We are one week away from the 2024 NBA draft lottery, which will be held in Chicago ahead of the NBA combine. That means we’ll know the draft order ahead of the prospect workouts and interviews, which will set up how teams move through the process that week in the Windy City.
Here’s a look at a potential lottery outcome for the 2024 NBA Draft and a prediction of how the 14 picks will shape up with this as the draft order.
The Spurs win back-to-back No. 1 picks, setting them up with a great opportunity to build around Victor Wembanyama. They might trade down from this spot with other guard options available later in the lottery but assuming they stay put, Castle should be the selection. He immediately creates a defensive tandem with Victor Wembanyama that San Antonio can build around, while also providing a strong attacking presence offensively which opens up Devin Vassell and other perimeter threats.
The Wizards are simply going to take the best player available regardless of position at this point of their rebuild. According to the composite player ranking from the NBA Combine, Sarr has been tabbed as the top player. He’s an intriguing defensive talent who will elevate Washington on that side of the ball right away.
The Trail Blazers have a lot of guards, so they could spread out their offense a bit by adding a creator in the frontcourt. Buzelis makes the most sense as a potential floor spacer, although his three-point shot fell off at Ignite this past year. He can model his game off Jerami Grant a bit as well, which will help his development.
There are several directions Toronto can go here. I don’t think Jakob Poeltl stays on the roster for the opening game of the 2024-25 season, which means a new big man in the middle. Clingan seems like the perfect fit next to playmakers like Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick, plus his defense will boost the Raptors immediately.
There isn’t a natural pick for Detroit after falling to No. 5 in the lottery. Risacher has been flying up mock drafts of late and could continue to see his stock rise if he balls out at the combine. While he might not have the consistency from deep that teams will like, the play of tall forwards Paolo Banchero and Michael Porter Jr. in the playoffs will push teams to go for the upside. The Pistons could use another scoring threat, and Risacher should fit well next to Cade Cunningham.
Brandon Miller had a big rookie season and the Hornets have invested in LaMelo Ball for the future. However, I don’t know how sure they are about that contract. Dillingham offers some immediate help as a perimeter scorer while also possessing the skills of an all-around point guard who could take over should Charlotte move on from Ball.
There’s a possibility the Grizzlies go with a more immediate contributor here like Dalton Knecht, but they’ve always gone for upside in the draft. Topic offers more playmaking from the wing, although his defense and shooting remain underwhelming. I think Memphis could move Topic into more of a combo guard role next to Ja Morant, giving the team more creativity offensively.
Speaking of a team adjusting roles, the Jazz should be moving Keyonte George into the shooting guard spot after his late-season surge. That means Utah could use a point guard and Sheppard is a natural fit. His dud in the NCAA tournament is something he’ll have to reckon with leading up to the draft but he’s still a lethal shooter who spearheaded one of the most potent offenses in college basketball last year.
I mentioned Knecht as a candidate to be taken at No. 7 and he’s definitely in play here too, especially with the Rockets believing they can be a playoff team with a little more help. However, I think they go for the upside with Holland. He’s athletic and plays good defense, making him capable of shoring up Houston’s bench unit right away. He had a strong finish this season with Ignite, which has raised his stock a bit.
The Hawks are going to explore a lot of options with their roster this offseason. However, I think they continue to load up on wing players by adding Knecht. Versatility is important, and playing with several combo guys on the floor at the same time can have its benefits. Knecht can score from anywhere on the floor and has the size to battle most wings defensively.
The Bulls need a point guard and there’s little optimism surrounding Lonzo Ball’s availability. That means Chicago will be looking to address this spot in the draft and I think McCain is the selection. The Duke product can not only shoot from the perimeter but he also adds a strong rebounding presence. His most important skill might be his defense, which will set him apart from Chicago’s other scoring guards.
Sometimes, it’s nice how things work out. The Thunder can afford to let their first-round picks develop over time, and they already hit a home run with Williams’ older brother Jalen. I think Oklahoma City appeases the family a bit and takes the Colorado forward, He’s athletic and plays good defense, so the foundation is there for him to be a rotation player in due time.
The Kings would likely want someone who can help more immediately, but the potential surrounding Walter is hard to pass up for Sacramento. He’s an excellent defender and flashed some scoring chops in the tournament, so the offensive upside is there. He won’t be tasked with doing much like he had to do at Baylor, which will help his development.
After taking Buzelis to add some playmaking in the frontcourt, the Blazers double down a bit and add a bonafide three-point shooter in Da Silva. He can play in both forward spots and his biggest asset is the ability to stretch the floor. Portland could play him and Buzelis together at times and see how the connection develops, potentially forming a nice frontcourt pairing for the future.
