2024 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Full First-Round Prediction

The NBA all-star break has come and gone, so I figured I would do my due diligence and begin working on NBA draft content. There's no better place to start than laying out my first mock draft of the New Year, and considering this year's draft is one of the more interesting ones in recent memory I might as well go deeper than I have in years past. I've never put out a mock draft deeper than the lottery, but this time around I am going to try my hand at the entire first round, and perhaps by the time the draft rolls around I'll have a full two-round mock blog ready to go.

I put italics around the word interesting in the previous paragraph because in a way this draft is very interesting. The issue is that the majority of draft junkies have deemed this interest mostly negative. The consensus is that this year bolsters one of the weaker player pools we have seen in decades, and for the most part I agree with this thought process. However, I am firm in my belief that every draft has diamonds in the rough, we just have to find them. With all that said, let's get into the mock and see if we can find that diamond.

Draft order has been determined by a random simulation

1.Toronto Raptors - Alex Sarr - C - Perth Wildcats

Most boards seem to have big man Alexandre Sarr as the best player in this class as of today. I do think I would agree, but considering how diverse this year's player pool is there really is no clear-cut number-one pick. With that said, I think if the Raptors did jump to the top spot in this draft, they would take Sarr. They are building an elite young core in Toronto, and a player like Sarr could be the cherry on top to help push them towards contention in the future. Sarr is a 7' 1" center who specializes in the defensive end, but who has interesting offensive upside. His numbers in the NBL don't jump off the page at you, but he's only playing 17 minutes per game coming off the bench behind veteran bigs in Perth. When you actually watch him play, you can see why he's so highly regarded among draft experts this year. He's a fantastic rim protector and overall defensive presence, and he has an evidently high ceiling on the offensive end. If a team like the Raptors, who's only veteran in the starting lineup mans the center position, were to get the top pick I believe they would take Sarr.

pc: Paul Kane/Getty Images

2. Washington Wizards - Zaccharie Risacher - Wing - JL Bourg

If the Wizards were drafting here, they would love for Sarr to fall to them, as they are now incredibly weak at the center position after trading off Daniel Gafford. However, in this mock they are forced to go with plan B, and that's French wing Zaccharie Risacher. Risacher is a big, lanky wing who is being praised for his three-point shooting acumen. Like Sarr, his stats don't jump off the page, but he definitely passes the eye test. He projects to be a legitimate three-level scorer, and he has shown flashes of being a good defender. He's not the greatest shot creator, and operates better off the ball, but that's not incredibly uncommon for guys with Risacher's build and playstyle. He has the ceiling of being an elite 3-and-D wing and the floor of a solid floor spacer with reasonable defense. All in all, he looks like one of the safer prospects in this draft, and he could make an immediate impact on a team like the Wizards.

3. Detroit Pistons - Ron Holland - Wing - G-League Ignite

This is a draft full of wings, so for a lot of these teams outside of the top-two I could see them going a multitude of different directions. For example, the Pistons fell to three in this mock, and despite me not having a wing ranked third on my big board I realize that that's likely what they're looking for. I decided to go with Ron Holland, but that could definitely change between now and draft day. Why I went with Holland is simple...I believe in his long-term upside more than other wings in this draft. He is a fantastic athlete with great hustle, a clear love for the game, and a will to get better. He was higher on a lot of people's boards before Ignite started their awful season, but in a draft like this that bad season doesn't drop him much in my mind. He has great offensive upside, great defensive upside, and has been the best player on Ignite this season. I think he could fit in the Detroit ecosystem, and maybe even bring them some grit and hustle that they desperately need.

4. Charlotte Hornets - Cody Williams - Wing - Colorado

More than anything, the Hornets need a solid partner for LaMelo Ball in the backcourt. However, there really is no top-end two-guard that I would be willing to draft this high. So instead, I have them drafting Cody Williams, who is the type of player that every team could use. The dynamic wing has soared up draft boards this season based mostly on his projected ceiling. He's been pretty good for an above average Colorado team this season, but I believe most people have him high on their boards for reasons other than output. He's an athletic, lanky wing who scores effectively inside the three-point line. His outside shot has shown flashes, and he actually does shoot the three at a decent clip despite not taking many shots from deep. He has the type of build that could make you buy into the belief that he could guard every position on the floor. He's a high upside piece going to a team with several other high upside pieces, and perhaps he could be the guy that shifts the tide in Charlotte.

pc: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

5. San Antonio Spurs - Nikola Topic - PG - Crvena Zvezda

In this mock San Antonio gets a steal, taking my third ranked prospect with the fifth overall pick. Topic is a lead guard playing professional basketball in Europe who impressed most during his time playing for Mega Basket. He's an elite ball distributor in a multitude of ways, which is just the trait the Spurs are looking to pair next to Victor Wembanyama. He's also very good at attacking the rim and hitting tough shots on the drive. His shooting has been questionable, but he's a good free-throw shooter which could suggest he has three-point shooting somewhere in his bag. Topic could easily go down as the best player in this class in a few years, but it's always difficult to take guys like him with the top pick considering he's beating up on weaker defenders than what he will see in the NBA. If he ends up being the top-end lead guard that he's supposed to be, San Antonio could have one of the most dangerous pairings in the league very soon.

6. Portland Trail-Blazers - Matas Buzelis - Wing - G-League Ignite

Not too long ago Buzelis was ranked as the top prospect in this draft. However, after a shaky season playing for the awful G-League Ignite he has fallen down draft boards. With that being said, I still believe in what Buzelis has to offer as one of the bigger wings in this draft full of them. He's a high IQ player who offers a ton on the offensive end of the floor. He has shown flashes of being a great distributor at his size, is good attacking the rim, and has good upside on his shot from deep. I'm still not completely sold on his ability to handle NBA physicality, but I have seen improvement in this department throughout his time in the G-League. There's a good chance that, like Ron Holland, the way this Ignite team is constructed and operated has made these prospects look worse than they actually are. I just think that there really isn't anything to lose getting a guy who was sitting at #1 on a lot of draft boards a year ago with the sixth pick.

7. Memphis Grizzlies - Yves Missi - C - Baylor

It's very obvious what the Grizzlies want to do in this draft, and that's draft a big. They traded off both Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman at the trade deadline, leaving their frontcourt empty for the remainder of their injury-ridden season. Because of that, and the lack of legitimate fives in this draft, I'm left with no choice but to have Baylor big man Yves Missi jump up my board. I currently have him ranked at the end of the lottery, but I think he would be the best choice for Memphis here. He's a legit 7-footer with a +5 wingspan who offers valuable tools on both ends of the floor. He uses his fluid athleticism to protect the rim at a high level while giving teams an offensive option off pick-and-rolls and lobs. Him pairing up with Jaren Jackson in the Memphis frontcourt would be a defensive nightmare for opponents, and he could add another layer to their already-dynamic offense.

8. Houston Rockets - Isaiah Collier - G - USC

Like Buzelis at number six, Collier sat at the top spot on some draft boards just a few months ago. That was before USC emerged as one of the country's more disappointing teams, with Collier's solid stats looking pretty empty playing for such a lackluster team. However, over the past few weeks he has begun to impress me again, as he has made improvements in parts of his game that I previously had questioned. He hasn't turned the ball over nearly as much as he was earlier in the season, which was one of my bigger issues with his game. He's an elite downhill athlete, something I am certain will translate to the league. His shooting issues still leave me with questions, but he has been decent enough in this department to make you believe that he can be an okay shooter down the road. The Rockets could take a chance on his high ceiling, as they are one of the better teams in the top ten. I also just want to see an athlete like Collier playing with athletes like Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson.

pc: Pac12

9. Atlanta Hawks - Stephon Castle - Wing - UConn

I love Stephon Castle's game, and I think he could provide winning basketball impact in Atlanta. He can handle the ball, attack the rim, and shoot the three. He's also a capable passer, who could operate as a third ball handling option for the Hawks if they do choose to keep Trae Young. He is also a good defender, something that would be very beneficial for a Hawks team that sometimes struggles in that department. His stats don't jump off the page, but that's because he's on a stacked UConn team. There's a good chance that if he were on a worse team and putting up better numbers, he could sneak into the top three or four picks. He fits perfectly into the shallow small-forward position in Atlanta, and I think this would be a very safe pick for a Hawks team that has been stuck in limbo for a few seasons now.

10. OKC Thunder - Kyle Filipowski - C - Duke

Of course, the Thunder have back-to-back picks in the lottery despite being one of the best teams in the league. At this point they want players who are going to help them win now, and I believe Filipowski would do just that. The sophomore big does everything that the Thunder need from a backup center. He can handle the ball, run the offense, and shoot the three. His versatility would make the Thunder even more dangerous and give them more flexibility with rotations depending on who they're matching up against. He's probably a better option than Jaylin Williams behind Chet Holmgren and could even play some minutes at the four if they needed him to. Just a very solid player that would only make OKC even better than they already are.

11. OKC Thunder - Tidjane Salaun - Wing - Cholet

In classic Thunder fashion, immediately after taking a guy who will help them win now, they take a guy because of his high upside and potential. Salaun is very young and fits the Thunder archetype of big foreign wings that they like to take chances on. He projects as a versatile offensive option with good defensive upside. He's still a little awkward when it comes to feel for the game and flow within a game, but I believe that can be attributed to his age and experience. The Thunder don't have anything to lose by drafting a high ceiling player like Salaun here and banking on their great player development strategy to strike again.

12. Chicago Bulls - DaRon Holmes - Big - Dayton

DaRon Holmes is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft class. You would think in a draft this weak, a guy who has proven he is capable of doing almost everything on a basketball court at a high level would be higher on most draft boards. However, Holmes is outside of the lottery on almost every board I've seen. Maybe it's because he's already a junior in college, but with how good he is I'm not sure that should really matter. He has been unstoppable this season at Dayton, and something tells me a lot of that high impact play is going to translate to the NBA. He can score on all three levels on offense and is an elite rim protector on the other end. A lot of evaluators have him shooed in as a backup big in the league, but I think given the situation he could be a very good starting big. The Bulls are about to completely reset, and pairing an exciting big with up-and-comer Coby White may be what Chicago needs to do to get some momentum moving forward.

pc: Dayton Athletics

13. Portland Trail-Blazers - Ja'Kobe Walter - Wing - Baylor

I think Portland takes two high upside wings with their two lottery picks. They don't need to add another guard to their log jam, and I think wings are more versatile and valuable for a team like Portland than a big would be. That's why I think they would take Baylor wing Ja'Kobe Walter, who has fallen down my board over the course of the collegiate season. His primary calling card coming into the season was just how good of a three-point shooter he was, but he hasn't been all that great in that department this season. He has shown flashes of being a solid offensive contributor, but I haven't been blown away. It's a similar story on the defensive end, where he has looked decent at times, but for the most part it's been just okay. I think you take him here based on potential, but if he fell further than this I wouldn't be surprised.

14. New Orleans Pelicans - Donovan Clingan - C - UConn

Here's another big man that I have moving up my board based on the team drafting here needing a backup center. The Pelicans' roster is stacked, but they have very little big depth. UConn's Donovan Clingan is a great option at the end of the lottery for New Orleans to fix this issue. He's probably the best rim protector in this draft and standing at 7'2" that makes sense. He is a usable pick-and-roll big on offense, something that would be valuable alongside players like CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. His endurance isn't great, and he has been injury prone, but maybe having a backup role could quell those issues.

15. Orlando Magic - Reed Sheppard - G - Kentucky

The Kentucky guard duo fell for me in this mock only because most teams drafting aren't looking for a guard in this draft. The Orlando Magic are not one of those teams. They are likely trying to replace Markelle Fultz in this draft. I think they'll have Anthony Black start at the point next year, but they will need another guard to take some of those bench minutes. Who better than one of the safer bets in this draft in Reed Sheppard? He's one of the most efficient prospects we've seen in recent memory, shooting over 50% from three on the season. He's been an incredibly poised ball-handler as a freshman and is an excellent distributor. On the defensive end he's a fantastic point-of-attack defender and always makes the right decision in help. I'm not sure how high his ceiling is, but I do think he has one of the higher floors in this draft. If a team is looking for a guard that can help them right away, Sheppard is probably the best option available.

16. Miami Heat - Rob Dillingham - G - Kentucky

The other half of the Kentucky duo, Dillingham fell down the mock for me for the same reasons that Sheppard did. That said, I admit that I am lower on Dillingham than many evaluators. He has one of the worst shot selections in college basketball, and I understand that he makes these tough shots at a great clip, but it still scares me. What happens when he gets to the league and tries to find these shots against much better defenders? If these shots aren't falling how valuable is he? He's a solid passer, but not good enough to really get me excited as a lead guard. Finally, nothing he does on defense really moves me in a positive direction. I would feel comfortable with him landing with the Heat, who have a fantastic track record with developing talent, but would be worried about him on other teams. Getting him outside of the lottery is great value, but I'm not sure if I would take him too high in the lottery if I was in a front office on draft night.

pc: Kyle Ross/USA TODAY Sports

17. Toronto Raptors - Dalton Knecht - Wing - Tennessee

Seeing that the Raptors already boosted their defensive ceiling by taking Alex Sarr first overall, I think they would add some offense at 17 by taking Dalton Knecht. Knecht has arguably been the best scorer in college basketball this season, and based on how old he is we can assume that this would translate to the NBA. He's elite at every aspect of scoring, but he is admittedly a pretty one-dimensional player. He doesn't really do anything else at a super high level. That said, his scoring acumen alone should make him a pick somewhere between 10 and 20 in this draft. The Raptors could use an offensive firecracker off the bench, and Knecht offers just that.

18. Atlanta Hawks - Ulrich Chomche - Big - NBA Africa Academy

Ulrich Chomche may be the rawest prospect at this point in the draft process, but his upside is way too obvious to ignore. The 6'11" big has a +5 wingspan and has shown his interior defense acumen during his time at the NBA Africa Academy. For being so raw, he seemingly has good feel for the game and runs the court with fluidity. What really sells Chomche is his ability to shoot the ball. He isn't a great shooter yet, but he has very good mechanics and has shown real flashes of being a stretch big. If he can become that stretch big, and maintain his defensive abilities, Chomche could end up being one of the better players in this draft. The Hawks have Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela, but I don't see Capela sticking around in Atlanta, and I think Chomche has a higher ceiling than Okongwu. If they can sit him behind Okongwu and allow him to develop, he could be their true center of the future.

19. New York Knicks - Jared McCain - G - Duke

Jared McCain is one of my favorite risers in this draft, and I would love to see him end up on the Knicks. The Knicks don't need a lot right now, but something they could use is an upgrade at backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson. McCain has been an impact player for Duke this year and has been perhaps their most consistent player so far this season. He is a fantastic shooter, has good basketball IQ, and is a poised ball-handler as a freshman. He isn't a great offensive hub or distributor but does rebound well for his size and is a good-enough defender. All in all, McCain projects as a player with a high floor who has room to grow seeing he is only a freshman.

20. Philadelphia 76ers - Kyshawn George - Wing - Miami

The 76ers need a lot right now. With Embiid out they just aren't a very good team despite young guard Tyrese Maxey having a breakout all-star season. I thought about having them draft a better backup big, but decided Paul Reed and Mo Bamba were better options than the depth they have on the wings. I went with a guy in Kyshawn George who has been getting a ton of attention lately because of his high level of play as of late. He is an interesting offensive prospect who has shown flashes of being very good at every aspect on that end of the floor. He has a good feel for the game and doesn't make many bad decisions. Defensively he's nothing to write home about, but he has the frame of a player who could be a defensive contributor down the road. I'm not certain what Philadelphia's goal is going into this draft, but if they're looking for a guy who they can develop long-term while at the same time having someone who can contribute right away, George would be an interesting option.

21. New York Knicks - Tyler Smith - Big - G-League Ignite

If the Knicks walked away from this draft with Jared McCain and Tyler Smith, they would be major winners. They don't NEED a big, but it's definitely a position that could be upgraded long-term. I like Hartenstein, and Achiuwa is alright, but I really like Smith's potential. He's a very fluid athlete compared to other bigs, and projects to be serious off-ball threat at the next level. He also has a jumper that I believe will translate to the league, which continues to be one of the more valuable traits for bigs in the modern NBA. There's a good chance that Smith is the best big in this draft long-term, but there's also a good chance he's not much of a name in a few years. I think the Knicks are willing to take that chance.

22. Phoenix Suns - Ryan Dunn - Wing - Virginia

Ryan Dunn is THE best defensive prospect in this draft, and if he did anything on the offensive end, he would be a top pick in this draft. Luckily for Dunn, teams like the Suns exist. Phoenix couldn't care less about offensive output at the moment, as they have some of the best offensive pieces in the league. However, what they would value in this draft is Dunn's defensive abilities. He's an elite on-ball defender on the perimeter and interior. He's a legit rim protector at the forward position. He has unbelievable feel for the game on that end of the floor, which is exactly what the Suns need right now. He offers little to nothing on the offensive end at the moment, but that doesn't mean he won't in the future. Offense or not, his defense is so good that he'll surely have a long NBA career.

pc: Amber Searls/USA TODAY Sports

23. New Orleans Pelicans - Johnny Furphy - Wing - Kansas

Kansas' Johnny Furphy has jumped up a ton of boards after playing very well over the past month or so for the Jayhawks. The Pelicans already have a ton of depth, so adding a versatile offensive prospect like Furphy definitely won't hurt. Big wings who can shoot usually fit into any system, and Furphy is one of the better shooting wings in this draft. I could see him going way higher in this draft, but i highly doubt he would fall out of the top-25. If he were to land with the Pelicans he would probably be stowed away in the G-League until he was ready to actively help them compete, but for a young player like Furphy that could benefit his overall development.

24. Milwaukee Bucks - Devin Carter - G - Providence

The Bucks are in a weird spot, they have several points of need but at the same time it feels like they don't. I decided to go with Devin Carter for them to upgrade the backup guard position. Carter has terrific defensive upside, but what separates him from someone like Patrick Beverley on the Milwaukee bench is his offensive output. He's a great three-point shooter and tough shot maker, and he somehow averages over eight rebounds a game as a 6'3" guard. Overall, he is a very high floor prospect, and someone who could help a team like Milwaukee right away.

25. Denver Nuggets - P.J. Hall - F/C - Clemson

PJ Hall has been one of the better players in college basketball this season, leading a tournament team in multiple categories and dominating opponents. The Nuggets need a backup big, more specifically one they could add to their rotation right away. With that being said, I do believe Hall is more of a natural power forward, but believe he could play backup center for this Nuggets team. He can take the ball off the dribble, is a capable shooter, and is a solid rebounder. He's strong enough to not get overpowered by opposing bigs, and is experienced enough to play rotational minutes right away. All he has to do is be a better option than Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan, which I think is a very achievable goal.

26. Washington Wizards - Kel'el Ware - C - Indiana

The Wizards need to upgrade at the center position badly. Right now, their starting center is Marvin Bagley, who is arguably not a backup center in the NBA. Kel'el Ware is an interesting case of a player trying to find his groove in college basketball. Last season he was a projected lottery pick but struggled to find his rhythm at Oregon before transferring to Indiana at the end of the season. He's been much better this year, and even though he's still not going to be a lottery selection, I think he'd be a good pick here. He's a super athletic big, which he uses to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He's learned how to shoot this year, at least to a certain extent. He's a solid rebounder with room to grow. On top of all of that, he's still only 19 despite being a sophomore. He has a high ceiling, and after a second year in college he has seemingly raised his floor significantly.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kevin McCullar - Wing - Kansas

Kevin McCullar has been one of the best players in college basketball the past two years, and he's finally heading to the league. He's the definition of an experienced prospect who can make an immediate impact on a contending team. He can score on all three levels. He's a good passer who could run the offense if he had to. He's a great defender who can match up with positions 1-4. He's just really, really good. If he wasn't so old, he would be one of the top picks in this draft. The Cavaliers could use some added wing depth and seeing that they look like legit contenders this year I can only assume that McCullar's skillset could be very useful for them next season.

28. Utah Jazz - Bobi Klintman - Wing - Cairns Taipans

I've seen mocks that have Utah taking a guard or a big, and that's just insanity. They desperately need wing depth, and the best wing on the board at this point in the draft is Bobi Klintman. Klintman has had an odd journey, starting off at Wake Forest before heading to the NBL. He's a very raw prospect, but he presents as a super high ceiling wing who I think the Jazz could look to develop alongside their interesting young core. He's a big, lanky wing who can shoot the three and is capable of handling the ball if need be. He has good defensive upside based on his build and athleticism. Getting a guy with the ceiling of Klintman this late into the draft would be very good value for Utah.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves - Oso Ighodaro - F/C - Marquette

I feel bad for whoever the Timberwolves take in this draft, because they are so deep that they likely have no interest in switching up their rotation. However, if they were to have interest in making their team even deeper, I think they'd go with an NBA ready backup big like Oso Ighodaro. Ighodaro does everything well on the basketball court, which is what you'd expect from a senior on a very good Marquette team. As of now, Naz Reid is the first guy off the bench at both the four and five positions, and perhaps Ighodaro could lift some of that weight off of his shoulders. I do think he will be better in the league than Luka Garza, who I guess is buried somewhere in their rotation.

30. Boston Celtics - Jaylon Tyson - Wing - California

Tyson has been a major riser on a lot of boards, and while I haven't seen enough of him to have him too high on my board; I think he would be a good pick here. Everything I said about how the Timberwolves have too much depth also applies here, but every team can use an experienced scoring wing. He can do everything on the offensive end and is a capable defender. If the Celtics are trying to copy the Nuggets' strategy from last season, an experienced rookie who they can slot into their rotation for a few minutes a night may go a long way. I do have a feeling that Tyson will end up rising higher than 30 by the time the draft rolls around.

There it is...mock draft 1.0. There's a chance that as we get closer to the draft, I will expand my mock to the second round, but for the time being I'll just stick with the first. This draft is so interesting because nobody has any real idea how it will play out. There's no clear top guy, there's no clear top ten guys, nothing is certain about this draft. I am confident that there are going to be several guys who go on to be very good, but I'd be lying if I said I have any clue who those guys are going to be. Stay tuned for 2.0, which will probably come out as we near the end of the college basketball season.