NBA Mock Draft 2024: Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher emerge as top picks in unpredictable draft

The NBA Draft’s first early-entry deadline has come and gone, which means it’s time to update our NBA mock draft.

Unsurprisingly, a number of players withdrew from the draft to take advantage of substantial name, image and likeness opportunities — ones now even drawing some of the best international prospects to the NCAA.

However, one other reason a number of players withdrew, according to a number of team employees and agents, was that it was exceedingly difficult for prospects to get any assurances from teams with selections in the 30s this year. With the move to a two-day draft, many league sources expect significant movement within the first 10 picks of the second round:

• Portland has two of the first 10 selections in the second round in addition to two lottery picks. It’s highly unlikely the Trail Blazers bring four rookies to camp.
• San Antonio, at No. 35, also has two lottery picks, and may not want to bring a third rookie onto its roster with two second-year players and three third-year players.
• The Knicks have picks Nos. 24 and 25 in addition to No. 38, and it’s hard to see a Tom Thibodeau-coached team bringing in three rookies.
• Utah has No. 32 and multiple first-round picks.
• Milwaukee (No. 33), Indiana (No. 36), Minnesota (No. 37) and Memphis (No. 39) want to contend now and could move those picks in larger deals.

There is also significant expectation league-wide that Toronto could command a serious overnight offer for its No. 31 pick from a team looking to jump to the front of Thursday’s line and select its top remaining player. Essentially, no team in that range could offer players and their representation anything resembling a guarantee that they’d be standing pat.

A few other notes:

• My two highest-ranked players who withdrew from the draft were Connecticut wing Alex Karaban and Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis. Both had outstanding seasons, and I think they likely would have been selected somewhere in the top 40. (I actually had a first-round grade on Karaban.) However, they will not press their luck and instead return to school to try to improve their draft standing.
• I suspect a couple of older wings who also decided to depart the draft process — Iowa’s Payton Sandfort and Colorado State’s Nique Clifford — would have been selected somewhere in the second round had they stayed in. I also think Alabama guard Mark Sears would have heard his name called, and I heard some late buzz for his Crimson Tide teammate Jarin Stevenson before he also departed the process. Other prominent names to withdraw included Jamir Watkins and Jaxson Robinson, two wings who are in the transfer portal (with Robinson committing to play at Kentucky with his former coach at BYU, Mark Pope.)
• May 29 was not the last early-entry deadline date. June 16 is the last day for international professionals to pull their name out of the draft to try their luck next season. Some of the key players teams are watching include Ratiopharm Ulm wing Pacôme Dadiet, Mega wing Nikola Djurišić, G League Ignite forward Izan Almansa, Mexico City Capitanes wing Malique Lewis, Saint Quentin wing Melvin Ajinca, and Ratiopharm Ulm guard Juan Núñez.
• I’m still keeping Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr. out of this mock. His trial on felony rape charges is scheduled to begin June 10. Shannon has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Here’s where we stand now that we officially have a draft order. (Ages listed are as of draft night; heights listed are NBA Draft Combine or G League Elite Camp measurements without shoes, when available):

1. Atlanta Hawks

Alex Sarr | 7-0 big | 19 years old | Perth Wildcats

Since winning the lottery with just a 3-percent chance, the Hawks, according to league sources, are still in the information-gathering process with the top prospects in this class. Atlanta was in the Eastern Conference Play-In tournament and moved up nine spots on lottery night, so it didn’t have quite as much intel on the prospects at the top as teams that knew they would have high selections, like the Wizards below. The Hawks are catching up quick, though, with several front-office members taking a trip to France to see Zaccharie Risacher in a playoff game, in addition to spending hours on the phone gathering information on all of their potential selections.

Because the Hawks are still earlier in their process than many of the other teams at the top of the lottery, this selection is still seen as being fluid. The two most popular names that come up around the league remain Sarr and Risacher, but the Hawks continue to perform due diligence beyond those two. Donovan Clingan is also seen as a potential option at all three of the top selections before his range goes dark for the teams currently slotted at Nos. 4 through No. 6.

For now, I’ve gone with Sarr, who emerged early in this draft cycle as a potential No. 1 pick. His performance against the G League Ignite in early September had scouts believing he was the best prospect on the court.

Sarr is a defensive difference-maker who covers a ton of ground with his arms and quick feet, much like bigs such as Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton. Sarr flies around off the ball and can thrive in a variety of ball-screen coverages ranging from switching to drop. If he’s waiting at the rim and opponents challenge him, odds are he’ll contest the shot, if not outright block it.

The other end is the question. Sarr has shown potential as a rim runner in ball screens, but for the most part, his offensive game involves pick-and-pops, and he doesn’t make great screen contact. He’s not a high-impact defensive rebounder, which has led to some questioning if he can consistently play center in the NBA. If Sarr indeed requires a more physical center alongside him, his limited offensive game may be exposed. He’s best served playing next to a floor-spacing five, unless he can become a dangerous perimeter shooter himself.

2. Washington Wizards

Zaccharie Risacher | 6-8 wing/forward | 19 years old | JL Bourg

The Wizards have built up wing depth in recent years, with 23-year-old Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly, last season’s No. 7 pick, who will turn 20 this summer. That duo is seen as the only young, long-term franchise cornerstones on the roster. Risacher allows Washington to continue building with another versatile player who can shoot, play solid team defense and make high-IQ plays. General manager Will Dawkins comes from the Oklahoma City Thunder tree, where positional size, skill and on-court intelligence reign supreme.

For his part, Risacher turned on the jets in the French league playoffs, averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in two series against Nanterre and Monaco. The French wing also produced at a high level in EuroCup competition. Overall, he averaged 11.1 points across 65 EuroCup and French League games while shooting 47 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from 3 and 70.7 percent from the free-throw line. He rebounded at a reasonable rate for a wing and has shown some passing and decision-making chops.

This last little playoff burst was critical for Risacher’s stock. After a prolonged three-month shooting slump, Risacher seemed to be falling down into the tier of players beneath this pick for many evaluators. However, league sources now see Risacher as a likely top-four pick following his excellent final month, during which he had a strong playoff run.

3. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)

Reed Sheppard | 6-2 guard | 20 years old | Kentucky

The Rockets are well stocked with young players, with a potential All-Star big man in Alperen Şengün, plus athletic wings and forwards in Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. You could also throw last year’s No. 4 pick Amen Thompson into that group, but he was drafted as a point guard and played tremendously down the stretch of the 2023-24 season as a do-everything, multi-positional talent.

The Rockets don’t really have a “need” among their young core positionally, which allows them to explore a number of avenues with this pick. Unsurprisingly, league sources believe the Rockets will explore trade scenarios involving this selection. With all of that young talent in addition to this pick and control of the Nets’ draft picks in 2025 (swap), 2026 (outright) and 2027 (swap), there may be no team across the NBA more well-positioned to make a star trade.

For now, I’ve gone with Sheppard. His stock is polarizing among teams, with more analytically inclined organizations seeing him as a No. 1 pick contender and others viewing him more as a late lottery pick due to his lack of size. The Rockets can afford to take a swing on him because he is a perfect connective piece next to all of their young talent. He’s an elite shooter, which is the one skill this young core lacks. While Smith can hit from the perimeter, Green has had stretches of great shot-making and Whitmore has potential to fill it up, teams don’t really guard Eason, and neither Şengün nor Thompson are proficient marksmen. Sheppard also thinks the game at an elite level and quickly moves the ball to get everyone involved. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting an absurd 53.6 percent from the field and 52.1 percent from 3. He also blocked nearly a shot per game and grabbed 2.5 steals.

4. San Antonio Spurs

Stephon Castle | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut

The Spurs have both the No. 4 and No. 8 selections, putting them in an excellent position to add young talent that fits Victor Wembanyama’s age timeline and accentuates his skill set. Do they simply take the player highest on their board at all times? Could they try to float someone that they like at No. 4 all the way down to No. 8 because they see a potential run on a type of player type that they also want to fill?

Castle got a lot of publicity at the combine for saying that he views himself as a point guard, but NBA teams view him more as a secondary playmaker who could grow into more on-ball reps in time. Connecticut sources rave about Castle’s character and competitiveness; many loved how he showcased a willingness to do whatever it took for the Huskies to win games. He took on the defensive stopper role at times on players such as Alabama’s Mark Sears at the Final Four, or Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman during the season. He shared responsibilities for initiating the offense, showcasing real passing skills and the ability to get to the rim. He moved the ball well across the perimeter and was a high-impact player on both ends despite hitting only 27 percent of his 3s. He stepped up in almost all of their big games, including a 21-point Final Four performance and a 15-point national title game showing.

It makes sense for the Spurs to have interest in Castle. They can give him some of the on-ball reps he desires given their point guard situation, and his well-rounded skill set allows them to continue to be flexible in building their roster around Wembanyama.

5. Detroit Pistons

Matas Buzelis | 6-9 wing/forward | 19 years old | G League Ignite

It’s not entirely clear what type of player new president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon prefers, since he wasn’t running the show in New Orleans. However, the Pelicans have a history of taking long, rangy players such as Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels and Trey Murphy. That type of bigger wing seems to be among the most notable positional needs for the Pistons.

Buzelis ticks that box at least, offering tremendous positional size for the wing/forward role. Players with somewhat similar profiles in last year’s class, such as Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, Memphis’ G.G. Jackson, Coulibaly and Whitmore, put together promising rookie seasons while displaying skills they didn’t consistently show in their pre-draft seasons. Perhaps that will happen with Buzelis, too, after a G League Ignite season in which he averaged 14.1 points per game, but only shot 45.5 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from 3. (He upped those numbers to 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks over his last 13 games).

6. Charlotte Hornets

Dalton Knecht | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Tennessee

The Hornets’ pick is seen as an inflection point, as teams around the league are unclear on the direction new head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson will take. Peterson was an assistant general manager in Brooklyn and Atlanta during times when his teams made varied picks.

Knecht makes sense as a way to accentuate the trio of Miller, LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams, which the organization views as its core moving forward. Knecht scored at a dizzying pace, averaging 25.5 points in 18 SEC games while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3. Overall, he averaged 21.7 points per game on 46 percent from the field, but those stats are dragged down by a stretch during which he played at less than 100 percent following an ankle injury. His offense should translate to NBA settings. Not only is he a terrific shooter, especially off movement, but also he’s a higher-end athlete than most shooters who can sky in transition and finish inside with hang time. He’d open up a ton of space for Ball and Miller.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

Donovan Clingan | 7-2 center | 20 years old | Connecticut

Clingan is in the mix to go higher than this, as the teams with top-three picks have each displayed interest. He had a monster close to the season, helping lead Connecticut to the national title while averaging 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks over his last 18 games, including 16 points, 9.4 rebounds and three blocks per game in his last seven. After returning from early-season ankle and foot injuries and getting back up to speed, he was one of the most dominant players in college basketball.

Using his enormous frame, Clingan shuts down the paint. He moves well for his size and is an elite drop coverage defender who stops ballhandlers from turning the corner on him and getting to the rim. His ability to backpedal on-balance is rare for his size. When not defending the ball, he makes his presence felt when necessary. The other part of Clingan’s game that impressed evaluators was his passing. In the back half of the season, he became an excellent dribble-handoff big, as well as a playmaker for cutters and shooters off kickouts. He’s a sharp screener and knows how to play in a modern offense.

The Blazers already have Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III at center, so Clingan does not seem like a clear fit. If the Blazers simply think he’s the best player — or at least the best non-ballhandler — on the board, they might just take him and figure out the rest later, especially with a second lottery pick in hand. Also, if Clingan dropped into the No. 4 to No. 8 range — where all of the teams have long-term answers at center that they’re comfortable with — don’t be surprised if another team looks to trade up to get him. He’s viewed favorably across the board by NBA teams due to his defensive prowess and seemingly easy fit into an NBA drop coverage scheme.

8. San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors)

Nikola Topić | 6-6 lead guard | 18 years old | Crvena zvezda

Topić is the choice here with the pick San Antonio acquired from the Raptors in last year’s trade involving Jakob Poeltl.

In 13 Adriatic League games for Mega Basket before his transfer to Crvena zvezda, Topić averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He’s a dynamic ball-screen distributor and consistently lives in the paint in the Adriatic League, which consists of the top teams from the six countries that once made up Yugoslavia. He can execute nearly every pass in the book once he gets a downhill advantage, and hits teammates with flair and creativity. Topić also scores proficiently at the rim, using inventive touch to finish high off the glass and around rim protectors.

However, Topić has suffered two recent sprained knee injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2024 calendar year to this point. His range is wider than expected right now, with a chance he could slip down the board even farther than this.

Topic is attending the June 4-7 pre-draft camp in Treviso, Italy, for prospects excused from the now-mandatory NBA Draft Combine because their overseas seasons had not finished. The medical report teams get from that setting will be vital in determining Topić’s ultimate range. Teams are also trying to wrap their head around basing a lottery grade of him off a 13-game sample.

The NBA will organize pre-Draft activities in Treviso, Italy from June 4-7 to be completed by players who were invited to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine and excused from attending because they were playing with an overseas team. The list of players participating in Treviso will be…

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 29, 2024

9. Memphis Grizzlies

Rob Dillingham | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Kentucky

This pick could be traded on draft night, for two reasons. First, the Grizzlies are expecting to jump back into contention after an injury-riddled season that saw nearly every key player miss significant time — most importantly, All-NBA point guard Ja Morant. Second, president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman has a history of aggressively moving up the board to acquire the player he wants. Recent first-round picks Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Jake LaRavia, Santi Aldama and Ziaire Williams were each acquired in trade-up moves.

None of the prospects in this range scream Grizzlies. The strength of this area of the draft is in developmental wings, and the Grizzlies already have a number of those on the roster. Still, I think Dillingham makes sense. Morant is the straw that stirs the Grizzlies’ drink, but he’s never played more than 67 games in a season. His injury history is why Tyus Jones was such an important part of the team prior to being traded for Marcus Smart last summer. The 30-year-old Smart, now healthy after missing most of last season with various injuries, can fill in at point guard, but I love the idea of using Dillingham next to him as a scorer who can get his own shot from Day One.

Dillingham averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game this past season while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3. He maintains control well despite playing at a fast pace, using a bevy of crossovers and well-timed hesitation moves to maximize his speed. Evaluators are confident he will be able to separate from his man in the NBA. He’d be an interesting backup who could approximate Morant’s contributions when the soon-to-be 25-year-old star inevitably misses time.

10. Utah Jazz

Cody Williams | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Colorado

Utah’s decision-makers seem to be putting a premium on positional size and length. Danny Ainge, the Jazz’s CEO of basketball operations, had a significant part in building the versatile Celtics team that is about to begin the NBA Finals. We saw the Jazz take Taylor Hendricks in the top 10 last year, and he epitomizes that long wing profile.

Cody Williams, the younger brother of blossoming Thunder wing Jalen Williams, profiles as the kind of prized high-end prospect who can pressure the rim, pass, make plays and potentially defend multiple positions. Standing 6-7 with a 7-1 wingspan, Williams showed the ability to play some point guard this past season in addition to attacking in transition and slashing from the wing in a straight line. He struggled to finish after an ankle injury sapped some of his explosiveness, but in his previous 14 games, he’d been averaging 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 60.6 percent from the field.

11. Chicago Bulls

Ron Holland | 6-7 wing | 18 years old | G League Ignite

The Bulls are one of the tougher teams to get a gauge on in this draft process, in part because their roster has so many balls up in the air. DeMar DeRozan, the team’s leading scorer, is a free agent. The Zach LaVine situation continues to hang over the organization, as does Lonzo Ball’s injury. Patrick Williams, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, is a restricted free agent this summer. The Bulls arguably face the most offseason questions of any team in the league.

Holland was the Ignite’s most productive player this past season, averaging 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while being one of the team’s few offensive creators. Most of those points, however, came in transition or inefficiently in half-court settings. He had a below-average true shooting percentage and more turnovers than assists as he struggled with his decision-making. Those issues are somewhat to be expected from an 18-year-old playing professionally for the first time, but they also have made it tricky for evaluators to slot him. He also missed the end of the G League season with a thumb injury that occurred just as he was beginning to improve.

Holland’s motor excites NBA teams most. He constantly plays hard, getting the most out of his terrific athleticism. His energy can sometimes cause him to be overaggressive and overly physical on defense, but amid the Ignite’s poor season, Holland showed a capacity for growth that impressed many scouts.

His range is seen as quite wide right now, especially because league sources were not particularly impressed by his recent pro day in southern California. He’ll need to perform well in his individual workouts.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Rockets)

Tidjane Salaun | 6-9 wing/forward | 18 years old | Cholet

The Thunder have a loaded core with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. They have a ton of effective role players. But they need a player who provides more size who also fits into their dribble-pass-shoot mold, especially if it also includes high on-court intelligence and strong character.

Salaun ticks just about all of those boxes. He is a big forward with some perimeter skill who has been productive for his youth in the French League and Basketball Champions League this season. He averaged 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 32 percent from behind the 3-point line. He has a smooth stroke and also shows some upside handling the ball in transition.

More importantly, Salaun simply plays hard and has terrific basketball character. He is aggressive and willing to playing physically in the paint despite a still-developing frame. His motor runs hot, and he’s clearly competitive out there on the court. He would make an intriguing potential long-term frontcourt partner for Holmgren if things broke right for him.

13. Sacramento Kings

Devin Carter | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Providence

The Kings will look into all avenues with this pick, from trades to players who could help the team sooner rather than later.

Carter was one of the best players in college basketball this past season, and he’s had an impressive pre-draft process as teams get to know him better. The son of former NBA point guard Anthony Carter, Devin has improved every single season over his last five years. He’s a terrific defender who would fit perfectly with De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt, especially if the team loses Malik Monk in free agency.

However, Carter’s biggest jump this past season came on offense. After years of being a questionable shooter, Carter hit 37.7 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts per game. His shot is something of a moon ball that arcs high in the air, but it went in consistently this season. A number of teams in the No. 9 to 15 range are excited by Carter, and it’s possible he hears his name called higher than this.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (via Warriors)

Jared McCain | 6-2 guard | 20 years old | Duke

The Blazers have a number of options with this pick and should be open to all of them. Here, I went with McCain because he potentially could be a terrific long-term backcourt partner for Scoot Henderson and would open up some potential trade avenues for veterans Anfernee Simons and Malcolm Brogdon, both of whom have contracts that expire within the next two years.

McCain was seen as a potential one-and-done lottery prospect entering the season before a slow start made evaluators pause. However, over the last two-thirds of the season, McCain was one of the best freshman scorers in high-major college basketball. Starting with Duke’s Dec. 9 game against Charlotte, McCain averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists over his last 28 games. He made 41.6 percent of his 6.4 3-point attempts per game during that span and consistently got into the lane in transition or when driving closeouts. I also thought he improved drastically on defense over his final 15 or so games.

15. Miami Heat

Kyle Filipowski | 6-11 big | 20 years old| Duke

As a big man who can shoot, Filipowski could pair well with Bam Adebayo or serve as a third big. The Duke product averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting about 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3 this season. He carried the Blue Devils through long stretches of games with his ability to catch the ball on the block and score, but pro scouts are more intrigued by his well-rounded perimeter game. Filipowski can shoot from 3, attack heavy closeouts and bring the ball up the court in grab-and-go situations. His passing took a nice leap this past season, and he was more comfortable reading the court.

I think Filipowski’s defense is better than its reputation. The Blue Devils had a top-16 defense this past season, and he usually positions himself well, contests enough shots and can slide his feet a couple of times on an island to stay with wings and even some guards. It’s difficult to find 7-footers who can dribble, pass and shoot. Filipowski can do all three.

The Heat had a lot of success with Kelly Olynyk previously, and also found use for an older Kevin Love over the last two seasons. Filipowski brings a lot of similar attributes to the table while potentially being more capable of defending.

16. Philadelphia 76ers

Isaiah Collier | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | USC

Many around the league believe the 76ers could move their first-round pick to get immediate help. Philadelphia has cleared significant cap space to be in the star-hunting game, so, if the right deal came available, this pick could be used to further that goal. However, even if the Sixers believe a star could potentially sign in free agency, filling out the roster with ready-made veterans around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey would be critical.

If the 76ers keep the pick, Collier offers some upside. He started the season on fire and looked like a candidate to be the No. 1 pick, but he tailed off as USC’s season fell apart due to struggling with turnovers and defense. He also hurt his hand and missed time. Once he returned, he took the Pac-12 by storm, averaging 18.7 points and 4.3 assists over his final seven games while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3. He was the bruising, powerful driver we saw early in college and throughout his high school career, generating seven free-throw attempts per night. Collier is an impressive downhill threat who lives in the paint and has the wherewithal to hit kickout passes and dump-offs.

However, Collier did not test or measure well at the combine, and evaluators wonder how well his finishing and power-based game will translate to the NBA given that factor.

17. Los Angeles Lakers

Tristan da Silva | 6-8 forward | 23 years old | Colorado

The New Orleans Pelicans had an option to take the Lakers’ No. 17 pick this year or defer the pick to the 2025 NBA Draft. They decided to defer, giving the Lakers a selection here. This pick is another one many believe is ripe to be moved as the Lakers scour the trade market for immediate upgrades around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

If they keep it, da Silva has long been one of my favorites. Other scouts have finally come around following his strong finish to the year and play in the NCAA Tournament. Over his final 14 games, da Silva averaged 17.1 points while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from 3. He grabbed 4.6 rebounds, dished out 2.2 assists and grabbed 1.3 steals. He’s made nearly 40 percent from 3 over the last two seasons.

Da Silva moves well without the ball but can also handle it himself and make good passing decisions. He processes the game quickly and plays at a high speed, even if he doesn’t have great athletic tools. He isn’t an elite defender, but he’s smart, adequate against other forwards and sharp off the ball. He ticks a lot of boxes that make him profile well as a solid rotation player in today’s NBA.

18. Orlando Magic

Johnny Furphy | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Kansas

Furphy and his family weighed all of the options and strongly considered a return to Kansas, but decided that his status as a potential top-20 pick was too alluring to pass up.

It’s easy to see why scouts are excited. He has a lot of the attributes NBA teams seek when identifying projects worth a long-term investment. It’s hard to find wings with Furphy’s physical profile. He’s come a long way in just 18 months to even get to this point. While his athleticism and shooting ability always made him an intriguing upside swing, he didn’t seem to know how to impact the game when he played at the Center of Excellence in Australia. He was up and down this past season at Kansas, but he clearly earned Bill Self’s trust, which is not easy for freshmen to do.

He ticks a lot of the boxes that Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman tends to seek, namely positional size, a strong work ethic and character.

19. Toronto Raptors (via Pacers)

Yves Missi | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Baylor

Missi is a project, but with elite tools that project to a clear NBA role. As a 7-footer with a 7-5 wingspan, Missi might have the best frame of any low-usage center prospect in the class. He’s a terrific athlete who moves his feet fluidly in space, given his size, and can sky for impressive lob finishes in transition and from the dunker spot. He blocks shots well and has potential to stick with guards for multiple slides on defense. He made the Big 12 All-Defense team as a freshman while averaging 10.7 points per game on 61 percent from the field.

He profiles as a Clint Capela-style big man who can guard a bit in space once he picks up the nuances of ball-screen coverage and protect the rim with his physical frame. He needs to put on some weight and get stronger through his base, as he too often gets moved on the block and can struggle on the defensive glass. But he has the look of a competent defensive starting center if he can reach his ceiling.

The Raptors could use big-man depth behind Poeltl. They tried to fill that center depth hole by drafting Christian Koloko early in the second round in 2022, but he was released after a blood clot issue threatened his NBA career.

20. Cleveland Cavaliers

Bub Carrington | 6-4 guard | 18 years old | Pittsburgh

Carrington was the talk of the scouting community after NCAA conference championship week, when he put together several monster games as Pittsburgh made a late bid for the NCAA Tournament. He’s also had a strong start to his pre-draft process, with a number of teams noting his impressive pro day. There is a real expectation that he will be selected somewhere within the first 20 picks.

He is a monster pull-up shooter, a sharp passer and improved defender throughout the year. He was productive at Pittsburgh this season in averaging 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, though he shot just 41.2 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from 3. He’s also the youngest high-level college player in the class, not turning 19 until July. But despite that youth, he processes the game exceptionally well.

Any team that takes him will need to let him go through some growing pains, but if they stay patient, they may end up with a lottery-level talent. The Cavs could use more scoring depth off the bench behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, especially if they end up having to split that duo up depending on Mitchell’s impending decision when Cleveland offers him a max contract extension this summer.

21. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)

Zach Edey | 7-4 center | 22 years old | Purdue

Edey was the best player in college basketball, averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and more than two blocks per game on his way to back-to-back National Player of the Year awards. He establishes position anywhere and everywhere on the court because of his size and strength, yet possesses remarkable touch around the rim. One could make the case that he was the best screen-setter in the country with the way he consistently crushed guards trying to get through and rolled to the rim for deep post-ups or easy buckets. Edey improved defensively over his time in college, becoming an impactful drop-coverage pick-and-roll defender who takes up enough space to dissuade guard from driving and finishing around the basket.

The issue with his fit in the NBA is obvious: He’s a 7-4 giant who doesn’t move particularly well laterally. Can he stop ballhandlers from turning the corner on him? Can he get back in transition in the up-and-down NBA?

The Pelicans might have a significant need at center with Jonas Valančiūnas hitting free agency. Ideally they’d find one who can shoot from 3 to play next to Zion Williamson, but Edey is clearly the best big on the board at this point.

22. Phoenix Suns

Ja’Kobe Walter | 6-4 wing | 19 years old | Baylor

Walter had an up-and-down season, averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He was an inconsistent shooter, although teams don’t worry about his long-term upside there because his motion looks clean and he can make shots from a variety of situations. Teams, however, worry about everything else. Walter isn’t really a lead guard because he doesn’t see the floor well as a passer. Defensively, Walter struggled at times to stay in front of players.

Scouts are split on Walter’s upside. Most don’t see him as a star, but they disagree on whether he’s a long-term NBA starter or merely a rotation player. Those who believe he will a high-level shooter despite making just 34.1 percent from 3 last season tend to be buyers. But his range is quite wide; some teams near the end of the lottery are considering him, while others feel he could drop well into the 20s.

The Suns are another team league sources believe could trade their pick, given their all-in approach and owner Mat Ishbia’s aggressive posture.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (via NOP)

Tyler Smith | 6-9 big | 19 years old | G League Ignite

The Bucks need depth across the board and especially need younger players who can fit specific needs long-term around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Smith is an upside swing for a team seeking a big that can really shoot from distance. Brook Lopez only has one year left on his contract before hitting free agency again, and it’s harder to find players like him cheaply in free agency, which is the pool the Bucks will generally need to swim in given their contractual obligations to Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Khris Middleton.

Smith averaged 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds this season while drilling 36 percent from 3, and measured at 6-9 without shoes to pair with a 7-1 wingspan. He was effective within a limited role where he pick-and-popped, cut to the rim and dove to the hoop out of ball-screens. The Bucks also have a track record of taking G League Ignite players, having selected MarJon Beauchamp in the first round two years ago.

24. New York Knicks (via Mavericks)

Tyler Kolek | 6-1 guard | 23 years old | Marquette

Kolek exploded onto the scene before suffering an oblique injury that held him out the Big East tournament. From Jan. 15 until Feb. 25, Marquette went 10-1 as Kolek averaged 16.9 points and 9.6 assists per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3. In total, Kolek rightfully won All-American honors on his way to 15.3 points and 7.7 assists per game.

Kolek is a crafty guard. I’m not convinced he can even dunk, but he knows exactly how to play off two feet and is an elite distributor in ball screens. He made a big leap as a shooter this past season, drilling 38.8 percent from 3 while looking much more confident pulling up when opportunities arose. Kolek must prove he has the foot speed to hold up on defense in the NBA, and he’ll need to prove he can create separation with the ball in his hands against better defenders. But any team looking for a backup guard could plug Kolek in early.

25. New York Knicks

DaRon Holmes | 6-9 big | 21 years old | Dayton

Holmes had an outstanding season at Dayton, winning All-American honors by averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks while hitting 54.4 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3. He’s a versatile big who has a lot of answers for opponents’ ball-screen coverages. He can pick-and-pop, short roll to pass, short roll to finish himself or dive all the way to the rim to catch a lob. Defensively, he’s a good shot blocker and has flashed potential to stick with guards for a couple of slides on the perimeter.

The Knicks are another team likely to trade at least one of their three picks in the top 40. In the past, the Knicks have tried to add future draft picks to create more potential avenues to complete trades. Don’t be surprised to see them try to extend these assets further out into the future again.

26. Washington Wizards (via Clippers)

Baylor Scheierman | 6-6 wing | 23 years old | Creighton

I’ve maintained a first-round grade on Scheierman since the end of the college basketball season. He averaged 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists while drilling a number of 3s off significant movement. He’s one of the best shooters in the class, with an extremely versatile motion that allows him to fire from distance off any kind of footwork. He’s a quick ball-mover and passer, and I think his defense is better than it gets credit for being. Go back and watch the team’s Sweet 16 game against Tennessee, where he held Knecht to 6-of-17 shooting from the field as the primary defender.

Scheierman has also had one of the better pre-draft processes of any player. He was the best player in the 5-on-5 portion of the NBA Draft Combine, impressing teams with his ability to fill multiple roles. I think he hears his name called in the first round at this point, as NBA teams generally see him as a player who can come in and help sooner rather than later.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves

A.J. Johnson | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Illawarra

Johnson is another big riser from the pre-draft process. He looked outstanding during the 5-on-5 portion of the combine, especially coming off a season where he didn’t get many opportunities playing in a professional league filled with much stronger, more physical players on a condensed, FIBA-style court. He weighed in at just 167 pounds at the combine, so he’ll need to put on weight. However, his upside is quite large. At lower levels, he showcased significant shot creation upside. In Illawarra, he had a solid run late in the season as an energetic defensive player who sped up the opposition on the ball and created transition opportunities.

28. Denver Nuggets

Jaylon Tyson | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | California

Tyson has gone on a real journey. After entering college as a top-40 player in his recruiting class, Tyson went from Texas to Texas Tech to Cal in three years before finally emerging as an NBA prospect this past season. At 6-7 with long arms, he has great measurements for the NBA. He’s not an explosive athlete, but he’s powerful and isn’t all that bothered by contact, allowing him to get the most out of his length and athleticism. He averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3.

The Nuggets tend to draft older under general manager Calvin Booth, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they viewed Tyson as the kind of player who could potentially create shots in their second unit — especially if they lose Reggie Jackson in free agency and promote Christian Braun to the starting lineup if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope departs in free agency.

29. Utah Jazz (via Thunder)

Bobi Klintman | 6-9 wing/forward | 20 years old | Cairns Taipans

Klintman had an up-and-down season in the National Basketball League. Playing for Cairns as a member of the league’s Next Star development program, Klintman had some big games, especially in the first half of the season when Cairns was rolling. However, he missed sporadic time dealing with a few injuries over the back half of the season as Cairns fell out of contention.

Klintman can knock down shots from the perimeter, having made 35.4 percent from 3 this season and 80 percent from the line. He’s excellent on the break, where he can handle and make nice passes. He’s still learning his own capabilities as he grows into his frame, and his feel for the game is still developing after he picked up the sport late in his youth. In total, he averaged 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.

Not every team likes Klintman, but the ones who do tend to like the idea of a big wing who can shoot. I think somewhere between No. 20 and No. 35 range is his likeliest landing spot. The Jazz value positional size and skill, and Klintman fits that mold.

30. Boston Celtics

Cam Christie | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Minnesota

Christie was the player I was most surprised to see remain in the draft after the early-entry deadline. He was arguably the highest-profile player left in the NCAA’s transfer portal, so he must have turned down significant NIL offers to make this call. That makes me a bit more suspicious that he he got the kind of assurance he needed to stay in the draft.

Boston, by and large, does not issue draft-pick promises to prospects under Brad Stevens. However, Christie would make an enormous amount of sense for them as a young wing who can really shoot and gives real effort on defense. He averaged 11.3 points as a freshman this season at Minnesota, but upped those numbers to 13 points and 38 percent on six 3-point attempts per game over his final 15 games. With the importance of shooting in Boston’s style of play, and with how much money the Celtics will have on the books moving forward if they sign Derrick White to a long-term deal, they will need more players like Christie who can come in and make shots.

Second Round

31. Toronto Raptors (via Pistons): Kyshawn George | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Miami (Fla.)

32. Utah Jazz (via Wizards): Kel’el Ware | 20 years old |  7-0 big | Indiana

33. Milwaukee Bucks (via Trail Blazers): Ryan Dunn | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Virginia

34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Hornets): Pacome Dadiet | 6-8 wing | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm

35. San Antonio Spurs: Ajay Mitchell | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | UC Santa Barbara

36. Indiana Pacers (via Raptors): Cam Spencer | 6-3 guard | 24 years old | Connecticut

37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Grizzlies): Nikola Djurišić | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Mega

38. New York Knicks (via Jazz): Adem Bona | 6-8 big | 21 years old | UCLA

39. Memphis Grizzlies (via Nets): Trey Alexander | 6-3 guard | 21 years old | Creighton

40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Hawks): P.J. Hall | 6-8 big | 22 years old | Clemson

41. Philadelphia 76ers (via Bulls): Pelle Larsson | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Arizona

42. Charlotte Hornets (via Rockets): Melvin Ajinca | 6-6 wing | 20 years old | Saint-Quentin

43. Miami Heat: Jamal Shead | 6-0 guard | 21 years old | Houston

44. Houston Rockets (via Warriors): Antonio Reeves | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Kentucky

45. Sacramento Kings: Justin Edwards | 6-6 wing | 20 years old Kentucky

46. LA Clippers (via Pacers): Jonathan Mogbo | 6-6 big | 22 years old | San Francisco

47. Orlando Magic: Oso Ighodaro | 6-10 big | 21 years old | Marquette

48. San Antonio Spurs (via Lakers): Jaylen Wells | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Washington State

49. Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers): Enrique Freeman | 6-7 forward | 23 years old | Akron

50. Indiana Pacers (via Pelicans): Tristen Newton | 6-3 guard | 23 years old | Connecticut

51. Washington Wizards (via Suns): Kevin McCullar | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Kansas

52. Golden State Warriors (via Bucks): Jalen Bridges | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Baylor

53. Detroit Pistons (via Knicks): K.J. Simpson | 6-0 guard | 21 years old | Colorado

54. Boston Celtics (via Mavericks): Juan Núñez | 6-3 guard | 20 years old Ratiopharm Ulm

55. Los Angeles Lakers (via Clippers): Bronny James | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | USC

56. Denver Nuggets (via Timberwolves): Dillon Jones | 6-5 wing | 22 years old | Weber State

57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Thunder): Ariel Hukporti | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Melbourne United

58. Dallas Mavericks (via Celtics): Harrison Ingram | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | North Carolina

(Top photos: Daniel Pockett and Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images; Illustration by Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)