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

The 2024 NBA Draft is in the books, and the big father/son union is happening. The Lakers have picked Bronny James at No. 55, where he'll likely pair with his father.
John Hollinger, Sam Vecenie and more
What happened in the 2024 NBA Draft: Full recap and analysis of every pick
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today

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Bronny James, son of LeBron, joins father with Lakers

NEW YORK — Years of speculation have finally ended. Bronny James, the eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, indeed has a home in the NBA, on his father’s team.

Bronny James, one of the most highly scrutinized amateur basketball players of the last decade, was taken 55th overall Thursday night in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. The selection capped 12 long months of guessing about James’ place in the game, which included questions about whether he could compete professionally following a cardiac arrest.

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and, of course, get to the NBA,” James said at the NBA Draft Combine in May.

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Full second-round results

Full first-round results

Bronny James selected by Lakers with No. 55 pick in NBA Draft, joins father’s team

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Bronny James selected by Lakers with No. 55 pick in NBA Draft, joins father’s team

Round 2, No. 55: Los Angeles Lakers draft Bronny James

Round 2, No. 55: Los Angeles Lakers draft Bronny James

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.

Bronny James selected by Lakers with No. 55 pick in NBA Draft, joins father’s team

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Bronny James selected by Lakers with No. 55 pick in NBA Draft, joins father’s team

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Round 2, No. 54: Boston Celtics draft Anton Watson

Round 2, No. 54: Boston Celtics draft Anton Watson

(Photo: Chris Gardner / Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics selected 23-year-old Gonzaga wing Anton Watson with the No. 54 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Watson: Anton Watson is one of my sneaky favorites in this class, and I have a two-way grade on him. I think he can defend within an NBA scheme right away and has potential to add a lot of value on that end of the court if his offense improves enough to keep him on the floor. He’s switchable and long, plus has great strength and good hip flexibility to stay on-balance in space. His help defense is sharp, and he is a good scramble defender. Offensively, I don’t love his skill package, even if he maintains his ability to cut and finish around the rim. Shooting is the key for me. There are some signs of Watson becoming a capable shooter, as he made 41 percent on limited attempts this year. But it’s hard to buy into his jumper becoming a consistent NBA weapon given that he turns 24 this year and has always been a low-volume attempter.

If he can improve his shooting to the point where he consistently hits corner 3s, his defense may be valuable enough to stick in the NBA. That will take some time for his jumper to come around. Still, I’d be willing to bet a two-way deal on expediting that process, because if it does, Watson has some value in the NBA.

I will be forever amazed that I watched Cam Spencer for three years at Loyola (Maryland), just like I watched Santi Aldama at Loyola for two years, playing against my beloved American University Eagles (and, losing most of the time!!), and now both are drafted NBA players. Something very cool about that.

What Cam Spencer brings to Memphis

What Cam Spencer brings to Memphis

(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Cam Spencer is tough and can shoot, but he's another very old player and is badly undersized for an NBA wing. The Grizzlies need to add shooting, especially if they decline Luke Kennard's team option, and Spencer likely can give it to them cheaply on a 2-way.

What Quinten Post brings to Golden State

What Quinten Post brings to Golden State

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First player that I'm legitimately surprised to see drafted, as I thought Quinten Post would be a summer league guy. He is big and skilled and had to carry the offense for a poor Boston College team, but he's already 24 and his lack of athleticism and rim protection is a glaring weakness in the modern NBA. Note that his Dutch passport could also make him a stash pick.

Round 2, No. 53: Memphis Grizzlies draft Cam Spencer

Round 2, No. 53: Memphis Grizzlies draft Cam Spencer

The Memphis Grizzlies selected 24-year-old UConn guard Cam Spencer with the No. 53 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Spencer: I believe in Cam Spencer. I get his limitations, but I tend to buy into guys who have elite character, competitiveness and approach to the game. Spencer doesn’t just get nice reviews from the Connecticut coaching staff on the intentional, strategic way he goes about his development and game; he gets raves. He was a professional playing college basketball this season, and that allowed him to get the most out of his potential while helping his team to a national title.

On top of that, he’s an all-situations shooter who I believe will knock down shots from any angle at anytime from anywhere on the court. That’s a serious skill to bring to the table in the spacing-conscious NBA. For me, he’s on the border of deserving a guaranteed deal or a two-way contract. If some of my other targets were gone and I had roster space, I’d be more than happy to give Spencer a couple of guaranteed years to figure it out and see what happens.

Analysis, fits for all 58 NBA Draft picks from John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie

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Analysis, fits for all 58 NBA Draft picks from John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie

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How Melvin Ajinça fits in Dallas

Ajinça is the fifth French player selected in this year's draft, and is likely a stash pick for a win-now Mavs team that doesn't need to clog its roster with developmental players. Ajinca is a big wing who can shoot but might not have the handle or athleticism to succeed at the NBA level.

Round 2, No. 52: Golden State Warriors draft Quinten Post

Round 2, No. 52: Golden State Warriors draft Quinten Post

The Golden State Warriors selected 24-year-old Boston College center Quinten Post with the No. 52 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Post: If there’s one thing many NBA teams are seeking, it’s legitimate 7-footers who can dribble, pass and shoot. Quinten Post is a lethal shooter from distance who can get to his shot from a variety of ways. His presence should boost an offense, as I think the opposition must guard him out there. He’s too good of a shooter to leave on pick-and-pops. On top of that, he put the ball on the deck when necessary and then pass it on the move. I’m not sure Post will meet the minimum requirement defensively for him to stick in the NBA, which is why I see him as a second-round pick. I’d select him at that point to find out, because offenses around the league get supercharged when they have big men who can rebound, play in drop coverage and knock shots down from the perimeter, allowing their star perimeter players to attack the lane.

Round 2, No. 51: Dallas Mavericks draft Melvin Ajinça

The Dallas Mavericks selected 20-year-old Saint-Quentin wing Melvin Ajinça with the No. 51 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Ajinça: Melvin Ajinça is not my kind of player. I understand the idea of what he can be as a movement shooter with athleticism and strength. I also love the activity he shows. Considering where he already is as a shooter at 19, I buy that he’ll be able to knock down shots at a consistent enough level, even if his percentages aren’t incredible now. His shot diet is difficult for a professional teenager. However, there are too many holes in his game outside of that for me to fall in love with his upside. He’s not a great rebounder or a particularly impactful defender now, although I think he has the potential to become those things. Offensively, I didn’t like his game outside of the movement shooting, as I worry about his passing, decision-making and overall feel.

The closest comparable player to Ajinça is Gary Trent Jr., but he became a good offensive NBA player by improving drastically off the bounce and becoming more capable of creating shots on the interior. I also think Trent was ahead of Ajinça as a shooter at their ages. Ajinça is far enough away from his level that I have him as more of a draft-and-stash as opposed to a priority two-way.

Enrique Freeman might be the best story in the draft, a smart, engaging young man who went to Akron on an academic scholarship, picked up his MBA while he did a fifth year with the basketball team, and now is headed to the NBA. An energy forward with a developing outside shot, he'll likely start out on a 2-way.

Round 2, No. 50: Indiana Pacers draft Enrique Freeman

Round 2, No. 50: Indiana Pacers draft Enrique Freeman

(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)

The Indiana Pacers selected 23-year-old Akron forward Enrique Freeman with the No. 50 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Freeman: If Enrique Freeman will make it, it’s going to be as an outlier. He’s one of those players whose tape in college doesn’t tell the whole story of everything that he’s capable of despite his immense production. Betting on outliers coming through is generally a bad idea. Still, I think he has potential to be one. Paul Millsap’s statistical profile at Louisiana Tech was a bit better given his age, but he was a similarly incredible rebounder who started to show a touch more perimeter skill as his career went on in college. He was drafted in the second round based almost entirely off being one of the most productive players in college hoops. Freeman’s measurements are similar to Millsap’s, as Millsap came in at about 6-6 1/4 with a 7-1 1/2 wingspan, compared to Freeman being an inch taller and having arms that were a half-inch longer.

Having said that, there are a lot of players who have tried to be that next Millsap and come up short. Freeman’s continued improvement and year-over-year development — along with his four-time All-Defense status in the MAC — make him an intriguing candidate. But it’s going to take a lot of work over the next few years to keep developing his perimeter game. Freeman is an awesome two-way bet, but I probably would want him as a drafted two-way as opposed to a guy on a guaranteed contract from day one, given the role uncertainty to start his career.

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Note that this deal can't be completed until after the moratorium ends next week IF the Hornets complete it with cap space. In that event, the Hornets may need to waive one or more non-guaranteed contracts (Seth Curry, Aleksej Pokusveski, JT Thor and/or Bryce McGowens) in order to accommodate the Jackson contract. However, thanks to the new CBA, the Hornets could also use their non-taxpayer midlevel exception as a trade exception and take in Jackson's salary that way, which would let them operate as an "over the cap team" and still preserve roughly $7 million in spending money on their MLE. If so, the Hornets would be the first team to take advantage of this new rule. Ironically, Jackson was briefly a Hornet before joining Denver as well — he had been bought out by Charlotte after the Clippers set him in there in the Mason Plumlee trade in February of 2023.

Denver Nuggets trade Reggie Jackson to Charlotte for three 2nd-round picks

Denver Nuggets trade Reggie Jackson to Charlotte for three 2nd-round picks

(Justin Ford / Getty Images)

Breaking news mid-draft that the Nuggets are trading three second-round picks to drop off Reggie Jackson on Charlotte's doorstep, saving the Nuggets an eight-figure luxury tax penalty and potentially knocking them out of the tax entirely depending on other small moves and the final cap number.

It's a great move by Charlotte to use its small dollop of cap space ahead of free agency since it wasn't going to be enough to sign a legit player. Denver, meanwhile, ends up having to pay to offload a contract that looked highly questionable the second the ink dried, and the Nuggets don't have much draft capital sitting around to just zap contracts like this.

With five more picks to go until the No. 55 selection, ESPN's Bob Myers said it would be "the biggest shock of the draft" if Bronny James is not the Lakers' selection.

LeBron + his son appears to be close.

What Indiana is getting in Tristen Newton

Back to back second-round picks for the Pacers here, and they use the first one on Tristen Newton. The Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four for national champion UConn will have to improve his outside shooting to stick as a pro, but he's a smart guard who rebounds and can get an offense organized.

How Harrison Ingram fits with the Spurs

I thought Harrison Ingram was a bit underrated in this process as a bigger wing who can handle the ball and make an open shot. He can be a little heavy-footed, and he probably has to shoot a bit more consistently to crack a rotation, but I think the Spurs did well to get a decent prospect at the most valuable position this late.

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Round 2, No. 49: Indiana Pacers draft Tristen Newton

Round 2, No. 49: Indiana Pacers draft Tristen Newton

The Indiana Pacers selected 23-year-old UConn guard Tristen Newton with the No. 49 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Newton: What exactly does Tristen Newton do that is above average at an NBA level? That’s the question. He’s not an above-average shooter, separator or defender. He became an above-average passer within Connecticut’s scheme, but many of his passes came within the structure of their sets. Will that same vision hold when he’s processing the game on the fly? On the other hand, specialists aren’t as valuable in today’s NBA as they once were. Even players like Duncan Robinson, one of the five best shooters in the world, have had to expand their games to stay on the court. Having counters for what the defense presents you is crucial.

While Newton does not have that singular skill you know will work in the NBA, he’s versatile in terms of his role and has counters for much of what defenders will present him. He’s solid at almost everything. Having real dribble-pass-shoot ability and having a multi-layered skill set — while also being able to hang on defense — is valuable in today’s NBA. As we saw within Connecticut’s offense this year, it’s the whole of his game that is interesting, not any one component part. Newton’s going to have to shoot the ball more consistently than he has throughout the course of his career. At 23, he needs to make that leap within the next two years. That weakness is what makes Newton a two-way grade for me. But if I had a plan for how to fix his shot, he’d certainly be one of my priority two-ways.

Round 2, No. 48: San Antonio Spurs draft Harrison Ingram

Round 2, No. 48: San Antonio Spurs draft Harrison Ingram

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

The San Antonio Spurs selected 21-year-old North Carolina wing Harrison Ingram with the No. 48 pick.

The Athletic NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie on Ingram: Harrison Ingram made the exact improvements this season that NBA scouts have wanted to see since he got to Stanford. Those gains are deserving of praise and alone make him a serious prospect in this year’s class. But I couldn’t get above a two-way grade on him because I have too many concerns about his athleticism at that size at the NBA level. The players who have tended to overcome these athletic traits shortcomings tend to be long and big. Ingram is long, but at just 6-5 1/4 without shoes, that standing reach number will hurt him for the role he must play.

I love how Ingram communicates and processes the game on defense. I really like his passes. But the ticket for Ingram to become a legitimate NBA rotation player is his shot. He must make the open ones and must take advantage of others he gets by speeding up his release. Sometimes, prospects can do that. Sometimes, they can’t.

How Antonio Reeves fits with Pelicans

Shoutout to my podcast partner Nate Duncan for pointing this out: Orlando's pick at 47 was the only second-round pick in this draft that hadn't been either traded or forfeited. UNTIL NOW. It goes to the Pelicans, who select Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves.

That's an odd guy for them to trade in for, as he seems almost entirely duplicative of last year's lottery pick Jordan Hawkins.

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