Although it’s not expected to be particularly loaded with future All-NBA talent, the 2024 NBA Draft still boasts a variety of intriguing young prospects, all of whom will do their best to impress at the next level when they get selected this week.

The first round of the action tips off on Wednesday, June 26, at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET. The draft can be watched on ABC and ESPN on traditional broadcast television, and online via ESPN+. The second round tips off on Thursday, June 27, at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET via ESPN.

French prospects Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr expected to be the top two picks in some order. ESPN’s latest pre-draft big board currently suggests that Risacher has the edge over Sarr. Risacher is a 6-foot-9 small forward with two-way flexibility and a solid jumper but some questions about his strength. Sarr, meanwhile, is rim-running 7-foot power forward with a 9-foot-2 standing reach and a lot of defensive optionality.

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The Atlanta Hawks hold the keys to the draft with the rights to the No.1 overall pick. The Washington Wizards possess the No. 2 selection, while the Houston Rockets, who had a fairly respectable 41-41 season in 2023-24, moved up via the draft lottery to nab the third pick. The San Antonio Spurs have the fourth selection, while the Detroit Pistons, owners of the worst record in the league last year, fell to No. 5.

To hear Jeremy Woo of ESPN (via Ronce Rajan) tell it, two-time reigning University of Connecticut Huskies big man Donovan Clingan could play spoiler.

“I think Donovan is in the mix at No. 1,” Woo said. “I think more of what has been coming out in the last few days has been more Risacher for Atlanta. I think if they trade back, I think he’ll be in the mix.”

Woo noted that the draft may be trade-heavy, and even if Clingan is selected after the two Frenchmen, he may become a target for another team outside of the top four.

“But I think it will be interesting with Donovan, if he does start to fall past the first couple of picks which maybe what happens, then No. 3, No. 4, I think he’s a guy a lot of teams are interested in potentially coming up to acquire,” Woo opined.

“And I think he’s the top rim protector in the draft,” Woo said. “It will take a little bit of time. You hope you get the version of him they got in the tournament where he’s in great shape and healthy and you want to be able to prolong that. But he showed what he can be defensively when he’s full go.”

A pair of Kentucky guards, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, plus Clingan’s Huskies point guard comrade Stephon Castle, G League Ignite wing Matas Buzelis, and Tennessee swingman Dalton Knecht, are generally considered the other top contenders this season.

Later in the draft, many pundits await the fate of one-and-done USC backup combo guard Bronny James, son of Los Angeles Lakers All-Star forward LeBron. Some enterprising team may select him far sooner than L.A., which has the No. 55 pick in the second round — and will probably not want to burn the No. 17 pick in the first round on such a raw prospect.