Dallas Mavericks
51. Melvin Ajinca, France
The Mavericks moved up a couple of spots within the second spherical and drafted an extended, athletic wing from France. Ajinca struggled taking pictures the ball for a lot of the 12 months, however proved in previous years the power to knock down the three ball. His athletic profile ought to enable him to develop right into a stable NBA defender. Dallas can stash him, or convey him over to hopefully contribute immediately on an affordable contract.
Denver Nuggets — A-
22. DaRon Holmes, Dayton
it was the worst stored secret of the 2024 draft, the Nuggets had a promise in place to pick Holmes and following that rumor turning into public, they felt the necessity to transfer up from 28 to 22, to make sure they received the athletic large. He is a superb match for Denver and will give them instant assist along with his taking pictures and explosiveness. The Nuggets did a great job of not solely addressing a necessity however focusing on a participant with each readiness, and potential left to develop.
Golden State Warriors — B-
52. Quinten Publish, Boston School
Publish struggled on the mix along with his lack of mobility and raise and is knocked off stability simply. If he can add power and deal with the pace of the NBA, the Warriors might have discovered one other actual contributor within the late second spherical. He’s 24, and there are indicators that he is probably not an NBA athlete, but when they will get some manufacturing out of the prolonged 7-foot shooter, it can justify the transfer to get again into the second spherical to pick him.
Houston Rockets — A
3. Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
The Rockets one decide might find yourself being a gem. Sheppard figures to suit into their staff properly as they’ve a younger franchise middle of the longer term, Alperen Sengun, and a roster consisting of loads of athleticism, and Reed Sheppard (pictured) brings a excessive degree shooter with profitable traits. There was loads of hypothesis that the Rockets would transfer the decide for a longtime veteran that would instantly assist them take the subsequent step in direction of rivalry. However apparently a deal to their liking by no means materialized. Credit score them for exploring all choices and making a really shrewd choice with a Steph Curry-lite sort of prospect. Some might query how Sheppard and Van Vleet, two diminutive, score-first level guards will co-exist, however the truth that there are 10 years between them ought to make it an important match as one reaches his twilight simply as the opposite begins to blossom.
Los Angeles Clippers — A-
46. Cam Christie, Minnesota
Christie joins his older brother Max in Los Angeles, taking part in for the cross city Clippers. Cam has an image good jumpshot and nonetheless has upside left to de3evelop from a bodily standpoint. He’s very polished for his age, and whereas he almost definitely doesn’t have all star degree potential, he presents glorious worth and potential on the forty sixth decide.
Los Angeles Lakers — A-
17. Dalton Knecht, Tennessee55. Bronny James, USC
Knecht’s age prompted him to drop on draft evening, and the Lakers, searching for instant assist and taking pictures, jumped at he probability to take him at 17. He ought to present a pleasant improve to Austin Reeves, giving the Lakers stable worth in a weak draft on the seventeenth decide. At 55, the staff made historical past taking Bronny James. James has the prerequisite bodily attributes, and it”s attainable he simply wants ability improvement to in the end be an NBA degree participant. The Ken Griffey Jr. / Sr. second will attain the NBA, which is monumental. And LeBron continues to be the second best NBA participant of all time after Michael Jordan.
Memphis Grizzlies — C+
9. Zach Edey, Purdue39. Jaylen Wells, Washington St.53. Cam Spencer, UConn
Whereas taking Edey at 9 looks like an enormous attain, there’s a actual chance buying and selling down to fifteen or decrease would have negated their probabilities to get Edey. His dimension might create some match up issues for opposing groups. Nevertheless it stays to be seen how successfully he can deal with switches and defend in area, and due to this fact playoff basketball might turn into a problem to make the most of him. Wells was a prospect that we had graded out as a late first rounder, in order that they received a participant we have been very impressed with at 39. He reveals glorious catch and shoot skill, plus some protection and ball dealing with potential. Spencer struggled on the NBA Draft Mix, seemingly much less efficient outdoors of the UConn system, and has an adjustment interval earlier than he will be counted on for minutes. However there’s loads to love about his willpower and general ability set.
Minnesota Timberwolves — A-
8. Rob Dillingham, Kentucky27. Terrence Shannon, Illinois
Whereas giving freely 2 future firsts, one a 2030 decide swap (protected one general) and an unprotected 2031, the Timberwolves grabbed the Spurs decide at 8. Whereas Dillingham might have some off court docket, to not point out dimension issues amongst groups, the expertise degree is extraordinarily excessive. Diminutive, extremely fast level guards Brandon Jennings and Kemba Walker every entered the NBA as prime 10 picks, and Dillingham might find yourself just like both of them. For a staff in a small market, that’s cap strapped, credit score them for getting inventive. In 6-7 years, one of many faces of the league, Anthony Edwards can be 28-29 years previous, offered he’s wholesome and nonetheless on the Timberwolves, these traded picks mustn’t come again to chunk them. It’s a calculated threat, however a sensible one. They’re getting forward of issues, by doing the whole lot inside their energy to encompass Ant-man with the required expertise to maintain him within the fold. Dillingham can be taught behind Mike Conley after which in the end substitute him. Shannon was one of many absolute steals of the draft. He might in the end show to have been worthy of being taken with the decide they acquired at 8. Shannon’s inventory took a nostril dive because of the properly documented authorized case in opposition to him, of which he was exonerated. Shannon was among the many most dominant gamers in school basketball, and will give Minnesota instant contribution as a slasher, scorer and rapidly make everybody surprise how he ended up falling to twenty seventh, even with the court docket case.
New Orleans Pelicans — C+
21. Yves Missi, Baylor47. Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
Missi at 21 crammed a necessity at middle and if he’s extra prepared than anticipated they could have accomplished properly right here. The priority is that he wants a lot time that the necessity for a middle on a staff with a brief window to contend was not likely addressed. Missi nonetheless has an extended methods to go, and the flashes are actually spectacular as he can bounce out of the fitness center, block pictures and rim run. However the really feel for the sport is more likely to take a while. Reeves ended up main Kentucky in scoring and was third within the SEC. He’s extraordinarily environment friendly taking pictures and has respectable size. The place he struggles is with physicality and the truth that he’s an older prospect there may be some concern he might by no means have nice physique power. However at 47, he’s a really stable worth with good upside if he will get stronger.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — C-
12. [Player Nikola Topic], Serbia26. Dillon Jones, Weber State38. Ajay Mitchell, UCSB
It’s arduous to be too crucial of a company that has made nice strikes, not solely buying among the finest younger abilities within the league through commerce in Shai Gilgous Alexander, however the very good choices of Chet Holmgren and jalen Williams. The Thunder received probably the most video games within the West final 12 months and have among the finest entrance places of work within the league and a particularly brilliant future. All that being mentioned we simply weren’t very excited in regards to the worth that received with their picks. Matter is coming off an ACL damage and was sluggish on protection earlier than. Jones is a extremely expert guard with actual intrigue as a Giddey sort of playmaker, however 26 was excessive for him by most accounts, and Mitchell is an intriguing scorer however his pace and athletic limitations creates issues.If Matter can show to don’t have any points with the damage and the pace of the NBA, he is usually a Ricky Rubio degree playmaker, however 12 appeared excessive through the season, and particularly coming off a knee damage. Bub Carrington was out there at 12 and will duplicate SGA an excessive amount of, however that’s in all probability extra of a constructive than a adverse.
Phoenix Suns — B
28. Ryan Dunn, Virginia40. Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
The Suns zeroed in on a defensive participant that would contribute subsequent season with Ryan Dunn, transferring down from 22 to twenty-eight. Dunn has the power to turn into a lockdown defender with the flexibility to defend within the submit in addition to on the perimeter. His offensive limitations and lack of really feel for the sport are issues, however there’s no questioning his excessive degree skill to defend and potential as an elite NBA athlete.Ighodaro is equally restricted offensively, however contemplating the Suns staff, they’ve added two gamers that match their quick time period wants properly. Ighodaro can’t shoot outdoors of the paint, and is proscribed offensively, however brings a excessive degree of athleticism and size to the frontcourt.
Portland Trailblazers — B
7. Donovan Clingan, UConn
Portland grabbed some of the recognizable prospects on this 12 months’s draft in sophomore UConn bigman Donovan Clingan. They’ll hope he gives them an improve over 25 12 months previous DeAndre Ayton, who has confirmed to not been an important slot in Portland. With a 7’3 body and seven’7 wingspan, Clingan is a real big and reveals an actual ardour for the sport and surprisingly nimble ft and mobility. Whereas seven appears a bit excessive to us for the 2 time champion, there was loads of curiosity from different groups on this draft vary.
Sacramento Kings — B+
13. Devin Carter, Windfall
The Kings have made a behavior of choosing excessive degree guards on the finish of the lottery, having drafted Tyrese Haliburton at 12 a couple of years again. Whether or not they have discovered one of many draft’s finest gamers as soon as once more in that vary stays to be seen, however Carter is probably probably the most athletic guard within the draft with a 6’9 wingspan permitting him to play larger than his peak.
San Antonio Spurs — B+
4. Stephon Fortress, UConn36. Juan Nunez, Spain48. Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
The Spurs have lengthy been often known as among the finest groups at creating gamers, together with rehabilitating their pictures. Whereas Fortress’s jumper doesn’t have any large mechanical flaws, he can undoubtedly use a tune up with regard to getting his shot of faster and including vary to it. He’s received the kind of defensive skill and athleticism to compete immediately on the NBA degree, and his passing skill is innate. If the taking pictures comes round, he ought to match proper into the Spurs system and turn into a wonderful decide at 4. Apparently, as soon as the Hornets opted to take Tidjane Salaun at 6, the Spurs pulled the set off on the Dillingham commerce. Contemplating the traded picks wont undergo for 6-7 years, this was extra of a long run Wemby funding, and a recognition that the turnaround doesn’t must occur in a single day. Yet one more excessive decide (Cooper Flagg for example) might actually make an enormous distinction for them. thirty sixth decide Juan Nunez was not excessive on our rankings, however has good dimension and nice PnR skill. North Carolina’s Harrison Ingram is a stable function participant with heady defensive skill. Neither of their second spherical picks have been excessive worth picks, however both might thrive within the Spurs system of their roles.
Utah Jazz — A
10. Cody Williams, Colorado29. Isaiah Collier, USC32. [Player: Kyle Filipowski[, Duke
Utah Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge hit a home run with this year’s draft selecting a player we believe has as much upside as any player in the entire draft at 10, with Cody Williams. Williams’ brother Jalen has been a revelation for the Oklahoma City Thunder and was drafted at 12, and Cody has the same body type at the same age, and actually performed better as a freshman than his older brother did as a sophomore at Santa Clara. The hits kept coming with two very nice value picks at 29 and 32 with Collier and Filipowski. Collier came into the year as the top rated high school prospect, and has incredible speed and passing ability. Filiipowski should fit right into the culture in Utah and shows a high floor with his focus and determination.
