2024 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: First-round projections ahead of offseason

The 2024 NBA Draft is just over two weeks away, with workouts in full swing amid the ongoing Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. While the offseason preparations have already started for 28 teams, the wave of moves promises to kick off over the coming weeks.

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 evaluating talent and building the blueprint of their roster, here is a look at how the first 30 picks could play out in the 2024 NBA Draft.

1. Atlanta Hawks: Alex Sarr, France

The Atlanta Hawks control the board and have many decisions to make beyond the NBA Draft this offseason as they set the trajectory for the future. The decision now appears to be narrowing with much conversation surrounding Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, with reports about interest in Donovan Clingan also out there.

Alex Sarr has the most tantalizing upside in the draft based on his size and flashes of production on both ends of the floor, making him the pick here for now. Conversations will continue about which player takes the top spot, which will likely be determined in some way by the other moves planned.

2. Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher, France

The Washington Wizards look ready to pounce on whatever prospect drops down to No. 2 in this year’s NBA Draft. In need of a talent infusion, the team can easily go with the top player on their board without concern about system fit or positional need.

Zaccharie Risacher is an interesting wing player moving forward with his ability to space the floor and provide defensive tools for the future. He promises to further develop on both ends, making him an easy player help build out a rotation.

3. Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

The Houston Rockets are looking to win now, and have been mentioned repeatedly as a candidate to move down the board or out of the NBA Draft all together if the right veteran player becomes available. However, making the pick is also an intriguing option given the names available.

Reed Sheppard makes sense for a team looking to add youth and get immediate impact. Shooting translates well and his positional versatility in the backcourt could help fill out the rotation as he adapts to playing defense within the team construct where better on-ball options exist.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, UConn

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.

Stephon Castle is capable of playing either guard spot in the backcourt, giving the Spurs options moving forward based on the trade market or free agency. His poor shooting from beyond the arc leaves questions about his overall upside, but he is the type of prospect who promises to find his way as a professional.

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.

6. Charlotte Hornets: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee

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.

Dalton Knecht is the type of player who could plug and play in this — or any — offense in the NBA. Getting his offensive punch on the floor with a healthy LaMelo Ball and developing Brandon Miller would take the Hornets into another class in the East.

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. This pick could also be a trade destination for teams watching the center begin to slide into more attainable space.

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 find a high-upside swing for the future.

Tidjane Salaun is the type of long, athletic forward who could outperform his draft slot 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: Nikola Topic, Serbia

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.

Nikola Topic slides down the board after suffering a second knee injury in 2024 which was later revealed to be a partially torn ACL. Despite the immediate injury concern which would concern some, the Bulls make sense as a long-term option given their need to find a point guard capable of leading the offense moving forward.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ron Holland, G-League

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.

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.

13. Sacramento Kings: Jared McCain, Duke

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.

Jared McCain is not a direct replacement for a player like Malik Monk, who enters free agency, but he does offer offensive firepower needed alongside the star players or off the bench. Also a local product, there is a clear fit on the board here.

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: Kel’el Ware, Indiana
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Carlton Carrington, Pitt
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
18. Orlando Magic: Isaiah Collier, USC
19. Toronto Raptors: Zach Edey, Purdue
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
21. New Orleans Pelicans: Kyle Filipowski, Duke
22. Phoenix Suns: Tyler Kolek, Marquette
23. Milwaukee Bucks: Yves Missi, Baylor
24. New York Knicks: Kyshawn George, Miami
25. New York Knicks: Kevin McCullar, Kansas
26. Washington Wizards: Justin Edwards, Kentucky
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
28. Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes, Dayton
29. Utah Jazz: Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
30. Boston Celtics: Pacome Dadiet, France