With less than a week until the 2024 NBA Draft, practice is in full swing, the NBA Finals just concluded with the Boston Celtics winning the championship, and things are heating up as all 30 teams are now fully focused on the offseason process.
With the deadline for international prospects to remove their names from the NBA Draft pool having passed, the field of prospects is set, and barring any major changes to the pool of potential first-round picks, the names should be familiar.
As NBA teams continue the process of evaluating talent and building team composition blueprints, let’s take a look at how the first 30 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft could potentially unfold if teams focus on their team needs and fit their current squad composition.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Zachary Lisacher, France
Team needs: Fit pieces, scoring power on the wing
Best case: Zachary Lisacher
Also eligible: Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan
2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr (France)
Team needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best case scenario: Alex Searle
Also featured: Donovan Clingan
Team needs: Star power, wing shots
Best case: trade-off
Also featured: Reed Shepard, Stephon Castle
4. San Antonio Spurs: Reed Shepard, Kentucky
Team needs: Point guard, wing shooter
Best case: Zachary Lisacher
Also included: Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis
5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis, G League
Team needs: Wing talent, veteran presence.
Best case: Matas Buzelis
Also featured: Reed Shepard, Stephon Castle, Cody Williams
6. Charlotte Hornets: Stephon Castle, University of Connecticut
Team needs: Wing shooting, rotation depth
Best case scenario: Reed Shepard
Also featured: Dalton Knecht, Ron Holland
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams, Colorado
Team needs: Wing talent, players with future potential
Best case: Donovan Clingan
Also featured: Ron Holland, Dalton Knecht
8. San Antonio Spurs: Tijan Salone (France)
Team needs: Point guard, wing shooter
Best case: Stefon Castle
Also fitting: Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Devin Carter, Providence
Team needs: Center, backup point guard
Best case scenario: Donovan Clingan
Also featured: Kelel Ware, Zach Eddy
10. Utah Jazz: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth.
Best case: Dalton Knecht
Also featured: Ron Holland, Nicola Topic
11. Chicago Bulls: Nikola Topic, Serbia
Team needs: Young talent, rotation depth
Best case: Stefon Castle
Also included: Ron Holland, Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Team needs: Veteran, rebounding forward
Best case: Tijan Saran
Also featured: Tristan da Silva, Ron Holland
13. Sacramento Kings: Jared McCain, Duke
Team needs: Scoring guard, depth on the wing
Best case scenario: Devin Carter
Also eligible: Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ron Holland, G League
Team needs: Wing talent, players with future potential
Best case: Tijan Saran
Also featured: Jacob Walter, Johnny Furphy
15th to 30th place
15. Miami Heat: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Team needs: Young talent, rotation depth
Best case: Rob Dillingham
Also featured: Tristan da Silva, Kelel Ware
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh
Team needs: Star player, depth at guard, wing defense
Best case: trade-off
Also featured: Tristan da Silva, Johnny Furphy
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Zach Eddy, Purdue University
Team needs: Wing shooting, rotation depth
Best case scenario: Ron Holland
Also featured: Tristan Da Silva, Isaiah Collier
18. Orlando Magic: Jacob Walter, Baylor University
Team needs: Scoring guard, rotation depth
Best case: Carlton Carrington
Also featured: Tristan da Silva, Daron Holmes
19. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Smith, G League
Team needs: Young talent, size on the wing
Best case scenario: Zach Eddy
Also featured: Tristan da Silva, Kisean George
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan da Silva, Colorado
Team needs: Fitting pieces, wing shots
Best case: Jacob Walter
Also featured: Jaylon Tyson, Johnny Furphy
21. New Orleans Pelicans: Kel'el Ware (Indiana)
Team needs: Center, point guard
Best case: Kyle Filipovsky
Also featured: Isaiah Collier, Eve Missi, Daron Holmes
22. Phoenix Suns: Isaiah Collier, USC
Team needs: Point guard, cheap addition
Best Case: Isaiah Collier
Also featured: Ajay Mitchell, Tyler Kolek
23. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Shannon, Illinois
Team needs: Wing shot, cheap reinforcements
Best case: Tristan da Silva
Others eligible: Baylor Shierman, Johnny Furphy, Kai'Shawn George
24. New York Knicks: Jaylon Tyson, California
Team needs: Rotation depth
Best case: Kel-El Ware
Others eligible: Baylor Shierman, Kai'Shawn George, Darron Holmes
25. New York Knicks: Eve Missy, Baylor University
Team needs: Rotation depth
Best case: trade-off
Also fitting: Kevin McCullar, Ryan Dunn, Bronny James
26. Washington Wizards: Ajay Mitchell, UCSB
Team needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best case: Tyler Smith
Others eligible: Tyler Kollek, Kai'Shawn George, Bobbi Klintman
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Baylor Scheerman, Clayton
Team needs: Guard depth
Best case scenario: Baylor Shierman
Also featured: Johnny Furphy, Tyler Korek
28. Denver Nuggets: Darron Holmes, Dayton
Team needs: Center depth, wing depth
Best case scenario: Daron Holmes
Also featured: Johnny Furphy, Ryan Dunn
29. Utah Jazz: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth.
Best case scenario: Johnny Furphy
Also featured: Bobbi Klintman, Justin Edwards
30. Boston Celtics: Tyler Kolek, Marquette University
Team Needs: Cheap reinforcements
Best case: Tyler Kolek
Also included: Pacome Dadiette, Cam Christy
