The NBA Finals tip off this week, meaning the 2024 NBA Draft isn’t that far behind.So with the majority of the NBA Draft set in stone, let’s run through another 1st Round NBA Mock Draft.
How Does the NBA Draft Lottery Work
At the conclusion of the NBA Finals and the full season, the NBA uses a lottery system to determine the first 14 picks in the draft order.
So before we take a look at the draft order, here’s a quick breakdown of how the NBA Draft Lottery system works:
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2024 NBA Draft Lottery Odds
The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery was held back on Sunday, May 14th and these were the odds for each participating team according to Tankathon.
2024 NBA Draft Lottery Results
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Toronto (to San Antonio)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Houston Rockets (to Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Sacramento Kings
- Golden State Warriors (to Portland Trail Blazers
2024 NBA Mock Draft
![2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (1) 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bleachernation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AlexandreSarr.jpg)
1. Atlanta Hawks – F/C Alexandre Sarr – Perth, France – 18 Years Old – 7’1, 218 lbs
Sarr has a lot of similar traits to Victor Wembanyama. To be clear, that is not to say he’s anywhere near the prospect Wemby was – he isn’t – but the playing style and physical traits are similar. He’s over 7 feet tall and has the athleticism to do a little bit of everything on the court.
2. Washington Wizards – SF Zaccharie Risacher – JL Bourg, France – 18 Years Old – 6’9, 204 lbs
Risacher is one of the more polarizing players in the draft. Some projections have him going as high as first overall. He can be a lethal shooter from the wing and is your typical three-and-D player that every NBA team covets.
3. Houston Rockets – G Reed Sheppard – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 187 lbs
Sheppard shot an amazing 52.6 percent from three-point range last year at Kentucky. With LaMelo Ball in the fold, Charlotte doesn’t necessarily need a lead guard. But adding a high-upside sharpshooter who can also bring something to the floor defensively never hurts!
4. San Antonio Spurs – PG Nikola Topic – Red Star, Serbia – 18 Years Old – 6’6, 201 lbs
Topic is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He can overpower smaller defenders and blow by bigger bodies. He struggles on the defensive end of the floor, but his offensive upside is fantastic. He can finish in traffic, he’s a great passer, and he’s a dangerous shooter. He feels like a lock to go somewhere within the top 5.
5. Detroit Pistons – SF Matas Buzelis – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 195 lbs
He suffered an ankle injury that kept him off the floor early in the season, but after coming back and getting comfortable, Buzelis showed why he’s likely to be a lottery pick. He is versatile on offense, though his ball handling needs some work. Defensively, he’s capable of guarding multiple positions. He won’t be a top option offensively early in his career, but his catch-and-shoot ability gives him quite the high ceiling.
6. Charlotte Hornets – C Donovan Clingan – UConn – 19 Years Old – 7’2, 265 lbs
Cling Kong is coming off an amazing NCAA Tournament run and was impressive guarding Zach Edey in the National Championship game. Clingan is a monster defensively, and he’s shown enough ability to finish around the rim offensively. He’ll likely never be a massive threat on the offensive end, but he can play with the best of the NBA’s bigs defensively and can make an immediate impact on that end. In a league dominated by players like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, high-end rim protection is becoming a necessity.
![2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (2) 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (2)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bleachernation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DonovanClingan.jpg)
7. Portland Trail Blazers – SF/PF Ron Holland – G League – 18 Years Old – 6’8, 200 lbs
Holland has some incredible athleticism and all the physical traits you could want in an NBA Draft lottery pick. He can contribute defensively right away, but offensively he likely will need a little bit of time to grow and develop. If he can maximize his potential on the offensive end, he’ll be a very dangerous player.
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) – G Stephon Castle – UConn – 19 Years Old – 6’6, 190 lbs
Castle showed throughout the NCAA Tournament just how good he can be. He’s a matchup nightmare defensively for guards. He has very good ball-handling skills and can finish strong at the rim. While there are some questions about his jumper, there is enough there to instill confidence in his ability to become a reliable threat. Overall, there is A LOT to like with Castle as a two-way player, and he could end up going even higher than this on draft night.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (via BKN) – G Rob Dillingham – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 176 lbs
Dillingham can beat you in so many different ways offensively. He can get to the hoop, finish at the rim, find the open man, and get hot shooting the ball. He’s a versatile guard who showed special flashes at Kentucky but might need some development time in the NBA. He’s not an awful defender, but not particularly noteworthy on that end either.
10. Utah Jazz – SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’5, 180 lbs
Walter is a high-level shotmaker and has the ability to be a dangerous threat offensively. Inconsistency plagued him at Baylor at times, but that’s an issue a lot of teenagers in college battle through at times. He’s got a very high ceiling and could be a really nice fit with a Hawks roster that might undergo a few changes this offseason.
11. Chicago Bulls – F Dalton Knecht – Tennessee – 22 Years Old – 6’6, 213 lbs
Knecht had a fantastic season with Tennessee and took the Vols farther than they’ve been able to go in the NCAA Tournament in recent history. He proved he can score in different ways, but his biggest asset is his shot-making. He shot just a tick under 40 percent from three on the year and nearly carried the Vols by Purdue in the Elite Eight with a 37-point performance. If Zach LaVine is headed elsewhere for Chicago, Knecht could make a lot of sense in Chicago.
12. Oklahoma City (via HOU) – SF Cody Williams – Colorado – 19 Years Old – 6’8, 185 lbs
Brother of OKC’s Jalen Williams, Cody can also do a little bit of everything. Defensively, he can guard just about any position. Offensively, he’s dangerous in transition, a great finisher at the bucket, and a very good catch-and-shoot player. He’s got a chance to make an immediate impact wherever he ends up.
13. Sacramento Kings – G Isaiah Collier – USC – 19 Years Old – 6’4, 205 lbs
Collier can do just about everything. He’s a two-way player that impacts both ends of the floor. He’s dangerous driving with the basketball and can get to the bucket in a hurry. His shooting from three can use some consistency, but his ability on both ends of the floor guard gives him a pretty high floor it would seem.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW) – C Kyle Filipowski – Duke – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 248 lbs
Unlike Clingan, Filipowski is more of a modern-day center. He’s versatile offensively, can shoot the three, and also led Duke in rebounding last season. His size and offensive skill will likely be too tempting for one of the lottery teams to pass up on.
![2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (3) 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Going International With the Early Lottery Picks - Bleacher Nation (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bleachernation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/duke-vs-vermont-1.jpg)
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15. Miami Heat: G Terrence Shannon Jr – Illinois – 23 Years Old – 6’6, 220 lbs
16. Philadelphia 76ers: C Yves Missi – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’10, 235 lbs
17. Los Angeles Lakers: G Jared McCain – Duke – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 197 lbs
18. Orlando Magic: F Tyler Smith – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 224 lbs
19. Toronto Raptors (via IND): F Tyler Smith – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 224 lbs
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG Devin Carter – Providence – 21 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL): G Kyshawn George – 20 Years Old – 6’8, 209 lbs
22. Phoenix Suns: C Zach Edey – Purdue – 22 years Old – 7’4, 300 lbs
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via NO): C Kel’el Ware – Indiana – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 223 lbs
24. New York Knicks (via DAL): PG Tyler Kolek – Marquette – 23 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
25. New York Knicks: DaRon Holmes II – Dayton – 21 Years Old – 6’10, 221 lbs
26. Washington Wizards (via LAC): G Hunter Sallis – Wake Forest – 21 Years Old – 6’5, 185 lbs
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Kevin McCullar – Kansas – 22 Years Old – 6’6, 210 lbs
28. Denver Nuggets: F Bobi Klintman – Cairns, Sweden – 20 Years Old – 6’10, 225 lbs
29. Utah Jazz (via OKC): G Johnny Furphy – Kansas – 19 Years Old – 6’9, 202 lbs
30. Boston Celtics: F Oso Ighodaro – Marquette – 21 Years Old – 6’9, 225 lbs
written by
Brian Twining
Brian is just a regular guy whose first passion was sports. He's either been playing, watching, now working in, and recreationally betting on sports for over 30 years. His favorite sports to bet are Football (NFL/NCAAF), College Basketball, and the NASCAR Cup Series. In addition to being a content contributor here at Bleacher Nation, Brian co-hosts the Angle of Pursuit Nascar Betting Podcast , & is also the FantasyLifeApp breaking news moderator/manager.