Ahead of an NBA Playoff game, the attention shifted from the postseason to the offseason as 14 teams learned where they will make picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. The NBA Draft Lottery was broadcast on ABC and determined where each non-playoff team would pick.
The next step in the process for several prospects is the NBA Draft Combine, which will take place over the course of the next week. The players who retained their college eligibility will still have the option to withdraw until the June 16 deadline.
As the NBA Playoffs continue, here is a look at how the first 14 picks could play out in the 2024 NBA Draft as the order becomes set.
The Atlanta Hawks soared up the board in the NBA Draft Lottery and now hold the No. 1 overall pick, giving them first choice of prospects on the board. Without a runaway candidate in the draft class, there is a group of players in the mix for this selection.
Alex Sarr has the most tantalizing upside in the draft based on his size and flashes of production on both ends of the floor. He has fit in well while playing in a professional league and continues to grow, leading him to the top of many draft boards.
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.
Donovan Clingan has the potential to become a defensive staple with the Washington Wizards for years to come. Solving the issues on the interior defense and offering upside on offense helps raise the floor heading into a stronger 2025 class.
No team showed a bigger commitment to improvement than the Houston Rockets, who invested in a new coaching staff to guide a new core of players headlined by Fred VanVleet. The young group of players still features Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith and Jalen Green as well. Now they get to add one of the top players to that group.
Despite a poor run, Zaccharie Risacher has shown enough throughout the rest of his professional season to put him in the conversation for this pick. His ability to space the floor and provide wing production in a league dominated by this archetype.
The San Antonio Spurs have a clear goal entering this season: 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 on the board to do that in this 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.
The Detroit Pistons crash out of the Top Four after the NBA Draft Lottery, making the task of picking a player capable of impacting the franchise a little more difficult. However, there are enough upside swings left at this point to hold hope for the future.
Matas Buzelis is among the best candidates left for that kind of upside 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.
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.
The Portland Trail Blazers fall down the board to No. 7 after the NBA Draft Lottery, making the task at hand a little more difficult. The goal now is to build a core of talented young players who can play alongside the backcourt which already features Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.
Ron Holland fits that mold as one of the top-ranked high school players entering the season before a disaster with the G-League Ignite program. He still showcases all the traits a team is looking for in a versatile forward, with good upside if he can develop and perimeter shot.
The San Antonio Spurs add another lottery pick thanks to the fall of the protected Toronto Raptors pick. The focus should remain on adding to the core of potential ball-handlers and perimeter playmakers who can ease the burden placed on Victor Wembanyama.
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 provides plenty intangibles plus defensive talent.
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.
Dalton Knecht is the type of player who could plug and play in this — or any — offense in the NBA. Whether picked by the Grizzlies 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.
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 with his electric offensive production. His upside will immediately translate if used in the right role within the offense, while his defense could hold him back from true star status barring improvement.
The Chicago Bulls also 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.
Not only does Isaiah Collier raise the talent level of the Bulls roster, he helps take pressure off several players who could be a big piece of the future. Despite injuries and a slow start, his performances by the end of the season looked closer to what a No. 1 recruit would expect even if the results never followed.
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.
Tidjane Salaun is the type of long, athletic forward which could pair well beside Chet Holmgren on the inside. The offensive upside as a floor-spacer could help expand the potential of the young core, without needing to thrust the developing player straight into the big moments.
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 De’Aaron Fox and Damontas Sabonis as a pairing.
Ja’Kobe Walter showcased a high level of intensity during the NCAA Tournament, which would fit in well to lineup already in place. Combine that with the upside of his talent and he makes sense as the next piece in raising the bar.
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 Ron Holland 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.
