The primary spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft is formally accomplished, which implies it is time for us to weigh in on the very best and worst staff matches for a number of of the highest prospects chosen.
BEST | Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher (No. 1 general): Time will inform if the 6-foot-10 Frenchman is actually the very best participant on this draft, however his ability set is a perfect match for the Hawks on paper. Risacher, who averaged 10.1 factors whereas capturing 43.9% from the sphere and 35.2% from past the arc for JL Bourg this previous season, must be an prompt contributor scoring-wise, probably serving as Atlanta’s second possibility.
Whereas he has the profile of a participant geared up with a ability set to thrive offensively within the NBA, the most important knocks on Risacher’s recreation are that he is not an important shot creator nor a lot of a passer. Fortuitously for Risacher and the Hawks, these flaws could be masked early on when you’ve got some extent guard like Trae Younger on the staff, assuming he is not traded this offseason.
Regardless of being a challenge, if Risacher develops right into a multidimensional offensive participant over the subsequent few seasons, it may not be lengthy till Atlanta is again to creating noise within the postseason.
BEST | Rockets, Reed Sheppard (No. 3 general): Sheppard is not simply the very best shooter within the draft, he is arguably a generational capturing prospect. The 2023-24 SEC Freshman of the Yr averaged 12.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Kentucky Wildcats final season whereas capturing an astonishing 52.1% from three-point vary. And do not let his 6-foot-2 body idiot you, Sheppard is a powerful athlete, as evidenced by his NBA Mix-best 42-inch vertical leap.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how a lot enjoying time Sheppard will get out the gate, contemplating Fred VanVleet is below contract via at the very least subsequent season. Even so, within the brief time period, Sheppard can have loads of time to develop alongside his backcourt mate of the longer term Amen Thompson, the fourth general decide in final yr’s draft.
BEST | Spurs, Stephon Citadel (No. 4 general): The nationwide champion can be a serious piece in serving to restore the successful tradition in San Antonio. The Spurs wanted to encompass reigning Rookie of the Yr Victor Wembanyama with some extent guard able to being a difference-maker on each ends of the court docket. Whereas Citadel performed off the ball in faculty, the Large East Freshman of the Yr ought to be capable of safe the place to begin guard spot from Tre Jones reasonably rapidly.
Citadel nonetheless has a strategy to go offensively, as he averaged simply 11.1 factors whereas capturing 47.2% from the sphere and 26.7% from downtown as a freshman. Nevertheless, his addition immediately upgrades San Antonio’s disastrous protection. Regardless that Wembanyama completed second within the Defensive Participant of the Yr balloting this previous season, the Spurs posted the ninth-worst defensive score within the Affiliation (116.4).
WORST | Pistons, Ron Holland II (No. 5 general): Some analysts predicted Holland to be one of many greatest draft day fallers, so naturally, the Pistons chosen him fifth general. Holland, a consensus five-star recruit out of highschool, gives a excessive ceiling, however he is one of many rawest prospects chosen within the draft lottery.
The 6-foot-7 ahead averaged 18.5 factors and 6.7 rebounds with the G League Ignite final season earlier than rupturing a tendon in his proper thumb. Nevertheless, his offensive recreation is a serious work in progress, on condition that he shot 47.4% from the sphere and 23.9% from three within the 15 video games he was wholesome sufficient to play. For a staff in determined want of gamers who can merely make a right away influence just like the Pistons, this can be a missed alternative to enhance their short-term future outlook.
WORST | Path Blazers, Donovan Clingan (No. 7 general): On no account is Clingan (13 ppg, 7.4 rpg and a couple of.5 bpg final season) a foul decide for Portland. The truth that he fell out of the highest six picks is among the greatest surprises of your complete draft. Nevertheless, with starting-caliber facilities Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III nonetheless below contract for the subsequent two seasons, it is questionable that the Path Blazers chosen the previous Huskie.
Regardless that Portland traded for ex-Wizards ahead Deni Avdija on Wednesday, the staff may remorse not stocking up on one other wing if it does not transfer Ayton or Williams.
BEST | Timberwolves, Rob Dillingham (No. 8 general): Minnesota despatched a 2030 protected decide swap and a 2031 unprotected first-rounder to San Antonio for the draft rights to Dillingham, who’ll be one other sparkplug off the Timberwolves deep bench. Dillingham, arguably the very best pure scorer within the draft, averaged 15.2 factors per recreation throughout his freshman season at Kentucky. With reserve guards Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin headed for free company, Dillingham may rapidly set up himself as Minnesota’s backup level guard, which might create a formidable duo alongside reigning Sixth Man of the Yr Award winner Naz Reid.
WORST | Grizzlies, Zach Edey (No. 9 general): Memphis had so as to add an enormous man or a wing via the draft, and whereas Edey fills a place of want, he may not have been the correct prospect for the staff to pick. Edey, a two-time AP participant of the yr, was some of the dominant — and overhated — gamers in faculty basketball historical past.
The 7-foot-4, 300-pounder averaged 25.2 factors, 12.2 rebounds and a couple of.2 blocks per recreation final season, however he is not well-suited to achieve at this time’s NBA. Other than the truth that Edey by no means made a three-point try in faculty, he could be too sluggish to maintain up with NBA athletes persistently. This might pose a severe difficulty for the Grizzlies, whose up-tempo offense revolves round letting level guard Ja Morant thrive in transition.
BEST | 76ers, Jared McCain (No. 16 general): Philadelphia’s lack of depth and rebounding woes have been its downfall through the staff’s first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, however McCain ought to assist resolve these points. The 20-year-old is among the higher shooters within the draft and has a case for being the category’ finest rebounding guard. In 36 video games final season, McCain averaged 14.3 factors and 5 rebounds whereas capturing an environment friendly 41.4% from three-point vary.
Contemplating McCain averaged simply 1.9 assists per recreation, he may not be suited to be a lead ball handler for the Sixers bench early in his profession. Nonetheless, with the scoring and rebounding he does present, McCain has all of the instruments to become Philadelphia’s model of Boston’s Derrick White.
