2024 NBA Draft Winners, Losers Day 1: Wizards, Jazz, Bucks; Knicks, Nets Trade, Paul George

Following the first day of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center, HoopsHype ranked the winners and losers, reported on what’s next for the Knicks and Nets following the blockbuster Mikal Bridges trade, and how Paul George’s upcoming decision will be the domino effect of free agency.

Winner: Washington Wizards

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• Washington selected Alex Sarr (No. 2 pick), Carlton Carrington (No. 14 pick via Deni Avdija trade), and Keyshawn George (No. 24 pick via Knicks trade).
• Sarr didn’t work out for the Atlanta Hawks and essentially tried to force his way to Washington, which is notable for executives Michael Winger , Will Dawkins , Travis Schlenk , and the rest of Wizards management looking to change the culture looking ahead.
• Carrington has been compared to Caris LeVert by NBA scouts and executives who spoke with HoopsHype.
• George is a 41 percent 3-point shooter and a potential replacement should the Wizards trade Corey Kispert , who’s drawn interest on the trade market, league sources told HoopsHype.
• Washington also acquired veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon via the Avdija trade and will look to flip his expiring $22.5 million contract in another trade looking ahead, league sources told HoopsHype.

Winner: Utah Jazz

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• Utah selected Cody Williams (No. 10 pick) and Isaiah Collier (No. 29 pick). Some NBA scouts and executives who spoke with HoopsHype consider Williams arguably the top prospect on some boards with the highest floor of any player in the draft because of his versatility on both sides of the ball.
• Collier was considered the top recruit in his high school class and was previously the No. 1 projected pick as of December 2023 in the HoopsHype aggregate mock draft.
• Grabbing Collier at the back end of the first round is a low-risk, high-reward pick with potential upside as Utah gauges the trade market on guards Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson and is still determining whether Keyonte George can be a full-time NBA point guard looking ahead.

Loser: Milwaukee Bucks

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• Milwaukee selected 19-year-old guard AJ Johnson (No. 23 pick).
• With the Bucks trying to compete for a championship, Milwaukee selected a teenage guard who needs time to develop when Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are in the prime of their careers while other prospects were on the board who could contribute immediately. Johnson could become a talented player, but his development curve doesn’t fit Milwaukee’s win-now timeline.

Mikal Bridges blockbuster trade between Knicks and Nets

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• The Brooklyn Nets have pivoted towards a rebuilding phase by trading away Mikal Bridges and acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic , four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a 2025 protected Milwaukee first-round pick (conveys if 5-30 range), a 2028 unprotected pick swap, and a 2025 second-round pick.
• A potential firesale could be coming for several players, including forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith , the expiring contracts of Bogdanovic, Dennis Schroder , and Ben Simmons , and backup center Day’Ron Sharpe .
• The New York Knicks believe they’re positioning themselves to make a championship run and match up against the Boston Celtics in the East by loading up on wings with the acquisition of Bridges and agreeing to a new deal with OG Anunoby .
• Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to draw interest from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic on the free agent market, who can pay him more than the Knicks, who are operating as if he likely won’t return.

Paul George’s free agency future

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• Paul George watched the NBA Draft to see if any team would make a significant trade to affect his decision of where he’ll play next season.
• George is the top target of the Philadelphia 76ers, but if the organization misses out on him, there will be a major pivot. OG Anunoby , another 76ers target in free agency, agreed to stay in New York. Philadelphia will attempt to use the cap space to acquire a star player, if possible, and will likely have to sprinkle the team’s cap space on multiple starting-caliber players or several role players. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is among the possibilities for Philadelphia, but Orlando is expected to make a strong run as well.
• Philadelphia could pivot to short-term, higher average annual salary free agent offers.

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