2024 NBA Mock Draft V.5

Bring the Noise. The No Ceilings Crew Puts Together V.5 of their 2024 NBA Mock Draft

Apr 09, 2024

For some people, like us here at No Ceilings, following the NBA Draft is a year-round obsession. For others, their draft obsessions start heating up later in the year. Whether it be an NBA fan whose team is firmly mired in the bottom of the standings or a March Madness lover who is curious about where their college favorites might end up, this is a very popular time of the year to hop on the draft bandwagon.

If you’re a long-time draft obsessive or a newcomer looking to see where things stand after the end of March Madness: welcome; we’re happy to have you. As always for our mock drafts, we gathered as a group in our No Ceilings war room to debate every pick in the draft. The mock below will look slightly different than our latest consensus BIG Board, as we try to take team needs into account.

With NCAA play now in the rearview mirror, the draft spotlight will only continue to heat up as we rapidly approach the big day itself. For now, here is where we stand on this year’s class, with a full 58-pick mock draft and write-ups as always for all 30 first round selections.

Enjoy, No Ceilings family!

#1. DETROIT PISTONS- Alexandre Sarr, F/C, Perth Wildcats

Profile: 7’1”, 217
Year: 2005 Born (18)
9.6 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.5 BLK
50.0 FG%, 27.6 3P%, 70.7 FT%

Ignacio Rissotto: Let’s start with the bad news first, Pistons fans. Alex Sarr is certainly not a perfect fit in a frontcourt rotation that already has non-shooters Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson (and kinda-shooter Isaiah Stewart). However, nobody is a perfect fit for Detroit in this year’s top six, as all prospects either overlap with their backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey or don’t provide the level of floor-spacing that a team like the Pistons desperately needs.
The good news, however, is that the Pistons are getting the best player in the draft in Alexandre Sarr. Standing at 7’1” with a 7’5” wingspan and possessing a unique combination of size, length, and agility, the French center makes an impact on the defensive end of the floor by protecting the rim, both as a primary shot blocker and as a weak side defender. Sarr is also agile and mobile enough to make an impact on the perimeter, using his length to get in passing lanes and stay in front of drivers when he’s asked to step out to the three-point line. The offense is still a work in progress beyond his transition and pick-and-roll finishing, but he has a good feel for the game and has shown flashes of ball-handling and shooting.
Unless the perfect fit is sitting right there, a team that sits at a 13-65 record can’t afford to pass up on a player like Sarr. He is going to make an impact from day one with his interior defense, rim running, and basketball IQ, but he also could reach an astronomically high ceiling if the flashes of a perimeter game come to fruition.

#2. WASHINGTON WIZARDS - Nikola Topic, G, Crvena Zvezda

Profile: 6’7”, 203
Year: 2005 Born (18)
16.4 PTS, 3.6 REB, 6.1 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.2 BLK
49.8 FG%, 28.2 3P%, 87.8 FT%

Tyler Rucker: Bilal Coulibaly looks to be a heck of a get for the Washington Wizards and should find himself in plenty of conversations as a breakout candidate for his sophomore campaign. The question moving forward is this: what is in store for year two for the vision of the “new” Wizards front office? Washington continues to have a roster with some intriguing pieces. They’ve done a great job of allowing a young talent like Coulibaly to get some important reps as a rookie while stressing patience.
Serbian-born guard Nikola Topic has the tools to be the top playmaking guard in the class this year. With recent word that Topic is nearing a return to play, plenty will be eager to see what Topic can do the rest of the year. Guards with his combination of feel and size are going to have plenty of suitors when it comes to a draft class. While the pre-draft process will be crucial this year for plenty of names toward the top of the draft, Topic gets the nod here. The 6’6” guard showcases the ability to navigate the floor offensively with his playmaking and understanding of setting up defenders for windows to attack. While the shot is still in question, Topic has the upside that teams will look for in a young floor general. Pairing his playmaking with Coulibaly and the supporting cast is another step in the right direction for the rebuilding Wizards.

#3. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - Stephon Castle, G, UConn

Profile: 6’6”, 215
Year: Freshman (19)
11.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.9 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK
47.3 FG%, 26.8 3P%, 76.4 FT%

Stephen Gillaspie: After landing their wing of the future in Brandon Miller in last year’s draft, the Charlotte Hornets may have landed the best prospect this year with the #3 pick. Stephon Castle makes a ton of sense on Charlotte, since they have an established ball-handler/initiator in LaMelo Ball, and they have a dynamic scoring wing in the aforementioned Miller. Castle can come in and do the things that have captivated the draft community: play pesky defense and find his spots to attack the defense on the other side of the ball. The “will-he-won’t-he be healthy” questions that often arise with Melo can be negated with Castle’s skill set. When Melo does play, Castle can show his off-ball prowess–full of timely cuts, off-ball screens, and positional rebounding. Without Melo, Stephon has shown the ability to attack off of the bounce and has solid court vision. Defensively, he can take on the more difficult backcourt assignment–which would be highly beneficial for the Hornets.
There are concerns, chief among them being his ability to hit the three. While the shot isn’t consistent, though, there are reasons to be optimistic that he can improve. Him being drafted to Charlotte doesn’t upset the apple cart for the team, either. Tre Mann and Cody Martin have been the two primary perimeter running mates for Brandon Miller with Gordon Hayward no longer on the squad. Adding in a 6’6” versatile defender, who averaged 11.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.9 APG, figures to work well in Charlotte and makes Castle the ideal player to play in the Queen City.

#4. SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

Profile: 6’3”, 187
Year: Freshman (19)
12.5 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.5 AST, 2.5 STL, 0.7 BLK
53.6 FG%, 52.1 3P%, 83.1 FT%

Albert Ghim: At this point in the season, the basketball world pretty much out of superlatives to throw around when describing Victor Wembanyama’s play in his rookie season. He’s been even better than the lofty expectations placed on him when he was taken first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. As incredible as Victor has been in his rookie season, the Spurs haven’t won many games. Adding players who can play with Victor and accentuate his strengths will be a huge priority for the Spurs this off-season. Tre Jones has been a serviceable backup for years, but this season has proven that he can’t be this team's primary playmaker or initiator. Adding a player like Reed Sheppard could be a huge step in the right direction when it comes to putting the right players around Victor.
Reed is not the most athletic guard in his class nor the most physically imposing. However, he does bring lights-out shooting, underrated playmaking ability, and defensive IQ and instincts to the table. Reed has one of the prettiest shooting splits in the class, with splits of 53.6/52.1/83.1; that’s pretty good. No one should expect him to walk into the league and shoot over 50% from three, but even with some regression, he should be an outstanding shooter. He made a good number of mistakes on defense, but all of those mental mistakes are fixable. Even with the errors, he showed good instincts with some huge blocks and steals throughout the season. He is a little undersized at 6’3”, but he’s a good athlete, is tough, and will find a way to impact the game.

#5. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

Profile: 7’2”, 280
Year: Sophomore (20)
13.1 PTS, 7.4 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 2.5 BLK
64.0 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 58.0 FT%

Nick Agar-Johnson: With the Portland Trail Blazers mired in an injury-riddled close to a depressing season, any Portland fan could be forgiven for having their eyes wander to different basketball pastures at this point in the season. Those wandering eyes might have already taken notice of Donovan Clingan and UConn’s second straight charge to a title, and they might be wondering how much he could help the Trail Blazers.
Portland already has a solid offensive center in Deandre Ayton, but his defense has been inconsistent this season, as it has throughout his NBA career, and Robert Williams III is even more of a long-term question due to injuries now than he was before. With Clingan, the defense is not going to be a problem–he has locked down the interior all year for the Huskies on both ends after a mind-blowingly efficient season last year. The biggest concerns with Clingan are injury and his relative lack of playing time. It’s hard not to feel evil spirits gathering around the words “injury-plagued center goes to the Blazers,” and those medicals could very well determine where Clingan ends up on Draft Night. The smaller minutes load, though, is less of a concern for Portland than many teams in this spot, with Ayton set up as the starter for the remaining two years of his deal and Clingan as the heir apparent. If it goes according to plan, Portland will pick up a potential defensive anchor who would also be an excellent roll man/lob threat for their stable of young guards. In other words, the risk is certainly worth the reward.

#6. TORONTO RAPTORS - Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg

Profile: 6’8”, 204
Year: 2005 Born (18)
10.8 PTS, 3.3 REB, 0.9 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.4 BLK
47.1 FG%, 40.7 3P%, 69.4 FT%

Ignacio Rissotto: The Raptors will finish below .500 for only the second time in the past 11 seasons, as they hit the reset button earlier in the season by trading away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. The first order of business in this draft will be to surround All-Star wing Scottie Barnes with the right supporting cast and they go for Zaccharie Risacher here, who will provide three-point shooting and versatile defense from day one, while also filling a position of need at power forward.
Risacher is going through a cold stretch in the last stretch of his season for JL Bourg-en-Bresse, as he’s shooting just 25.6% from three-point range over his last 10 games. However, Risacher is still over the 40% mark from beyond the arc this season, and he has found a way to make an impact with his perimeter defense and his connective passing that should translate rather quickly to the NBA on a low-usage, off-ball role.

#7. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Dalton Knecht, W, Tennessee

Profile: 6’6”, 213
Year: Senior (22)
21.7 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.8 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.6 BLK
45.8 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 77.2 FT%

Maxwell Baumbach: Next year, the Grizzlies will hope to have their recent injury spells behind them. Given that, they’ll be looking to make a serious run at the top of the Western Conference. Enter Dalton Knecht, a bouncy three-point shooter who dominated the SEC this past season. At 6’6” with a chiseled frame, Knecht fits a positional need for the Grizzlies. Despite being burdened with a heavy offensive load and heaps of defensive attention, Knecht managed to knock down 42.4% of his threes during conference play this season. Chase him off the line, and he may put someone on a poster. Knecht registered 27 dunks this past season. That's an excellent mark for a wing, but it’s even more impressive when taking into account that he both missed time and played through injury. While he may be older, Knecht may also boast more upside than his fellow graduate peers, as he’s a late bloomer who didn’t finish growing until college and just completed his first high-major season. Defensively, Knecht needs to make improvements, but Tennessee wasn’t worse with him on the court on that end. Additionally, the Grizzlies have the proper infrastructure to insulate him while he rounds out his skill set in a lower-maintenance role. Knecht brings the shooting and readiness required to help them compete, but his improvement trajectory means that he may have more potential than meets the eye.

#8. UTAH JAZZ - Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite

Profile: 6’10”, 195
Year: 2004 Born (19)
14.1 PTS, 6.6 REB, 1.9 AST, 0.9 STL, 1.9 BLK
45.5 FG%, 26.1 3P%, 69.6 FT%

Corey Tulaba: The G League Ignite program may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that the 2024 Ignite class doesn’t have a number of intriguing prospects. Matas Buzelis has every natural tool you’d want a modern NBA prospect to have on the wing. Buzelis is tall, long, and fluid and he’s demonstrated the ability to dribble, pass, shoot, and defend. He’s competitive af too, as evidenced by his call out of Zaccharie Risacher.
Buzelis is an unfinished product that needs polish, but the Jazz are in no rush to compete. Utah presents Buzelis an opportunity to grow with an exciting young core and a great coach in Will Hardy, who will put Buzelis in position to make the most of his multifaceted game.

#9. HOUSTON ROCKETS (via BRK) - Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

Profile: 6’3”, 176
Year: Freshman (19)
15.2 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.9 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.1 BLK
47.5 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 79.6 FT%

Rowan Kent: It may not be a full lift-off, but the Houston Rockets are on a clear upward trajectory in Ime Udoka’s first year at the helm. With his coaching, the additions of veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, and the emergence of both Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, the future is bright for the Rockets even though they’ll likely miss out on the play-in tournament. As the team looks to the future for their needs, they still have a lot of young players who play minutes but still haven’t reached their peaks—namely Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore—but there’s still room for a specific type of prospect to take them to the next level.
The Rockets only ranked 20th in offensive rating this season, which means they could use a punch of scoring from their bench to help support their improved defense. Enter Rob Dillingham. Dillingham finished his freshman season averaging 15.2 points with just under a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio while shooting efficiently with splits of 47.5/44.4/79.6 on high usage. Dillingham is an electric heat-seeking missile on offense, probing and bobbing his way around screens with his great handles before bombing with his pull-up jumper. He’d be able to focus on his scoring punch off the bench for Houston while letting the athletes and system insulate him from being targeted too much on defense. Dillingham could be the final perfect piece of the Houston rebuild that sends them careening into the stratosphere of the NBA in a few short years.

#10. ATLANTA HAWKS - Cody Williams, F, Colorado

Profile: 6’8”, 190
Year: Freshman (19)
11.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.7 BLK
55.2 FG%, 41.5 3P%, 71.4 FT%

Tyler Metcalf: Until the Atlanta Hawks have a clearer sense of direction, their philosophy must be to take the best player available. Cody Williams had an up-and-down season for Colorado that was mired by a series of various injuries, but the dynamic wing went through a good chunk of the season in conversation for the first overall pick. Williams will likely be a bit of a project, but once he adds 10-15 pounds of strength, his on-court impact should skyrocket.
All season, Williams showed flashes of doing a bit of everything. There were stretches of really high defensive impact, intriguing playmaking, dynamic rim pressure, and competent outside shooting. Unfortunately, Williams failed to string all of his dynamic skill sets together for much more than a few games. The biggest struggle with Williams’s evaluation is that the sample size is so small that the results could be significantly skewed in either direction. On top of that, a myriad of injuries are also a more than plausible excuse for his inconsistencies. What is clear, though, is that Williams really understands how to play. His IQ has been on display for years now, and that’s a pretty safe skill to bet on. As the Hawks figure out their path forward, Williams will be able to get healthy, get stronger, and further develop his all-around game. In a year or so, Williams may just emerge as another dynamic wing that the Hawks have been searching for who can help complement Jalen Johnson and whatever other pieces are out there.

#11. CHICAGO BULLS - Zach Edey, C, Purdue

Profile: 7’4”, 300
Year: Senior (22)
24.9 PTS, 12.2 REB, 2.1 AST, 0.3 STL, 2.2 BLK
62.5 FG%, 50.0 3P% (0.1A), 71.1 FT%

Corey Tulaba: The Bulls, formerly of Chicago, have relocated to the depths of NBA No Man’s Land: a perpetual play-in team stuck in a tug-of-war between their young rebuilding pieces and aging veterans. They play at a slow halfcourt pace and don’t launch a ton of threes. While a commitment to a rebuild that fits a more modern vision seems like the path the organization should choose to walk, it seems much more likely that they are going to forge ahead and try to make this thing work.
With that in mind, Chicago is going to grab the 7’4” 300-pound Zach Edey, who is in the midst of one of the most dominant college seasons on record. Edey is a contentious prospect due to his traditional back-to-the-basket game and movement concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Those are fair concerns, but concerns that are typically overblown, as Edey has shown to be a sneaky fluid mover with elite stamina. Defensively, Edey won’t be asked to hard hedge or even really step up to the level, instead using his 7’10.5” wingspan in drop coverage where he’s shown the ability to contest with length and intimidate guards attacking at the hoop. Quicker guards will give him issues, and there will be an adjustment period, but Edey has continued to improve his foot speed and positioning year after year in college. Offensively, Edey won’t be used as a post hub as often as he was at Purdue; however, he will still have the opportunity to punish mismatches on the block and the extra space and shooting talent will give him more room to operate. Edey also sets some of the best screens in the class (ask Stephon Castle) and is an elite roll man with soft hands and a massive catch radius. He is an improving passer who can hit cutters and shooters out of the post, but he still needs to improve his processing speed when teams double down.
Edey may not seem like a traditional home run swing, but for a team like Chicago that wants to stay competitive, Edey’s unique talents and tools could fit their play style and give them a weapon X of sorts.

#12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Kyle Filipowski, F/C, Duke

Profile: 7’0”, 248
Year: Sophomore (20)
16.4 PTS, 8.3 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, 1.5 BLK
50.5 FG%, 34.8 3P%, 67.1 FT%

Nick Agar-Johnson: The Oklahoma City Thunder are in one of the best situations in the league, if not the best, with a very young core that is already one of the best teams in the NBA. With SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and all of the rest of the young rising stars in OKC, the Thunder aren’t in need of a superstar like the vast majority of teams selecting in the lottery. Instead, they can afford to have the luxury of drafting a solid player with great ball skills who can continue to keep the offense flowing. They also could use a bit more size, even with their fondness for playing small–other than two-way player Olivier Sarr (whose younger brother you’ve already read quite a bit about today), Chet Holmgren is the only 7-footer on the roster. Enter Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, who improved his offensive efficiency and his defense after his strong freshman campaign for the Blue Devils last season. Filipowski can stretch the floor, provide a bit of passing juice, create his own shot when needed, and keep the offense flowing. He’s no slouch on the defensive end, either, though that might take a bit more time to come around at the NBA level than his offense. Even if he isn’t an average or better defender right away (as virtually no NBA players are), he is primed to contribute on both ends of the floor for a team that won’t need him to force up shots and can take full advantage of his strengths.

#13. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (via GSW) - Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

Profile: 6’6”, 204
Year: 2005 Born (18)
19.5 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.9 AST, 2.3 STL, 0.9 BLK
46.0 FG%, 24.0 3P%, 72.8 FT%

Tyler Rucker: The Portland Trail Blazers are going to find themselves in an interesting position in the 2024 NBA Draft. As of now, Portland is set to have two picks in the lottery. With a team that is looking to continue to push forward in their rebuild, Portland will have an interesting debate on their hands. Do you look to swing for upside with one of the picks and pair that with a potentially “high floor” talent? Do you go swinging with both selections? Or do you simply look to add BPA while you figure out the future direction of your roster?
After adding Donovan Clingan in this mock, the Blazers secured one of the top defensive bigs in this class. That opens up a plethora of possibilities with this selection. One name that continues to have a wide range when you ask around the league is G League Ignite forward Ron Holland. The tools are exciting when you see Holland’s game in a groove. He’s one of the most dangerous transition threats in this entire class, possessing fighter jet-like speed to get out and run with the athleticism to finish above the rim with anger. Holland has shown plenty of flashes of offensive upside, including an outside shot that looks to be trending in the right direction.
The pre-draft process will be crucial for Holland, as will overall roster construction. If Holland can find a place that allows him to slide in as a piece of the puzzle, without demanding him to be an offensive force…then a team can strike gold. Portland would have the potential to add one of the highest upside talents in the draft at 13th overall, while also being patient while the tools can come together. Holland won’t be turning 19 until after the draft. Given his tools and upside, some team is going to be willing to jump on the potential for Holland to be a heck of a supporting piece who can thrive in transition. Sliding in alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe gives the Blazers some DANGEROUS transition potential to develop.

#14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via LAL) - Jared McCain, G, Duke

Profile: 6’3”, 197
Year: Freshman (20)
14.3 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.9 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.1 BLK
46.2 FG%, 41.4 3P%, 88.5 FT%

Tyler Metcalf: On the surface, Jared McCain is arguably the best shooter in this class. His effectiveness and versatility from behind the arc are more than enough to warrant him being a lottery selection. The fascinating thing with McCain, though, is that he is far more than “just” a shooter. This season at Duke, there was a backlog of guards, so someone had to move into more of an off-ball role. Given that he was by far the best off-ball shooter on the team, McCain was the easy choice. While that led to some dazzling shooting masterclasses, it also, unfortunately, hid all of McCain’s on-ball creation.
Before Duke, McCain was a terrific passer who could run the pick-and-roll with ease and consistently read the weak side of the defense. Additionally, McCain was one of the best at-rim finishers among guards in this class. What McCain lacks in vertical pop and positional size, he makes up for in strength, balance, and scoring touch. McCain consistently showed mature craft with his rim pressure. He also played off of both one and two feet, finished with both hands, and found creative angles to exploit the defense.
Right away, McCain profiles as an off-ball shooter. However, in the long term, McCain has a tremendous amount of upside to transition into being more of a point guard in a similar fashion as CJ McCollum did. McCain will provide the Pelicans with point guard depth, on-ball and off-ball versatility, rebounding, and sound decision-making. Don’t think of him as “just” a shooter.

#15. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - Tristan Da Silva, F, Colorado

Profile: 6’9”, 229
Year: Senior (22)
16.0 PTS, 5.1 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.6 BLK
49.2 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 83.5 FT%

Maxwell Baumbach: The 76ers will have quite a few players coming off their books this off-season. While that type of “blank slate” provides a gigantic roster reconstruction opportunity, it can also be quite daunting. With that in mind, Colorado’s Tristan da Silva would make for an excellent target. At 6’9”, Da Silva brings NBA size, shooting, and feel to the table. This season, he knocked down nearly 40% of his threes. Additionally, he did a great job of identifying holes in opposing defenses. Whether it was leveraging his gravity to cut for an easy layup or wiring a pass to a cutter, he’s able to read the game and find openings. Defensively, he moves his feet well and uses his length to make life difficult. He’s an older prospect, he’s not the strongest player, and he’s not the greatest athlete in the world. However, Da Silva has a coveted plug-and-play skill set that would profile wonderfully next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, along with whoever else takes the floor for the Sixers next season.

#16. MIAMI HEAT - Devin Carter, G, Providence

Profile: 6’3”, 195
Year: Junior (22)
19.7 PTS, 8.7 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.8 STL, 1.0 BLK
47.3 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 74.9 FT%

Rowan Kent: Sometimes, teams use the draft to target their weaknesses and complete their identity. Other times, it’s too tempting to pass up a particular prospect who can further sharpen their strengths. For a team like the Miami Heat, a consistent playoff contender that refreshes its roster with savvy finds from its G League roster, they can buck convention and stack on their strengths. In selecting Devin Carter, they’ll do just that while getting younger in a position of need.
If you were to construct an ideal guard for the Heat’s ethos, they wouldn’t look much different than Carter. He’s a zealous and uncompromising defender, is a great athlete, and has grown his game to fit into the modern speed of the NBA. In an expanded role as a junior, Carter scored 19.7 points per game, almost doubled his rebounds per game, and saw his three-point shooting go from 29.9% to 37.7% on nearly double the attempts from his sophomore year. With Miami still building a title contender around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, a scrappy two-way role player like Carter would fit wonderfully into their culture and off their bench. Given how pro-ready he is right now, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Carter play significant minutes for the Heat during the regular season and earn a playoff role for the team.

#17. TORONTO RAPTORS (via IND) - Ja’Kobe Walter, G, Baylor

Profile: 6’5”, 195
Year: Freshman (19)
14.5 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.2 BLK
37.6 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 79.2 FT%

Stephen Gillaspie: Toronto took Zaccharie Risacher with the sixth pick in this draft, and now they add another intriguing perimeter player to fill out their roster. Masai Ujiri has now moved off Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to feature a roster built around Scottie Barnes. Featuring him as a jumbo creator allows the Raptors to go after perimeter players that can space the floor and play defense, without asking them to be high-level shot creators. Not only does drafting Ja’Kobe Walter do that, but Toronto also has an opportunity to take a player at 17 who was thought to have been a Top 10 talent at various points of the season.
Walter graded out in the 68th percentile in catch-and-shoot scenarios for Baylor this year. Looking deeper into those splits, he was in the 53rd percentile when guarded and in the 72nd percentile when open. The Raptors could use any sort of help from distance, as they are in the bottom third of the league in three-point percentage. Ja’Kobe has shown the capability to connect from deep on good range and on a variety of looks. Playing for Baylor, Walter looked every bit as solid defensively for Scott Drew as advertised. His athleticism allowed him to make some good plays against pick-and-roll sets–something that he’ll be asked to cover more in the pros.
The Raptors have some decisions to make with players like Gary Trent Jr. and Bruce Brown Jr., so adding some wing depth on rookie contracts makes some sense with Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl looking to be mainstays in the frontcourt for the foreseeable future.

#18. ATLANTA HAWKS (via SAC) - Tidjane Salaun, F, Cholet

Profile: 6’9”, 203
Year: 2005 Born (18)
9.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 0.8 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.2 BLK
40.2 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 80.2 FT%

Ignacio Rissotto: With their second pick in the first round, the Hawks double down on low-floor/high-ceiling big wings by selecting Tidjane Salaun. The French forward is one of the most unique prospects in this draft with his combination of 6’9” size, fluidity, ball-handling ability, and flashes of versatile shooting.
Salaun is going through a particularly rough stretch of the season, shooting 34.4% from the field and 21.6% from three over his last 10 games, but his ceiling, with his flashes of self-creation at his size are tremendously intriguing and a team with multiple first round picks, like the Hawks, could look to swing for the fences with him.

#19. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - Johnny Furphy, W, Kansas

Profile: 6’9”, 202
Year: Freshman (19)
9.0 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.3 BLK
46.6 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 76.5 FT%

Tyler Metcalf: The Pelicans are flush with versatile, athletic wings, so why not add another one? Johnny Furphy was one of the hottest players in the country after he moved into Kansas’s starting lineup at the turn of the new year. Unfortunately, Furphy’s scorching play inevitably cooled off at the end of the season as he rose up scouting reports and became clearly the only perimeter-scoring threat on the team.
At 6’9”, though, Furphy is a big-time athlete with a very high motor and legitimate shooting upside. All season, Furphy was one of the best rebounders in the country, especially for wings. Furphy was effective on the defensive boards, but his cutting and off-ball movement made him a menace on the offensive ones as well. Furphy has a very high understanding of spacing, relocating on the perimeter, and cutting. Furphy must improve at attacking closeouts and his on-ball creation, but he has all the tools to grow into an off-ball wing like those the Pelicans have already found tremendous success with in recent years.

#20. NEW YORK KNICKS - Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Profile: 6’7”, 231
Year: Freshman (18)
10.4 PTS, 5.7 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.0 BLK
59.7 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 66.7 FT%

Albert Ghim: Despite his saying he’ll return to South Carolina next season, we don’t believe him. Collin Murray-Boyles is one of the most interesting prospects in college basketball, and we think NBA front offices will show too much interest in his game for him to return next season. CMB is interesting because of his talent and the question marks surrounding his outlook on the next level.
Some may view CMB, standing 6‘7”, as undersized to play the four on the next level. He makes up for his lack of size with long arms, good feet, and elusiveness. CMB was an awesome scorer inside, showing the ability to play with quickness and strength. He was also a strong finisher with both hands and did a great job of using his cutting ability to find easy buckets every game. CMB is pretty much a non-shooter at this point, but another skill he has is his playmaking. He only averaged 1.8 assists per game, but his advanced numbers are prettier, as he had an assist percentage of over 17%. He may not be a guy who can run your offense, but he may be a nice complementary playmaker for the Knicks off the bench like Isaiah Hartenstein has been for them over the last two seasons.
His offense has some real question marks, but his defense is more of a sure thing. His length, strength, and agility also shine on the defensive end of the floor. It’s more likely that his defensive game gets him on the floor sooner than his offensive game. Playing for a coach like Thibs could unlock even more of his defense. For all the offensive potential Obi Toppin had once upon a time, Thibs will appreciate CMB’s defense much more. Some have compared him to a younger version of Julius Randle, which would be his dream outcome, but there is also a world where he could be closer to Kyle O’Quinn. Time will tell how he blossoms, but ending up in New York with this veteran-laden team could be what he needs.

#21. ORLANDO MAGIC - Kyshawn George, W, Miami

Previous Ranking: 21st (↑2)
Profile: 6’8”, 205
Year: Freshman (20)
7.6 PTS, 3.0 REB, 2.2 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.4 BLK
42.6 FG%, 40.8 3P%, 77.8 FT%

Rowan Kent: After a few years of a painful rebuild, the Magic find themselves in one of the league's most enviable team composition positions. Led by young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Orlando is just a game out of second in the Eastern Conference. With one of the youngest rosters in the league and youthful players like Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Caleb Houstan still expanding their roles, the Magic still have a lot of upside to their future. If you had to point to one place for the team to improve, it would be on offense, as they rank 23rd in offensive rating and are in the bottom third of the league on both three-point percentage and three-pointers taken per game.
With shooting as the main weakness for the Magic but few pure shooters worthy of a first round selection at this juncture in the draft, Orlando goes with their classic mentality of taking a raw prospect who could one day develop for the team. Kyshawn George was on virtually no draft boards heading into the season. Still, after a freshman campaign where he hit 40.8% of his threes on 4.2 attempts per game, showed flashes of his passing upside, and displayed a lithe burst in his 6’8” frame, George revealed a goldmine of untapped potential. It’ll take a few years to reach his ceiling, but the Magic have faith in their development and don’t need to rush George into immediate playtime. If he can develop into a true sniper on the wing while also bringing other layers to the team’s offense, George could be what completes the ascendant Magic roster and helps the team make some real playoff noise for the first time since the Dwight Howard days.

#22. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - Jaylon Tyson, G, California

Profile: 6’7”, 215
Year: Junior (21)
19.6 PTS, 6.8 REB, 3.5 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.5 BLK
46.5 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 79.6 FT%

Corey Tulaba: As long as Donovan Mitchell is a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they are going to be looking to compete. While that goal will mostly come down to how they restructure their front court and what veterans they can bring in, they are still going to need cheap talent to fill in the margins. Jaylon Tyson from Cal is an intriguing swing for Cleveland as a toolsy 6’7” wing who has shown that he can play both on and off the ball. Tyson has displayed high-level creation ability this season, using his shifty handle to knock down a bevy of tough dribble jumpers. He’s also shown intriguing playmaking flashes, making high-level reads when he gets into the teeth of the defense. Tyson still needs to clean up his decision-making as a playmaker, however, he’ll have a much lighter load playing off of guys like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. There aren’t many wings with as much talent as Jaylon Tyson; if he puts it all together, he can provide major value for this Cavs roster.

#23. PHOENIX SUNS - Isaiah Collier, G, USC

Profile: 6’4”, 205
Year: Freshman (19)
16.3 PTS, 2.9 REB, 4.3 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.2 BLK
49.0 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 67.3 FT%

Tyler Rucker: The Phoenix Suns have gone all in when it comes to chasing a championship. So far that plan has struggled, mainly due to injuries. However, Phoenix will find itself needing to start adding some pieces to the puzzle—especially given the new CBA and the amount of money already tied up. When looking at the Suns roster, there are a number of directions they can go in the first round. They can look to add a big man to the roster. Given the depth of centers in the 2024 class, it’s going to be a route that the Suns should seriously consider, as there could be fascinating value.
Given the wide range around the league on so many prospects right now, though, there’s a chance that the Suns could have an enticing talent fall into their laps. It could simply be too good of value to pass up on. USC Trojans freshman guard Isaiah Collier came into the 2023-24 NCAA season as a potential Top 10 selection in preseason rankings. After some struggles early on with turnovers, Collier missed some time with an injury before returning and looking much better with his play on the court. He will be one of the top names in this class to monitor in the months leading up to the draft. Collier could continue to climb and make some noise toward the lottery with a strong pre-draft process. But, as is the case with EVERY draft class, there’s always a talent that seems to slip through the cracks. That sentence will echo loudly this year given the uncertainty around the league.
Collier gives the Suns an intriguing floor general talent who can be inserted into the rotation with a bundle of options alongside him. He’s a bully-ball point guard who can get out and run in transition while showcasing the ability to make the right reads. If Collier continues to trend in the right direction when it comes to ball security, this could be a heck of a value for a team that needs to find depth in the worst way.

#24. MILWAUKEE BUCKS - Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite

Profile: 6’11”, 224
Year: 2004 Born (19)
13.7 PTS, 5.1 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.9 BLK
48.0 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 73.2 FT%

Nick Agar-Johnson: Despite their recent struggles to adjust to Doc Rivers stepping into the head coaching role mid-season, the Milwaukee Bucks are still currently the #2 seed in the East. While they may want to hunt for another star somewhere down the line, they have plenty of firepower at the moment with Giannis and Dame running the show. In addition to that–other faulty parts aside–the Bucks have once again looked like one of the best defensive teams in the league recently after struggling on that front to start the season. Despite taking the fifth-most three-pointers in the league, Milwaukee is also just a few spots above league-average percentage-wise, even with Malik Beasley and A.J. Green scorching the nets from distance on the wing. Enter Tyler Smith, who showed this past season in the G League that he can both play well off ball-dominant players and get his shot off from distance in a variety of ways. The defense is a concern for Smith, but Milwaukee can do a lot to hide those issues. For the Bucks, the potential value his shot now and in the future is worth working around his defensive weaknesses.

#25. NEW YORK KNICKS (via DAL) - Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette

Profile: 6’3”, 195
Year: Senior (23)
15.3 PTS, 4.9 REB, 7.7 AST, 1.6 STL, 0.2 BLK
49.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 85.1 FT%

Albert Ghim: After trading for OG Anunoby before the trade deadline, Miles McBride played a pivotal role for the Knicks as a perimeter defender and outside shooter. However, McBride struggles with passing and playmaking, making him almost a nonfactor as a creator. He is a complementary piece who plays best next to a primary creator like Jalen Brunson. The Knicks thought that adding Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic would help with some of that playmaking, but both have struggled since coming over in the trade.
This is where Tyler Kolek comes in. Kolek is a gritty guard who was an absolute maestro for Marquette this past season. Kolek is one of the best passers out of the pick-and-roll, has become a very good outside shooter, and has the grit and nastiness that Thibs will love. Kolek has really improved as a shooter, and his splits tell that story: 49.6/38.8/85.1. He also does a great job of pushing the pace and getting his teammates into transition opportunities.
Kolek could come in from day one and become the primary backup to Jalen Brunson. Kolek is an intense competitor, has a refined and mature game, and should be able to scratch his way into the rotation next season if the Knicks take him. Although Thibs has not always been known to give young players a long leash, Kolek may have the game, acumen, and toughness to win Thibs’s trust.

#26. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via LAC) - Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana

Profile: 7’0”, 233
Year: Sophomore (19)
15.9 PTS, 9.9 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.9 BLK
58.6 FG%, 42.5 3P%, 63.4 FT%

Stephen Gillaspie: The Washington Wizards are a team that has lacked a true identity for quite some time. One thing that has been discussed within draft circles for the past few cycles is archetypes, and how players that fit a certain mold translate to the pros. With the #2 pick in this Mock Draft, the Wizards took Nikola Topic, who fits the jumbo-creator role that is all too coveted within the league. With their second first round pick, let’s see how Washington fares taking Kel’el Ware. Ware fits the “malleable big” archetype--a big man who can space the floor, finish inside, and protect the basket.
Last season, Ware was projected to go in the lottery, but his time at Oregon left a sour taste in the draft community’s mouth. This year at Indiana, Kel’el was able to show more of what scouts and fans wanted to see. Ke’el was able to shoot over 40% from deep as a 7-footer, albeit on just over one attempt per game, while also converting on about 59% from his shots overall. Ware also nabbed about 10 boards per contest, and he also had a block percentage over 6%. All of these numbers suggest that Ware could be the type of big that every NBA team wants to have on their roster.
Washington does seem to need to add some depth for their pivot man, as Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley make up their primary bigs. These vets will be nice for Kel’el to learn under, as he will likely need to grow into a starting role. Once he is able to adjust, Ware could serve to be a versatile big for Topic to snake around and find on the roll or on the pop.

#27. UTAH JAZZ (via OKC) - Ryan Dunn, W, Virginia

Profile: 6’8”, 216
Year: Sophomore (21)
8.1 PTS, 6.9 REB, 0.8 AST, 1.3 STL, 2.3 BLK
54.8 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 53.2 FT%

Maxwell Baumbach: The Utah Jazz are still somewhat in flux, boasting a relatively competitive roster with an exciting core of young talent. Ryan Dunn brings a ready-made NBA-level skill to the table, but he’s also an enticing upside play. Dunn was the best defender in college basketball this past season. At 6’8” with long arms and a strong frame, Dunn can put the clamps on anybody. He’s outstanding at covering ground and boasts exceptional balance in space. Few can out-quick or overpower him. His nose for the ball is top of the line, and even if a gamble doesn’t go his way, his exceptional recovery tools keep him in the play. His 3.1 STL% and 10.4 BLK% are truly elite marks for his position. Offensively, things are a bit murky. He’s a strong interior finisher, but he made only 20% of his threes and 53.2% of his free throws. At worst, Dunn can provide the Jazz with genuine specialist-level play on one side of the floor. If he can become even a near-decent three-point shooter, though, they could have a future playoff contributor on their hands.

#28. DENVER NUGGETS - DaRon Holmes II, F/C, Dayton

Profile: 6’10”, 221
Year: Junior (21)
20.4 PTS, 8.5 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.1 BLK
54.4 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 71.3 FT%

Nick Agar-Johnson: What do you get for a team like the Denver Nuggets? How about a big man who can potentially play both the 4 and the 5, block shots like crazy on the interior, run some of the same passing actions as Nikola Jokic when Jokic has to take a breather, get up and down the floor like a madman in transition, and even occasionally shoot the three? DaRon Holmes II was one of the most efficient offensive players in the country during his freshman season at Dayton, while also being a voracious shot blocker. He’s taken on a larger role in the Dayton offense over the past two seasons in a way that bodes exceptionally well for his development, but that might have obfuscated what his NBA role might look like on a team that doesn’t need him to do as much. Holmes II is primed to step in right away as a rotation big man, taking the backup center reins from DeAndre Jordan (barring the occasional miracle throwback game, as Jordan’s shown this season) as someone who can play the 4 alongside Jokic and small-ball 5 with Aaron Gordon and MPJ as the forwards. Holmes’s development over the past two seasons makes it difficult to rule out that he could be more than just a backup at some point; as of right now, though, DaRon and Denver are a nearly perfect fit for both the short-term and the long-term.

#29. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - Mark Sears, G, Alabama

Profile: 6’1”, 185
Year: Senior (22)
21.5 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.1 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.1 BLK
50.4 FG%, 43.4 3P%, 85.9 FT%

Tyler Metcalf: The Timberwolves have been one of the best teams in the league all season, but they don’t have a long-term plan at point guard. Mike Conley has been terrific and is signed to a multi-year extension, but he’s also 36. Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin are free agents at the end of the season. Things are going to be tight financially and they’ll need someone who can contribute early, not a long-term project. Enter Mark Sears, who was incredible for Alabama this season.
Sears is a small guard, but it’s not like the Timberwolves haven’t found success with small guards already. Morris is listed at 6’2” while Conley and McLaughlin are listed at 6’0”. Does Sears lack positional size? Yes. Will that be unexplored territory that the Timberwolves can’t compensate for? No. The point is, Sears can flat-out play.
Defensively, Sears is a bit erratic and won’t be a stopper. However, like the current Wolves guards, Sears works hard, generally has good instincts, and has quick hands. The real selling point with him, though, is his prolific offense. Sears is lethal from behind the arc, very good around the rim, and is a flashy playmaker. He has multiple seasons of proving to be effective both on and off the ball, which will only help him assimilate to the NBA quicker. When looking for a play now point guard who can move the ball, finish at the rim, launch from three, and hold his own on defense, it’s hard to do much better than Sears.

#30. BOSTON CELTICS - Nique Clifford, W, Colorado State

Profile: 6’6”, 191
Year: Senior (22)
12.2 PTS, 7.6 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.9 BLK
52.2 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 75.9 FT%

Tyler Rucker: The Boston Celtics have been one of the most impressive teams in the NBA this year, looking like a potential Finals contender. The biggest storyline moving forward for plenty of contending teams, though, is the future CBA ramifications. Boston will be attempting to bring home an NBA championship this year after a historically impressive season. After that, the Celtics will need to look to sign veteran guard Jrue Holiday to an extension this offseason, and eventually extend Derrick White as well.
With so many high-caliber players on the roster getting paid, the Celtics are going to have to prioritize building depth through the draft. The team added raw defensive-minded wing Jordan Walsh last year in the second round, and he looks to be a potential rotation add in his sophomore year. While the Celtics could look to add depth at any position here, another versatile wing with positional flexibility could be the way to go. Colorado State wing Nique Clifford was a talent who continued to go under the radar throughout the 2023-24 NCAA season.
The 6’6” wing transferred from Colorado and was sensational this year for the Rams. Clifford is a high IQ player with tremendous feel on both sides of the floor and serious defensive chops. The outside shot took promising strides this year, and Clifford will be a name to watch out for throughout the pre-draft process. With Clifford, the Celtics would be getting a rotation piece who can slide in and offer the ability to play a wide range of roles in multiple positions. He’s a high-level defender who possesses some underrated playmaking ability and decision-making.