What happened in the 2024 NBA Draft: Full recap and analysis of every pick

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka on the possibility of LeBron James and Bronny playing together: "That feels like something that could be magical. We know and have to respect that LeBron has a decision about his opt-out, and I'm sure he and his family and his agent will deliberate what they're going to do there and of course, he has freedom to decide whatever's best for him and his family. But if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform."

31. Toronto Raptors: Jonathan Mogbo | 6-6 forward/center | San Francisco

32. Utah Jazz: Kyle Filipowski | 6-11 forward/center | Duke

33. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Smith | 6-9 forward/center | G League Ignite

34. New York Knicks: Tyler Kolek | 6-1 guard | Marquette

35. Indiana Pacers (from Spurs): Johnny Furphy | 6-8 wing | Kansas

36. San Antonio Spurs (from Pacers): Juan Núñez | 6-4 guard | Ratiopharm Ulm

37. Detroit Pistons (from Timberwolves): Bobi Klintman | 6-9 forward | Cairns Taipans

38. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Knicks): Ajay Mitchell | 6-3 guard | UC-Santa Barbara

39. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells | 6-7 wing | Washington State

40. Phoenix Suns (from Knicks via Thunder): Oso Ighodaro | 6-10 center | Marquette

41. Philadelphia 76ers: Adem Bona | 6-8 center | UCLA

42. Charlotte Hornets: K.J. Simpson | 6-0 guard | Colorado

43. Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Nikola Djurišić | 6-7 wing | Mega

44. Miami Heat (from Hawks via Rockets): Pelle Larsson | 6-5 wing | Arizona

45. Toronto Raptors (from Kings): Jamal Shead | 6-0 guard | Houston

46. LA Clippers: Cam Christie | 6-5 wing | Minnesota

47. New Orleans Pelicans (from Magic): Antonio Reeves | 6-5 wing | Kentucky

48. San Antonio Spurs: Harrison Ingram | 6-5 wing | North Carolina

49. Indiana Pacers: Tristen Newton | 6-3 guard | Connecticut

50. Indiana Pacers: Enrique Freeman | 6-7 forward | Akron

51. Dallas Mavericks (from Knicks via Suns, Wizards): Melvin Ajinca | 6-7 wing | Saint-Quentin

52. Golden State Warriors (from Thunder via Blazers, Warriors): Quinten Post | 7-0 center | Boston College

53. Memphis Grizzlies (from Timberwolves via Pistons): Cam Spencer | 6-3 guard | Connecticut

54. Boston Celtics: Anton Watson | 6-8 wing | Gonzaga

55. Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James | 6-2 guard | USC

56. New York Knicks (from Suns): Kevin McCullar Jr. | 6-5 wing | Kansas

57. Toronto Raptors (from Grizzlies via Timberwolves): Ulrich Chomche | 7-0 center | NBA Africa Academy

58. New York Knicks (from Mavericks): Ariel Hukporti | 6-11 center | Melbourne United

Per team source to The Athletic

LA Clippers will sign SF Trentyn Flowers as an undrafted free agent.

And now, the after-party: Teams will be working the phones with undrafted players for 2-ways and summer league commitments. Under the old format, FO staffers were up until the wee hours of the morning; the new, humane draft schedule should let them finish at a respectable hour.

To John Hollinger's point, it is no surprise that Masai Ujiri wanted to take the first-ever pick from the NBA Academy in Africa. Ujiri is from Nigeria and has been helping Africa through Basketball Without Borders and his own charity, Giants of Africa, for two decades.

Ujiri has been monitoring the process of the Basketball Africa League closely. Ulrich Camoche played just three games in the BAL and is the youngest player in the draft. He doesn't turn 19 until December.

The final pick is a pure stash, as the Knicks traded all the way down to the last pick in the draft and then selected German big man Ariel Hukporti. Because two picks in the second round were forfeited, the 2024 NBA Draft is now over.

Toronto jumps into the 57th pick to select Ulrich Chomche, a serious developmental prospect straight out of the NBA Academy in Africa. I don't want to say "two years away from being two years away," but Chomche is almost certain to be a multi-year 2-way while he refines his game in the G League.

The New York Knicks selected 22-year-old Melbourne United center Ariel Hukporti with the 58th and final pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Hukporti: Ariel Hukporti is not going to be for everyone, but I can see certain organizations being interested. It all depends on how you value bigs who perform the nonnegotiable aspects of being a big at a high level versus how you value upside to do more. Hukporti is in the former camp. He’s an awesome rebounder and good rim protector, and I think he can play in drop coverage in the NBA. He plays incredibly hard, and he’s willing to be physical. There’s no ego to his game. But I don’t see a ton of value beyond that. Offense must be simple for him with transition play, screening, rim-running, offensive rebounding and dunking. I don’t see much potential to shoot or score outside of 10 feet. He gets far too sped up in terms of processing on offense to be a high-level passer.

However, I do like Hukporti more than recent international second-round center picks Tristan Vukčević (42nd to Washington in 2023), Khalifa Diop (39th to Cleveland in 2022), Karlo Matković (52nd in 2022) and Marko Simonovic (44th in 2020). Hukporti is a potential backup center if he can just improve his processing ability, overall precision and general skill level a tad on offense.

In arguably the least surprising selection of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Lakers drafted Bronny James Jr., the son of Lakers superstar of LeBron James. It’s a monumental moment that marks the first time a father-son duo have been active NBA players — and potentially the first time a father-son duo has been teammates, depending on what happens with LeBron this summer. Bronny, 19, is a 6-foot-2 3-and-D guard who will likely spend most of next season in the G League. After suffering a cardiac arrest last summer, it’s a miracle Bronny was able to play basketball again, let alone continue pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA. He has a ways to go as a prospect, but the Lakers are revamping their player development staff and strategy, and are confident they can maximize his potential.

In theory, this selection should solidify LeBron’s return to the Lakers, whether in the form of him optioning into his $51.4 million contract or opting out and re-signing. At the same time, LeBron and his agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — who is also Bronny’s agent — have denied that the two are a package deal. Only time will tell the truth. Regardless, this is a historic moment and another example of the Lakers going above and beyond to cater to their superstars, which is a considerable point of pride for the organization.

The Warriors traded cash to reacquire the 52nd pick and drafted Boston College center Quinten Post, per league source. That officially hard caps the Warriors at the second apron. They are now unable to go over it this season, which was the plan regardless, but it is notable as they enter the weekend with dreams of a big trade and with some Chris Paul and Klay Thompson business to figure out.

I wasn't sure McCullar would get drafted because of all the concerns about his myriad injuries, on top of the fact that he's a poor shooter and one of the oldest players in the draft. His basketball IQ and defense at least make him interesting on a 2-way, although it's possible that New York's ongoing tax apron dance pushes him into a roster contract for the rookie minimum.

The New York Knicks selected 21-year-old Kansas wing Kevin McCullar Jr. with the No. 56 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on McCullar: It comes down to the shot. If defenders must play Kevin McCullar honestly from distance, the rest of his game as a smart drive-and-kick player and intelligent cutter opens up enough to play a complementary role on offense. If the shot isn’t there, it’s hard to imagine his drives being impactful, as teams sagged off him as he spaced behind the 3-point line. That would also impact his high-IQ cutting ability if someone is there waiting for him instead of honoring the threat of his jumper. McCullar will defend in any scheme. He's an impact guy who can play physical, switchable defense and be available to scramble around. He also makes winning plays and is willing to get on the ground for loose balls to create extra possessions.

It’s simple: If you think the jumper will improve and McCullar will stay healthy, it’s reasonable to have a first-round grade on him. Unfortunately, he’s done neither of those things throughout a significant sample of his collegiate career, so I couldn’t get to that level.

I didn't expect Watson to get drafted, but this is a defensible late pick because he's a good defender who can play the 4. Watson could potentially soak up some of the minutes filled by Oshae Brissett this season, as the latter opted out of his deal for the coming season to become a free agent.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James, the eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, with the No. 55 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on James: We need to be upfront about this: We would not be talking about James as an NBA prospect if not for his father. He is nowhere near ready for the NBA. He’s at least two years away if every single thing goes right with his development in the next couple of seasons. For him to get the development he needs on the ball and to iron out his consistency as a shooter, he must spend the next two years in the G League. To me, that’s not a worthwhile investment given that his upside is something in the ballpark of a rotational 3-and-D guard. That upside is littered with potential landmines.

I couldn’t rank him outside of the top 75 on my board because he’s young, athletic and clearly has excellent basketball IQ in addition to a great motor on the defensive end at 19. If this goes right, you can see an outcome that is similar to Devin Carter. Still, he is outside of the range of players whom I have two-way grades on in this class. I have an Exhibit 10 grade on Bronny and think he would have been much better served heading back to school to get the reps he needs offensively.