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Live 2024 NBA Draft tracker: Live grades for 1st-round picks
By Vincent Frank,
3 days ago
Our 2024 NBA Draft tracker is now live. The first round of the annual event got going in Brooklyn Wednesday night , with the second round set to take place on Thursday.
For the first time in the history of the annual event, it is taking place on two days. The Association is looking to capitalize on the growing brand.
Unlike last year’s iteration of the draft, there was no clear-cut No. 1 pick coming in. Though, this year is seen as a bit deeper.
Without further ado, here is our 2024 NBA Draft tracker with grades and analysis.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, forward, France
For the second consecutive season a big man from France goes No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. Zaccharie Risacher is not anywhere near the prospect as Victor Wembanyama was last year. But he’s been in the radar of teams for a few years. Scouts see Risacher as someone with a smooth shooting stroke, solid athleticism and high basketball IQ. Depending on what the Hawks do moving foward this summer, he could end up being a building block of a rebuild.
2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, forward/center, France
A 7-foot center from France who many had pegged as the No. 1 pick throughout the draft process, Sarr has the highest upside of any player in this draft. At least initially, he’ll be able to be a rim protector and switch off in the low post. The issue here is that Sarr’s offense is far behind his defense at this stage. It will impact him when it comes to early in his career. Sarr was the No. 2 prospect on ESPN’s big board.
Reed Sheppard had been linked to the Rockets throughout the draft process. It makes perfect sense with his shooting ability. This dude shot 52% from three-point range as a freshman for the Wildcats llast season. He added 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Sheppard is a perfect perimeter option for the upstart Rockets.
Grade: A+
4. San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, guard, UConn
Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Castle played a huge role in the Huskies repating as champions this past season. His ability on defense is his calling card right now. Castle is also a plus-level passer, which will work well with stud youngster Victor Wembanyama. The largest question right now is offense. Castle shot just 27% from three-point range last season at UConn.
5. Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland, wing, G-League Ignite
This is the furst curve bal of the 2024 NBA Draft. Holland was expected to be a top-10 pick before last season with the G-League Ignite. His season for the Ignite was cut short to a serious injury. He’s seen as raw and inconsistent with versatility. This is pretty much a move for the future as the Pistons look to continue their rebuild. ESPN had him as their 13th-best prospect.
Grade: D
6. Charlotte Hornets: Tidjane Salaun, forward, France
Three France natives within the first six picks. That country is turning out NBA Draft prospects like the best ofthem. Salaun is seen as someone who has the frame (6-foot-9) and versatility to make an immediate impact. He already has plus-level shot-making ability, too.
Grade: B
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, center, UConn
Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
The 7-foot-2 Clingan helped UcConn to two consecutive college titles. He was expected to go much higher than seven and was considered the potential No. 1 pick for some time. We’re talking about an old-school big who can dominated in the paint out of the gate. Sure, Clingan does not have any real ranges. But for a Blazers team that’s wing heavy, this represented need and fit.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Spurs): Rob Dilllingam
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Rob Dillingham is a bucket waiting to happen. He averaged 15.2 points on 44% shooting from distance in just over 23 minutes per game for Kentucky as a freshman last season. He also averaged 3.9 assists per game, showing an ability to pass the ball. This is no small thing for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they move into the top 10 with San Antonio.
The 7-foot-4 Edey is coming off winning two consecutive national player of the year awards. He averaged a whopping 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds for Purdue last season. He’s only been playing basketball for six years after growing up as a hockey player. He’s a traditional big, with somewhat of an awkward game. High floor, low upside.
Grade: B
10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, guard, Colorado
The 6-foot-7 Williams provides a retooling Jazz team with a nice amount of size from the wing spot. He’s not yet a good perimeter shooter, but his ability in transition and to cut to the lane could make Williams an immediate producer in Salt Lake.
Grade: B
11. Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, forward, G-League Ignite
Chicago goes major upside with its first-round pick. Early in the pre-draft process Buzelis was considered the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. A native of Chicago, he’s a wing with great size (6-foot-9). Buzelis is explosive and boasts great versatility. Though, he’s also a major project for the rebuilding Bulls.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Rockets): Nikola Topić, guard, Serbia
Oklahoma City could afford to take a chance on this high-upside player after the season it had in 2023-24. Topic is already an elite passer and ball handler at the young age of 18. A torn ACL in April likely means that he’ll be red-shirting as a rookie. OKC is the perfect fit.
This 6-foot-3 guard is the pro-ready type player a contending team like Sacramento should be targeting at the end of the lottery. He averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 38% shooting from distance a season ago. He can be a plug-and-play at both backcourt spots.
Grade: A
14. Washington Wizards (from Blazers): Carlton Carrington, guard, Pittsburgh
Known as Carlton “Bub” Carrington, this 6-foot-4 guard was a late riser leading up to the NBA Draft. He has a strong floor game, can be a primary ball handler and boasts a ton of potential. For a rebuilding Wizards squad, that’s no small thing.
Grade: A
15. Miami Heat: Kel’el Ware, center, Indiana
A bit of a reach here. ESPN had Ware as the 24th-best NBA Draft prospect this year. He has an ability to protect the rim while defending all froncourt positions. He has an ability to shoot the three. But is pretty raw from an all-around perspective.
What an ideal fit for the 76ers. McCain should have gone much higher in the first round of the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 guard knocked down 41% of his three-point shots for Duke as a freshman last season. Imagine what he could do in Philly with the spacing Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid provide.
Grade: A+
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht, wing, Tennessee
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN had Knecht as the No. 7 overall player in the 2024 NBA Draft. Los Angeles gets both need and tremendous value in a 6-foot-6 wing who scored nearly 22 points per game on 40% shooting for Tennessee last season. He’s a bucket waiting to happen.
18. Orlando Magic: Tristan da Silva, wing Colorado
We focused on how Orlando needed wing help to go with franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero. They got that in the 6-foot-8 da Silva out of Colorado. He averaged 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds on 40% shooting for the Buffaloes last season. Perfect fit for spacing in Orlando.
Grade: A
19. Toronto Raptors (from Pacers): Ja’Kobe Walter, guard, Baylor
Toronto nabs some size in the backcourt with the 6-foot-5 Walter. He was also a top-eight recruit in the Class of 2023. In Walter’s only season with the Bears, he averaged 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds. However, shooting continues to be an issue (38% in 2023-24).
Grade: B
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, guard, CAL
Per ESPN, this is somewhat of a reach for Cleveland. Tyson was their 31st-ranked player in the draft. However, Tyson stepped up big time as he transferred from Texas Tech to CAL. This past season saw the 6-foot-7 wing average 19.6 points to go with 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 36% shooting from distance.
Grade: B
21. New Orleans Pelicans (from Bucks): Yves Missi, center, Baylor
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans gets a ready made rim protector to go with Zion Williamson inside moving forward. Missi lacks polish on offense and might not be a real threat on that end of the court for some time. But this was a positional need.
Grade: C
22. Denver Nuggets (from Suns): DaRon Holmes II, forward/center, Dayton
Denver acquired this selection in a trade with the Suns, giving up pick No. 28, a second rounder and two future second-round pick. It’s in this that the Nuggets get a player in Holmes who dominated Atlantic 10 competition a seasona go (20.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 39% 3-point). Level of competition aside, a big that can space the floor at 22 is a steal.
Grade: A
23. Milwaukee Buck: (from Pelicans): AJ Johnson, guard, USA
We don’t have much on Johnson. So, we’ll rely on ESPN for this one.
“Johnson flashed his talent at the NBA combine much like he did in short spurts this season in the NBL, showing his ability to operate at different speeds, make shots off the bounce and find teammates on the move.”
24. Washington Wizards (from Knicks): Kyshawn George, forward, Miami (F)
Washington’s third first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft now includes a high-upside wing in George who stands at 6-foot-7 and displayed flashes in college. George averaged only 7.6 points per game last season, but he did shoot at 41% clip from three-point range. The upside is there.
Grade: A
25. New York Knicks: Pacôme Dadiet, guard, France
The fourth player from France selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Dadiet stands at 6-foot-9. He shot 43% from three-point range last season. He won’t play very much for the Knicks as a rookie.
Grade: Incomplete
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Knicks): Dillon Jones, forward, Weber State
Acquired from New York, these Thunder add another wing to the mix in the 6-foot-4 Jones. Playing against lesser competition at Weber State, he averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 49% shooting. A pro-ready talent on a contending team. The cost of five second-round picks is somewhat eye-opening.
Shannon is a bucket waiting to happen. He likely would have been a top-15 pick if it weren’t allegations of sexual assault. While Shannon was acquitted on those charges, character concerns remain. From an on-court standpoint, the wing averaged 23.0 points on 48% shooting last season.
Grade: A
28. Phoenix Suns (from Nuggets): Ryan Dunn, wing, Virginia
The Suns are getting themselves a dog on defense in Dunn. He was an All-ACC Defensive Team performer last season for the Cavaliers. Dunn also averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 55% from the field.
Grade: A
29. Utah Jazz (From Thunder): Isaiah Collier, guard, USC
Utah is certainly going for backcourt help in the 2024 NBA Draft. After picking up Cody Williams at 10, they double down with the high-upside Collier. He’s a combo guard who averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals on 49% shooting as a freshman last season.
Grade: A
30. Boston Celtics: Baylor Scheierman, guard, Creighton
The defending champions get a perimeter option with the final pick of the first round. Scheierman averaged 18.5 points while shooting 38% from distance last season. He also played five years in college. It’s an indication that the guard could play early if needed.
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