The 2024 NBA Draft begins Wednesday in Brooklyn with the first round, leading off with the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1 overall.
There remained five players with 18-1 odds or lower to be the No. 1 overall pick with three hours to go before the Hawks go on the clock, which shows the uncertainty of the top of the draft.
French forward Zaccharie Risacher, French center Alexandre Sarr and UConn center Donovan Clingan all have been rumored to be a possibility at No. 1. Because of that uncertainty, it's difficult to piece together the rest of the lottery including the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 9 overall.
GRIZZLIES AT NO. 9: Who will the Memphis Grizzlies pick in 2024 NBA draft? 9 first-round options
MOCK DRAFT ROUNDUP: Who will Memphis Grizzlies pick in first round of NBA draft? Here's what experts believe
Follow along with our pick tracker for all 58 picks in the two-round draft below, with second round picks being made on Thursday:
2024 NBA Draft pick tracker: Picks and grades
1: Atlanta Hawks | Zaccharie Risacher, F, France
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Risacher showed solid shooting ability and should be able to contribute as a rookie from an offensive standpoint if the Hawks utilize him correctly. But he has not yet shown an ability to create for himself or others with the ball in his hands, and his explosiveness is limited. At 6-foot-9 with length, he could become a plus defender in time. But he'll need to increase strength to get there. The lack of creation for himself and others limits his ceiling and my grade on this pick, but he is young (19 years old) and can grow.
2. Washington Wizards | Alexandre Sarr, C, France
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Sarr has a pathway to being a very good modern NBA center with his length and defensive mobility, which was on display in the NBL in Australia. Sarr will need to add strength, so Sarr could face an up-and-down rookie season in Washington. But the highlights will be very intriguing for Wizards fans. His offensive upside is not completely clear, but he very well could turn into the defensive centerpiece in Washington.
3. Houston Rockets (viaBrooklyn) | Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Sheppard is a good example of this draft and prospect value. Sheppard was the best shooter in college basketball and was a good distributor at Kentucky. At 6-foot-2, Sheppard is a solid athlete that should be a better on-ball defender than he is despite a large number of steals and blocks. If he can become even a mediocre 1-on-1 defender, Sheppard should stay on the floor long enough to push for Rookie of the Year honors and beyond. He instantly becomes the third guard with the Rockets as currently constructed alongside Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet.
4. San Antonio Spurs | Stephon Castle, G, UConn
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Castle's perimeter defense is tops in this draft class, and he should fit into the Spurs' young nucleus. He has the strength to defend early and become a plus rebounder as a guard. Is he a true point guard? It will be a tough path unless he becomes a better shooter. But he will draw some high-level defensive assignments in the NBA and soon.
5. Detroit Pistons | Ron Holland, G, G-League Ignite
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: The Pistons pick Holland, who will turn 19 next month, after the wing played a starring role for the G-League Ignite. He is a good athlete who can make some highlight-reel plays when the pace quickens, especially in transition. Can he create for himself and others with the ball? It was rough at times for Holland in the G-League. But he should have plenty of developmental runway with the Pistons, who continue the rebuild. The shooting production from 3 will need to get better too.
6. Charlotte Hornets | Tidjane Salaun, F, France
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Instead of Dalton Knecht or Donovan Clingan, the Hornets opt for Tidjane Salaun, the third Frenchman selected in the first six picks. At 6-foot-9, Salaun projects as a league-average 3-point shooter at worst who should be able to bump his numbers up as his career continues on. Is he a plus defender? He has the length and athleticism, but it hasn't quite shown yet. He appears to have a role as a 3-and-D forward down the road. Knecht and Clingan would have an earlier impact in Charlotte, but the Hornets needed to balance out the roster.
7. Portland Trail Blazers | Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Instant grade: A
Analysis: Clingan could be an instant super-role player as a defensive hammer in the middle for the Blazers. He'll be fine around the rim as a finisher, but his value in the NBA will be as a defensive-first center. Portland has Deandre Ayton at center, but Clingan has a good chance to become the future at the 5.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (fromToronto via San Antonio) | Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Dillingham is the textbook definition of microwave scorer. He can score from just about any platform, beating length to the rim with athleticism and quickness while shooting from NBA-plus range. Dillingham showed growth as a creator for others, though Kentucky often asked him to do the brunt of the work. ESPN reported that Dillingham will be traded to Minnesota, and one can envision a ferocious Dillingham-Anthony Edwards backcourt in time. The defense will need to improve, but he has shown the requisite energy and athleticism to become competent in that area at some point.
PROPOSED TRADE: The Spurs are trading Dillingham to Minnesota for a 2031 unprotected first round pick and a 2030 pick swap.
9. Memphis Grizzlies | Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Edey is a physical center who carried the Boilermakers to the national championship game. He showed better touch around the rim as a senior in the spring, but against a different level of athlete and physicality. Still, his ability to absorb contact and play through it will be a weapon in the NBA -- if he can play in a spaced-out offense and be impactful away from the basket. That could take some time. And is he big enough to not be a defensive liability in defending pick and roll actions in a spaced-out setting? I'm not convinced.
10. Utah Jazz | Cody Williams, G/F, Colorado
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Cody Williams is a favorite of mine in the late lottery as someone who can create for himself off the dribble while showing flashes of getting others involved. His shooting will need to improve, but his compete level is something you won't need to worry about on either end.
11. Chicago Bulls | Matas Buzelis, F, G-League Ignite
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: Buzelis needs to add strength and improve his shooting stroke, and he probably won't be pressed to contribute early in Chicago. But from a basketball sense standpoint with a prototypical frame, he can be a solid NBA wing in time.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder(via Houston) | Nikola Topic, G, Serbia
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Topic can create for others with a good sense of creation off of screens with a track record of making the right decisions in NBA-like situations in Europe. Not that he will definitively fill the Josh Giddey role, but he is a possible ballhandler option who can play downhill and fit well. Can he be a league average perimeter defender? We'll see. Topic is also coming off of a knee injury suffered earlier this year.
13. Sacramento Kings | Devin Carter, G, Providence
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Tough, competitive, etc. Those will all be descriptors of Carter, who improved steadily in collect. His shooting production increased, and he's a solid finisher around the rim though not the most explosive guard in this class. He has a clear role in the NBA as someone who can do the hard things.
14. Washington Wizards (from Golden State viaPortland) | Bub Carrington, G, Pitt
Instant grade: B
Analysis: The Wizards did well in drafting Carrington, who has prototypical guard size that will turn 19 years old next month. He can knock down shots and create for others in a solid, but not great team at Pittsburgh. Shotmaking (32% from 3 as a freshman) will eventually get Carrington on the floor, but he can contribute off the box score too.
PROPOSED TRADE: Portland is trading the No. 14 overall pick, Malcolm Brogdon and a 2029 first-round pick to Washington for Deni Avdija, per ESPN.
15. Miami Heat | Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Ware teased his range (42% from 3 on 40 attempts) in a better sophom*ore season at Indiana following a disappointing freshman year at Oregon. If his effort level doesn't wane, one can envision Ware as a modern 5 in Miami that can play behind Bam Adebayo in time.
16. Philadelphia 76ers | Jared McCain, G, Duke
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: McCain's decision making improved as a freshman at Duke, and he finished the year with a 41% shooting mark from 3. At this size, McCain should be an OK defender who could rack up havoc numbers as he gets older. At worst, he's a second-unit player that can knock down shots and make good decisions, a la former Duke guard Tyus Jones.
17. Los Angeles Lakers | Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee
Instant grade: A
Analysis: ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported on the draft broadcast that age was the main driver for Knecht's drop out of the lottery. The Lakers, with 39-year-old LeBron James (provided he returns next season) and 31-year-old Anthony Davis, are motivated to win as soon as possible. The Vols increasingly ran plays to get Knecht open, but he's not just a really good shooter. Knecht can finish and is a plus driver at his size. He has good enough size to be a league average defender, and that side of the ball improved under Rick Barnes. The Lakers do well here.
18. Orlando Magic | Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: da Silva won't have to have the ball to excel in the NBA given his 3-point shooting (40% from 3 over the last two seasons), and he does have some defensive versatility given his height and length. Those traits all fit the Magic roster.
19. Toronto Raptors (viaIndiana) | Ja'Kobe Walter, G, Baylor
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: Walter showed flashes as a main piece for Baylor as a freshman, though he struggled being efficient in a half-court setting. His 3-point shooting (34%) and form shows a good base as an offensive player, but he has to be able to finish at 6-foot-4 with decent play strength.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers | Jaylon Tyson, G, Cal
Instant grade: B
Analysis: As a three-year college player, Tyson has multi-year proof as a solid shooter (37% from 3 over the last two seasons) who won't just be a 3-and-D player. He can keep the ball moving and contribute on the glass, but defense isn't his top strength.
21. New Orleans Pelicans(viaMilwaukee) | Yves Missi, C, Baylor
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Missi will be a rim-running center as a young pro, and he has shown good rim protection. He'll need to grow in other areas to become a viable starter in the NBA, including becoming stronger.
22. Denver Nuggets (proposed trade from Phoenix) | DaRon Holmes, F, Dayton
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: Holmes is probably more suited as a bigger 4 than a center in the NBA, and his 3-point shooting has improved (up to 38% from 3 on 83 attempts). But with Denver, the frontcourt playing time opportunity is limited anyway, and Holmes needs to round out his game.
PROPOSED TRADE: The Suns trade the No. 22 pick to Denver for the No. 28 overall pick, a 2024 second round pick and two future second-rounders, per ESPN.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via New Orleans) | AJ Johnson, G, NBL
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Johnson opted to go to the NBL in Australia instead of staying stateside. Johnson has a good first step but likely needs a year of experience in the G-League while also bulking up.
24. Washington Wizards(proposed trade from NY Knicks; viaDallas) | Kyshawn George, F, Miami (Fla.)
Instant grade: C
Analysis: George shot 41% from 3 despite a generally limited role as a freshman at Miami (Fla.). He'll need to add more as defender and as a creator for himself, while adding strength. He may also spend the bulk of his rookie year at the G-League, though the perimeter shooting can always override.
25. New York Knicks | Pacome Dadiet, G, France
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Dadiet will be 19 at the start of the NBA regular season, and he has a smooth shot. He is a developmental piece, which is fine for the Knicks right now. It's a tough part of the first round right now for immediate help, and the Knicks don't need that.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (proposed trade from NY Knicks viaWashington, LA Clippers) | Dillon Jones, G, Weber State
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Jones had a good career at Weber State as a four-year player who led the team in several categories this spring. His 3-point shooting is just OK (32% for his career, the same mark he had as a senior) and he isn't an overwhelmingly good athlete. He did a lot of things well in the Big Sky, but it's unclear how that translates in the NBA or what role he could carve out in OKC.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves | Terrence Shannon Jr., G, Illinois
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Shannon will likely need the ball to score, showing the ability to get to the line while also scoring from the perimeter too. His defense will need to improve. Note: Shannon was found not guilty of felony rape and aggravated sexual assault on June 13 by a jury in Kansas stemming from an incident in December.
28. Phoenix Suns (proposed trade from Denver) | Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Dunn did not have a high usage in either of his two seasons at Virginia, and he needs a year or two of G-League play.
29. Utah Jazz (via OKC) | Isaiah Collier, G, USC
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Collier was a favorite among November 2023 mock drafts, but it was a trying freshman season at USC despite some decent numbers. He battled a hand injury and struggled with point guard duties (ballhandling and defense) throughout the first half of the season, and USC looked a bit better with a better Collier in the final month of the season. He measured at less than 6-foot-3, and he'll need to prove himself to get on the court. Collier has talent, but can the Jazz help the 19-year-old become the best version of himself?
30. Boston Celtics | Baylor Scheierman, F, Creighton
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Scheierman can shoot the ball and is a decent cutter. He's going to be an NBA-level shooter, but the defense will need to hold up for him to have a sizeable role at some point.
What channel is the 2024 NBA Draft on today?
TV channel:ESPN and ABC
Streaming:Watch ESPN,FUBO (free trial available)
The 2024 NBA Draft will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN. Streaming options for the event include the ESPN app andFUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
2024 NBA Draft first round start time
Start time:7 pm. CT on Wednesday
The 2024 NBA Draft first round will begin at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NBA Draft tracker: Live first round results, grades of picks so far
