The next generation of young NBA players will be selected at the Barclays Center, because 2024 NBA Draft kicks off Wednesday night in Brooklyn, New York.
Atlanta HawksThe winners of the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery are on the clock with the first overall pick. How they use that pick will start a domino effect, as teams will hope their preferred pick lands in their slot.
That said, here are the most interesting NBA prospects to watch in Wednesday’s first round and possibly Thursday’s second round, depending on how teams alter their selections.
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NBA Draft prospects Alexandre Sarr (left) and Zachary Risachar visit the Empire State Building on June 24, 2024 in New York City. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Alexandre Sarr and Zachary Reisacher
Both French players have consistently been regarded as the top two prospects throughout this draft process. However, there is no consensus on the No. 1 and No. 2 picks among mock drafters, as it seems the Hawks could go either way early in the draft.
Starting over 7-foot Alexandre Sarr, the 19-year-old center performed well for the Perth Wildcats in 24 games during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and shooting 52% from the field in 17.2 minutes per game off the bench.
It is expected that Sarr’s defensive abilities will adapt quickly to the NBA game, while his offensive skills will require some improvement. However, his agility and pure athleticism will prove to be a great rim protector no matter where he goes.
As for Zachary Risacher, who is 19 years old, he is a bit more experienced on the international stage. Playing for Mincidellis JL Bourget in France’s Betclic Elite League, the 6-foot, 9-inch tall Risacher averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and shot 43.9% in 32 games. Risacher also performed very well in the BKT Eurocup, scoring 13.1 points per game in 17 contests.
NBA scouts love his ability to thrive on both ends of the floor, and his young age shows plenty of potential to get even better.
Where will the Hawks go? Regardless, it’s expected that the Washington Wizards, owners of the No. 2 overall pick, will select the French player that Atlanta doesn’t like.
Donovan Clingan, #32 of the Connecticut Huskies, reacts in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship Game at State Farm Stadium on April 8, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Peterson/Getty Images)
donovan clingon
Two-time NCAA National Champion Connecticut HuskiesGiven Donovan Clingan’s dominance in the paint during his college days, NBA teams will be eager to add him to their roster.
Although many scouts believe the 7-foot, 2-inch center is the third-best prospect behind Sarr and Risachar, there is no telling when he will be taken in the draft.
Why? Well, the Houston Rockets (No. 3), San Antonio Spurs (4), Detroit Pistons (5) and other teams with top picks in the first round need guards. Can the Charlotte Hornets put pressure on Clingan, who took a big step of improvement as a starter in his second collegiate season, averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 35 contests?
Zack Eddy
Just like the Klingons, what NBA team is going to feature a card that features Jack Eddy, the 7-foot, 4-inch tall Purdue Boilermaker who returns for his senior season hoping to win a national title after exiting too early against Fairleigh Dickinson University last year?
Eddie and Klingon faced off in the title match, and despite Klingon showing the ability to defend his opponent, Eddie scored a game-high 37 points on 15 of 25 from the field, including 7 of 10 from the charity stripe, and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Purdue center Zach Eddy (right) supports NC State forward Ben Middlebrooks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Brin Anderson)
Eddie not only wanted to win with his team, but he also wanted to improve his draft stock. Mock drafts show him as the No. 19 pick to the Toronto Raptors or the No. 21 pick to join Zion Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, could a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder bring in AD to give Chet Holmgren and that young, up-and-coming player more freedom to roam the court while he takes charge of the paint?
Reed Shepard and Robert Dillingham
Kentucky’s freshman players played a key role in getting the Wildcats back to “The Dance”, but it soon ended in a huge upset with Oakland University.
NBA scouts certainly wanted to see what Reed Sheppard and Robert Dillingham could do in the expanded tournament, but they had to rely on past tape and the draft process to figure out their projections in the pros.
Shepard, a 6-foot, 3-inch guard, appears to have an edge over the 6-foot, 2-inch tall Dillingham in mock drafts, though both are projected to be selected in the top 10.
Shepard and Dillingham both came off the bench for former Kentucky coach John Calipari but averaged 12.5 and 15.2 points per game in their freshman seasons in the always-tough SEC.
Rob Dillingham, #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats, shoots the ball in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Shepard has an NBA-ready shot, averaging 52.1% from beyond the arc on 4.4 three-point attempts per game last season. He has been one of the beneficiaries of the draft process, as teams have reportedly liked his ability to hit open looks as well as create shots for himself with the ball in his hands.
Dillingham is said to be a “certified bucket” by NBA.com, and his tape shows it. While Shepard led the team in three-point shooting, Dillingham still shot an impressive 44.4% from three and scored from almost everywhere on the court.
However, the biggest hit to his draft stock is his size. NBA scouts wonder if that will limit him, especially on the defensive end. However, there are bucket getters like Trae Young and Jalen Brunson who disprove those size claims with All-Star level play in the league.
bronny james
Finally, it’s really hard to preview the NBA Draft without wondering if any team is willing to draft the son of all-time leading scorer LeBron James.
James, who stands 6-foot, 4-inches tall and weighs 210 pounds, got off to a slow start to his freshman season at USC as he was recovering from a heart attack he suffered before the campaign began. Once he was cleared and finally got on the hardwood for the Trojans, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes in 25 games (six starts).
Now, James isn’t considered a first-round pick. There are plenty of guards with larger sample sizes of college or international play who are far better than his performance with the Trojans.
Bronny James shoots a free throw during the 2024 NBA Basketball Draft Combine on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Hu)
However, some believe James has the potential to be one of the best two-way guards in the league, provided he gets the right situation and coaching. Could the Los Angeles Lakers pull the trigger in the second round (No. 55) with the thought that maybe his father will return for another season in purple and gold? It seems like he would be the unanimous choice if he is drafted.
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It’s only natural to keep an eye on him when the NBA Draft begins.
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