2024 NBA mock draft: Alex Sarr nonetheless No. 1 regardless of rumors, Lakers take massive swing, Knicks go offense-defense

Regardless of the rising inventory of Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan, I nonetheless cannot see the Hawks passing on Sarr at No. 1 — assuming they hold the choose. Rim safety is paramount within the NBA as of late, much more so for a Hawks protection that completed twenty seventh within the league final season, and Sarr’s 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes with Perth present how a lot of an impression he can have in that space instantly. Offensively, we’re speaking a few very excessive flooring as a Dereck Full of life II-esque rim-runner, but in addition seemingly limitless potential if Sarr’s bounce shot and ball-handling proceed to evolve. The extra you dig into it, the extra Sarr stands out as the very best prospect within the draft, and Atlanta will not overthink this one.

The discuss Risacher at No. 1 is actual, and the Wizards can be completely happy to swoop him up at No. 2 as he completely matches their timeline and a necessity on the wing (properly, Washington has a necessity in every single place if we’re sincere). His instruments are apparent — athleticism, capturing, defensive potential — however his capability to enhance as a creator for himself and others will decide whether or not Risacher finally ends up as a pleasant, complementary piece or a franchise-level constructing block.

If there was a high-level two-way wing who was additionally a knock-down shooter, I feel the Rockets would unquestionably take him at No. 3. Since that participant would not essentially exist on this draft, Fort looks like the best choice for Houston as a possible lock-down defender who will slot in completely with Ime Udoka’s imaginative and prescient. I’ve used the Josh Hart comp all draft season in terms of Fort — a flexible, defense-first wing/guard who could make profitable performs on the opposite finish — so I simply do not suppose his 3-point capturing deficiencies will hold him off the ground.

I had the Spurs taking Nikola Matter at No. 4 in my final mock, however along with his damage I feel Sheppard turns into the man right here. What higher participant to place round Victor Wembanyama than a fully dead-eye shooter who may also function effectively as a pick-and-roll ball-handler? Defensively there are actually some points, however having Wemby ready on the rim will make Sheppard’s deficiencies on that finish a lot much less dangerous.

I really like Williams greater than most draft evaluators, and I feel he makes a ton of sense for a brand new Pistons entrance workplace clearly seeking to shake issues up after the dismissal of Troy Weaver and Monty Williams. I feel they will give Clingan a glance, however Jalen Duren’s presence makes me suppose they will focus extra on the wing, the place Williams profiles as an ideal two-way complement to Cade Cunningham. He can function a floor-spacer and secondary playmaker, with the potential to be as impactful as his brother, OKC wing Jalen Williams, if he reaches his ceiling.

The Hornets cannot afford a miss right here, and Knecht is as near a certain factor as there may be on this 12 months’s lottery. As a knock-down, motion shooter, he’ll house the ground for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the very least, and if Knecht continues his development in creation and attacking closeouts, he may be way more than that.

Sure, the Blazers owe Deandre Ayton some huge cash over the following two seasons, however they should not let that cease them from taking a defensive constructing block in Clingan to pair with their dynamic younger backcourt of Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Clingan can be one of many league’s finest rim protectors from the day he units foot on an NBA flooring, with some intriguing playmaking upside offensively along with his ending capability.

I had Matter going to the Spurs at No. 4 in my final mock, so I actually suppose they will take him right here if he is nonetheless obtainable. The knee damage could scare off some potential suitors, however this is not the Eighties. Gamers routinely return at full power from ACL repairs, and as an influence guard with an uncanny capability to get to the rim and discover teammates, Matter is definitely worth the gamble. San Antonio could have persistence as he recovers and will reap some severe advantages when he returns, even when that is in 2025-26.

There may not be a greater match on your entire board than Carter and the Grizzlies, because the guard already possesses the bulldog mentality that Memphis hopes to rekindle after a disastrous 2023-24 marketing campaign. Carter will defend from day one and make profitable performs on the opposite finish, even when the 38% he shot from 3-point vary final season at Windfall seems to be a little bit of a mirage. At 22 years outdated, Carter would require minimal adjustment time, which is precisely what the Grizzlies are searching for.

Regardless of his alarmingly low 22% 3-point capturing with the Ignite final season, Buzelis has extremely excessive upside as a stretch massive who may also get out in transition and doubtlessly function a secondary playmaker. He has the size and mobility to be a top quality defender as he provides power, however it may take a while. The Jazz look like the best scenario for him to ultimately flourish.

The Bulls clearly aren’t going to compete for titles as presently constructed, so they could as properly look to the longer term at No. 11 with one of the crucial intriguing prospects within the draft. Salaun will not flip 19 till August and would require loads of improvement time, however what may emerge is an archetypal trendy NBA ahead, able to capturing 3s off of spot-ups and motion, with the size and athleticism to complete on the rim. He isn’t a shot-blocker, however he is nice at studying passing lanes for pick-6 alternatives.

He would not precisely match with OKC’s draft historical past of size and flexibility, however it will likely be laborious to cross up on Dillingham if he is nonetheless round at No. 12. The dynamic guard has Darius Garland/Tyrese Maxey upside if his playmaking continues to evolve, and his capability to shoot 3s off the dribble can be a lethal weapon. The one actual query is whether or not his 164-pound body will be capable to survive NBA physicality, however the Thunder will fortunately acquire the asset and see the way it performs out.

Not solely is McCain an elite capturing prospect, however he additionally occurs to be a Sacramento native. He ought to slot in completely as a motion shooter able to operating off of all these picks and dribble hand-offs from Domantas Sabonis, and McCain can capably function a secondary ball-handler when crucial. He is additionally a lethal pull-up 3-point marksman, a very good piece for a staff that desires to play quick.

The Blazers must hit residence runs, not singles, and Collier is a high-upside swing as an influence guard who was as soon as thought of the very best participant in his draft class. With a powerful body and relentless offensive motor, Collier will get into the lane at will, the place he is adept at drawing fouls and attending to the road. The turnover points and defensive lapses have to be cleaned up, however there is a nonzero probability that Collier is the very best participant within the draft when all’s mentioned and accomplished. Positively price a shot for Portland right here.

It is nonetheless laborious for me to grasp why Ware is not a lot increased on most draft boards, as a shot-blocking, rim-running heart with a 7-5 wingspan who additionally occurred to shoot 43% from 3-point vary final season — albeit on restricted makes an attempt. The Warmth want a dependable backup for Bam Adebayo, and Ware looks like the right man to develop into that function as Erik Spoelstra can simplify his recreation and play to the 20-year-old’s strengths.

The Sixers are in win-now mode throughout Joel Embiid’s prime, and Da Silva is among the most NBA-ready gamers within the draft with the dimensions, body and talent set to contribute instantly. He is an ideal cutter who finishes creatively across the basket to make up for his lack of explosiveness, and he profiles as a mean to above-average 3-point shooter. Defensively, his basketball IQ is consistently on show and he can guard a number of positions. Da Silva might simply step right into a Philadelphia frontcourt rotation that lacks depth.

If the Lakers hold this choose, it is with a post-LeBron world in thoughts, so taking an opportunity on a high-upside improvement case is sensible for them at No. 17. They might do lots worse than Holland, who might turn into an elite shot creator and switchable defender with some work. He’ll solely be 18 years outdated on draft night time, making him intriguingly projectable.

I had George going to the Magic in my final mock, and I nonetheless love the match for a company obsessive about measurement, size and flexibility. George can playmake at a number of positions, and he was a knock-down shooter in his one season at Miami, significantly off the catch. He might function a floor-spacer in Orlando whereas he develops his creation abilities — which I discover extremely intriguing.

Walter’s future is a 3-and-D guard/wing, however that may require him to make vital strides in each areas, and the rebuilding Raptors will give him loads of alternative to develop. His power is capturing off the catch, significantly operating off screens, which is a sizzling commodity in at this time’s league. Walter’s 6-10 wingspan suggests he must be an elite defender at some point, whereas the event of his playmaking will decide the peak of his ceiling.

Furphy’s theoretical ceiling is almost excellent for the Cavs as a 3-point shooter who may also get out and end in transition. He is additionally proven indicators of being a stable defensive playmaker with steals and blocks, and he’ll need to contribute on that finish if he will keep on the court docket for the Cavs. Probably he’ll spend most of his rookie 12 months growing, and the advantages may very well be strong down the road.

The Pelicans desperately want some scoring punch off the bench, and Carrington (higher generally known as Bub) profiles as a heat-check bucket-getter with a lethal pull-up jumper who can be a secondary playmaker — suppose Bones Hyland or Lou Williams, however greater. He additionally would not flip 19 till this summer season, so he doubtless has loads of room to develop, with 3-point capturing probably the most instant space to handle.

Holmes could not nonetheless be obtainable at No. 22, but when he’s then the Suns could be smart to deliver him into the fold. The man simply is aware of the way to play basketball and he’ll be 22 by the point his rookie season begins, so he ought to be capable to instantly slot right into a Phoenix rotation that desperately wants low-cost, impression gamers. He performs a lot greater than his 6-foot-9 body, as a wise curler and finisher who may also come out to 3-point vary, making him the right participant to place subsequent to all the Suns’ top-end scoring and playmaking.

The questions on Edey’s NBA match are legitimate, however there is no higher participant for him to study from than Brook Lopez — and it would not damage that Milwaukee is a hop, skip and a bounce from Purdue. With a view to succeed, Edey might want to grasp the artwork of drop protection, which the Bucks have performed for years with Lopez — a equally slow-footed 7-plus-footer. Edey ought to block pictures instantly, however the hazard comes when he is out in house towards NBA-level velocity and shot-making. His offensive function is a bit murky, although he ought to be capable to get a number of touches right here and there within the put up, the place he dominated in faculty.

Some may not see Dunn as a first-rounder because of his full lack of offensive manufacturing in faculty, however he is the kind of game-changing defender who can instantly carve out an NBA function. The prototype for his improvement could be Herb Jones, who walked into the league as a wonderful defender and has since developed right into a 42% 3-point shooter. Which may not be within the playing cards for Dunn, however even when he is extra like Matisse Thybulle, he ought to be capable to earn minutes for the defensive-minded Tom Thibodeau.

The Knicks are clearly able to contend within the East, so Tyson — a bodily, NBA-ready prospect at 21 years outdated — makes a number of sense for them right here. He’ll profit from a simplified function on the subsequent degree, the place he is not relied upon for as a lot creation as he was at Cal. If every part clicks, he may be a wonderful bench scorer with defensive upside, however he’ll must work on his effectivity. The important thing can be his 3-point shot, which profiles to be no less than league common from the wing.

Smith has moments the place he seems like a lottery choose, and it is laborious to get them out of your head when evaluating him. A stretch-big with a stable lefty stroke, he’ll profit from the persistence of a Wizards franchise that is aware of competition is years away. Theoretically, he may very well be a stable defender along with his 7-1 wingspan, however he is but to indicate it constantly. Washington might want to develop him, and the expertise is definitely worth the funding.

If there’s one factor the Wolves realized throughout their convention finals run, it is that they want a little bit extra offensive punch. Scheierman ought to be capable to present that instantly, as a 23-year-old, sharpshooting wing able to working off of screens and attacking closeouts. He additionally has some artful ending capability across the rim and playmaking upside, however his defensive progress will decide his enjoying time for Minnesota.

I am not as excessive on Filipowski as most, however I feel he is a wonderful match for Denver’s system. Nikola Jokic he’s actually not, however Filipowski generally is a playmaker from the middle place and is cellular sufficient defensively to carry his personal. The Nuggets want a full-time backup for Jokic, and Filipowski can turn into that with effort and time.

One other draft choose, one other improvement undertaking for the Jazz. Klintman is as intriguing as any prospect within the class, however has but to place it collectively at both the school or worldwide degree. Utah has loads of persistence, and can take an opportunity on a stretch-forward who can get out in transition and will ultimately turn into a plus defender.

Missi’s expertise is way more spectacular than the standard final choose of the primary spherical, however he might fall to Boston if issues shake out this fashion. He’d match properly there, as a rim-running, shot-blocking massive who can fill the opening left when Robert Williams III was traded to Portland within the Jrue Vacation deal. The champions do not want a lot assist, however Missi is the kind of participant who might earn minutes instantly and add much more roster versatility to an already devastating rotation.