The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books, and some big questions were answered while others were raised.
This year’s draft had no clear top prospect; there was discussion all the way up until the Atlanta Hawks took forward Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick. While some analysts weren’t very high on this year’s class, there were good players who could help NBA rosters available.
As the first round played out, players came off the board earlier and later than expected, which happens every year with any draft. Some players, like Zach Edey, heard their name called well before most thought likely. Others, like Dalton Knecht, had the awkward situation of sitting in the room with the cameras on him while other names were called.
Winners
FranceFour first-round picks from France is the best in their NBA history. Including the top two overall selections, a year after the first overall pick was French, makes this the French Revolution on the hardwood. None of the players in this year’s draft profile as well as Victor Wembanyama, but the French are going to be a team that worries other countries in international tournaments like the Summer Olympics.
They convinced Danny Hurley to stay away from the Lakers and return to try to win a third straight NCAA title. UConn also had two lottery picks on Wednesday night with Stephon Castle going to San Antonio fourth and Donovan Clingan to Portland seventh overall. Hurley was on the draft floor celebrating with his guys and talking to ESPN’s broadcast about trying to win another championship.
Matas Buzelis, who was considered a potential top-five pick, falling into the Bulls’ spot at 11 overall was one of the great moments in the draft. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and the emotions were great. He’s also a tremendous prospect who can help the Bulls immediately. The Bulls traded Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City earlier in the week in a deal that wasn’t well received initially by the fan base, so this helps their marketing department.
The Lakers didn’t get Hurley, but they did name JJ Reddick their new head coach. Now they’re looking to bolster their roster around LeBron James. When the best scorer in the draft, Dalton Knecht, slid all the way to them at 17 it felt too good to be true. Now we all wait to see if they select Bronny James in the second round.
Losers
Deandre Ayton and Robert WilliamsWhen the Trail Blazers happily selected Clingan, it shot a flare into the night that Ayton and Williams are on the clock. Portland is looking to shift gears as an organization and the ability to get a big, physical center who brings to NCAA championship rings with him to Portland screams new direction. It is also appropriate that the Blazers would select a two-time collegiate champion just weeks after another two-time NCAA champion, Bill Walton, passed away.
Not only did the second round of the NBA draft get moved to its own night (where it will go up against the NHL Awards show), but teams were giving out future second-round picks like Halloween candy. For example, the Knicks acquired five second-round picks from Oklahoma City for the 26th overall selection. Washington threw in a second-round pick to move up from 26 to 24 in a deal with the Knicks before New York moved out of that pick moments later. Some really good players have been selected in the second round in recent years, but teams continue to not value their picks from that round.
What a terribly awkward time to be a Nets fan! Brooklyn is hosting the 2024 NBA Draft without a pick. Add to that the Nets trading forward Mikal Bridges to the Knicks before the draft, helping a rival get better for a haul of future picks.
Making matters worse for Nets fans, NBA commissioner Adam Silver congratulated the Boston Celtics for winning their record 18th NBA championship to open the ceremony and reminded us that they selected their two stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, with back-to-back third overall picks. The Celtics acquired those first-round picks from the Nets in the deal that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn in 2013.
