cut. The scam is still active
Click to expand...
Think it’s a French guard thing. Creation level isn’t there.

The bigger guys are fine.
 
Tried to watch this Kentucky Auburn game to see Rob Dillingham. This stuff is unwatchable :sick:. He was taking some awful shots too.
 


2024 NBA Mock Draft: Zaccharie Risacher rises to No. 1; top three players all from overseas

The 2024 NBA Draft cycle is officially here now that the trade deadline has passed. High-level evaluators are traveling worldwide to get eyes on elite prospects and shifting their attention a bit more toward shaping their draft boards.

There remains a lot of variance team by team in those boards. The 2024 draft is not considered an overly strong one. In fact, at the top, it’s seen as clearly the weakest in the past decade. Many team evaluators are comparing it to the 2013 draft, in which Anthony Bennett was selected No. 1 overall, only one All-Star was selected in the lottery and only three All-Stars were picked in the entire draft. The good news for teams: Giannis Antetokounmpo went in that draft, as did Rudy Gobert. As in every class, All-Stars will emerge. But it will be a lot more difficult for teams to identify those players.

Beyond that, scouts have continued to question the depth of this class. Prospects such as Kyshawn George from Miami (Fla.) and Kansas wing Johnny Furphy have arrived ahead of schedule to potentially add some upside to the group. However, scouts are concerned some of the players who could go beyond the lottery could end up deciding to return to school and try their luck again in 2025 when they are seemingly more ready to play in the NBA. The proliferation of name, image and likeness money has allowed players to be more patient with their decisions to turn pro.

Expect to see many players test the draft process, starting in March and April and going through workouts, the May combine in Chicago and more. The number of players I think have a chance to hear their name called near the end of the first round exceeds even this 58-person group. I’ve heard that scouts are keeping their eyes on some unexpected names across the mid- and high-major spectrum for potential first-round value. This draft could be deep into the second round, but we won’t know until the final college withdrawal date.

One final note: For the first time this cycle, I’m taking team needs and preferences into account. Drafting for need often doesn’t work, but every team and key decision-maker has real tendencies worth considering. I typically do not take team needs or preferences into account this early in the process, but because the talent in this draft is in the eye of the beholder, they will play a bigger role in the final order.

(Ages listed are as of June 26, the first day of the 2024 draft.)

1. Detroit Pistons
Zaccharie Risacher | 6-8 wing/forward | 19 years old | JL Bourg
Risacher is clearly at No. 1 for me right now. The NBA is constantly on the lookout for big wing/forward types who can knock down shots, defend at a reasonable level and play with the ball in their hands. The French forward has done an enormous amount of that this season while producing at a high level in EuroCup competition. Through Feb. 14, in total EuroCup and French League games, he’s averaging 11.4 points while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, 45.1 percent from 3 and 70 percent from the free-throw line. He’s rebounding at a reasonable rate for a wing and has shown some passing and decision-making chops. His jumper looks real, with great touch off the catch, as well as when Bourg runs him off movement actions to get him free. He cuts well to the rim and creates buckets in transition. On defense, Risacher is really sharp off the ball, cutting off angles with his length, especially as the low man in ball-screen coverages. On the ball, he’s defended at the point of attack against guards at times with mixed results, to the point where I think he’s more of a two-through-four defender.

The worry: Risacher is not a particularly good shot creator at this point. The difference between him and someone like current Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller is the latter knew how to play with more poise and how to create his own shots in pick-and-roll situations, particularly from the midrange. Risacher doesn’t have that yet and doesn’t quite have the first step to beat anyone off the dribble. Still, he’s only 18 years old (he turns 19 in April), and there’s a ton of room between where he is now and what he will be at his peak. With how often NBA teams are on the hunt for his player type, I think more teams near the top of the draft are likely to value Risacher higher than other prospects.

2. Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr | 7-1 big | 19 years old | Perth Wildcats
Sarr has emerged throughout the season as a legitimate potential No. 1 pick. He comes off the bench for Perth in Australiasia’s National Basketball League, but the Wildcats are a top-two team, and Sarr plays behind an All-NBL big man in Keanu Pinder. When Sarr plays, he is a genuine difference-maker on defense. He covers an immense amount of ground, flying around when defending ball screens, switching out on guards and when condensing the court for opponents with his off-ball positioning. If he’s waiting at the rim and opponents dare challenge him, odds are he’ll get to the shot and contest it, if not outright block it. So far this season, Sarr is averaging 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 17 minutes per night, shooting 52 percent from the field while attempting two 3s per game.

I think Sarr’s range is across the top five right now, as many scouts question his ultimate offensive role. He has displayed some potential as a rim runner in ball screens, but for the most part, he pick-and-pops and doesn’t make great screen contact. Additionally, he’s not a high-impact defensive rebounder, which has led to some questioning if he can consistently play the five in the NBA. He may require a more physical center to play alongside him early on, but if so, can his offensive game work well? He’d need to play next to a floor-spacer five man, or he’d need to be a dangerous perimeter shooter himself.

Having said that, Sarr has shown flashes as a ballhandler, as well as touch as a shooter. There is upside offensively in his package of skills that could make him a legitimate difference-maker.

3. San Antonio Spurs
Nikola Topić | 6-6 lead guard | 18 years old | Crvena zvezda
Topić has been out since early January due to a knee injury he suffered after leaving Mega Basket and returning to Crvena zvezda for the second half of their season. Topić did his damage prior to that, though. In his 13 games for Mega Basket to start the year, he averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He’s a dynamic ball-screen distributor and consistently lives in the paint in the Adriatic League. He can execute nearly every pass in the book once he gets that downhill advantage and hits them with flair and creativity. Topić also can really score at the rim, using inventive touch in finishing high off the glass and around rim protectors.

Scouts have consistently brought up two issues. First, where is Topić as a shooter? He makes his free throws but is inconsistent shooting from distance. Can he make shots enough to keep defenses honest? If he can’t, how will that affect the rest of his game? Second, will he be able to separate as consistently from NBA defenders as he does from slower players in the Adriatic League? Players will be quicker, but the NBA court will have more space, so this could go either way.

Regardless, Topić has a good chance to be taken in the top six. The Spurs could use a lead guard to develop alongside Victor Wembanyama, so they’re a good fit here.

4. Charlotte Hornets
Cody Williams | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Colorado
The brother of Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams, Cody Williams looks like the kind of prized high-end prospect who can pressure the rim, pass, make plays and potentially defend across multiple positions. Fitting the big wing archetype to a T at 6-foot-8 with long arms, Williams has showcased the ability to play some point guard this season in addition to attacking in transition and slashing from the wing in a straight line. He’s averaging 14.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 59.2 percent from the field. He’s also made 47.1 percent from 3, although NBA teams are concerned about his jumper translating to the next level given that he doesn’t take many 3s in college.

The biggest questions scouts have regard his self-creation upside. To be an NBA wing in 2024 is to be able to create and knock down pull-up jumpers. That’s just not a part of Williams’ game at this stage, and it wasn’t in high school, either. If he can showcase any upside as a pull-up shooter, teams would feel better about taking him in the top three. Even so, most evaluators have him in the top-six range at this point.

5. Portland Trail Blazers
Stephon Castle | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
Welcome to the top five, Stephon Castle! Over the last month, few freshmen around college basketball have been better than the 6-6 guard/wing hybrid, who is averaging 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his last 12 games while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from 3. He’s played at a really high level on defense too, taking on tough assignments in variety of different roles, ranging from point-of-attack defender to general off-ball helper. He guarded Creighton All-American candidate Baylor Scheierman as well as anyone all season, helping to hold the Blue Jays guard to 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. While I think Castle tends to defend better when his job is specific, his versatility has been a huge part of Connecticut’s stingy unit.

Teams still question whether Castle can play point guard at the next level or if he’s more of a secondary ballhandler. Some wonder if his jumper will translate. But no other freshman in the country is consistently impacting games positively for a winning team. Castle immediately stepping into the No. 1 team in the country and making this large of a contribution sets him up to be in the top-five conversation for the rest of the season.

6. Memphis Grizzlies
Ron Holland | 6-8 wing | 18 years old | G League Ignite
Holland has been the most Ignite’s most productive player this season, averaging 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while being one of the team’s few sources of offensive creation. However, most of that offense has either come in transition or in inefficient settings. He has a below-average true shooting percentage and more turnovers than assists as he struggles with his decision-making. That’s to be expected from an 18-year-old playing professionally.

Holland’s motor is what excites NBA teams most. He constantly plays hard, getting the most out of his terrific athleticism by going at 100 percent every moment. Sometimes, that energy can bite him on defense, when he gets overaggressive and physical. But despite the Ignite’s season not going to plan, Holland has at least continued to improve throughout the season, showcasing a capacity for growth that has impressed evaluators.

His range seems to be in the No. 4-12 area, though Holland will miss the rest of the G League season with a recent thumb injury. He is expected to have a full pre-draft process, and scouts believe it will have little impact on his draft placement.

7. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR)
Matas Buzelis | 6-10 wing/forward | 19 years old | G League Ignite
This is earlier than I would personally select Buzelis, but the feedback I get from scouts has been more positive than his overall numbers would indicate, given he’s averaging 13.0 points with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio and a true shooting percentage below the league average. Much as they do with Holland, many evaluators are giving Buzelis the benefit of the doubt for the G League’s Ignite’s poorly constructed roster, especially at the guard positions.

Scouts would love to see Buzelis do more as a shot creator, and they aren’t sure how well his on-ball defense will translate. But many have also appreciated the way Buzelis is settling into a role with the Ignite and playing more intelligently. Buzelis doesn’t try to do too much. He cuts sharply on offense and has impressed scouts with timely off-ball rotations, particularly around the rim, where he’s averaging 1.8 blocks per game. In the open court, he attacks in a way that makes many sense his long-term upside as a ballhandler and scorer. There’s some downside risk in taking Buzelis this high, but it appears unlikely he gets outside of the lottery and is consistently mentioned in the No. 4-12 range.

8. Houston Rockets (via BKN)
Ja’Kobe Walter | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Baylor
Walter has been a bit up and down this season, averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. A lot of his struggles have to do with his inconsistent shooting. Walter has always been known as a solid marksman going back to high school, but he’s made just 32.9 percent of his 3s so far this season and just 25 percent in his last 11 games. If that part of his game turns around as expected, Walter is a good investment. He’s an athletic, 6-5 wing who can be run off movement into tough shots. He rarely makes mistakes, has strong feel for the game and plays well within a team concept.

There’s a split about Walter’s overall upside? Most scouts don’t see him as a star, but they disagree on whether he’s a starter long-term or more of a rotation player. Evaluators who believe he’s closer to the latter, such as a few team scouts, may have him more in the No. 15 range. Those who buy into his shooting and think he can improve his shaky defense could even see him landing in the top six. This ranking splits the difference.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU)
Kyle Filipowski | 7-0 big | 20 years old| Duke
Oklahoma City wants to be able to play with five shooters spaced along the 3-point line. The biggest impediment, typically, is that it’s hard to find centers who can dribble, pass and shoot with legitimate size for the position. In Filipowski, the Thunder would have an opportunity to get another player who fits that mold along with 2022’s No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren.

Filipowski has played like an All-American this season, averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting about 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3. He carries Duke through long stretches of games with his ability to catch the ball on the block and score, but it’s his well-rounded perimeter game that will most appeal to pro scouts. Filipowski can shoot from the perimeter, attack heavy closeouts and bring the ball up the court.

I also think Filipowski’s defense is underrated. The Blue Devils have a top-25 defense, and he usually positions himself well, contests enough shots and can slide his feet a couple of times on an island to stay with wings and even some guards. In my opinion, Filiposki to the Thunder is a perfect blend of scheme and player.

10. Atlanta Hawks
Dalton Knecht | 6-6 wing | 23 years old | Tennessee
I’m not sure we’re recognizing the extent to which Knecht is obliterating the SEC. He’s scoring at a staggering pace for this level. In his 12 SEC games so far, Knecht is averaging 25 points while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from 3. He’s grabbing 5.3 rebounds and dishing out 2.3 assists. For the season, he’s averaging 20.1 points per game on 48 percent from the field, but those stats are dragged down by a stretch where he played at less than 100 percent following an ankle injury at North Carolina. If you remove those games, Knecht is averaging nearly 25 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists, which would make him a clear All-American.

He should be, regardless. Everything he does offensively should translates to NBA settings. He is a terrific shooter but is also a high-end athlete who can sky in transition and finish inside using legitimate hang time in the air.

The issues come on defense. Knecht is rough around the edges on that end and consistently makes errors that lead to problems for Tennessee. But I tend to buy into these late bloomers, especially those who can really shoot and possess legitimate NBA athleticism. Knecht’s range is somewhere No. 10-20 for scouts right now.

11. Chicago Bulls
Reed Sheppard | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Kentucky
Sheppard and his teammate Rob Dillingham (more on him below) are the two most polarizing players for scouts right now.

With Sheppard, it’s easy to understand why. As a 6-3 player without much length or the kind of athletic traits that raise a guard to this level, Sheppard doesn’t look like the typical lottery pick. But I think he has a real case for being one of the five best players in the country as a freshman, and I’d certainly consider him an All-American in some capacity. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the field, 51.4 percent from 3 and 80.8 percent from the line. He racks up 2.6 steals per game on top of averaging nearly one block per game. His closeouts on shooters are textbook and disruptive.

Offensively, he’s potent leading the break in transition or delivering hit-ahead passes to get his teammates involved. When combined with his elite shooting, Sheppard is one of the best connective players in this draft class. Defensively, he’s an impactful playmaker, but has some off-ball lapses that can cause issues for Kentucky. On the ball, he’s excellent at staying in front of guards, but his size can be exploited on mismatches size-wise.

Sheppard presents a fascinating argument. Do you believe in his remarkable feel for the game and high skill level, or do you worry too much about his physical deficiencies? Given the success of other supposed “skill-first” guys across the league, such as Jalen Brunson, Brandin Podziemski, Desmond Bane and others, I buy into Sheppard’s positives more than I fret about his negatives.

His range is all over the map. I get individual evaluators working for NBA teams who rate him as a top-five player, and I just as often hear some who believe he shouldn’t be picked in top 25. In the end, I think Sheppard’s name will end being called in the lottery. Too many people who work for NBA teams love his game.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via UTA)
Tidjane Salaun | 6-9 wing/forward | 18 years old | Cholet
Salaun is another one of those bigger wing/forward type of prospects who has perimeter skill. And if any team has invested more substantial resources in that player type in recent years than others, it’s Oklahoma City. Salaun fits the Thunder’s archetype of terrific positional size and skill. At 6-9, Salaun has been productive this season in the French League and Basketball Champions League, averaging 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 37 percent from behind the 3-point line. He has a smooth-looking stroke that looks like it’ll have no issue translating out to NBA range, and he can attack the glass on cuts and straight-line drives to get to the rim.

I’m a bit lower on him right now, though, because I have some worries about his overall feel for the game. I also think that, right now, he’s a bit more forward than true wing athletically, which could hinder his positional flexibility. But he’s extremely young and has all the time in the world to be able to figure out the feel for the game question. Teams are very interested and see him as a real option starting in the back half of the lottery right now.

13. Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW)
Johnny Furphy | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | Kansas
Furphy is the big riser on the board, as he’s emerged over the last month into a critical cog on an excellent Kansas team. Playing for Bill Self, a coach who generally has an aversion to playing raw freshmen, Furphy is averaging 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from 3 in his last 10 games. Furphy has a lot of what NBA teams look for across the landscape when trying to identify interesting projects in whom to invest.

At 6-9 with legitimate athleticism in the open court, Furphy is a potential one-and-done who was not even really on the radar this time last year. Over the last 18 months, the Australian has exploded. At the Center of Excellence in Australia, he was always seen as an interesting upside swing due to his athleticism and shooting ability, but he didn’t always know how to impact the game when he was out there. Now, Furphy has earned serious minutes and consistently hits the score sheet with his rebounding, and he forces teams to run in transition with Kansas because of how much pressure he puts on the rim. It’s hard to find guys who are this big, this athletic and can play on the wing. My bet is teams invest the developmental resources in Furphy in a big way.

14. New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL)
Rob Dillingham | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Kentucky
With Dillingham, scouts point to his elite speed with the ball in his hand in addition to his touch. Dillingham plays fast but maintains his control at a really high level. He’s averaging 14.7 points and four assists this season while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from 3. He has a bevy of high speed crossovers, then he’ll use his speed to play off a hesitation game to change pace. Having said that, he’s also listed at 6-3, and scouts have some questions as to whether he’ll measure quite that big. That impacts him as a finisher at times despite his explosiveness, but it really causes issues on defense. Dillingham has a real case as the worst defender in the class, struggling to get over screens at the point of attack and having issues dealing with any sort of mismatch. He also can get a bit distracted off the ball and make poorly timed digs and rotations.

The questions surrounding Dillingham are pretty simple. Can he be a starting point guard, or is he more of a backup? Is he a good enough distributor? Or is he going to settle in largely as a score-first guard? Can he hold up at all on defense to allow him to close games? The best comparison I have been able to come up with for Dillingham is Lou Williams. Where would a team take Williams in this class? My best bet right now is in the back end of the lottery. But I’ve gotten ranges from No. 5 all the way down to No. 20.

15. Miami Heat
Isaiah Collier | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | USC
Collier has been one of the toughest evaluations this season. On one hand, he’s been very productive, averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He’s made 48.5 percent of his shots and 31.7 percent from 3. And he’s getting the early season turnover issue he had under control, averaging only 2.2 per game in Pac-12 play. Since returning from a wrist injury, he’s been a machine getting to the foul line. Collier is an extremely impressive downhill athlete who lives in the paint and has the wherewithal to hit kickouts and dump-offs for assists. Having said that, USC has been a mess with and without him this season. Despite his size and strength, he has not been an impactful defender in any way, struggling to stay in front of opposing guards and wings. Questions still exist about his feel for the game and shooting ability. Expect Collier to be an exceedingly polarizing player in this class. His range is pretty wide, but I feel good about having him in the top 15.

16. Orlando Magic
Kyshawn George | 6-8 wing | 20 years old | Miami (Fla.)
The Magic tend to draft young and with plus positional size. That’s the Jeff Weltman strategy. George is a player scouts are extremely excited about due to his performance thus far in ACC play, as the 6-8 wing is averaging 9.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists versus only 2.0 turnovers per game since Dec. 21. On top of that, he’s drilled his 3s this season at 40.8 percent from distance. George looks every bit the part of a big wing creator who can knock down shots from distance with a smooth set shot that has range out to NBA distance, as well as drive and kick when the opportunity arises. He makes early hit-aheads to find transition offense and just knows how to play. A Swiss player whose father played college basketball at St. Francis (Pa.) in the 1990s, NBA scouts who have been in to see Miami have said all season that George was their most interesting prospect. But he’s starting to actually showcase it on the court in a way that makes me believe it’ll be hard for the 20-year-old to turn down the NBA given how much upside evaluators believe he has. His range is somewhere in the back half of the first round right now, but I’ve been a bit aggressive here.

17. Toronto Raptors (via IND)
Yves Missi | 7-0 big | 20 years old | Baylor
Missi is a project, but he’s one who might end up hearing his name called much earlier than this on draft night if the right team falls in love with his tools. He might have the best frame of any low-usage center prospect in the class, at a legitimate 7-foot tall with a 7-5 wingspan. He’s a terrific athlete who moves his feet fluidly in space and also has hops to be able to sky for impressive lobs and dunks, both in transition and the dunker spot. He blocks shots well, finishes far above the rim and has potential to stick with guards for multiple slides on defense.

The idea here is a Clint Capela-style big man who can guard a bit in space once he gets the nuances of ball-screen coverage down, as well as protect the rim with his physical frame. He needs to put on a bit more weight in his lower half and get stronger through his base — he can get moved on the block and struggles on the defensive glass sometimes — but he has the look of a starting center defensively if he can reach his ceiling.

18. New York Knicks (via DAL)
Donovan Clingan | 7-2 center | 20 years old | Connecticut
Clingan has had an up-and-down year due to injuries to his foot in the preseason and an ankle injury midway through the season. But when he’s been on the court, he’s been one of the most dominant players in college basketball. He completely shuts down the paint when he’s in the game, with an enormous frame that takes up a significant portion of the paint. He moves well and is elite in drop coverage defensively, stopping ballhandlers from turning the corner on him and getting to the rim. On the weak side, he makes his presence felt when necessary. Offensively, he’s more of a screen-and-roll big who covers ground quickly and finishes well at the rim. Where evaluators have the most questions is regarding how long Clingan can actually play within games. That answer hasn’t been given yet this season after he was essentially a part-time player as a freshman on the way to Connecticut’s title run due to the injuries. He’s only played over 25 minutes in a game four times in 60 games so far. Still, with the Knicks potentially in need of a backup center if Isaiah Hartenstein gets a big offer this summer, Clingan could be an interesting combination as an elite rim protector with Mitchell Robinson.

19. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
Jared McCain | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Duke
McCain was seen as a potential one-and-done entering the season, but a slow start gave pause for evaluators as they waited to see exactly where he’d settle in. The good news? McCain has settled in nicely as one of the best freshman scorers in all of college basketball. Since Duke’s Dec. 9 game against Charlotte, McCain is averaging 16.6 points and 5.1 rebounds over his last 17. He’s hitting 41.3 percent of his more than six 3-point attempts per game and is also consistently getting into the lane either in transition or off closeouts. Scouts very strongly believe McCain will end up as a high-level shooter even by NBA standards, and the name Seth Curry comes up in a reasonable amount within conversations. The key will be continuing to impact the game in other ways beyond just the offense. He rebounds well for a small guard and generally makes good decisions. But there isn’t much margin for error for him in either of those capacities given that he’s 6-3 and doesn’t have a ton of length.

20. Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn | 6-8 wing | 21 years old | Virginia
This is all about defense. If anyone across college basketball has a vote for the National Defensive Player of the Year award and you’re considering giving it to someone else, you’re wrong. Dunn is the most impactful defender in the country, and I’m not sure it’s all that close. He can do everything you ask of him on that end and more. He can guard one through five in college and projects to guard one through four in the NBA. He is an elite defensive playmaker who is averaging 1.5 steals and more than two blocks per game. He’s always available as a weakside rim protector, and he can run any ball-screen coverage you want. The issue for Dunn is on offense and trying to figure out what you do with him. He plays hard, crashes the offensive glass and is a sharp cutter. But the jumper has been rough throughout his two years at Virginia, and in recent games, he’s been a bit less confident in taking it. The defensive side of the floor is so strong that it’s hard to imagine him not playing in the NBA for a while, but he needs to find a role on offense. If you’re the Suns, you’re probably a bit more willing to take a chance on an All-Defense upside player at the expense of offense given their roster build.

21. New Orleans Pelicans
Jaylon Tyson | 6-7 wing | 21 years old | California
Tyson’s gone on a real journey to this point, going from Texas to Texas Tech to Cal in three years. But after entering college as a top-40 player in his recruiting class, Tyson has finally emerged as an elite player who looks like a real NBA prospect. At 6-7 with long arms, he has great measurements for the NBA. He’s not an elite athlete in terms of explosiveness, but he’s powerful and isn’t all that bothered by contact, allowing him to get the most out of his length and athleticism, throwing down 15 half-court dunks this season. He’s averaging 20.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from 3. Over the last 30 years, only four other players reached those statistical thresholds, and all of them went on to be first-round picks. Tyson plays an archetype of need around the NBA as a wing with size and is clearly coming into his own.

22. Philadelphia 76ers
Devin Carter | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Providence
Carter is one of the best players in college basketball this season, point blank. The son of former NBA point guard Anthony Carter, Devin was terrific last year at Providence after transferring from South Carolina, but his leap this season has been different. Carter has always been a terrific defensive player, rightfully nominated as a semifinalist for National Defensive Player of the Year. He is aggressive at the point of attack and has elite off-ball defensive instincts. But where the real jump has come is on offense. Long a questionable shooter, Carter has hit 40.5 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts per game. Shooting something of a moon ball that arcs high in the air before falling, he’s hitting shots at volume at a level that is hard to ignore on his way to 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. The idea here is a 3-and-D guard who can do a little bit more than that.

23. New York Knicks
Tyler Kolek | 6-3 guard | 23 years old | Marquette
It’s hard to be more on-fire than Kolek has been over the last month. Since Jan. 15, Marquette is 7-1 as Kolek has averaged 19.1 points, 8.7 assists and shot 48.8 percent from the field and 45.7 percent from 3. He has the Golden Eagles in a strong position to succeed moving forward. He’s a crafty guard who I’m not totally convinced can dunk, but he knows exactly how to play off two feet and is an elite distributor out of ball screens. The big leap this season has come as a shooter, as he’s drilling 40.4 percent from 3, but more than that, he looks much more confident pulling up when the opportunity arises. Kolek will need to prove he can hold up on defense in regard to footspeed in the NBA, and he’ll need to prove he can separate well enough. But New York has an affinity for Big East players, and the Knicks also have a real need at backup point guard even with the emergence of Miles McBride recently. They could use more playmaking and distribution skill from the backcourt with one of these picks.

24. Milwaukee Bucks
Bobi Klintman | 6-9 wing/forward | 20 years old | Cairns Taipans
It’s been a season of ups and downs for Klintman in the NBL playing for Cairns as a Next Star. He has put up some big games, especially in the first half of the season when Cairns was rolling a bit and looked like a potential finals contender. However, Klintman has dealt with a few minor injuries over the back half of the season and missed time sporadically. On top of that, Cairns has struggled and fallen out of the contention picture. Klintman is still a 6-foot-9 wing/forward who can knock down shots from the perimeter, having hit 35.4 percent from 3 this season and 80 percent from the line. He can dribble a bit and make passes out in transition. He’s still learning what exactly he’s capable of as he continues growing into his frame, and his feel for the game is still developing, as he came to basketball late. Most teams see Klintman as likely to hear his name called in the post-lottery range of the first round, even if he’s a bit polarizing for evaluators league-wide due to his mix of age and the raw nature of his game. The conversations surrounding him are not dissimilar to those that occurred five years ago when Rui Hachimura was in the draft.

25. Denver Nuggets
DaRon Holmes | 6-10 big | 21 years old | Dayton
The Nuggets have tended to draft older under general manager Calvin Booth, and the team has a significant need on the interior behind Nikola Jokić. Zeke Nnaji hasn’t been good enough. Holmes would give them a chance at a high-level producer who has a very real case as an All-American this season. Since Dec. 9, Holmes is averaging 22.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks while shooting 58.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3 on over three attempts from distance per game. That is about as well-rounded a skill set as you can find when it comes to translating to an NBA backup big man role. He passes well out of short rolls, can pick-and-pop or can catch lobs above the rim in ball-screen situations. He’s a tremendous weakside rim protector and has gotten better on the glass to where he might be able to handle ending possessions in the NBA despite being a bit undersized, depending on who else is on the court with him. He’s carrying Dayton back to the NCAA Tournament this year and should be considered a likely top-40 pick at this stage.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder
Ulrich Chomche | 6-11 big | 18 years old | NBA Africa Academy
Another one of the high-upside potential swings in this class, Chomche is at the NBA Academy in Africa. Scouts got to see him up close at the G League Showcase in December, where he showed off the tremendous tools that have built his stock. At 6-11, Chomche moves fluidly and has good feet that allow him to slide around defensively as well as run the court offensively. Plus, with his 7-4 wingspan, he displays strong shot-blocking instincts on the interior. The real game-changer, though, is the jumper. Chomche has a ways to go, but the ball comes out of his hand fluidly and displays the kind of touch necessary to be a floor-spacing five.

Chomche is extremely raw. He’s clearly still learning the nuances of the highest levels of hoops as he gains more experience playing against tougher competition. There is a real consideration that he might end up going to college and using that as a bridge between the Academy and the NBA. Scouts will get an opportunity, in all likelihood, to see him at Nike Hoop Summit, where they can evaluate him in a bit more detail and decide if the 2024 draft is a distinct possibility. I’m putting him here now because scouts are telling me he’s a legitimate name to know for this class.

27. Utah Jazz (via LAC)
Tyler Smith | 6-11 big | 19 years old | G League Ignite
Smith is all about the upside. Right now, he’s an unfinished player, but his skill set at his size mixed with real athleticism is difficult to find. At 6-11 with something in the ballpark of a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Smith is a fluid athlete who moves well around the court both in transition and off the ball on offense. He’s a strong cutter, particularly backdoor, and has the leaping ability to be able to play out of the dunker spot. More than that, Smith has a beautiful jumper that looks easily translatable as he gets stronger and more consistent. He’s hit 42.1 percent from 3 on his way to 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. There is a case that he and Holland have been the two most consistent Ignite players this season.

Having said that, Smith’s defense is going to need a lot of work at the four or the five. He’s messy in help situations and needs to get much more comfortable within scheme. He would be unlikely to play early in the NBA, but the former five-star prospect has every chance to be a difference-maker down the road if he can focus on the details.

28. Cleveland Cavaliers
Hunter Sallis | 6-5 guard | 21 years old | Wake Forest
Sallis has been a real riser — arguably one of the biggest — throughout the process this season. The former Gonzaga guard is averaging 18.4 points per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3. The shooting from distance is the big leap. In his two seasons at Gonzaga, Sallis never hit over 27 percent from distance. Now, Sallis has confidence and is drilling his nearly six 3-point attempts per game at a high level. If he can keep that up — and his free-throw percentages have long indicated that he has some shooting potential — he has a chance to be the kind of scoring combo guard who litters NBA benches league-wide. He’s athletic and shifty with the ball and is leading Wake Forest to a strong season that has come as a bit of a surprise to those around the ACC. If they can close the season well, they should make the NCAA Tournament, where Sallis might get a real shot to do some damage and build the feeling around his game even further.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves
Trey Alexander | 6-4 guard | 21 years old | Creighton
Alexander has been a bit up-and-down this season. He started incredibly strong, averaging 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for his first four games. Then he dropped off, averaging 11 points while shooting 29.6 percent from the field in his next six games. Over his last seven games, though, Alexander has been back to his best. He’s averaging 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from 3. All told, Alexander is a good defender and tough combo guard. He’s physical at the point of attack. But he can also be a primary creator on offense for the Creighton offense and proved last season he can play off the ball and knock down catch-and-shoot 3s. He’s a perfect fit for the Timberwolves if he falls down to 29th, as Minnesota could use another good backup guard and a potential developmental starter long-term given Mike Conley’s age.

30. Boston Celtics
Zach Edey | 7-4 center | 22 years old | Purdue
Edey continues to be nothing short of the best player in college basketball yet again. He’s averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds and over two blocks per game. He establishes position anywhere and everywhere on the court because of how big and strong he is, and he has touch around the rim. He’s probably most underrated as a big in ball-screen actions. He has a case as the best screener in all of college basketball, consistently crushing guards trying to get through and rolling to the rim either into post-ups or easy buckets.

I think Edey has grown defensively over his time in college. He’s a really good, impactful drop-coverage defender for Purdue now. Around the basket, he consistently impacts the game and dissuades guards from trying to drive and finish with how much space he takes up. The questions here are obvious, though. He’s a 7-4 supergiant who doesn’t move particularly well. Can he stop the corner from getting turned on him enough? Can he get back consistently in transition defense in the up-and-down NBA? Still, I consistently get feedback regarding Edey that he’ll likely be taken in the first round.

Second Round
31. Toronto Raptors (via DET): Oso Ighodaro | 6-11 big | Marquette

32. Utah Jazz (via WAS): D.J. Wagner | 6-4 guard | Kentucky

33. San Antonio Spurs: Tristan da Silva | 6-9 forward | Colorado

34. Portland Trail Blazers (via CHA): P.J. Hall | 6-10 big | Clemson

35. Milwaukee Bucks (via POR): Kevin McCullar | 6-7 wing | Kansas

36. Minnesota Timberwolves (via MEM): Izan Almansa | 6-10 big | G League Ignite

37. Philadelphia 76ers (via TOR): Melvin Ajinca | 6-7 wing | Saint-Quentin

38. Memphis Grizzlies (via BKN): Hansen Yang | 7-1 big | Qingdao

39. Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU): A.J. Johnson | 6-5 guard | Illawarra

40. Portland Trail Blazers (via ATL): Baylor Scheierman | 6-7 wing | Creighton

41. Boston Celtics (via CHI): Alex Karaban | 6-8 wing | Connecticut

42. New York Knicks (via UTA): Ajay Mitchell | 6-5 guard | UC Santa Barbara

43. Houston Rockets (via GSW): Kel’el Ware | 7-0 big | Indiana

44. San Antonio Spurs (via LAL): Cam Spencer | 6-4 guard | Connecticut

45. Miami Heat: Payton Sandfort | 6-7 wing | Iowa

46. Orlando Magic: Adem Bona | 6-10 big | UCLA

47. LA Clippers (via IND): Pelle Larsson | 6-6 wing | Arizona

48. Boston Celtics (via DAL): Adama Bal | 6-7 wing | Santa Clara

49. Sacramento Kings: Trevon Brazile | 6-10 big | Arkansas

50. Washington Wizards (via PHX): Keshad Johnson | 6-7 wing | Arizona

51. Indiana Pacers (via NOP): Wooga Poplar | 6-5 wing | Miami (Fla.)

52. Detroit Pistons (via NYK): Justin Edwards | 6-7 wing | Kentucky

53. Indiana Pacers (via MIL): Pacome Dadiet | 6-7 wing | ratiopharm Ulm

54. Memphis Grizzlies (via OKC): Ariel Hukporti | 6-10 big | Melbourne United

55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LAC): Blake Hinson | 6-8 wing | Pittsburgh

56. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): K.J. Simpson | 6-2 guard | Colorado

57. Denver Nuggets (via MIN): Dillon Jones | 6-6 wing | Weber State

58. Charlotte Hornets (via BOS): Malique Lewis | 6-8 wing | Mexico City Capitanes
 


2024 NBA mock draft: Ignite's long-term future and Matas Buzelis' rise

It was an eventful 24 hours for G League Ignite at NBA All-Star Weekend.

On Friday night during the Rising Stars competition, Team Detlef (G League) upset Team Pau (featuring rookies Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller) thanks to a game-winning shot by Ignite prospect Matas Buzelis.

On Saturday morning, Andscape's Marc J. Spears reported that Ignite's Ron Holland would miss the rest of the season with a right thumb injury. And in addressing the media Saturday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called into question the long-term future of Ignite because of the emergence of name, image and likeness deals in college basketball.

In the meantime, Ignite has four prospects projected to go in the first round in our latest 2024 NBA mock draft, topped by the recent rise of Buzelis. The 6-foot-10 forward is likely to have more of a platform to showcase his game with Holland sidelined.

ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo look at all things Ignite, including its long-term future and the development of current prospects.

2024 NBA mock draft

The draft order is based on ESPN projections and reflects the current state of picks owed and owned:

FIRST ROUND
1. Washington Wizards
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg | SF | Age: 18.8
2. Detroit Pistons
Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats | PF/C | Age: 18.8
3. San Antonio Spurs
Rob Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 19.1
4. Charlotte Hornets
Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 19.3
5. Portland Trail Blazers
Cody Williams | Colorado | SF | Age: 19.2
6. Toronto Raptors
Nikola Topic | Mega MIS | PG | Age: 18.4
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja'Kobe Walter | Baylor | SG | Age: 19.4
8. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Tidjane Salaun | Cholet | PF | Age: 18.4
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 20.1
10. Atlanta Hawks
Ron Holland | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.6
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz)
Donovan Clingan | UConn | C | Age: 19.9
12. Chicago Bulls
Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.6
13. Sacramento Kings
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 21.6
14. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)*
Isaiah Collier | USC | PG | Age: 19.3
15. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers)
Stephon Castle | UConn | PG/SG | Age: 19.2
16. Miami Heat
Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas | SF | Age: 22.9
17. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
Devin Carter | Providence | PG/SG | Age: 21.9
18. Orlando Magic
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | SF | Age: 22.8
19. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Tyler Smith | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 19.2
20. Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain | Duke | PG | Age: 19.9
21. Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.1
22. Milwaukee Bucks
Yves Missi | Baylor | C | Age: 19.7
23. New York Knicks
Bobi Klintman | Cairns Taipans | SF/PF | Age: 20.9
24. New Orleans Pelicans
Kel'el Ware | Indiana | C | Age: 19.8
25. Denver Nuggets
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.6
26. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF | Age: 21.1
27. Washington Wizards (via LA Clippers)
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.7
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
Juan Nunez | Ratiopharm Ulm | PG | Age: 19.7
29. Minnesota Timberwolves
Johnny Furphy | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 19.1
30. Boston Celtics
Tyler Kolek | Marquette | PG | Age: 22.8
* The Pelicans can defer the Lakers' first-round pick to 2025

SECOND ROUND
31. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.6
32. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Kyshawn George | Miami | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
33. San Antonio Spurs
Carlton Carrington | Pittsburgh | PG/SG | Age: 18.5
34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 22.3
35. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Jaylon Tyson | California | SG/SF | Age: 21.2
36. Philadelphia 76ers (via Toronto Raptors)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 20.8
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Oso Ighodaro | Marquette | PF/C | Age: 21.6
38. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 21.6
39. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 22.7
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.6
41. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 22.9
42. Boston Celtics (via Chicago Bulls)
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | PF/C | Age: 18.1
43. Sacramento Kings
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois | SG/SG | Age: 23.5
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.2
45. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.5
46. Miami Heat
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.6
47. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.5
48. Orlando Magic
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.3
49. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.2
50. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Baba Miller | Florida St. | PF | Age: 20.0
51. Indiana Pacers (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
52. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.7
53. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
PJ Hall | Clemson | PF/C | Age: 21.9
54. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.6
55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 21.7
56. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
DaRon Holmes II | Dayton | PF/C | Age: 21.5
57. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | SG | Age: 20.9
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)
AJ Johnson | Illawarra Hawks | SG | Age: 19.2

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

What's the future of G League Ignite?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver's annual All-Star weekend media availability raised some major questions surrounding the future of the Ignite program, with Silver weighing in at length on the state of the team, which is 2-19 entering the final leg of its season.

Silver underscored a broader vision for how the NBA can impact youth player development in the U.S., but also expressed his stance that recent changes to college basketball with the inception of NIL collectives and increased transfer portal activity has perhaps decreased the need for the Ignite pathway.

"I think we are in the process of reassessing Team Ignite," Silver said on Saturday, "because now some of those same players who didn't want to be one-and-done because they felt it was unfair, and wanted the ability not just to earn a living playing basketball, but to do commercial deals that weren't available to them at college, to hire professional agents ... all of those same opportunities have become available to them.

"I'm not sure what the future of Team Ignite will be, because before there was a hole in the marketplace that we thought we were filling before doing that, and now my focus is turning to earlier development of those players."

The program's operating costs have required a significant financial commitment from the NBA, but Ignite has faced an uphill challenge building a fan base out of Henderson, Nevada. And while profits aren't the primary object of the endeavor, there are certainly financial elements for the league to assess moving forward. The team's struggles this season, coupled with Silver's apparent shift in reasoning on the team's function, would seem to place a potential endpoint on Ignite. It would be reasonable to expect changes, potentially in the coaching staff, basketball operations, and in the program's overall strategy. There have been several success stories from the program over the past few years, but with Ignite currently owning the worst record in G League history and the range of options available to players, the optics of continuing to fund the program appear to be increasingly difficult for the league.

Ignite entered the season with Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis projected as the top two prospects on our 2024 draft board and Izan Almansa in the top 10. All three players have seen their stock drop throughout a difficult season, even with Buzelis trending back up in recent weeks. Tyler Smith playing his way into a first-round projection has been a success story this season. Ignite has done a lot to help players such as MarJon Beauchamp and Dyson Daniels improve their reputations as prospects and ultimately their draft stock. But the program's biggest-name products -- Scoot Henderson, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga -- have all faced challenging adjustments to the NBA.

The sheer number of prospects on the team has made it difficult to find optional roles and minutes for everyone. The lack of quality guard play has made it difficult to highlight the right players consistently. It's generally easier to overlook the win-loss factor when player development is the overhead reason for the Ignite's existence, but the challenging season the team has faced would seem to have called a lot of things into question.

It would be a surprise to see Ignite shutdown until at least one more season. Prospects Dink Pate and Thierry Darlan remain under contract into next year, and the program is actively recruiting several high-profile prospects, including Khaman Maluach and ESPN 2025 No. 1 recruit A.J. Dybantsa. If Ignite can land a strong recruiting class, perhaps there's an opportunity to turn things around and reassert the program's place in the current prep-to-pro development landscape. Still, it would seem that Ignite will look different in some capacity moving forward, and the eventual fate of the team is certainly less clear than ever. -- Jeremy Woo

Matas Buzelis is peaking at the right time
After missing the first three months of the G League season with ankle injuries, Buzelis was slow out of the gates but has been playing his best basketball as of late. He's shooting 39% from 3 over his past 10 games, has transformed himself from being a poor defender to being extremely impactful both on and off the ball, and is soaking up increased usage successfully with the ball-dominant Ron Holland now sidelined for the season with a thumb injury.

Buzelis was on a major platform this past weekend at the Rising Stars game, where he was able to match up with Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Charlotte's Brandon Miller and many other of the NBA's most talented young players. He showed his passing creativity, shot-making prowess, defensive playmaking instincts and all-around aggressiveness attacking opponents consistently -- even hitting a game-winning turnaround jumper to advance to the championship game.

Being able to showcase his tremendous size, improving frame and intriguing versatility on both ends of the floor was a major opportunity for Buzelis, something that will likely stick with the many NBA executives in attendance ahead of the pre-draft process.

Weighing 185 pounds exactly a year ago, Buzelis is now at 205, which has unlocked some added explosiveness and an ability to initiate and play through contact more effectively on both ends of the floor. Buzelis is always looming as a weakside rim-protector, and is doing a much better job of getting in a low stance, turning his hips and sliding his feet on the perimeter, staying down on fakes and showing impressive instincts staying attached to opponents.

His shot-creation prowess is something teams want to see him continue to make strides with, as he's been somewhat of a mixed bag operating out of pick and roll and in isolation, not always able to beat defenders cleanly off the bounce and finish what he creates due to his lack of strength. Buzelis' jumper has been streaky -- he's 22-for-84 from 3 in 26 games -- but has been on an upward trajectory, showing clean mechanics, a high release and confidence with his shot-making prowess, something that teams will be studying closely in the pre-draft process.

Buzelis was the original No. 1 prospect in our very first mock draft released one year ago, and he's putting himself back in that conversation with the way he's playing as of late. He's got several more weeks to continue building momentum before his season comes to a close. He should continue to benefit from being a top offensive option for Ignite with Holland out. -- Jonathan Givony

Why the pre-draft process will be important for Ron Holland

Holland -- a projected top-10 pick -- will have surgery on his right thumb, a source tells ESPN, ending his season with G League Ignite. The 6-foot-7 wing hasn't played since Jan. 31. Ignite has 13 games remaining and is all but assured to miss the postseason with a 2-19 record and -12.5 point differential that ranks worst in G League history, dating back to 2001. Holland is expected to make a full recovery in time for the pre-draft process, explaining why he decided to have the surgery now despite looking healthy in warmups of the Rising Stars challenge this past weekend.

Holland came into the year as the projected No. 1 pick but has seen his stock slide considerably in an uneven campaign in which he struggled with scoring efficiency (24% on 3-pointers), averaged more turnovers than assists and left a lot to be desired with his defense and ability or desire to impact winning.

Holland's reputation before Ignite was far different. He was universally lauded for his competitiveness, unselfishness and willingness to do the little things. He proved that numerous times in high school, representing the United States national team at the FIBA level (where he won two gold medals), and on the prep all-star circuit where he regularly raised the level of intensity of the Nike Hoop Summit and McDonald's All-American games. Holland was viewed as the clear star of the 2023 recruiting class, which helped him emerge as the No. 2 ranked recruit, per ESPN.

NBA teams will be asking how much of Holland's inefficient and at-times selfish play this season was due to the lack of structure and accountability at Ignite, where he was thrust into an outsized role -- currently ranked third in the G League in usage (28.5%) -- despite not being a great ball handler or outside shooter.

They will also try to determine what to make of some of the more encouraging parts of his statistical profile, as he was still able to average 19.5 points, consistently draw fouls, shoot 75% from the free throw line, rebound, block shots, and get in passing lanes prolifically -- all as an 18-year-old who won't turn 19 until July. Unfortunately, the track record of the dozen G League Ignite alumni that preceded Holland has been decidedly mixed, casting questions about the stats many of them accumulated compared to how prepared they turned out to be entering the NBA.

The pre-draft process will be important for Holland, as teams will hope to see better perimeter shooting ability in workouts than what they saw this season and will have plenty of questions to ask of him in interviews. Holland is still a strong candidate to be picked in the lottery, but has work ahead of him to remind teams of what they liked about him before the season. -- Givony

Tyler Smith helping outlook with consistent, improved play
Smith has been the biggest success story of G League Ignite's season, helping elevate his standing from second-round projection entering the year to now potentially knocking on the door of the NBA draft lottery.

Smith gives Ignite much-needed spacing from the stretch-5 position, being a significant playmaker picking and popping, coming off pindowns, rising up for jab-step 3-pointers and even pulling up off the dribble out of isolation with impressive shot-making prowess. He's hitting 39% of his 3s this season, while also showing flashes of ability as a pick-and-roll finisher, cutter, offensive rebounder, scoring with his back to the basket and facing up from the mid-post. He's a skilled, versatile and instinctual scorer entering the NBA where teams are looking for 6-10, long-armed forwards exactly in his mold.

While his scoring exploits didn't translate to the Rising Stars game on All-Star weekend, he did show off his improved motor crashing the glass, leaking out in transition and generating turnovers to help his team advance to the championship game over Victor Wembanyama and Team Pau.
Smith has looked a step slow with his processing speed all season on both ends of the floor, struggling when asked to execute advanced actions, and showing an average feel for the game as a passer, decision-maker and off-ball defender. He has been playing much harder, though, using his length to get in passing lanes or protect the rim when parked under the basket, and improve as a rebounder. He's still fairly foul prone and hasn't been able to get Ignite's coaching staff to fully trust him enough to increase his playing time, which has hovered around 20-23 minutes for most of the season.

Scouts have been wondering if Ignite will eventually move Smith to his more natural position of power forward and operate alongside Izan Almansa in the starting unit, but that hasn't happened yet, as the team has preferred to keep him in a fairly confined role.
Smith seems to be making strides regardless, scorching over the past nine games in particular, averaging 16.8 points in 23 minutes while shooting 60% for 2 and 43% for 3. He made big shots down the stretch of both of Ignite's wins in recent weeks, being entrusted with play calls out of timeouts when his team needed a bucket.

With Holland out, and Buzelis potentially finishing his season early as well, Smith could see more opportunity to show what he can do in an outsized role, which will be interesting for scouts to monitor. -- Givony

Much to prove still for Almansa
Almansa made a small, but important cameo helping his G League colleagues advance to the championship game of the Rising Stars challenge, containing and then blocking Washington Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly ferociously in transition and running the floor for an athletic dunk.
Almansa has been more aggressive on both ends of the floor as the season has moved on and should benefit from an additional usage rate now that Holland is done for the season. He still ranks last among the eight Ignite prospects in usage rate (15.1%), even though he ranks first in scoring efficiency (62% true shooting).

NBA teams would like to see Almansa start to experiment with taking perimeter jumpers with more regularity, as he's attempted only 20 3-pointers this season, hitting just three in 35 games, while converting 55% of his free throw attempts. Standing 6-10, and weighing around 225 pounds, Almansa is somewhat stuck between the power forward and center positions from an NBA standpoint on both ends of the floor, and doesn't have exceptional explosiveness to compensate. Some teams struggle to envision how to fit in a role-playing big man who doesn't protect the rim or stretch the floor at a high level. There's little question that the G League setting has not put Almansa in the best light, especially on a team with limited pick-and-roll playmaking that's been unable to take advantage of his biggest offensive strength.

Similarly to Holland, Almansa's pre-Ignite reputation was built heavily around his competitiveness and the contributions he makes to winning with the instincts and feel for the game he brings on both ends. On an Ignite squad that currently ranks as the worst team in G League history in terms of net efficiency, it's hard to make that case for Almansa when his team is getting blown out as often as they are. Unlike Holland, Almansa did not have the green light from the coaching staff to take any shot he wanted to rack up counting stats, putting him in a much more precarious position heading into June.

Almansa doesn't turn 19 until July and will have other opportunities to showcase the different sides of his game during the pre-draft process, namely the NBA draft combine, where he'll be able to match up with some of the same big men he'll be competing with for draft positioning. If he doesn't like the feedback he's receiving from NBA teams in mid-June, he does have the option of withdrawing his name from the draft and attempting to find a better place to showcase his talent next season in hopes of regaining the ground he lost heading into the 2025 NBA draft. -- Givony
 
pmatic said:


2024 NBA mock draft: Ignite's long-term future and Matas Buzelis' rise

It was an eventful 24 hours for G League Ignite at NBA All-Star Weekend.

On Friday night during the Rising Stars competition, Team Detlef (G League) upset Team Pau (featuring rookies Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller) thanks to a game-winning shot by Ignite prospect Matas Buzelis.

On Saturday morning, Andscape's Marc J. Spears reported that Ignite's Ron Holland would miss the rest of the season with a right thumb injury. And in addressing the media Saturday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called into question the long-term future of Ignite because of the emergence of name, image and likeness deals in college basketball.

In the meantime, Ignite has four prospects projected to go in the first round in our latest 2024 NBA mock draft, topped by the recent rise of Buzelis. The 6-foot-10 forward is likely to have more of a platform to showcase his game with Holland sidelined.

ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo look at all things Ignite, including its long-term future and the development of current prospects.

2024 NBA mock draft

The draft order is based on ESPN projections and reflects the current state of picks owed and owned:

FIRST ROUND
1. Washington Wizards
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg | SF | Age: 18.8
2. Detroit Pistons
Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats | PF/C | Age: 18.8
3. San Antonio Spurs
Rob Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 19.1
4. Charlotte Hornets
Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 19.3
5. Portland Trail Blazers
Cody Williams | Colorado | SF | Age: 19.2
6. Toronto Raptors
Nikola Topic | Mega MIS | PG | Age: 18.4
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja'Kobe Walter | Baylor | SG | Age: 19.4
8. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Tidjane Salaun | Cholet | PF | Age: 18.4
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 20.1
10. Atlanta Hawks
Ron Holland | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.6
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz)
Donovan Clingan | UConn | C | Age: 19.9
12. Chicago Bulls
Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.6
13. Sacramento Kings
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 21.6
14. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)*
Isaiah Collier | USC | PG | Age: 19.3
15. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers)
Stephon Castle | UConn | PG/SG | Age: 19.2
16. Miami Heat
Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas | SF | Age: 22.9
17. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
Devin Carter | Providence | PG/SG | Age: 21.9
18. Orlando Magic
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | SF | Age: 22.8
19. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Tyler Smith | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 19.2
20. Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain | Duke | PG | Age: 19.9
21. Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.1
22. Milwaukee Bucks
Yves Missi | Baylor | C | Age: 19.7
23. New York Knicks
Bobi Klintman | Cairns Taipans | SF/PF | Age: 20.9
24. New Orleans Pelicans
Kel'el Ware | Indiana | C | Age: 19.8
25. Denver Nuggets
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.6
26. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF | Age: 21.1
27. Washington Wizards (via LA Clippers)
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.7
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
Juan Nunez | Ratiopharm Ulm | PG | Age: 19.7
29. Minnesota Timberwolves
Johnny Furphy | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 19.1
30. Boston Celtics
Tyler Kolek | Marquette | PG | Age: 22.8
* The Pelicans can defer the Lakers' first-round pick to 2025

SECOND ROUND
31. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.6
32. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Kyshawn George | Miami | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
33. San Antonio Spurs
Carlton Carrington | Pittsburgh | PG/SG | Age: 18.5
34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 22.3
35. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Jaylon Tyson | California | SG/SF | Age: 21.2
36. Philadelphia 76ers (via Toronto Raptors)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 20.8
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Oso Ighodaro | Marquette | PF/C | Age: 21.6
38. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 21.6
39. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 22.7
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.6
41. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 22.9
42. Boston Celtics (via Chicago Bulls)
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | PF/C | Age: 18.1
43. Sacramento Kings
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois | SG/SG | Age: 23.5
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.2
45. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.5
46. Miami Heat
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.6
47. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.5
48. Orlando Magic
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.3
49. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.2
50. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Baba Miller | Florida St. | PF | Age: 20.0
51. Indiana Pacers (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
52. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.7
53. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
PJ Hall | Clemson | PF/C | Age: 21.9
54. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.6
55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 21.7
56. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
DaRon Holmes II | Dayton | PF/C | Age: 21.5
57. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | SG | Age: 20.9
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)
AJ Johnson | Illawarra Hawks | SG | Age: 19.2

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

What's the future of G League Ignite?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver's annual All-Star weekend media availability raised some major questions surrounding the future of the Ignite program, with Silver weighing in at length on the state of the team, which is 2-19 entering the final leg of its season.

Silver underscored a broader vision for how the NBA can impact youth player development in the U.S., but also expressed his stance that recent changes to college basketball with the inception of NIL collectives and increased transfer portal activity has perhaps decreased the need for the Ignite pathway.

"I think we are in the process of reassessing Team Ignite," Silver said on Saturday, "because now some of those same players who didn't want to be one-and-done because they felt it was unfair, and wanted the ability not just to earn a living playing basketball, but to do commercial deals that weren't available to them at college, to hire professional agents ... all of those same opportunities have become available to them.

"I'm not sure what the future of Team Ignite will be, because before there was a hole in the marketplace that we thought we were filling before doing that, and now my focus is turning to earlier development of those players."

The program's operating costs have required a significant financial commitment from the NBA, but Ignite has faced an uphill challenge building a fan base out of Henderson, Nevada. And while profits aren't the primary object of the endeavor, there are certainly financial elements for the league to assess moving forward. The team's struggles this season, coupled with Silver's apparent shift in reasoning on the team's function, would seem to place a potential endpoint on Ignite. It would be reasonable to expect changes, potentially in the coaching staff, basketball operations, and in the program's overall strategy. There have been several success stories from the program over the past few years, but with Ignite currently owning the worst record in G League history and the range of options available to players, the optics of continuing to fund the program appear to be increasingly difficult for the league.

Ignite entered the season with Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis projected as the top two prospects on our 2024 draft board and Izan Almansa in the top 10. All three players have seen their stock drop throughout a difficult season, even with Buzelis trending back up in recent weeks. Tyler Smith playing his way into a first-round projection has been a success story this season. Ignite has done a lot to help players such as MarJon Beauchamp and Dyson Daniels improve their reputations as prospects and ultimately their draft stock. But the program's biggest-name products -- Scoot Henderson, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga -- have all faced challenging adjustments to the NBA.

The sheer number of prospects on the team has made it difficult to find optional roles and minutes for everyone. The lack of quality guard play has made it difficult to highlight the right players consistently. It's generally easier to overlook the win-loss factor when player development is the overhead reason for the Ignite's existence, but the challenging season the team has faced would seem to have called a lot of things into question.

It would be a surprise to see Ignite shutdown until at least one more season. Prospects Dink Pate and Thierry Darlan remain under contract into next year, and the program is actively recruiting several high-profile prospects, including Khaman Maluach and ESPN 2025 No. 1 recruit A.J. Dybantsa. If Ignite can land a strong recruiting class, perhaps there's an opportunity to turn things around and reassert the program's place in the current prep-to-pro development landscape. Still, it would seem that Ignite will look different in some capacity moving forward, and the eventual fate of the team is certainly less clear than ever. -- Jeremy Woo

Matas Buzelis is peaking at the right time
After missing the first three months of the G League season with ankle injuries, Buzelis was slow out of the gates but has been playing his best basketball as of late. He's shooting 39% from 3 over his past 10 games, has transformed himself from being a poor defender to being extremely impactful both on and off the ball, and is soaking up increased usage successfully with the ball-dominant Ron Holland now sidelined for the season with a thumb injury.

Buzelis was on a major platform this past weekend at the Rising Stars game, where he was able to match up with Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Charlotte's Brandon Miller and many other of the NBA's most talented young players. He showed his passing creativity, shot-making prowess, defensive playmaking instincts and all-around aggressiveness attacking opponents consistently -- even hitting a game-winning turnaround jumper to advance to the championship game.

Being able to showcase his tremendous size, improving frame and intriguing versatility on both ends of the floor was a major opportunity for Buzelis, something that will likely stick with the many NBA executives in attendance ahead of the pre-draft process.

Weighing 185 pounds exactly a year ago, Buzelis is now at 205, which has unlocked some added explosiveness and an ability to initiate and play through contact more effectively on both ends of the floor. Buzelis is always looming as a weakside rim-protector, and is doing a much better job of getting in a low stance, turning his hips and sliding his feet on the perimeter, staying down on fakes and showing impressive instincts staying attached to opponents.

His shot-creation prowess is something teams want to see him continue to make strides with, as he's been somewhat of a mixed bag operating out of pick and roll and in isolation, not always able to beat defenders cleanly off the bounce and finish what he creates due to his lack of strength. Buzelis' jumper has been streaky -- he's 22-for-84 from 3 in 26 games -- but has been on an upward trajectory, showing clean mechanics, a high release and confidence with his shot-making prowess, something that teams will be studying closely in the pre-draft process.

Buzelis was the original No. 1 prospect in our very first mock draft released one year ago, and he's putting himself back in that conversation with the way he's playing as of late. He's got several more weeks to continue building momentum before his season comes to a close. He should continue to benefit from being a top offensive option for Ignite with Holland out. -- Jonathan Givony

Why the pre-draft process will be important for Ron Holland

Holland -- a projected top-10 pick -- will have surgery on his right thumb, a source tells ESPN, ending his season with G League Ignite. The 6-foot-7 wing hasn't played since Jan. 31. Ignite has 13 games remaining and is all but assured to miss the postseason with a 2-19 record and -12.5 point differential that ranks worst in G League history, dating back to 2001. Holland is expected to make a full recovery in time for the pre-draft process, explaining why he decided to have the surgery now despite looking healthy in warmups of the Rising Stars challenge this past weekend.

Holland came into the year as the projected No. 1 pick but has seen his stock slide considerably in an uneven campaign in which he struggled with scoring efficiency (24% on 3-pointers), averaged more turnovers than assists and left a lot to be desired with his defense and ability or desire to impact winning.

Holland's reputation before Ignite was far different. He was universally lauded for his competitiveness, unselfishness and willingness to do the little things. He proved that numerous times in high school, representing the United States national team at the FIBA level (where he won two gold medals), and on the prep all-star circuit where he regularly raised the level of intensity of the Nike Hoop Summit and McDonald's All-American games. Holland was viewed as the clear star of the 2023 recruiting class, which helped him emerge as the No. 2 ranked recruit, per ESPN.

NBA teams will be asking how much of Holland's inefficient and at-times selfish play this season was due to the lack of structure and accountability at Ignite, where he was thrust into an outsized role -- currently ranked third in the G League in usage (28.5%) -- despite not being a great ball handler or outside shooter.

They will also try to determine what to make of some of the more encouraging parts of his statistical profile, as he was still able to average 19.5 points, consistently draw fouls, shoot 75% from the free throw line, rebound, block shots, and get in passing lanes prolifically -- all as an 18-year-old who won't turn 19 until July. Unfortunately, the track record of the dozen G League Ignite alumni that preceded Holland has been decidedly mixed, casting questions about the stats many of them accumulated compared to how prepared they turned out to be entering the NBA.

The pre-draft process will be important for Holland, as teams will hope to see better perimeter shooting ability in workouts than what they saw this season and will have plenty of questions to ask of him in interviews. Holland is still a strong candidate to be picked in the lottery, but has work ahead of him to remind teams of what they liked about him before the season. -- Givony

Tyler Smith helping outlook with consistent, improved play
Smith has been the biggest success story of G League Ignite's season, helping elevate his standing from second-round projection entering the year to now potentially knocking on the door of the NBA draft lottery.

Smith gives Ignite much-needed spacing from the stretch-5 position, being a significant playmaker picking and popping, coming off pindowns, rising up for jab-step 3-pointers and even pulling up off the dribble out of isolation with impressive shot-making prowess. He's hitting 39% of his 3s this season, while also showing flashes of ability as a pick-and-roll finisher, cutter, offensive rebounder, scoring with his back to the basket and facing up from the mid-post. He's a skilled, versatile and instinctual scorer entering the NBA where teams are looking for 6-10, long-armed forwards exactly in his mold.

While his scoring exploits didn't translate to the Rising Stars game on All-Star weekend, he did show off his improved motor crashing the glass, leaking out in transition and generating turnovers to help his team advance to the championship game over Victor Wembanyama and Team Pau.
Smith has looked a step slow with his processing speed all season on both ends of the floor, struggling when asked to execute advanced actions, and showing an average feel for the game as a passer, decision-maker and off-ball defender. He has been playing much harder, though, using his length to get in passing lanes or protect the rim when parked under the basket, and improve as a rebounder. He's still fairly foul prone and hasn't been able to get Ignite's coaching staff to fully trust him enough to increase his playing time, which has hovered around 20-23 minutes for most of the season.

Scouts have been wondering if Ignite will eventually move Smith to his more natural position of power forward and operate alongside Izan Almansa in the starting unit, but that hasn't happened yet, as the team has preferred to keep him in a fairly confined role.
Smith seems to be making strides regardless, scorching over the past nine games in particular, averaging 16.8 points in 23 minutes while shooting 60% for 2 and 43% for 3. He made big shots down the stretch of both of Ignite's wins in recent weeks, being entrusted with play calls out of timeouts when his team needed a bucket.

With Holland out, and Buzelis potentially finishing his season early as well, Smith could see more opportunity to show what he can do in an outsized role, which will be interesting for scouts to monitor. -- Givony

Much to prove still for Almansa
Almansa made a small, but important cameo helping his G League colleagues advance to the championship game of the Rising Stars challenge, containing and then blocking Washington Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly ferociously in transition and running the floor for an athletic dunk.
Almansa has been more aggressive on both ends of the floor as the season has moved on and should benefit from an additional usage rate now that Holland is done for the season. He still ranks last among the eight Ignite prospects in usage rate (15.1%), even though he ranks first in scoring efficiency (62% true shooting).

NBA teams would like to see Almansa start to experiment with taking perimeter jumpers with more regularity, as he's attempted only 20 3-pointers this season, hitting just three in 35 games, while converting 55% of his free throw attempts. Standing 6-10, and weighing around 225 pounds, Almansa is somewhat stuck between the power forward and center positions from an NBA standpoint on both ends of the floor, and doesn't have exceptional explosiveness to compensate. Some teams struggle to envision how to fit in a role-playing big man who doesn't protect the rim or stretch the floor at a high level. There's little question that the G League setting has not put Almansa in the best light, especially on a team with limited pick-and-roll playmaking that's been unable to take advantage of his biggest offensive strength.

Similarly to Holland, Almansa's pre-Ignite reputation was built heavily around his competitiveness and the contributions he makes to winning with the instincts and feel for the game he brings on both ends. On an Ignite squad that currently ranks as the worst team in G League history in terms of net efficiency, it's hard to make that case for Almansa when his team is getting blown out as often as they are. Unlike Holland, Almansa did not have the green light from the coaching staff to take any shot he wanted to rack up counting stats, putting him in a much more precarious position heading into June.

Almansa doesn't turn 19 until July and will have other opportunities to showcase the different sides of his game during the pre-draft process, namely the NBA draft combine, where he'll be able to match up with some of the same big men he'll be competing with for draft positioning. If he doesn't like the feedback he's receiving from NBA teams in mid-June, he does have the option of withdrawing his name from the draft and attempting to find a better place to showcase his talent next season in hopes of regaining the ground he lost heading into the 2025 NBA draft. -- Givony
Click to expand...


No way Spurs pass on Cody Williams for Dillingham. Pop is not going to approve of a guard who over dribbles and doesn’t play defense.

We passed on Jalen, no way we pass on his brother
 
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