- 13,890
- 25,044
...
2025 NBA Draft Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
- Start date
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 80,694
- 55,639
damb. Next few years are going to be a major infusion of talent
Took a year off from caring much about prospects but it’s must watch for the next two for sure
Took a year off from caring much about prospects but it’s must watch for the next two for sure
- 61,772
- 133,805
- 92,376
- 128,147
6'8 Thybulle.
- 13,128
- 8,846
- 23,827
- 48,125
Since ole girl is gone why doesn't he just transfer back to UNC
aepps20
Surely him and RJ can patch things with her at a different school.
- 28,940
- 17,603
I really liked Mitchell
aepps20
Supporter
- 42,490
- 90,536
She left open the door to coming back to UNC if she can’t transfer. The comments on his TikTok videos from UNC fans were brutal so I think the bridge has been burned. Her comments on her videos are even worse with UNC fans accusing her of causing a rift between RJ and Caleb and how they wish she left sooner.Since ole girl is gone why doesn't he just transfer back to UNC
- 23,827
- 48,125
I too wish she left sooner but I am not toxic enough to send hate comments to a college student about their personal relationships.
aepps20
Supporter
- 42,490
- 90,536
It’s really gross and uncool. She posted videos from a wedding and clowns were asking if she was marrying RJ or Caleb.
- 28,940
- 17,603
aepps20
Supporter
- 42,490
- 90,536
Really appreciate it. It’s crazy how you don’t even have to do anything except go to the comments on random videos and people tell the stories.I love that you have the gossip - thanks for being you
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 92,376
- 128,147
2024 NBA mock draft: Team analysis for all 30 first-round picks
With the NBA regular season complete and the play-in games underway, the NBA draft now takes precedence for the 10 NBA teams outside the playoff mix.
From Europe to Australia and the college ranks, scouts are scouring the globe for the next impact NBA players in an uncertain draft class. Several prospects have climbed in the mock draft after stellar runs in the NCAA tournament, and two French prospects continue to top the draft board.
Which players from back-to-back champion UConn will land in the lottery? How did Kentucky's lackluster March impact how its top prospects are viewed? And which international players are trending upward as seasons come to a close?
ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo look at these questions and break down the prospects in the latest mock draft.
FIRST ROUND
1. Detroit Pistons
Zaccharie Risacher
Bourg
SF
Age: 19.0
The Pistons are the NBA's worst 3-point shooting team while ranking among the league's worst defenses, meaning they could very well be attracted to the combination of perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and youth Risacher offers. He's having an extremely productive season competing at a very high level of competition for Bourg, guarding every position from 1 to 4 while making 39% of his 3-pointers through 60 games, despite being in a late-season slump. Risacher looks like a strong fit positionally with the rest of Detroit's core and is the type of player who doesn't need plays called for him. -- Jonathan Givony
2. Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr
Perth
PF/C
Age: 18.9
As the Wizards continue the nascent stages of a long rebuild, they can afford to take a longer view with a player such as Sarr. Coming off a positive developmental season in Australia, Sarr is the most physically gifted big in the draft and can help fix Washington's leaky defense in time. As his offense develops, he's potentially the type of versatile contributor who can fit universally into lineups at the 4 or the 5. The Wizards selected another French player, Bilal Coulibaly, in last year's draft and have the type of patient runway to help Sarr maximize his considerable ability. -- Jeremy Woo
3. Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan
UConn
C
Age: 20.1
The Trail Blazers appear too early in their rebuilding process to be overly concerned with positional fit and might not be married long-term to center DeAndre Ayton, who has two more years on his contract. Portland could be attracted to the size, length, defensive prowess and passing ability of Clingan, who is coming off back-to-back national championships and has plenty of room for growth alongside the Blazers' core at just 20 years old. -- Givony
4. Charlotte Hornets
Rob Dillingham
Kentucky
PG
Age: 19.2
With the Hornets transitioning to new front office leadership, an open-minded approach to this selection could make Dillingham intriguing. The shooting acumen he demonstrated at Kentucky provides a blueprint for how he might be able to fit in alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in what could be a potent offensive trio -- albeit one with real defensive concerns. While he won't be a fit for every team, the uncertain nature of this draft class will make Dillingham a consideration early on, with his uncommon mix of shot creation and 3-point ability as an upside if he can round out his game further. -- Woo
5. San Antonio Spurs
Nikola Topic
Mega MIS
PG
Age: 18.6
The Spurs have an opening at point guard and will likely study the fit of both Topic and Dillingham, who is already off the board in this scenario. Pairing Victor Wembanyama with a highly unselfish, creative passer such as Topic would be attractive, as he also has excellent size to play in the backcourt with other guards. His defensive shortcomings might not appear as glaring with Wembanyama behind him, but improving his perimeter shooting will be key. -- Givony
6. Toronto Raptors
Matas Buzelis
G League Ignite
SF/PF
Age: 19.5
Toronto owns a top-six protection on this pick and has a 45.8% chance of keeping it. Those odds will make for an anxious lottery night, as the Raptors hope not to get jumped in the draft order. With the team rebuilding and the roster somewhat in flux around Scottie Barnes, grabbing another versatile forward in Buzelis could be beneficial, giving Toronto more positional size and lineup optionality to play with in the frontcourt, something this front office has traditionally favored. Buzelis finished his G League season with a productive stretch and made strides defensively, reminding scouts what makes him an intriguing development pick in the lottery. -- Woo
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Reed Sheppard
Kentucky
PG/SG
Age: 19.8
The Grizzlies will surely be attuned to Sheppard rating as one of the best players in this draft class from an analytics perspective, while also bringing the type of scoring efficiency the team usually covets in the draft. He'd form one of the smallest backcourts in the NBA with Ja Morant but could help ignite an offense that ranked last in the NBA this season in efficiency due to a myriad of injuries to core players. -- Givony
8. Utah Jazz
Stephon Castle
UConn
PG/SG
Age: 19.4
The Jazz have been exceedingly patient with their rebuild and could see long-term benefits in a potential backcourt partnership between Keyonte George and Castle, the latter of whom has established himself as one of the top defensive prospects in this class. Castle's size, matchup versatility and secondary playmaking ability as a ball handler could fit quite nicely with George's scoring ability. Teams will want to see Castle shoot the ball with confidence in workouts, but if he can assuage some of those concerns, he figures to warrant an upside swing in the lottery and benefit from UConn's March dominance. -- Woo
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Dalton Knecht
Tennessee
SF
Age: 22.9
The Rockets turned the page on their rebuilding process by hiring head coach Ime Udoka and making a splash in free agency last summer, indicating they could look at more ready-made players with this pick considering the plethora of youth already on the roster. Shooting will likely be a priority for Houston this summer, and the dynamic perimeter game of the nearly 23-year-old Knecht -- who made 40% of his 3s this season -- could be attractive with this pick. -- Givony
10. Atlanta Hawks
Cody Williams
Colorado
SG/SF
Age: 19.4
Following this year's draft, the Hawks won't control their own first-round pick until 2028, owing picks and swaps to the Spurs. This could be an offseason of big changes in Atlanta as the Hawks weigh the luxury tax. Considering those factors, taking a long view with this selection and playing for upside over fit makes sense. Williams had an uneven freshman season but flashed upside as a big playmaker in his best moments, making him an interesting lottery candidate. His frame and defensive upside make him one of the draft's more interesting development bets if he can refine his handling and shooting. -- Woo
11. Chicago Bulls
Isaiah Collier
USC
PG
Age: 19.5
With Zach Lavine reportedly on the trade block and a need for additional playmaking from the backcourt as a priority this offseason, the shot-creation prowess and scoring instincts of Collier will be studied closely by the Bulls' front office should he be available with this pick. Collier has flaws but also offers some real star power and upside with his size, strength and slashing ability at 19 years old, especially if his perimeter shooting improves. -- Givony
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Ja'Kobe Walter
Baylor
SG/SF
Age: 19.6
The Thunder can essentially go any direction in adding to their collection of talent with this pick from the Rockets, a luxury for the Western Conference's top seed. Walter's 3-point shooting could make him an attractive fit here, as a young player who could eventually slide into a valuable role as OKC's roster gradually becomes more expensive. Walter isn't much of a shot-creator and has work to do in expanding his contributions, but his intangibles and smooth shooting should make him an attractive piece with a feasible pathway to NBA success. -- Woo
13. Sacramento Kings
Ron Holland
G League Ignite
SF
Age: 18.7
The Kings could look to bolster their wing depth with key reserve Malik Monk entering free agency, either through the draft or other means. Holland had an uneven season in the G League from an efficiency standpoint, but he is one of the youngest players in the draft and brings impressive intensity and scoring aggressiveness, which makes him a candidate to be picked higher in the lottery depending on how the pre-draft process plays out. -- Givony
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State)
Tidjane Salaun
Cholet
PF
Age: 18.6
Salaun would be another intriguing addition to Portland's frontcourt, helping to balance out a guard-heavy roster. He could be an interesting fit with this young core thanks to his potential to space the floor, supply energy and versatility as an off-ball player, with the future in mind. Salaun is still raw in important areas of his game but should be an appealing project if he can make strides as a shooter and decision-maker. -- Woo
15. Miami Heat
Zach Edey
Purdue
C
Age: 21.9
Edey's positional fit alongside Bam Adebayo would be a topic of discussion in Miami, but his productivity, physicality, intensity and cultural match would be welcomed by the Heat. Adebayo has started to slowly incorporate a 3-point shot into his offensive arsenal late this season and has the type of defensive versatility that could be useful alongside another big man. Edey's offensive rebounding and interior scoring are skills the Heat don't have much of, making him an attractive pick here. -- Givony
16. Los Angeles Lakers*
Kyle Filipowski
Duke
PF/C
Age: 20.4
The Pelicans have the rights to this Lakers pick but are expected to defer it to 2025, in what should be a deeper draft. Assuming that happens, the Lakers can keep getting younger on the fringes of their roster. Los Angeles could use long-term frontcourt depth in particular, and Filipowski's versatility and playmaking ability supply the type of skill set the current role players lack. It may take him some time to adjust, and he'll need to become a more consistent shooter, but his size/skill combination is certainly of interest. -- Woo
17. Philadelphia 76ers
Devin Carter
Providence
PG/SG
Age: 22.0
Most playoff teams could use the defensive versatility, toughness and developing outside shooting Carter brings, especially on a roster with ample shot creation already in place like the 76ers have with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The 2023-24 Big East Player of the Year looks like a plug-and-play option at 22 years old, which will be attractive to several teams drafting in this range. -- Givony
18. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana)
Jared McCain
Duke
PG
Age: 20.1
McCain came on in a big way toward the end of the season, showcasing his shooting and feel for the game in place of great measurables. He offers a higher floor than usual for a freshman guard as a result, with the ability to play on and off the ball, knock down shots and make plays for teammates. His defense is still a work in progress, but there's a lot to like about him in the long term, as he could make for a useful addition on a young roster in need of shooting like Toronto's. -- Woo
19. Orlando Magic
Tristan da Silva
Colorado
SF/PF
Age: 22.9
The Magic ranked among the NBA's worst 3-point shooting teams this season and will look to improve in that area this offseason. Da Silva, a plug-and-play option at nearly 23 years old, brings coveted defensive versatility and feel for the game. He also doesn't need plays called for him, which could be attractive operating alongside existing stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. -- Givony
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
Tyler Smith
G League Ignite
SF/PF
Age: 19.4
The Cavs finished in the middle of the pack in 3-point shooting and could stand to add more floor spacing in their frontcourt. Smith fits the bill, with a successful season in the G League helping to clarify his role in the NBA. Smith likely needs another season to develop physically and get accustomed to the speed of the game, but he looks to be on a positive trajectory as one of the more legitimate stretch bigs on the board in the middle of the draft. -- Woo
21. Milwaukee Bucks
Kevin McCullar Jr.
Kansas
SF
Age: 23.0
The Bucks took a major step backward defensively this season and will likely look to improve in that area this summer. They're firmly in win-now mode with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, so adding the 23-year-old McCullar could be attractive as he's likely more ready to help the team in the short term than other options in this range. McCullar is an excellent defender and passer and was shooting the ball as well as he ever had in his career before being derailed by a midseason knee injury. -- Givony
22. New Orleans Pelicans
Yves Missi
Baylor
C
Age: 19.9
Missi would be a project pick for the Pelicans, who stand to upgrade their depth at center and could try to address that role long-term via the draft. While he's not NBA-ready, Missi's size, tools and flashes of scoring ability piqued interest from scouts this season enough to vault him into the draft. He might need an ostensible redshirt year but could pay dividends in this part of the draft. -- Woo
23. Phoenix Suns
Bobi Klintman
Cairns
SF/PF
Age: 21.1
The Suns traded away most of their draft capital in the coming years to build a superteam anchored around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, making this pick a rare chance to inject the team with young talent on a cost-controlled rookie scale contract. Wing depth will likely be important for the Suns moving forward, especially with perimeter shooting and defensive versatility at a premium. Klintman, who is old enough at 21 to be expected to play a role in the short term, also has some intriguing ingredients to develop long-term with his size, range and defensive playmaking ability. -- Givony
24. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Kyshawn George
Miami
SG/SF
Age: 20.3
George is a name to track closely during the pre-draft process, as his skill set and size are often conducive to workout settings and might cause teams to look past his modest freshman-year production. He'd be a big upside swing for the Knicks, who have amassed talent nicely and can go several different directions with these picks in the 20s. George's shooting and playmaking ability on the wing make for an intriguing package of skills, but he lacks high-level experience and will need time to deliver a return wherever he's selected. -- Woo
25. New York Knicks
Carlton Carrington
Pittsburgh
PG/SG
Age: 18.7
The Knicks have strong depth and versatility at nearly every position and can afford to take a couple of swings on long-term upside if they decide to keep one or both of their first-round picks. Carrington is one of the youngest players in this draft and will need time to gain strength and add experience before he's ready to play a real role in the NBA, but his positional size, dynamic perimeter shooting and strong basketball instincts make him someone a team in this range could bet on. -- Givony
26. Washington Wizards (via LA Clippers)
Juan Nunez
Ratiopharm Ulm
PG
Age: 19.8
With incumbent starter Tyus Jones entering free agency and potentially not on the same timetable as the rebuilding Wizards, drafting a young point guard to insert into the mix could be one direction the team opts to take this summer. Nunez is one of the best pick-and-roll playmakers in this draft at 19 years old and is coming off an excellent season in the competitive EuroCup and German league with Ratiopharm Ulm. -- Givony
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
Johnny Furphy
Kansas
SG/SF
Age: 19.3
Minnesota has favored positional size and versatility at forward in recent drafts as it looks to keep building out a supporting cast around Anthony Edwards. Furphy could be another one of those players, having flashed good instincts and the ability to impact games without heavy touches while becoming a surprise one-and-done candidate. He has work to do in all areas of his game, particularly on defense, but can help himself by shooting it well in workouts and reassuring teams of his value. -- Woo
28. Denver Nuggets
Tyler Kolek
Marquette
PG
Age: 23.0
The Nuggets have not been shy about targeting NBA-ready college players in recent drafts, and Kolek could be another fit along those lines. He has the moxie and pick-and-roll smarts to step in on a competitive team and provide backup minutes. His athletic limitations limit his upside, but he could be a useful plug-and-play pick off the bench in this part of the draft. -- Woo
29. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City)
Justin Edwards
Kentucky
SG/SF
Age: 20.3
Edwards did not have the season many expected at Kentucky but is still worthy of consideration in this area of the draft at 6-7 with some perimeter shooting acumen and upside to grow into after one season in college. The Jazz could look to bolster their wing depth, which could make Edwards a candidate to hear his name in the late first round. -- Givony
30. Boston Celtics
Kel'el Ware
Indiana
C
Age: 19.9
The Celtics can take a straight upside swing here at the end of the first round if they choose. Ware did well in producing at a high level toward the end of the season at Indiana, causing teams to take a longer look despite the long-held questions about his competitiveness and motor. His length, shooting ability and shot-blocking have always made him an interesting flier from an NBA perspective and the type of prospect who can really help himself in workout settings. A strong spring could see him sneak into the first round. -- Woo
SECOND ROUND
31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.2
32. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
Jaylon Tyson | California | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
33. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois | SG/SF | Age: 23.7
34. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.3
35. San Antonio Spurs
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.7
36. Indiana Pacers (via Toronto Raptors)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 22.4
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.7
38. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.5
39. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.6
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.3
41. Philadelphia 76ers (via Chicago Bulls)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.7
42. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
Cam Christie | Minnesota | SG | Age: 18.7
43. Sacramento Kings
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | C | Age: 18.2
44. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF/C | Age: 21.2
45. Miami Heat
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.8
46. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 23.1
47. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.6
48. Orlando Magic
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.5
49. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | SG | Age: 21.0
50. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 21.0
51. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.9
52. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 22.2
53. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
DaRon Holmes II | Dayton | PF/C | Age: 21.6
54. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.8
55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Jaxson Robinson | BYU | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
56. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Nikola Durisic | Mega MIS | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Jalen Bridges | Baylor | SF | Age: 22.9
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 22.0
With the NBA regular season complete and the play-in games underway, the NBA draft now takes precedence for the 10 NBA teams outside the playoff mix.
From Europe to Australia and the college ranks, scouts are scouring the globe for the next impact NBA players in an uncertain draft class. Several prospects have climbed in the mock draft after stellar runs in the NCAA tournament, and two French prospects continue to top the draft board.
Which players from back-to-back champion UConn will land in the lottery? How did Kentucky's lackluster March impact how its top prospects are viewed? And which international players are trending upward as seasons come to a close?
ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo look at these questions and break down the prospects in the latest mock draft.
FIRST ROUND
1. Detroit Pistons
Zaccharie Risacher
Bourg
SF
Age: 19.0
The Pistons are the NBA's worst 3-point shooting team while ranking among the league's worst defenses, meaning they could very well be attracted to the combination of perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and youth Risacher offers. He's having an extremely productive season competing at a very high level of competition for Bourg, guarding every position from 1 to 4 while making 39% of his 3-pointers through 60 games, despite being in a late-season slump. Risacher looks like a strong fit positionally with the rest of Detroit's core and is the type of player who doesn't need plays called for him. -- Jonathan Givony
2. Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr
Perth
PF/C
Age: 18.9
As the Wizards continue the nascent stages of a long rebuild, they can afford to take a longer view with a player such as Sarr. Coming off a positive developmental season in Australia, Sarr is the most physically gifted big in the draft and can help fix Washington's leaky defense in time. As his offense develops, he's potentially the type of versatile contributor who can fit universally into lineups at the 4 or the 5. The Wizards selected another French player, Bilal Coulibaly, in last year's draft and have the type of patient runway to help Sarr maximize his considerable ability. -- Jeremy Woo
3. Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan
UConn
C
Age: 20.1
The Trail Blazers appear too early in their rebuilding process to be overly concerned with positional fit and might not be married long-term to center DeAndre Ayton, who has two more years on his contract. Portland could be attracted to the size, length, defensive prowess and passing ability of Clingan, who is coming off back-to-back national championships and has plenty of room for growth alongside the Blazers' core at just 20 years old. -- Givony
4. Charlotte Hornets
Rob Dillingham
Kentucky
PG
Age: 19.2
With the Hornets transitioning to new front office leadership, an open-minded approach to this selection could make Dillingham intriguing. The shooting acumen he demonstrated at Kentucky provides a blueprint for how he might be able to fit in alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in what could be a potent offensive trio -- albeit one with real defensive concerns. While he won't be a fit for every team, the uncertain nature of this draft class will make Dillingham a consideration early on, with his uncommon mix of shot creation and 3-point ability as an upside if he can round out his game further. -- Woo
5. San Antonio Spurs
Nikola Topic
Mega MIS
PG
Age: 18.6
The Spurs have an opening at point guard and will likely study the fit of both Topic and Dillingham, who is already off the board in this scenario. Pairing Victor Wembanyama with a highly unselfish, creative passer such as Topic would be attractive, as he also has excellent size to play in the backcourt with other guards. His defensive shortcomings might not appear as glaring with Wembanyama behind him, but improving his perimeter shooting will be key. -- Givony
6. Toronto Raptors
Matas Buzelis
G League Ignite
SF/PF
Age: 19.5
Toronto owns a top-six protection on this pick and has a 45.8% chance of keeping it. Those odds will make for an anxious lottery night, as the Raptors hope not to get jumped in the draft order. With the team rebuilding and the roster somewhat in flux around Scottie Barnes, grabbing another versatile forward in Buzelis could be beneficial, giving Toronto more positional size and lineup optionality to play with in the frontcourt, something this front office has traditionally favored. Buzelis finished his G League season with a productive stretch and made strides defensively, reminding scouts what makes him an intriguing development pick in the lottery. -- Woo
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Reed Sheppard
Kentucky
PG/SG
Age: 19.8
The Grizzlies will surely be attuned to Sheppard rating as one of the best players in this draft class from an analytics perspective, while also bringing the type of scoring efficiency the team usually covets in the draft. He'd form one of the smallest backcourts in the NBA with Ja Morant but could help ignite an offense that ranked last in the NBA this season in efficiency due to a myriad of injuries to core players. -- Givony
8. Utah Jazz
Stephon Castle
UConn
PG/SG
Age: 19.4
The Jazz have been exceedingly patient with their rebuild and could see long-term benefits in a potential backcourt partnership between Keyonte George and Castle, the latter of whom has established himself as one of the top defensive prospects in this class. Castle's size, matchup versatility and secondary playmaking ability as a ball handler could fit quite nicely with George's scoring ability. Teams will want to see Castle shoot the ball with confidence in workouts, but if he can assuage some of those concerns, he figures to warrant an upside swing in the lottery and benefit from UConn's March dominance. -- Woo
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Dalton Knecht
Tennessee
SF
Age: 22.9
The Rockets turned the page on their rebuilding process by hiring head coach Ime Udoka and making a splash in free agency last summer, indicating they could look at more ready-made players with this pick considering the plethora of youth already on the roster. Shooting will likely be a priority for Houston this summer, and the dynamic perimeter game of the nearly 23-year-old Knecht -- who made 40% of his 3s this season -- could be attractive with this pick. -- Givony
10. Atlanta Hawks
Cody Williams
Colorado
SG/SF
Age: 19.4
Following this year's draft, the Hawks won't control their own first-round pick until 2028, owing picks and swaps to the Spurs. This could be an offseason of big changes in Atlanta as the Hawks weigh the luxury tax. Considering those factors, taking a long view with this selection and playing for upside over fit makes sense. Williams had an uneven freshman season but flashed upside as a big playmaker in his best moments, making him an interesting lottery candidate. His frame and defensive upside make him one of the draft's more interesting development bets if he can refine his handling and shooting. -- Woo
11. Chicago Bulls
Isaiah Collier
USC
PG
Age: 19.5
With Zach Lavine reportedly on the trade block and a need for additional playmaking from the backcourt as a priority this offseason, the shot-creation prowess and scoring instincts of Collier will be studied closely by the Bulls' front office should he be available with this pick. Collier has flaws but also offers some real star power and upside with his size, strength and slashing ability at 19 years old, especially if his perimeter shooting improves. -- Givony
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Ja'Kobe Walter
Baylor
SG/SF
Age: 19.6
The Thunder can essentially go any direction in adding to their collection of talent with this pick from the Rockets, a luxury for the Western Conference's top seed. Walter's 3-point shooting could make him an attractive fit here, as a young player who could eventually slide into a valuable role as OKC's roster gradually becomes more expensive. Walter isn't much of a shot-creator and has work to do in expanding his contributions, but his intangibles and smooth shooting should make him an attractive piece with a feasible pathway to NBA success. -- Woo
13. Sacramento Kings
Ron Holland
G League Ignite
SF
Age: 18.7
The Kings could look to bolster their wing depth with key reserve Malik Monk entering free agency, either through the draft or other means. Holland had an uneven season in the G League from an efficiency standpoint, but he is one of the youngest players in the draft and brings impressive intensity and scoring aggressiveness, which makes him a candidate to be picked higher in the lottery depending on how the pre-draft process plays out. -- Givony
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State)
Tidjane Salaun
Cholet
PF
Age: 18.6
Salaun would be another intriguing addition to Portland's frontcourt, helping to balance out a guard-heavy roster. He could be an interesting fit with this young core thanks to his potential to space the floor, supply energy and versatility as an off-ball player, with the future in mind. Salaun is still raw in important areas of his game but should be an appealing project if he can make strides as a shooter and decision-maker. -- Woo
15. Miami Heat
Zach Edey
Purdue
C
Age: 21.9
Edey's positional fit alongside Bam Adebayo would be a topic of discussion in Miami, but his productivity, physicality, intensity and cultural match would be welcomed by the Heat. Adebayo has started to slowly incorporate a 3-point shot into his offensive arsenal late this season and has the type of defensive versatility that could be useful alongside another big man. Edey's offensive rebounding and interior scoring are skills the Heat don't have much of, making him an attractive pick here. -- Givony
16. Los Angeles Lakers*
Kyle Filipowski
Duke
PF/C
Age: 20.4
The Pelicans have the rights to this Lakers pick but are expected to defer it to 2025, in what should be a deeper draft. Assuming that happens, the Lakers can keep getting younger on the fringes of their roster. Los Angeles could use long-term frontcourt depth in particular, and Filipowski's versatility and playmaking ability supply the type of skill set the current role players lack. It may take him some time to adjust, and he'll need to become a more consistent shooter, but his size/skill combination is certainly of interest. -- Woo
17. Philadelphia 76ers
Devin Carter
Providence
PG/SG
Age: 22.0
Most playoff teams could use the defensive versatility, toughness and developing outside shooting Carter brings, especially on a roster with ample shot creation already in place like the 76ers have with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The 2023-24 Big East Player of the Year looks like a plug-and-play option at 22 years old, which will be attractive to several teams drafting in this range. -- Givony
18. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana)
Jared McCain
Duke
PG
Age: 20.1
McCain came on in a big way toward the end of the season, showcasing his shooting and feel for the game in place of great measurables. He offers a higher floor than usual for a freshman guard as a result, with the ability to play on and off the ball, knock down shots and make plays for teammates. His defense is still a work in progress, but there's a lot to like about him in the long term, as he could make for a useful addition on a young roster in need of shooting like Toronto's. -- Woo
19. Orlando Magic
Tristan da Silva
Colorado
SF/PF
Age: 22.9
The Magic ranked among the NBA's worst 3-point shooting teams this season and will look to improve in that area this offseason. Da Silva, a plug-and-play option at nearly 23 years old, brings coveted defensive versatility and feel for the game. He also doesn't need plays called for him, which could be attractive operating alongside existing stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. -- Givony
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
Tyler Smith
G League Ignite
SF/PF
Age: 19.4
The Cavs finished in the middle of the pack in 3-point shooting and could stand to add more floor spacing in their frontcourt. Smith fits the bill, with a successful season in the G League helping to clarify his role in the NBA. Smith likely needs another season to develop physically and get accustomed to the speed of the game, but he looks to be on a positive trajectory as one of the more legitimate stretch bigs on the board in the middle of the draft. -- Woo
21. Milwaukee Bucks
Kevin McCullar Jr.
Kansas
SF
Age: 23.0
The Bucks took a major step backward defensively this season and will likely look to improve in that area this summer. They're firmly in win-now mode with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, so adding the 23-year-old McCullar could be attractive as he's likely more ready to help the team in the short term than other options in this range. McCullar is an excellent defender and passer and was shooting the ball as well as he ever had in his career before being derailed by a midseason knee injury. -- Givony
22. New Orleans Pelicans
Yves Missi
Baylor
C
Age: 19.9
Missi would be a project pick for the Pelicans, who stand to upgrade their depth at center and could try to address that role long-term via the draft. While he's not NBA-ready, Missi's size, tools and flashes of scoring ability piqued interest from scouts this season enough to vault him into the draft. He might need an ostensible redshirt year but could pay dividends in this part of the draft. -- Woo
23. Phoenix Suns
Bobi Klintman
Cairns
SF/PF
Age: 21.1
The Suns traded away most of their draft capital in the coming years to build a superteam anchored around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, making this pick a rare chance to inject the team with young talent on a cost-controlled rookie scale contract. Wing depth will likely be important for the Suns moving forward, especially with perimeter shooting and defensive versatility at a premium. Klintman, who is old enough at 21 to be expected to play a role in the short term, also has some intriguing ingredients to develop long-term with his size, range and defensive playmaking ability. -- Givony
24. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Kyshawn George
Miami
SG/SF
Age: 20.3
George is a name to track closely during the pre-draft process, as his skill set and size are often conducive to workout settings and might cause teams to look past his modest freshman-year production. He'd be a big upside swing for the Knicks, who have amassed talent nicely and can go several different directions with these picks in the 20s. George's shooting and playmaking ability on the wing make for an intriguing package of skills, but he lacks high-level experience and will need time to deliver a return wherever he's selected. -- Woo
25. New York Knicks
Carlton Carrington
Pittsburgh
PG/SG
Age: 18.7
The Knicks have strong depth and versatility at nearly every position and can afford to take a couple of swings on long-term upside if they decide to keep one or both of their first-round picks. Carrington is one of the youngest players in this draft and will need time to gain strength and add experience before he's ready to play a real role in the NBA, but his positional size, dynamic perimeter shooting and strong basketball instincts make him someone a team in this range could bet on. -- Givony
26. Washington Wizards (via LA Clippers)
Juan Nunez
Ratiopharm Ulm
PG
Age: 19.8
With incumbent starter Tyus Jones entering free agency and potentially not on the same timetable as the rebuilding Wizards, drafting a young point guard to insert into the mix could be one direction the team opts to take this summer. Nunez is one of the best pick-and-roll playmakers in this draft at 19 years old and is coming off an excellent season in the competitive EuroCup and German league with Ratiopharm Ulm. -- Givony
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
Johnny Furphy
Kansas
SG/SF
Age: 19.3
Minnesota has favored positional size and versatility at forward in recent drafts as it looks to keep building out a supporting cast around Anthony Edwards. Furphy could be another one of those players, having flashed good instincts and the ability to impact games without heavy touches while becoming a surprise one-and-done candidate. He has work to do in all areas of his game, particularly on defense, but can help himself by shooting it well in workouts and reassuring teams of his value. -- Woo
28. Denver Nuggets
Tyler Kolek
Marquette
PG
Age: 23.0
The Nuggets have not been shy about targeting NBA-ready college players in recent drafts, and Kolek could be another fit along those lines. He has the moxie and pick-and-roll smarts to step in on a competitive team and provide backup minutes. His athletic limitations limit his upside, but he could be a useful plug-and-play pick off the bench in this part of the draft. -- Woo
29. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City)
Justin Edwards
Kentucky
SG/SF
Age: 20.3
Edwards did not have the season many expected at Kentucky but is still worthy of consideration in this area of the draft at 6-7 with some perimeter shooting acumen and upside to grow into after one season in college. The Jazz could look to bolster their wing depth, which could make Edwards a candidate to hear his name in the late first round. -- Givony
30. Boston Celtics
Kel'el Ware
Indiana
C
Age: 19.9
The Celtics can take a straight upside swing here at the end of the first round if they choose. Ware did well in producing at a high level toward the end of the season at Indiana, causing teams to take a longer look despite the long-held questions about his competitiveness and motor. His length, shooting ability and shot-blocking have always made him an interesting flier from an NBA perspective and the type of prospect who can really help himself in workout settings. A strong spring could see him sneak into the first round. -- Woo
SECOND ROUND
31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.2
32. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
Jaylon Tyson | California | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
33. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois | SG/SF | Age: 23.7
34. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.3
35. San Antonio Spurs
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.7
36. Indiana Pacers (via Toronto Raptors)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 22.4
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.7
38. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.5
39. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.6
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.3
41. Philadelphia 76ers (via Chicago Bulls)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.7
42. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
Cam Christie | Minnesota | SG | Age: 18.7
43. Sacramento Kings
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | C | Age: 18.2
44. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF/C | Age: 21.2
45. Miami Heat
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.8
46. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 23.1
47. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.6
48. Orlando Magic
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.5
49. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | SG | Age: 21.0
50. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 21.0
51. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.9
52. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 22.2
53. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
DaRon Holmes II | Dayton | PF/C | Age: 21.6
54. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.8
55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Jaxson Robinson | BYU | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
56. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Nikola Durisic | Mega MIS | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Jalen Bridges | Baylor | SF | Age: 22.9
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 22.0
- 25,780
- 46,564
A team would be foolish to draft anybody from this UVA squad in the 1st round…Bad offensive players in a bad system, you can get all defense no bucket guys as undrafted free agents
- 1,919
- 1,493
I saw Beekman lock some guards up this year , on some Herb Jones sh*t. He's worth a second round pick at some point for a contender.
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 92,376
- 128,147
The NCAA season is over, and pre-draft workout season has begun, which means it’s time to update the 2024 NBA Draft Big Board.
To be frank, I’ve been a bit gun-shy this year on releasing my board. Not because I’m worried about my opinions or reaction, but rather because trying to parse through this class has been dreadfully difficult at the top. As I’ve written throughout the year, I do not have a Tier One or Tier Two player in this class. I’m not even sure how many Tier Three players I will have by the end of the process.
At this juncture, I’m open to all possibilities about what the top of this class looks like on draft night. I would say, in some capacity, all of the players ranked in my top 10 have a non-zero chance to go No. 1 overall if things break right in terms of the draft lottery and they have a strong pre-draft process. There are players there who have a much better chance to go No. 1 than others, to be sure, but NBA teams are all over the map in this class. It does not have a sure-fire guy, so teams are doing their due diligence across the spectrum. I cannot remember a class in which the lottery will have such a significant impact on how the top will be selected.
Some like the positional certainty and defensive acumen Donovan Clingan will bring compared to Alex Sarr. Others like Sarr’s upside athletically and potential to shoot the ball. Some evaluators like Zaccharie Risacher’s two-way game as a shooter and sharp team defender. Others worry about his athletic upside and prefer a player like Matas Buzelis more, even though the evaluators who like the relative certainty regarding Risacher question Buzelis as a shooter and on-ball defender. Even playing for the same team, some high-ranking evaluators prefer Reed Sheppard’s basketball IQ to Rob Dillingham’s explosive handle and quickness. We’ll talk about Stephon Castle in-depth, but he’s a great example of there being no consensus on prospects this year.
Because there’s no sure-fire All-Star, decision-makers have many questions to ponder: What do you value in prospects? What skill sets are most important to you? What translates best in your mind? Or in many cases, what are the skill deficiencies players in this class have that are most fixable to you?
By the law of averages, multiple players will be All-Stars from this draft, even with it being a below-average one, and it’ll be because they improved something in their game substantially. Even the 2013 NBA Draft, a class that was seen as bad at the time and maintains that ignominy within front offices, had three players make the All-Star Game, with one of them becoming arguably the best player in the world for a time in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Having said that, the track record on that draft did prove to be, by and large, bad. Only seven of the lottery picks went on to be above-average rotation players, with only one All-Star in the group. After Rudy Gobert was picked at No. 27, only one player — Allen Crabbe — went on to become even an average rotation player for multiple years.
— Ages are as of the first night of the 2024 draft, June 26
Stephon Castle, 6-6 wing, Connecticut, No. 3
I completely understand the shooting concerns with Castle; they’re real. But where I’m at in this class is simple: It’s hard to find guys who have proven they can be a part of winning basketball. And throughout the course of Big East play as well as the NCAA Tournament, Castle showcased that better than any other guy in this class.
I’m not sure what more evaluators want him to do. Throughout the season, Castle consistently took on the toughest assignment on the perimeter and wing defensively for Connecticut, a top-five defense in the country, and found success. Need someone to chase potential first-rounder Baylor Scheierman around screens? Castle can do it. Need someone to defend at the point of attack? Castle can do that. What about a big wing creator? Castle will do that, too, and shut off his water, just like he did in the Elite Eight against Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr.
Shannon came into that game averaging 27.2 points over his prior 15 games. Castle held him to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. In the Final Four, he took on the Mark Sears assignment at point guard. Sears scored 24 but only nine of those points came on Castle, and four of those nine came on heavily contested attempts that Sears maneuvered around or shot over the top of to make. He made life miserable for one of the best guards in the country this season and made him work for every bucket. Against Purdue in the title game, Castle took long swaths of time on Braden Smith, who only scored two points when being guarded by Castle.
If that’s all he did, he’d be worth a first-round pick. But Castle also was quite good on offense. He averaged 12.5 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists while posting a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He had 21 points in the Final Four against Alabama and was the team’s best offensive player, then followed it up with 15 against Purdue. I thought he had a real case as Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four, especially when accounting for the defensive job he did on Sears and Smith.
Castle has tremendous spatial awareness as an off-ball player, plus the ability to cover ground with long strides as an on-ball driver. He passes really well, and in high school, he showcased the ability to make whatever read you want from him out of ball screens. He’s not a lead guard, but he doesn’t have to be. At 6-foot-6 with reasonable length and a 215-pound frame, Castle has all the measurements you’re looking for out of a secondary ballhandler on the wing.
As I mentioned above, the jumper is a concern. Castle made just 26.7 percent of his 3s this season and has a bit of a hitch at the top of his mechanics. His footwork getting into shots is quite differentiated in a bad way, where sometimes he’ll take them off the hop, and other times, he’ll take a one-two step that results in a lean to the left. But he also has touch. He made nearly 76 percent of his free throws and hit a number of floaters this season.
The jumper is going to take time, but if it ever comes along at a reasonable level, he’s probably going to be a star. He’s an elite defender, an awesome processor of basketball and a real passer and playmaker with the frame and strength to finish around the rim. He has better ball skills and a better shooting base than someone like Isaac Okoro, who went in the top five of the 2020 NBA Draft. He was also a more impactful defender than even Okoro was, and that’s saying a lot.
When I talk to teams, I get answers all over the map on Castle. Some executives and scouts will tell me he’s in the top five, as I have him listed. Others will say second half of the lottery. Even more, I’ll hear outside of the lottery in the 15-20 range by the occasional scout who really doesn’t buy the shot. Right now, I think I’d say his range is No. 3 to No. 13 or so, but I’m surprised Castle seems to have become this polarizing. Everyone on the team side asks for young players who impact winning and have upside. It’s hard to do more than what Castle did this season to prove that.
Donovan Clingan, 7-2 center, Connecticut, No. 5
Clingan helped himself as much as any player in the NCAA Tournament, leading Connecticut to a national title. His elite interior defense was arguably the most important part of the equation for the Huskies, which can be seen by Connecticut’s defensive improvement throughout the season.
From the start of the season until Jan. 31, UConn had the 23rd-best defense in the country, per Bart Torvik’s statistical database. That coincides with Clingan’s early-season foot injury that held him out of practice, as well as a minor injury against Seton Hall on Dec. 20 that held him out of competition for nearly a month. He played three games in late January to get rolling again, and once the calendar turned to February, UConn turned on the jets defensively. From that point forward, the Huskies had the No. 2 defense in the country, which was led by Clingan shutting down the interior.
What was the difference? Early in the season, Clingan wasn’t in pristine shape as he worked his way back from the original injury. He was heavy, and you could see it in his movement. He wasn’t quite as quick backpedaling in drop coverage and wasn’t able to play as many minutes, averaging only 20 per game. But as he got back into condition, you could see his movement skills improve. He was the player we saw in the NCAA Tournament last season, where he was mobile and active on defense. He played 25 minutes per game and averaged 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. From the Big East tournament final to the national championship, he averaged 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and three blocks per game.
What you’re getting in Clingan is an elite drop-coverage big who profiles as an elite rim protector by NBA standards. I feel confident he’ll be a starting center in the NBA. His mobility at his size is too good, and he’s stronger with a more physical frame than Walker Kessler. I also think he’s a better rebounder than Kessler due to that ability to anchor on the interior.
However, the biggest difference between the two comes as a passer. Clingan is a legitimate passer with awesome vision for a center. He’s comfortable running dribble-handoff actions at the top of the key but can also reject them if they’re getting overplayed and just try to make a pass himself. He averaged nearly two assists per game over his final 18 games and had a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
In this draft, if you’re telling me I’m getting an elite defensive big who finishes inside and passes well, I’m taking him in the top 10.
Jared McCain, 6-3 guard, Duke, N0. 12
McCain has been rising up my board for about two months now to the point where he’s been in the lottery for a few weeks. In his last 20 games, McCain averaged 16 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting 48 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 90 percent from the line. That is absurd for a freshman against ACC-level competition, and it was over a prolonged period after a slow start to the season. McCain was among the best high-volume, high-efficiency scorers in college basketball over the back half of the season. The fact that he’s not being talked about more as a lottery pick is a bit strange given that context.
In the NCAA Tournament, McCain finally seemed to put himself a bit more on the map. He dropped 30 points in a blowout win over James Madison, where he drilled eight 3s. Against NC State in Duke’s Elite Eight loss, McCain was the only guy who really seemed to keep Duke afloat on offense. He dropped 32 points and had six rebounds while drilling five 3s. More importantly, though, McCain showed some driving and slashing feel out of screens and dribble handoffs. He attacked mismatches when they came available and worked well against D.J. Burns playing off him in drop coverage. He ended up getting to the line 11 times and looked like a well-rounded scorer as opposed to just a 3-point marksman who makes a killing in transition — a thing that is undeniably true about his skill set but also limits who he is.
I think McCain has more juice than simply being a floor spacer. The concerns with McCain are obvious. He’s undersized for the role at 6-foot-3 and not a terrific athlete in terms of explosiveness. Largely, McCain gets loose as an off-ball scorer and when he gets the ball on the move ahead of time to help him get downhill. There isn’t much shake in terms of change-of-direction with him.
McCain is an elite shooter from 3 who can handle the ball and finish around the paint at a high level. He drilled 19 3s from 25 feet and beyond this year at a 40.4 percent clip. He hit 61 percent of his half-court attempts at the rim because he’s smart and picking his spots, and he can play through contact better than he gets credit for. On top of that, sources across the NBA and the college space rave about his work ethic, and he is tireless in the weight room and in the gym.
I’m a believer in McCain. He was only right below the Kentucky guys in terms of production as a freshman in college hoops this season.
Zach Edey, 7-4 center, Purdue, No. 21
It might look strange to have the guy who dropped 37 points and 10 rebounds in the national title game lower than his counterpart, but I thought Clingan actually really made Edey work for his buckets when he was in the game.
Edey got off to an awesome start, scoring an early 16 points in the first 12 minutes. But from that point forward, I’d argue Clingan completely shut off his water. From the eight-minute mark of the first half all the way to the eight-minute mark of the second half, Edey only had six points. He had 22 points on 18 shots in the first 32 minutes of the game, which are really the ones where the result was in question. That eight-minute mark is when UConn went up by 17 and essentially ended the game.
Edey went 6-of-7 down the stretch and had 15 points in the final eight minutes, but a large portion of those shots were defended by Alex Karaban, as Connecticut went small late. Part of the reason Connecticut went small was because Edey forced Clingan and backup center Samson Johnson into foul trouble, but it didn’t really result in the game staying close. So while, 37 points and 10 rebounds is incredible, I think that stat line overstated Edey’s impact on the game a bit, and I felt like Clingan actually got the better of him when the result was in question.
Edey also had a few moments on defense that popped for scouts and flagged limitations. Particularly, early in the second half, Johnson caught him on a pair of pick-and-roll dives to the rim that gave evaluators pause. Johnson is the kind of athletic, springy big man whom Edey will be asked to defend in the NBA. He had no issue simply beating Edey to the spot to open up himself for a lob.
That said, I have a strong grade on Edey and think he’s a solidified first-round pick. He is so strong and physical that I think he’ll be able to establish position on nearly anyone in the NBA. He was the best screener in the country this season and made underrated strides in drop coverage defensively. Edey also is in condition and had no problem running out 40-minute games, a remarkable feat for a player his size. I buy him being more than just the Boban Marjanović type to which he’s often compared.
A.J. Johnson, 6-7 wing, Illawarra Hawks, No. 29
I got to see Johnson work out in Santa Barbara, Calif., recently, and it was every bit as impressive as one could have hoped.
We’ll talk about some of the limitations I saw in a second, but Johnson’s ability to get to spots as a scorer in a fluid, on-balance manner is real. His jumper is mechanically sound both off the catch and bounce. He worked on getting into the shot from different footwork from both sides of the court, and while the jumper looked a bit more well-developed in terms of rhythm from the left side — this isn’t uncommon for young, right-handed players, as it’s a bit easier to get into shots off the hop, particularly on stepbacks, from the left side — everything looks clean and pure enough to where Johnson should be a very high-level shooter down the road.
Johnson came into his time at Illawarra in the ballpark of 6-5 to 6-6. Seeing him stand next to Ron Holland, who is around 6-7 1/2 in shoes, was an eye-opener, as he looked about as tall as Holland. I asked Johnson after his workout if he’d grown during his time in Australia, and he said yes, and multiple sources both in the United States and around the NBL confirmed Johnson’s account that he has grown a bit since the last time many American audiences saw him in high school. Johnson’s measurements will likely be among the more coveted by NBA personnel; if he’s grown into that 6-7 range as it seems he has, it opens up many more avenues for his success. Instead of being more of a guard, it can realistically slide Johnson down to the wing at some point in his career, especially given his wingspan that appears to be something in the ballpark of 6-11.
Part of the downside of workouts like this is that you don’t see players deal with contact. Right now, that’s Johnson’s biggest weakness. Still quite skinny with a frame that is likely under 180 pounds even with the work he put in this season, Johnson couldn’t deal well with the physical NBL on a night-to-night basis. He couldn’t consistently get to his spots because, once his momentum got stopped, he didn’t quite have the contact balance to be able to adjust. But Johnson’s shoulders are quite wide and make you believe his frame has room for a lot more growth. He just looks like a person who is still quite young and growing into his body.
The name that seemed most applicable when watching Johnson was the Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons, who entered the draft after a post-graduate year at IMG as opposed to heading to college despite the fact that his frame was not ready for the NBA. Simons took over a year to get on the court consistently as he filled out his 180-pound frame. But he played in his second season, and by the start of his fourth season, he was a ready-made NBA scoring guard. Simons is a bit more explosive than Johnson, but Johnson is bigger and might have a bit more potential on the defensive end.
Johnson is going to take time. But seeing him in-person multiple times, as well as in that pre-draft workout, it’s clear the frame was his biggest impediment to success this season. Once his frame catches up to his gifts, Johnson has all the tools he needs to be this draft’s interesting high-upside swing in the late first or early second round.
Ulrich Chomche, 6-10 center, NBA Africa Academy, No. 88
Chomche was one of the major attractions for scouts this year at Nike Hoop Summit, as he was the lone draft-eligible player in attendance.
He measured at 6-11 1/2 in shoes, which means he’ll come in right around 6-10 without. He had a 7-4 wingspan and a 9-1 1/2 standing reach. Those were the measurement confirmations NBA teams were interested in getting. Having said that, Chomche was not particularly impressive during practices and did not follow it up with a strong performance in the game. The consensus from talking to scouts was that Chomche should certainly look to attend college next season to work on his craft.
It’s easy to see why there was some excitement entering the event. Chomche runs the floor incredibly well, getting up and down with ease. He also has easy lift and gets off the ground quickly, making him a potential lob threat in NBA spacing.
The intersection of size and athleticism is real, but he’s far too raw at this stage. I don’t think I would even feel great about him opening next season as a starting big at a high-major college. Chomche is still really learning and developing his feel for the game. He often looked a bit lost on defense in ball-screen coverages and in communicating with his teammates. He also chased nearly everything around the rim, leading to offensive rebounds or fouls.
Chomche has been billed as a potential shooter from distance, but I don’t see it translating any time soon. He has a hitchy shot that has a long way to go, even if there is some latent touch. He needs developmental reps right now, and college would be the best option for him at this stage.
Other notes
To be frank, I’ve been a bit gun-shy this year on releasing my board. Not because I’m worried about my opinions or reaction, but rather because trying to parse through this class has been dreadfully difficult at the top. As I’ve written throughout the year, I do not have a Tier One or Tier Two player in this class. I’m not even sure how many Tier Three players I will have by the end of the process.
At this juncture, I’m open to all possibilities about what the top of this class looks like on draft night. I would say, in some capacity, all of the players ranked in my top 10 have a non-zero chance to go No. 1 overall if things break right in terms of the draft lottery and they have a strong pre-draft process. There are players there who have a much better chance to go No. 1 than others, to be sure, but NBA teams are all over the map in this class. It does not have a sure-fire guy, so teams are doing their due diligence across the spectrum. I cannot remember a class in which the lottery will have such a significant impact on how the top will be selected.
Some like the positional certainty and defensive acumen Donovan Clingan will bring compared to Alex Sarr. Others like Sarr’s upside athletically and potential to shoot the ball. Some evaluators like Zaccharie Risacher’s two-way game as a shooter and sharp team defender. Others worry about his athletic upside and prefer a player like Matas Buzelis more, even though the evaluators who like the relative certainty regarding Risacher question Buzelis as a shooter and on-ball defender. Even playing for the same team, some high-ranking evaluators prefer Reed Sheppard’s basketball IQ to Rob Dillingham’s explosive handle and quickness. We’ll talk about Stephon Castle in-depth, but he’s a great example of there being no consensus on prospects this year.
Because there’s no sure-fire All-Star, decision-makers have many questions to ponder: What do you value in prospects? What skill sets are most important to you? What translates best in your mind? Or in many cases, what are the skill deficiencies players in this class have that are most fixable to you?
By the law of averages, multiple players will be All-Stars from this draft, even with it being a below-average one, and it’ll be because they improved something in their game substantially. Even the 2013 NBA Draft, a class that was seen as bad at the time and maintains that ignominy within front offices, had three players make the All-Star Game, with one of them becoming arguably the best player in the world for a time in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Having said that, the track record on that draft did prove to be, by and large, bad. Only seven of the lottery picks went on to be above-average rotation players, with only one All-Star in the group. After Rudy Gobert was picked at No. 27, only one player — Allen Crabbe — went on to become even an average rotation player for multiple years.
— Ages are as of the first night of the 2024 draft, June 26
Stephon Castle, 6-6 wing, Connecticut, No. 3
I completely understand the shooting concerns with Castle; they’re real. But where I’m at in this class is simple: It’s hard to find guys who have proven they can be a part of winning basketball. And throughout the course of Big East play as well as the NCAA Tournament, Castle showcased that better than any other guy in this class.
I’m not sure what more evaluators want him to do. Throughout the season, Castle consistently took on the toughest assignment on the perimeter and wing defensively for Connecticut, a top-five defense in the country, and found success. Need someone to chase potential first-rounder Baylor Scheierman around screens? Castle can do it. Need someone to defend at the point of attack? Castle can do that. What about a big wing creator? Castle will do that, too, and shut off his water, just like he did in the Elite Eight against Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr.
Shannon came into that game averaging 27.2 points over his prior 15 games. Castle held him to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. In the Final Four, he took on the Mark Sears assignment at point guard. Sears scored 24 but only nine of those points came on Castle, and four of those nine came on heavily contested attempts that Sears maneuvered around or shot over the top of to make. He made life miserable for one of the best guards in the country this season and made him work for every bucket. Against Purdue in the title game, Castle took long swaths of time on Braden Smith, who only scored two points when being guarded by Castle.
If that’s all he did, he’d be worth a first-round pick. But Castle also was quite good on offense. He averaged 12.5 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists while posting a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He had 21 points in the Final Four against Alabama and was the team’s best offensive player, then followed it up with 15 against Purdue. I thought he had a real case as Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four, especially when accounting for the defensive job he did on Sears and Smith.
Castle has tremendous spatial awareness as an off-ball player, plus the ability to cover ground with long strides as an on-ball driver. He passes really well, and in high school, he showcased the ability to make whatever read you want from him out of ball screens. He’s not a lead guard, but he doesn’t have to be. At 6-foot-6 with reasonable length and a 215-pound frame, Castle has all the measurements you’re looking for out of a secondary ballhandler on the wing.
As I mentioned above, the jumper is a concern. Castle made just 26.7 percent of his 3s this season and has a bit of a hitch at the top of his mechanics. His footwork getting into shots is quite differentiated in a bad way, where sometimes he’ll take them off the hop, and other times, he’ll take a one-two step that results in a lean to the left. But he also has touch. He made nearly 76 percent of his free throws and hit a number of floaters this season.
The jumper is going to take time, but if it ever comes along at a reasonable level, he’s probably going to be a star. He’s an elite defender, an awesome processor of basketball and a real passer and playmaker with the frame and strength to finish around the rim. He has better ball skills and a better shooting base than someone like Isaac Okoro, who went in the top five of the 2020 NBA Draft. He was also a more impactful defender than even Okoro was, and that’s saying a lot.
When I talk to teams, I get answers all over the map on Castle. Some executives and scouts will tell me he’s in the top five, as I have him listed. Others will say second half of the lottery. Even more, I’ll hear outside of the lottery in the 15-20 range by the occasional scout who really doesn’t buy the shot. Right now, I think I’d say his range is No. 3 to No. 13 or so, but I’m surprised Castle seems to have become this polarizing. Everyone on the team side asks for young players who impact winning and have upside. It’s hard to do more than what Castle did this season to prove that.
Donovan Clingan, 7-2 center, Connecticut, No. 5
Clingan helped himself as much as any player in the NCAA Tournament, leading Connecticut to a national title. His elite interior defense was arguably the most important part of the equation for the Huskies, which can be seen by Connecticut’s defensive improvement throughout the season.
From the start of the season until Jan. 31, UConn had the 23rd-best defense in the country, per Bart Torvik’s statistical database. That coincides with Clingan’s early-season foot injury that held him out of practice, as well as a minor injury against Seton Hall on Dec. 20 that held him out of competition for nearly a month. He played three games in late January to get rolling again, and once the calendar turned to February, UConn turned on the jets defensively. From that point forward, the Huskies had the No. 2 defense in the country, which was led by Clingan shutting down the interior.
What was the difference? Early in the season, Clingan wasn’t in pristine shape as he worked his way back from the original injury. He was heavy, and you could see it in his movement. He wasn’t quite as quick backpedaling in drop coverage and wasn’t able to play as many minutes, averaging only 20 per game. But as he got back into condition, you could see his movement skills improve. He was the player we saw in the NCAA Tournament last season, where he was mobile and active on defense. He played 25 minutes per game and averaged 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. From the Big East tournament final to the national championship, he averaged 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and three blocks per game.
What you’re getting in Clingan is an elite drop-coverage big who profiles as an elite rim protector by NBA standards. I feel confident he’ll be a starting center in the NBA. His mobility at his size is too good, and he’s stronger with a more physical frame than Walker Kessler. I also think he’s a better rebounder than Kessler due to that ability to anchor on the interior.
However, the biggest difference between the two comes as a passer. Clingan is a legitimate passer with awesome vision for a center. He’s comfortable running dribble-handoff actions at the top of the key but can also reject them if they’re getting overplayed and just try to make a pass himself. He averaged nearly two assists per game over his final 18 games and had a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
In this draft, if you’re telling me I’m getting an elite defensive big who finishes inside and passes well, I’m taking him in the top 10.
Jared McCain, 6-3 guard, Duke, N0. 12
McCain has been rising up my board for about two months now to the point where he’s been in the lottery for a few weeks. In his last 20 games, McCain averaged 16 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting 48 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 90 percent from the line. That is absurd for a freshman against ACC-level competition, and it was over a prolonged period after a slow start to the season. McCain was among the best high-volume, high-efficiency scorers in college basketball over the back half of the season. The fact that he’s not being talked about more as a lottery pick is a bit strange given that context.
In the NCAA Tournament, McCain finally seemed to put himself a bit more on the map. He dropped 30 points in a blowout win over James Madison, where he drilled eight 3s. Against NC State in Duke’s Elite Eight loss, McCain was the only guy who really seemed to keep Duke afloat on offense. He dropped 32 points and had six rebounds while drilling five 3s. More importantly, though, McCain showed some driving and slashing feel out of screens and dribble handoffs. He attacked mismatches when they came available and worked well against D.J. Burns playing off him in drop coverage. He ended up getting to the line 11 times and looked like a well-rounded scorer as opposed to just a 3-point marksman who makes a killing in transition — a thing that is undeniably true about his skill set but also limits who he is.
I think McCain has more juice than simply being a floor spacer. The concerns with McCain are obvious. He’s undersized for the role at 6-foot-3 and not a terrific athlete in terms of explosiveness. Largely, McCain gets loose as an off-ball scorer and when he gets the ball on the move ahead of time to help him get downhill. There isn’t much shake in terms of change-of-direction with him.
McCain is an elite shooter from 3 who can handle the ball and finish around the paint at a high level. He drilled 19 3s from 25 feet and beyond this year at a 40.4 percent clip. He hit 61 percent of his half-court attempts at the rim because he’s smart and picking his spots, and he can play through contact better than he gets credit for. On top of that, sources across the NBA and the college space rave about his work ethic, and he is tireless in the weight room and in the gym.
I’m a believer in McCain. He was only right below the Kentucky guys in terms of production as a freshman in college hoops this season.
Zach Edey, 7-4 center, Purdue, No. 21
It might look strange to have the guy who dropped 37 points and 10 rebounds in the national title game lower than his counterpart, but I thought Clingan actually really made Edey work for his buckets when he was in the game.
Edey got off to an awesome start, scoring an early 16 points in the first 12 minutes. But from that point forward, I’d argue Clingan completely shut off his water. From the eight-minute mark of the first half all the way to the eight-minute mark of the second half, Edey only had six points. He had 22 points on 18 shots in the first 32 minutes of the game, which are really the ones where the result was in question. That eight-minute mark is when UConn went up by 17 and essentially ended the game.
Edey went 6-of-7 down the stretch and had 15 points in the final eight minutes, but a large portion of those shots were defended by Alex Karaban, as Connecticut went small late. Part of the reason Connecticut went small was because Edey forced Clingan and backup center Samson Johnson into foul trouble, but it didn’t really result in the game staying close. So while, 37 points and 10 rebounds is incredible, I think that stat line overstated Edey’s impact on the game a bit, and I felt like Clingan actually got the better of him when the result was in question.
Edey also had a few moments on defense that popped for scouts and flagged limitations. Particularly, early in the second half, Johnson caught him on a pair of pick-and-roll dives to the rim that gave evaluators pause. Johnson is the kind of athletic, springy big man whom Edey will be asked to defend in the NBA. He had no issue simply beating Edey to the spot to open up himself for a lob.
That said, I have a strong grade on Edey and think he’s a solidified first-round pick. He is so strong and physical that I think he’ll be able to establish position on nearly anyone in the NBA. He was the best screener in the country this season and made underrated strides in drop coverage defensively. Edey also is in condition and had no problem running out 40-minute games, a remarkable feat for a player his size. I buy him being more than just the Boban Marjanović type to which he’s often compared.
A.J. Johnson, 6-7 wing, Illawarra Hawks, No. 29
I got to see Johnson work out in Santa Barbara, Calif., recently, and it was every bit as impressive as one could have hoped.
We’ll talk about some of the limitations I saw in a second, but Johnson’s ability to get to spots as a scorer in a fluid, on-balance manner is real. His jumper is mechanically sound both off the catch and bounce. He worked on getting into the shot from different footwork from both sides of the court, and while the jumper looked a bit more well-developed in terms of rhythm from the left side — this isn’t uncommon for young, right-handed players, as it’s a bit easier to get into shots off the hop, particularly on stepbacks, from the left side — everything looks clean and pure enough to where Johnson should be a very high-level shooter down the road.
Johnson came into his time at Illawarra in the ballpark of 6-5 to 6-6. Seeing him stand next to Ron Holland, who is around 6-7 1/2 in shoes, was an eye-opener, as he looked about as tall as Holland. I asked Johnson after his workout if he’d grown during his time in Australia, and he said yes, and multiple sources both in the United States and around the NBL confirmed Johnson’s account that he has grown a bit since the last time many American audiences saw him in high school. Johnson’s measurements will likely be among the more coveted by NBA personnel; if he’s grown into that 6-7 range as it seems he has, it opens up many more avenues for his success. Instead of being more of a guard, it can realistically slide Johnson down to the wing at some point in his career, especially given his wingspan that appears to be something in the ballpark of 6-11.
Part of the downside of workouts like this is that you don’t see players deal with contact. Right now, that’s Johnson’s biggest weakness. Still quite skinny with a frame that is likely under 180 pounds even with the work he put in this season, Johnson couldn’t deal well with the physical NBL on a night-to-night basis. He couldn’t consistently get to his spots because, once his momentum got stopped, he didn’t quite have the contact balance to be able to adjust. But Johnson’s shoulders are quite wide and make you believe his frame has room for a lot more growth. He just looks like a person who is still quite young and growing into his body.
The name that seemed most applicable when watching Johnson was the Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons, who entered the draft after a post-graduate year at IMG as opposed to heading to college despite the fact that his frame was not ready for the NBA. Simons took over a year to get on the court consistently as he filled out his 180-pound frame. But he played in his second season, and by the start of his fourth season, he was a ready-made NBA scoring guard. Simons is a bit more explosive than Johnson, but Johnson is bigger and might have a bit more potential on the defensive end.
Johnson is going to take time. But seeing him in-person multiple times, as well as in that pre-draft workout, it’s clear the frame was his biggest impediment to success this season. Once his frame catches up to his gifts, Johnson has all the tools he needs to be this draft’s interesting high-upside swing in the late first or early second round.
Ulrich Chomche, 6-10 center, NBA Africa Academy, No. 88
Chomche was one of the major attractions for scouts this year at Nike Hoop Summit, as he was the lone draft-eligible player in attendance.
He measured at 6-11 1/2 in shoes, which means he’ll come in right around 6-10 without. He had a 7-4 wingspan and a 9-1 1/2 standing reach. Those were the measurement confirmations NBA teams were interested in getting. Having said that, Chomche was not particularly impressive during practices and did not follow it up with a strong performance in the game. The consensus from talking to scouts was that Chomche should certainly look to attend college next season to work on his craft.
It’s easy to see why there was some excitement entering the event. Chomche runs the floor incredibly well, getting up and down with ease. He also has easy lift and gets off the ground quickly, making him a potential lob threat in NBA spacing.
The intersection of size and athleticism is real, but he’s far too raw at this stage. I don’t think I would even feel great about him opening next season as a starting big at a high-major college. Chomche is still really learning and developing his feel for the game. He often looked a bit lost on defense in ball-screen coverages and in communicating with his teammates. He also chased nearly everything around the rim, leading to offensive rebounds or fouls.
Chomche has been billed as a potential shooter from distance, but I don’t see it translating any time soon. He has a hitchy shot that has a long way to go, even if there is some latent touch. He needs developmental reps right now, and college would be the best option for him at this stage.
Other notes
- Two freshmen whom NBA teams seemed to be quite high on in my conversations: Johnny Furphy out of Kansas and Bub Carrington out of Pittsburgh. Furphy is ranked No. 17 above, and Carrington is No. 22. The consensus on Furphy was that he would likely be a riser through the pre-draft process due to his size, athleticism and work ethic, with potential to hear his name called in the late lottery. Carrington had an up-and-down season, but he was a player who really impressed scouts at the ACC tournament. He averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in his final six games of the season. His range is a bit more spotty than Furphy’s, but somewhere starting outside of the lottery and extending down to No. 35 or so seemed to be the consensus.
- Providence guard Devin Carter also has some real momentum. A number of teams in that No. 15 to No. 23 range could use an immediate contributor, and that’s exactly what Carter profiles as. He’s an elite defender at the guard position and as competitive a player as you’ll find in the class. He drastically improved as a 3-point shooter this season, hitting nearly 38 percent from 3 on over seven attempts per game. The shot looks funky, but it goes in. I think he’ll be able to play from day one in the NBA, and it’s hard to find guys like that in this class. If Carter found his way into the lottery, that wouldn’t stun me. A number of team evaluators are quite high on him.
- A player on whom I’ve been quite high throughout the season is Tristan da Silva out of Colorado, and it feels like teams are also interested. He had a spectacular NCAA Tournament run, where he had 20 points against Boise State, 17 points and five assists against Florida and 17 points with three assists against Marquette. On the season, he averaged 16 points, five rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from 3 and 83.5 percent from the line. Those percentages are essentially directly in-line with his career percentages of 49.3 from the field, 38.6 from 3 and 78.6 from the line over four years. I’m probably a touch higher than league consensus by placing him at No. 19, but I do think he hears his name called in the first round.
- 92,376
- 128,147
- 72,837
- 116,960
There’s no way you can tell me either of those little Kentucky guys should be drafted ahead of Castle.
- 80,694
- 55,639
Kids be pulling between the legs in game often and casually these days
- 92,376
- 128,147
