2024 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projecting all 58 picks after withdrawal deadline
The 2024 NBA Draft class has taken shape as the deadline for college players to withdraw from the process and return to school passed at 11:59 pm ET on May 29. Several players with draftable grades such as Alex Karaban, Payton Sandfort and Mark Sears returned to college basketball for another season, leaving room for others to move up the board.
While this deadline covered the majority of the field, international prospects will still have the option to withdraw until the June 16 deadline.
As NBA teams continue the process of working out players individually and flying from pro day to pro day, here is a look at how all 58 picks could play out in the 2024 NBA Draft next month.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Alex Sarr, France
The Atlanta Hawks have big decisions to make about the future of the franchise after the backcourt pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray seemed to miss the mark. Landing the No. 1 overall pick through the lottery should provide a major boost in that process.
Alex Sarr has the most tantalizing upside in the draft based on his size and flashes of production on both ends of the floor. Widely considered the top prospect, he also makes the most sense to pair with whichever point guard sticks moving forward.
2. Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher, France
The Washington Wizards are in need of talent above any positional value this season, desperately needing to reset the franchise clock after ending an era last season. The mix of players currently on the roster is unlikely to find success without drastic overhaul, meaning this pick could go in a number of directions from point guard, to center, or in this case best available.
Zaccharie Risacher has shown off his ability to space the floor and provide defensive tools which intrigue many about his potential role several years from now. While much of his skillset is raw, it has time to develop alongside fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly.
3. Houston Rockets: Stephon Castle, UConn
No team showed a bigger commitment to improvement than the Houston Rockets, who invested in a new look last season. Now, the year can either infuse more young talent or move the pick for a missing piece on the road back to the playoffs.
Stephon Castle is capable of playing either role in the backcourt, as he showed fitting into the UConn scheme as a freshman on the way to a national championship. His poor shooting from beyond the arc leaves questions about his overall upside, but he is the type of prospect teams moving up the board would seriously consider — especially with the San Antonio Spurs on deck.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Topic, Serbia
The San Antonio Spurs goal entering this season remains clear: Build a playoff contender around Victor Wembanyama. The generational talent is ready to compete with the NBA’s elite, and needs a supporting cast to do so. Step one in that process will be to acquire a talented ball-handler who can set up the offense.
The best option left on the board to do that — and arguably in the draft class — is Nikola Topic. He quickly rose through leagues in Europe and showcased his playmaking ability with great size for a lead guard with scoring upside. Despite his lack of immediate shooting help, his distribution could help raise the bar for others on the roster.
5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis, G-League
The Detroit Pistons again got bad draft lottery luck this season when they dropped from No. 1 to No. 5 where they will make the selection this year. Now able to sit back and watch the first picks of the draft unfold, they will still be in play for talented prospects.
Matas Buzelis is among the best candidates left based on his pre-G-League-Ignite projections. A disastrous season which led to a permanent shutdown and untimely injuries dropped his stock and made it hard to gather any real data points on his trajectory. However, pre-draft workouts could be his chance to shine.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
The Charlotte Hornets have hit in recent drafts, building out the outline of a core worthy of playoff conversation. However, health and off-court issues have gotten in the way of tangible progress to this point. Perhaps that means they factor in fit more than a team typically in this range would — especially given the lack of top-tier talent to choose.
Reed Sheppard makes sense in checking all these categories. He could slot in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller well, and provide an alternative to either for stretches if needed. The basketball pedigree and lack of off-court stories surrounding him also add value in this circumstance.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, UConn
The Portal Trail Blazers ended an era this season when they chose to hit reset with Scoot Henderson rather than sell out for a Damian Lillard reload. The team is currently a mash-up between veteran assets and young talent which has yet to take full shape.
Donovan Clingan might play the same position as DeAndre Ayton — a big piece of the Damian Lillard trade — but his future with the organization has been questioned since that day. In the early stages of a rebuild, they have plenty of pieces which can be moved and it is hard to pass on an elite rim protector sliding this far.
8. San Antonio Spurs: Tidjane Salaun, France
After adding a point guard with the first pick, the San Antonio Spurs could go a number of directions with the pick acquired from the Raptors after the lottery broke their way. The best course of action would be to place a shooter in the middle of the lineup.
Tidjane Salaun is the type of long, athletic forward who could outperform his draft clot if the jump shot continues to develop. He has broken out in a major way over the back half of the season and now seems to be soaring up draft boards with a chance to land higher than thought.
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Devin Carter, Providence
The Memphis Grizzlies had one of the NBA’s most injury-plagued seasons in history, taking them from a Western Conference contender to a lottery team. If the pick falls in this range and no players are on the board at their biggest position of need — center — a trade allowing for the recipient to take the best player available makes sense.
If they do opt to keep the pick, or even trade down, Providence guard Devin Carter checks plenty of boxes to help any team looking to contend next season. Surprising many as the best overall athlete at the NBA Combine while boasting impressive hustle stats and an NBA pedigree from his dad — current Grizzlies assistant Anthony Carter — he has risen into the lottery conversation.
10. Utah Jazz: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Danny Ainge has accumulated talent and now look ready to start piecing together the puzzle. The Utah Jazz could go a number of directions with the pick here, but another ballhandler likely benefits them most in reaching the next step.
Rob Dillingham fits that mold, whether his role puts him in the starting lineup or in an apprentice role learning from Jordan Clarkson how to be a sixth man. His electric offensive upside will immediately translate if used in the right role, while his defense could hold him back from true star status barring improvement.
11. Chicago Bulls: Ron Holland, G-League
The Chicago Bulls have big decisions to make about the future this offseason, with DeMar DeRozan hitting free agency and the contract of injured Lonzo Ball still on the books with several others in need of new contracts.
Taking the player with the most upside left on the board would lead them to Ron Holland, who suffered from the same poor G-League showing everyone involved with the program did. However, he is a still a physical forward with upside as a scorer and defender who has been ranked among to top players his entire life.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
The Oklahoma City Thunder have burst onto the scene as the 1-seed in the Western Conference playoffs despite a young core of rising stars. The stockpile of draft picks they have left to use could land complementary pieces via trade or selection as they take a step closer to a potential dynasty.
Dalton Knecht is the type of player who could plug and play in this — or any — offense in the NBA. Whether picked by the Thunder to play a role in the offense or by a team trading into the spot for a go-to scorer, he promises to fill the role well early on.
13. Sacramento Kings: Isaiah Collier, USC
The Sacramento Kings have an intriguing core which has seen varying degrees of success over the past few seasons. To take the next step, they must figure out the best way to enhance the cast around De’Aaron Fox and Damontas Sabonis.
Isaiah Collier is the type of player who could provide playmaking and scoring off the bench to help keep the superstars fresh for the biggest moments. Despite injuries and a slow start, Collier’s performances by the end of the season looked closer to what a No. 1 recruit would expect even if the results never followed, making this an upside pick as well.
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams, Colorado
The Portland Trail Blazers come up on the clock again with their second pick in the lottery. Again, they must look for high-upside players who could fit in with the young guards already in place, as well as Donovan Clingan based on the previous pick.
Cody Williams might have a brother — Jalen — making a name for himself in the NBA Playoffs, but his game speaks for itself as a modern wing. Despite an up-and-down season at Colorado which suffered an injury setback, he has showcased all the tools needed in flashes to make an impact.
Picks 15-30
15. Miami Heat: Kyle Filipowski, Duke
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, Duke
17. New Orleans Pelicans: Carlton Carrington, Pitt
18. Orlando Magic: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
19. Toronto Raptors: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyshawn George, Miami
21. New Orleans Pelicans: DaRon Holmes, Dayton
22. Phoenix Suns: Yves Missi, Baylor
23. Milwaukee Bucks: Kel’el Ware, Indiana
24. New York Knicks: Ryan Dunn, Virginia
25. New York Knicks: Kevin McCullar, Kansas
26. Washington Wizards: Zach Edey, Purdue
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
28. Denver Nuggets: Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
29. Utah Jazz: Justin Edwards, Kentucky
30. Boston Celtics: Tyler Kolek, Marquette
2nd Round
1. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Smith, G-League
2. Utah Jazz: Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
3. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Shannon, Illinois
4. Portland Trail Blazers: Bobi Klintman, Sweden
5. San Antonio Spurs: Cam Christie, Minnesota
6. Indiana Pacers: Jaylon Tyson, Cal
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Izan Almansa, G-League
8. New York Knicks: Jamal Shead, Houston
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
10. Portland Trail Blazers: Pacome Dadiet, France
11. Philadelphia 76ers: Jalen Bridges, Baylor
12. Charlotte Hornets: Dillon Jones, Weber State
13. Miami Heat: Trey Alexander, Creighton
14. Houston Rockets: Trentyn Flowers, USA
15. Sacramento Kings: AJ Johnson, USA
16. Los Angeles Clippers: Ajay Mitchell, UCSB
17. Orlando Magic: Pelle Larsson, Arizona
18. San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Djurisic, Serbia
19. FORFEITED BY 76ers
20. Indiana Pacers: Adem Bona, UCLA
21. Indiana Pacers: Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
22. Washington Wizards: Juan Nunez, Spain
23. Golden State Warriors: Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
24. Detroit Pistons: Melvin Ajinca, France
25. Boston Celtics: KJ Simpson, Colorado
26. Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James, USC
27. Denver Nuggets: Ulrich Chomche, Cameroon
28. Memphis Grizzlies: Enrique Freeman, Akron
29. FORFEITED BY Suns
30. Dallas Mavericks: Keshad Johnson, Arizona