The 2024 NBA Draft’s first round took place on Wednesday night. This year’s draft wasn’t considered the best in recent memory, and there wasn’t a “generational talent” at the top of the board like there was last year. But teams were still looking to improve their immediate and long-term futures, and young men were realizing their life-long dreams.
Here’s how the first round played out:
1–1–Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, France
Zaccharie Risacher is a 6-foot-9-inch wing who can shoot and handle the ball. His selection makes this the second consecutive year that a player from France was the first overall pick in the NBA draft. This move helps the Hawks by adding another dimension to their offense. They’ve been involved in big trade rumors already this summer.1–2–Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, PF, France
Yes, French players went with the top two picks. Alex Sarr, who was considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, is a legit 7-footer who can handle the ball, pass, and shoot from outside the paint. He’s mobile and quick around the rim. Washington needs help, and Sarr brings versatility to their lineup.1–3–Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard, SG, Kentucky
Finally, a college player comes off the board. Reed Sheppard lit it up from beyond the arc in his freshman season at Kentucky. He was an efficient scorer in college who will need to work on his athleticism in the NBA.1–4–San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, PG, UConn
Stephon Castle was a star as a freshman on UConn’s national championship team with his lock-down defense and competitive fire. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, he has better size than many teenagers entering the NBA. He guarded the opposing team’s best most nights in college.1–5–Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland II, SF, G League Ignite
Detroit has disappointed the past few years despite having high picks. In Ron Holland, they land a long shooter who can fill it up. He’s an aggressive, versatile wing. The G League showed some flaws in his game and he was streaky at times, but he’s a scorer who will be asked to help the Pistons improve.
1–6–Charlotte Hornets: Tidjane Salaün, PF, France
Tidjane Salaün is the third player from France to go into the top six overall. He isn’t as big as Sarr (listed at 6 foot 9) but he’s an intense defender around the rim who has a lot of physical tools. He isn’t much of a ball handler and needs to grow into the pro game, but he has talent.1–7–Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Donovan Clingan, the center on UConn’s back-to-back championship teams, is a huge force in the paint. He’s a big-time rebounder and rim protector with a 7-foot-7 wingspan. He will need to work on his lateral movement in the NBA, but his size will make him an impact player in the paint in Portland.1–8–Minnesota Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
The San Antonio Spurs made this pick and subsequently traded Rob Dillingham to Minnesota. The Timberwolves are getting a dynamic, playmaking point guard who can do it all. The question is if he can be as effective in the NBA at his size (6-foot-1, and only 164 pounds).1–9–Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Our first shocker of the night! Zach Edey, the two-time Wooden Award winner as the college player of the year, is an enormous player in the paint (7-foot-4, 299 pounds). With his size, he changes any attempt around the rim. The question is whether or not his game will translate to the next level. Memphis really rolled the dice here.1–10–Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, SG, Colorado
This is a lottery ticket for the Jazz. Cody Williams is a long wing who can shoot from anywhere in the gym, but is streaky and that consistency—and injuries in college—make him a bet for Utah.1–11–Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, SF, G League Ignite
One of the feel-good moments of the night, Matas Buzelis gets to stay “home” in Chicago; he grew up in suburban Hinsdale. This was a huge win for the Bulls as well. Buzelis was thought to be a potential top-five pick because of his size, explosiveness, and instincts around the rim. Falling to his hometown team makes this a huge win for the Bulls.1–12–Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Topić, PG, Serbia
Nikola Topić is an artist in the pick-and-roll. He’s coming off a partially torn ACL in April, which will likely impact his ability to start his NBA career this fall. He isn’t a great shooter, but his passing and ball handling make him stand out.1–13–Sacramento Kings: Devin Carter, PG, Providence
Devin Carter is another relatively undersized point guard whose calling card is his defense. Despite being 6-foot-2, Carter averaged almost nine rebounds per game for Providence. His mechanics raise some questions and his ball handling needs work, but he’ll help the Kings defensively right away.
1–14–Washington Wizards: Bub Carrington, PG, Pitt
The Portland Trail Blazers traded this pick to the Wizards before the draft. Bub Carrington has better size than a few of the point guards who came off the board before him. He controls the game and has improved his shooting from three-point range.1–15–Miami Heat: Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
The second Big Ten center to come off the board at this point, Kel'el Ware is a mobile rim protector who measures in at a haircut short of 7 feet. He played two years at Indiana and improved a great deal as a sophomore, but his game still has room to grow.1–16–Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
Jared McCain is another point guard who doesn’t have great size but makes up for it with his intelligence and approach. He’s a terrific shooter who also gets after the boards. He plays good defense and shows a desire to win.1–17–Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
The second big shock of the first round was Dalton Knecht falling this far. He is the best all-around scorer in the draft class, averaging 21.7 points per game in the SEC. He scored 40 against Kentucky. He’s efficient and consistent offensively and will be a huge addition to the Lakers’ offense.1–18–Orlando Magic: Tristan da Silva, SF, Colorado
A second Colorado product off the board in the first round, Tristan da Silva is a versatile wing with good size and length who made 40 percent of his three-pointers this past season. He finds space well on the floor and can play the two or three effectively. He’s already 23 years old, making him an older prospect for an NBA draft.1–19–Toronto Raptors: Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor
Ja'Kobe Walter is your prototype 3-and-D wing who can shoot from deep and whose length creates matchup headaches. He struggled to show consistency in the Big 12 this past season, but his competitiveness and ability to knock down shots make him intriguing.1–20–Cleveland Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, SG, Cal
Jaylon Tyson took a huge step forward in his sophomore season at Cal, leading the Pac-12 in coring at 19.6 points per game. He can shoot, but will have to do a better job of knowing when to shoot at the next level. How well he works away from the ball is an area where he’ll need to improve.1–21–New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, C, Baylor
Yes, two Baylor players in three selections. Yves Missi is a long rim protector who plays physically on the defensive end of the court. He gets above the rim offensively as well. He’s still learning the game and will need to work on his awareness in the NBA.1–22–Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II, PF, Dayton
Phoenix traded this pick to Denver for pick No. 28 and multiple second-round picks during the draft. DaRon Holmes has a great shooting touch and was the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year. He can handle the ball well for a player whose body can bang in the paint. He’s a skilled scorer inside.1–23–Milwaukee Bucks: AJ Johnson, SG, NBL
AJ Johnson didn’t play much in Australia this past season and needs to work on his game, but he impressed Milwaukee a great deal at the combine. He needs to fill out his frame and add strength. This is a lottery ticket for the Bucks.1–24–Washington Wizards: Kyshawn George, SG, Miami
The Wizards swapped pick No. 26 with the Knicks at No. 24. A wing with good length who can knock down threes and good vision, he needs to work on his defense and become quicker and more consistent.1–25–New York Knicks: Pacôme Dadiet, SG, France
The Knicks were playing with house money at this point. They traded a boatload of picks to get Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn on Tuesday and then reportedly agreed to a five-year, $212.5 million contract with forward OG Anunoby earlier on Wednesday. So, they took a lottery ticket from France here. Pacôme Dadiet is very young but he has good size and is strong for his age.
