This has always been an NBA centered blog because that is pretty much the only basketball I watch. However, this spring, I decided to take a deeper dive than ever before into the draft and the players in it. I did extensive research and formed a big board that included over 140 names, and I even dropped a few draft related articles. For that reason, I was extra excited for draft night, and it’s with that same excitement that I present my initial 2024 NBA draft grades.
Atlanta Hawks
Draftees: Zaccharie Risacher (1st), Nikola Djurisic (43rd)
With their first top pick since 1975, the Hawks opted to bring in French forward Zaccharie Risacher. As a 6’10” forward with a silky jumpshot and some defensive versatility, he’ll be a seamless fit next to Trae Young in the starting lineup. His ceiling is lower than other lottery picks in this class, as he struggles as a creator, but you can’t blame Atlanta for going after more of a sure thing as they look to return to the playoffs with Young at the helm. Still, it feels like they may have whiffed by not picking Alex Sarr or Donovan Clingan.
Nikola Djurisic, who hails from Serbia, will bring some flair with his movement shooting and passing wizardry. He will not, however, help the Hawks improve defensively. He’s a fun player but still raw and will likely need a lot of G League reps.
Grade: B-
Boston Celtics
Draftees: Baylor Scheierman (30th), Anton Watson (54th)
As the Celtics gear up to try to go back-to-back, they did the right thing by adding two older, more experienced guys who will be more trustworthy in high-stake games than a one-and-done teenager. Baylor Scheierman is similar to current Celtic Sam Hauser in many ways. He’s a 6’7” movement shooter who uses his strong frame to hold up on defense. Anton Watson is a defensive switch knife of a four man with a burly frame and some connective passing juice.
Grade: B+
Charlotte Hornets
Draftees: Tidjane Salaun (6th), KJ Simpson (42nd)
The Hornets took one of the largest home-run swings of the draft by selecting Tidjane Saulaun at sixth. The Frenchman is incredibly raw, but has all kinds of physical tools and by all accounts works very hard. If he can scratch his ceiling in Charlotte, the team will look scary with a trio of him, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller. However, the bust potential is very high for Salaun, and Charlotte doesn’t exactly have the best track record of player development. They’ll need to prioritize their new draftee’s growth to make this pick worth it. Even then, though, things may not work out.
KJ Simpson is a gamer of a point guard who plays level-headed under pressure and can score from all three levels. He might have a hard time seeing the court due to Charlotte’s loaded backcourt, though.
Grade: C+
Chicago Bulls
Draftee: Matas Buzelis (11th)
The Bulls are adding a hometown talent in Matas Buzelis with an emphasis on talent. The Chicago kid has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class. He’s a rangy 6’10” forward with plenty of bounce, fluidity, and natural skill. The determining factor in how good he’ll be is how well he can shoot the three. If he can find more success from behind the arc, he could be a star. This is a great chance to take for a Chicago team that may finally be hitting the reset button.
Grade: A-
Cleveland Cavaliers
Draftee: Jaylon Tyson (20th)
Outside of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland (and sometimes Caris LeVert), the Cavs lack players who can reliably score/create shots, and that weakness was part of their downfall in the 2024 playoffs. Jaylon Tyson can help patch that hole. The California product has a good handle and uses craft to get to his spots in the paint and the mid-range. He’s effective off the ball, too, as a catch-and-shoot guy and a cutter. Tyson’s ability to contribute in multiple ways on both ends could help him find a rotation spot in year one.
Grade: B
Dallas Mavericks
Draftees: Melvin Ajinca (51st)
Ajinca may end up being a stash guy, but whenever he does join the Mavericks, they’ll be getting a wing with great size and length who can hit shots off the catch and defend multiple positions. It’s easy to picture him sharing the court with Luka Doncic and doing some of the things that Derrick Jones Jr. or PJ Washington did for Dallas during their Finals run. He’s a ways away from reaching that point, but with a couple seasons of development overseas or in the NBA, Ajinca could get there.
Grade: B
Denver Nuggets
Draftee: DaRon Holmes II (22nd)
Backup center was one of Denver’s most glaring needs, and they found their answer by trading up to select DaRon Holmes out of Dayton. Being a Flyer in college was fitting for Holmes because he flies around the court, catching lobs and blocking shots. The most intriguing part of his game is his floor-spacing upside— he shot upwards of 38% from beyond the arc during his pre-draft season. Holmes does a lot of traditional and modern big man things well and could fit into Denver’s lineup as a five or at the four next to Jokic. This feels like the perfect pick for the 2023 champs.
Grade: A
Detroit Pistons
Draftees: Ron Holland (5th), Bobi Klintman (37th)
Ron Holland’s upside is ridiculously high. He’s 6’8” with incredible athletic tools and a relentless motor. He averaged almost 20 points per game for the G League Ignite. The craziest part is that he’s just 18 years old (until July 7th). The Pistons, coming off a dreadful season, need all the talent they can get, and they’re getting a ton of it in Holland. The only problem is that Holland is a pretty poor shooter as of now and the Pistons have some of the worse spacing in the NBA. However, most of the guys currently on the team will not be around when they are finally ready to contend, but Ron Holland could be and so they did the right thing by going for the best player available rather than the player that fits their current roster best.
Bobi Klintman is a 6’10” forward with real 3&D capabilities. He’s far from a finished product, but his path to success is very clear and the Pistons are in no rush to compete so they can afford to be patient with his development.
Grade: B+
Golden State Warriors
Draftee: Quinten Post (52nd)
Stretch fives are a hot commodity in today’s NBA, but they’re hard to come by. For that reason, the Warriors should feel great about getting Quinten Post so late in the draft. Post is a seven foot tall 40% three-point shooter who can also protect the rim and make good passing decisions. He’s very slow footed, and bigs like that have a harder time seeing the court, but he still has a chance to make an impact because of the floor spacing he brings.
Grade: B
Houston Rockets
Draftee: Reed Sheppard (3rd)
In 2023-24, Houston’s return to competitiveness and near play-in push was fueled by a gritty defense. Now, to get all the way over the hump, they must improve their offensive arsenal. With that in mind, they couldn’t have drafted a better rookie than the guy who made over 50% of his threes in college. Reed Sheppard is the best shooter in this draft and is also a smart decision maker and a chaos creator defensively. His ceiling is limited due to his size and lacking true point guard ability, but his floor is high and he is ready to help the Rockets take off to the playoffs.
Grade: A-
Indiana Pacers
Draftees: Johnny Furphy (35th), Tristen Newton (49th), Enrique Freeman (50th)
Offense is Indiana’s identity. They play at a high pace, take a ton of threes, and beat teams by outscoring them. Australian youngster Johnny Furphy will fit right into that flow with his ability to knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, attack closeouts, and make good passes. He’s young and needs to refine his game though and probably won’t play a lot right away.
Tristen Newton and Enrique Freeman will add hustle and defensive intensity to a team that needs it. Newton is coming off back-to-back national championships at UConn and is ready to keep winning at the next level. One of these two guys will almost certainly find their way into Indiana’s rotation.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Clippers
Draftee: Cam Christie (46th)
Cam Christie is just 18 years old and is one of the most intriguing shooters in this class. He has a beautiful outside stroke and is very capable of hitting every type of three in the book. That’s his only NBA-ready skill right now, and he has a lot of development to do, but he’s in a good situation to make that growth with head coach Ty Lue and veterans like Norman Powell and Nicolas Batum all there to guide him.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Lakers
Draftees: Dalton Knecht (17th), Bronny James (55th)
Dalton Knecht, who was one of the best players in college basketball last season, was projected to go much higher than 17th. The Lakers should be ecstatic that he fell into their lap because he’s the perfect pick to help them compete during the twilight of LeBron’s career. He’s a dynamic and fiery shooter and off-ball mover who will force defenses to pay attention to him, opening up space for LeBron and AD to operate in the paint.
Bronny James is very far from being an NBA player, but how good he ends up being is ultimately irrelevant because he was just the 55th pick and it will be pretty freaking awesome to see him share the court with LeBron.
Grade: A
Memphis Grizzlies
Draftees: Zach Edey (9th), Jaylen Wells (39th), Cam Spencer (53rd)
Zach Edey is one of the most polarizing players in this class. His college dominance is unmatched, but his playstyle makes people question how well he can translate to the next level. Most teams don’t run a ton of post-ups, and that’s Edey’s bread and butter play. However, if Memphis gets him to buy into a smaller role, he could be exactly what they need. His screening, finishing, rebounding, and rim protection would fill the hole Steven Adams left behind. There’s no question that Edey is a good basketball player. If he’s used right, he could be a star.
Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer are quality role player bets. Both are elite shooters, making them welcome additions for a team that ranked 29th in 3P% last season.
Grade: B+
Miami Heat
Draftees: Kel’el Ware (15th), Pelle Larsson (44th)
Kel’el Ware is the ideal modern big man. He’s 7’0”, he can protect the rim, he can catch lobs, and he can shoot the three. Whether he’s backing up Bam Adebayo or sharing the court with him (the idea of a jumbo P&R between Ware and Adebayo is pretty intriguing), he’ll be able to make a big impact for the Heat. And at just 20 years old, he can be a core piece for the team as they potentially enter a new era.
Dribble-pass-shoot role players are at a premium in today’s NBA, and that’s the type of player Pelle Larsson is. The Arizona product is also a true competitor and will fit the Heat culture.
Grade: B+
Milwaukee Bucks
Draftees: AJ Johnson (23rd), Tyler Smith (33rd)
Despite being in a championship window that is slowly closing, the Bucks opted to select two raw long-term projects over more pro-ready role players. AJ Johnson, coming off a NBL campaign where he played less than 10 minutes per game, is probably two years away from being two years away. There’s a lot to like about his future potential, but the Bucks need to be more worried about the right now.
Tyler Smith, while still unrefined himself (specifically on defense), has more instant impact potential than Johnson. For the G League Ignite, he shot around 37% from three. His NBA range is proven and at 6’11”, he’ll be capable of playing next to Giannis as a stretch four.
Grade: C
Minnesota Timberwolves
Draftees: Rob Dillingham (8th), Terrence Shannon Jr. (27th)
In the biggest surprise move of the night, the Timberwolves traded up to acquire Rob Dillingham, and it was a great trade. The Kentucky guard is one of the most crafty and exciting bucket-getters in the class, and he could be next in the long list of star guards his school has produced. He’ll provide a much-needed shot creation spark to Minnesota’s lineup (likely from off the bench in year one).
The Wolves doubled down on scoring with the 27th pick. Terrence Shannon averaged 23 points per game last season at Illinois, a number that ranked third in the nation collegiately. He can fill it up from behind the arc and do damage on drives. As a bonus, he’s a solid defender.
Grade: A
New York Knicks
Draftees: Pacome Dadiet (25th), Tyler Kolek (34th), Kevin McCullar Jr. (56th), Ariel Hukporti (58th)
After a few years of draft inactivity, the Knicks finally decided to get involved, and they did so in a big way. They’re bringing in more draftees than any other team, but you can’t blame them because all four are good players.
Pacome Dadiet is part of the army of Frenchmen in this class. He’s a young wing with great size, shooting mechanics, and defensive instincts. He could be a key cog in New York’s rotation in a couple years. Tyler Kolek is a brainy playmaker who should have very little trouble stepping in and running an NBA offense. He also has a ton of dawg in him. Kevin McCullar is a pro-ready wing stopper who Tom Thibodeau will undoubtedly love. Ariel Hukporti is a reliable traditional big man with pro experience.
Despite the team’s stacked rotation, it feels like at least one of these incoming rookies will end up playing meaningful minutes in their first year, and all four of them could do so in the near future. Overall, this was a heckuva draft for a New York squad that just keeps doing great things.
Grade: A
New Orleans Pelicans
Draftees: Yves Missi (21st), Antonio Reeves (47th)
Center is New Orleans’ weakest position right now, but Yves Missi is ready to change that. The Baylor product is a mammoth of a man with freakish mobility for a guy of his size. He has the potential to be a defensive game changer, and he’ll be able to make an impact offensively too with his screening, lob catching, and rebounding. He isn’t a floor spacer at all which may make his fit with Zion Williamson a little clunky, but the Pelicans still made the right pick here.
Antonio Reeves is an elite sniper who put up over 20 points per game on a loaded Kentucky roster. He and Jordan Hawkins will be a lethal shooting duo off the bench.
Grade: B+
Oklahoma City Thunder
Draftees: Nikola Topic (12th), Dillon Jones (26th), Ajay Mitchell (38th)
From an on-court perspective, Nikola Topic doesn’t make much sense for the Thunder. He’s a bigger point guard with a shaky jumpshot and he’s a poor defender— descriptions eerily similar to things you could say about Josh Giddey. He’s one of the best playmakers and slashers in the class, but he won’t be able to get enough on-ball reps on a team that already has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams handling the ball. However, looking at the bigger picture, this could be a smart pick for Sam Presti. Topic was a projected top five pick prior to injuring his ACL. Now, he’s likely going to miss his entire rookie year. OKC doesn’t need a rookie who can play right away, so they will be perfectly fine waiting for Topic to come back. When he does, he will be a valuable asset either on the team or in a trade.
Dillon Jones is a strong forward who loves to get downhill and make plays. He’s also an excellent rebounder, and the Thunder were weak on the boards last season. He was a low volume shooter in college, but if he can find consistent success from deep, he could end up in OKC’s playoff rotation.
Ajay Mitchell is a crafty combo guard with a silky mid-range game. He doesn’t really fit into this team anywhere, though.
Grade: B-
Orlando Magic
Draftee: Tristan da Silva (18th)
Last season, the young Magic proved they’re ready to compete at a high level. They finished with a top five seed in the East and pushed the more seasoned and more talented Cavaliers to seven well-fought games. With that experience under their belt, Orlando is now geared for an even better campaign in 2024-25. Tristan da Silva will be able to help them out in big games as an older rookie who can shoot, defend, pass, and rebound at a high level. The Brazilian forward will be able to slide into any lineup the Magic roll out because of his versatility, a trait the team clearly values. This was an excellent pick.
Grade: A
Philadelphia 76ers
Draftees: Jared McCain (16th), Adem Bona (41st)
Philadelphia has a ton of rotation spots they need to fill for next season. Jared McCain and Adem Bona may be able to slide into two of them. McCain is a premier competitor with a can’t-miss jumper who is built for the big moment. As a smaller guard, he likely won’t be able to share the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey full time, but off the bench, the former Blue Devil could be a trusty weapon. Bona is maybe the most defensively diverse big man in this class outside of Alex Sarr. He’s bouncy and ferocious and could be Embiid’s backup for a long time. He is one of the biggest steals of this draft.
Grade: A-
Phoenix Suns
Draftees: Ryan Dunn (28th), Oso Ighodaro (40th)
The Suns had ZERO rookies on their roster in the last two seasons. Now, they’re adding two, and both of them are capable of making an impact from day one. Ryan Dunn might be the best pound-for-pound defender in this class. He’s an incredible defensive playmaker and he guards the ball like a maniac. Phoenix had plenty of struggles on that end last season and Dunn will be able to solve a lot of them. He’s a poor shooter at this point, but with all the offensive firepower currently on the team, that will be less of a glaring issue.
Oso Ighodaro is one of the best passers in the class, and he’s a center. He can plug in as an offensive hub off the bench while also being able to protect the rim.
(Side note— it would have been a ton of fun to see a duo of Ryan Dunn and Josh Okogie defensively. Too bad Okogie is leaving in free agency.)
Grade: A-
Portland Trail Blazers
Draftee: Donovan Clingan (7th)
Despite being in serious consideration for being the first overall pick, Donovan Clingan ended up sliding all the way to seven for reasons unknown, and the Blazers are undoubtedly stoked about it. Clingan has the potential to be one of the best rim protectors in the league one day. He has a monstrous frame and he’s a dominant shot blocker. There’s plenty to like about his offense, too, including his passing feel and the possibility for him to add an outside jumper. Clingan is a sure-fire good NBA player and will be a cemented core piece for Portland.
Grade: A
Sacramento Kings
Draftee: Devin Carter (13th)
Sacramento’s rise back to competitive basketball has been fueled by three-point barrages, but their overall lack of dawg has hindered them from becoming real contenders. Devin Carter can help change that. Carter has drawn comparisons to Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Marcus Smart due to his phenomenal defensive game. He’s a slightly smaller guard with a questionable shooting stroke, which is definitely a red flag in a league that’s becoming more and more unfriendly to little guys, but he does so much to contribute to winning that the negatives can be outweighed (plus, he did shoot over 37% from three on high volume this past season at Providence).
Grade: B+
San Antonio Spurs
Draftees: Stephon Castle (4th), Juan Nunez (36th), Harrison Ingram (48th)
Stephon Castle is a very Spursy player. He’s a dogged defender who leaves everything out on the floor and wants to win more than anything. His work ethic combined with San Antonio’s player development is definitely a recipe for success. There’s a major elephant in the room with him, though. He’s a well below par shooter who connected on just 26.7% of his 2.2 three-point attempts per game at UConn. That’s a big problem in today’s NBA, and it’s an even bigger problem because he believes he’s a point guard. Pretty much every starting ball handler in the association is at least a capable scorer. Castle will need to work hard to iron that part of his game out if he truly wants to run an offense. If he can’t, he could still make an impact as an athletic defensive ace of a wing.
Juan Nunez is a creative floor general and a supreme passer who could fulfill San Antonio’s need for a point guard. He might be a stash guy, though. Harrison Ingram is a do-it-all forward who can help the Spurs return to the playoffs with his defense and spot-up shooting.
While the guys they ended up with are solid, the Spurs made a head-scratching move on draft night when they traded away Rob Dillingham. He would have been an amazing fit for them. Hopefully that decision doesn’t come back to haunt them too much.
Grade: C+
Toronto Raptors
Draftees: Ja’Kobe Walter (19th), Jonathan Mogbo (31st), Jamal Shead (45th), Ulrich Chomche (57th)
The Raptors probably couldn’t have had a more Raptors-esque draft than this. All of their picks are lengthy and/or defensive-minded. Their first rounder, Ja’Kobe Walter, is best known for his movement shooting upside. He will give the team a warmly welcomed offensive spark. Jonathan Mogbo is a beast of a 6’8” forward with strong finishing and passing prowess. Unfortunately, he can’t shoot at all, but he’s very undersized for a five man and so he may have trouble finding a role. Jamal Shead was the NCAA Defensive Player of the Year last season. He’s short in stature but he’s proof that it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
Toronto’s most fascinating pick was their last of the night. Ulrich Chomche is a goldmine of raw athletic tools and natural talent. The 6’11” Cameroonian has flashed the ability to do literally everything on the court. He’s the definition of boom-or-bust, but there’s a world where he becomes one of the best players from this class.
Grade: B
Utah Jazz
Draftees: Cody Williams (10th), Isaiah Collier (29th), Kyle Filipowski (32nd)
The Jazz aced this draft by grabbing two of the biggest sliders. Kyle Filipowksi was a green room invite who didn’t even get selected on day one, a disappointing outcome that will give him a chip on his shoulder. He’s a 7’0” big man with perimeter skill on both ends, perfect for modern basketball. Isaiah Collier is the single biggest steal of this draft. He’s uber quick and strong and is one of the best offensive engine bets in the class. The former top high school recruit has as much All-Star potential as any one of his peers.
Cody Williams, brother of Thunder star Jalen Williams, is an ultra toolsy 6’8” wing. Entering a low pressure situation like Utah will allow him to spread his wings and realize his full potential.
Grade A+
Washington Wizards
Draftees: Alex Sarr (2nd), Bub Carrington (14th), Kyshawn George (24th)
The Wizards have been unexciting during the early stages of their rebuild, but that is about to change because they just had the best draft out of any team. With the second pick, they brought in the best prospect in this draft in Alex Sarr. The Frenchman has all-world defensive upside with some really appealing offensive juice, too. He has a high floor and a high ceiling and can be Washington’s cornerstone for the future.
Sarr isn’t the only potential star in Washington’s incoming rookie class. Bub Carrington is one of the most loved prospects in the draft, because of his name, but also because of his game. He’s a smooth and confident on-ball operator with really good pullup shooting touch and playmaking chops.
Rounding things out is Kyshawn George, a silky shooting wing with some jumbo ball handler ability. The Wizards were 25th in 3P% last season and George can help raise that number.
Grade: A+
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