The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books.
France’s Zachary Rissacher went first overall to the Atlanta Hawks, with Alex Sarr, also of France, going No. 2 to the Washington Wizards, before Kentucky’s Reed Shepard went No. 3 to the Houston Rockets.
Elsewhere, UConn’s Donovan Clingan went to the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 7 overall pick, while the Chicago Bulls selected MatÃas Bouzelis with the No. 11 overall pick.
But while those picks include some of the most prominent names in this class, there are some who could prove to be better.
Let’s analyze the 2024 draft with five winners and losers:
Winner: Devin Carter, Sacramento Kings
Drafting players means getting their profile right. Are they unique enough? Do they have room to grow and if yes, how much? Although not the most exciting talent available in the 2024 draft, Carter of Providence stood out early.
The Providence guard stood 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, made 37.7% of 3-pointers on 6.6 attempts in his final year, grabbed 8.4 rebounds and had no trouble guarding multiple positions. It happened, no matter what his situation was. size.
The Kings may already have several guards, notably De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell and Keon Ellis, among others, but Carter is a one-day rotational player. For Sacramento, he could essentially be a better version of Mitchell as the former first-rounder hasn’t shown much development offensively.
At the No. 13 overall pick, Carter could be tremendously valuable to a Kings team hoping to return to the playoffs next season.
Loser: Ron Holland, Detroit Pistons
Let’s make this clear: Holland is one of the better 3-and-D prospects in this class. But that’s not who he thinks the Pistons should have been with the No. 5 overall pick.
At 18 years old, he is one of the youngest players in the class with a 6-foot-6 frame and a 6-foot-11 wingspan. The G League Ignite product is not a great spot-up shooter, but can attack the basket with his slashing skills. There’s a lot to like defensively, too, but the Pistons didn’t need his profile.
With Cade Cunningham anchoring the team, Detroit hasn’t done very well surrounding him with floor spacers. Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren are key players who don’t shoot the ball well, with Marcus Sasser and Isaiah Stewart providing spacing. But Detroit needs more, as well as on-the-ball creators, to move forward from the bottom line.
Holland doesn’t really fix any of Detroit’s needs for a top-five selection, even though he would have his uses.
Forward Ron Holland is one of the most talked-about players in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Winner: Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
For teams hoping to compete like the Lakers, having older players in the draft isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Knecht, from Tennessee, is 23 and a multi-pronged scorer, converting 39.7% of 6.5 attempts per game from 3-point range.
He’s not the best shot creator, but he can score in spot-up situations or off-balance, so he should fit well in many lineups that include LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
With a 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-9 wingspan, Knecht can add points offensively, even though there will be some concerns about him defensively. But he should also be a productive player for new head coach JJ Redick, who can certainly draw up plays for him to help his adaptation process.
SEC Player of the Year, Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht is destined to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Loser: Bronny James
After some discussion that Bronny James could be selected in the first round, he ultimately was not called. As mentioned above, the Lakers grabbed Knecht, while the Phoenix Suns took another prospect, Ryan Dunn, out of Virginia at No. 27 overall.
The 6-foot-2 guard has a 6-foot-7 wingspan and has the ability to become a solid 3-point shooter, so he has the potential to be an impact 3-and-D guard right from the start. The intrigue will be who, if anyone, selects him in the second round.
With the 2024 NBA Draft taking place this week, Kaz Famuyide of Fanatics Sportsbook discusses three possible destinations for Bronny James.
Winner: Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers need more players than Joel Embiid to create on their own. Tyrese Maxey has developed into a standout sophomore option, with their latest draft pick potentially fitting the Bills.
McCain, a point guard from Duke, is one of the better scorers in the draft. His 6-foot-2 frame with a 6-foot-3 wingspan has its own problems, but he makes up for it with efficient shooting numbers.
In his lone season as a Blue Devil, he recorded 46/41/89 shooting splits on 10.5/6/2.4 volume. He’ll need to carve out a role off the Sixers’ bench, which could become a strong value at No. 16 overall.
honorable mentions
could be the winner, Tidgen Salon, Charlotte Hornets
With LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams and Trey Mann, the Hornets have promising youngsters at every position. France’s 18-year-old Salaun can fill the fourth spot. The 6-foot-9 Salaun with a 7-foot-2 wingspan could develop into a solid stretch 4 if his 3-point shooting and on-the-ball abilities work.
Winner: France
Speaking of France, the European country had the most first-round prospects after the U.S. Rissacher, Sarr, Salaun and Pacom Dadiet (No. 25 overall to the New York Knicks) were the four players off the board, though it is not known. How successful they will be in the next few years. Still, it’s another sign that the game is becoming more international.
