This is a post I’ve been looking forward to making for quite sometime. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed scouting this class so far and am looking forward to continuing doing so throughout this season. Be sure and comment any thoughts, opinions or questions you might have! I can’t wait to talk draft with you all!
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1. Brooklyn Nets: Cooper Flagg (Forward)
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Does this pick really need an explanation? Flagg is an elite defensive prospect who is no slouch offensively either. If he continues to improve has a self creator he has a chance to be one of if not the best player in the league.
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2. Washington Wizards: Dylan Harper (Guard)
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Washington looks to have hit big on their 2024 draft picks. Sarr, Carrington, and George are all good young players, but Dylan Harper could very easily be the go to guy for the Wizards. His ability to run an offense along with his defensive upside would make him the #1 pick in most classes.
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3. Portland Trailblazers: Ace Bailey (Forward)
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Ace Bailey has all of the tools to be an elite offensive player. The issue is that right now he’s much more of a tough shot maker than a good shot creator. For him to succeed at the next level, he’ll need to continue to work on creating more space, generating more paint touches, and becoming a better defender.
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4. Detroit Pistons: Tre Johnson (Wing)
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If the Pistons are once again picking this high they will need to start thinking about picking a player who fits well with their current core as opposed to just the BPA. They have an offensive engine in Cade Cunningham as well as lots of good - great young defenders, but they still are lacking an elite off ball shooter. That is exactly what Tre Johnson would provide. He’s a guy who excels out scoring off of the ball, but can also create with the ball in his hands when needed.
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5. Utah Jazz: Egor Demin (Guard)
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The Jazz have young talent at every position, but they still lack that true offensive engine. Demin could be just that. He’s not the craziest athlete, but he’s very fluid for someone who is 6’8. He’s a skilled playmaker who is very efficient with his dribbles. If he continues to develop as a shooter the sky is truly the limit.
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6. Chicago Bulls: Khama Maluach (Big)
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The Bulls have some nice young connective pieces and a #1 option (for now) in Zach Lavine. Big man depth however us a major question mark. Maluach would be a great long term solution to that. He’s a good athlete and great mover for someone who is 7’2. His physical tools make him a special defensive prospect, but his development offensively will determine just how good he becomes.
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7. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Wing)
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This would be a major steal for the Hornets. Edgecombe is my #4 prospect coming into the year but falls down the board due to other teams needing different positions/archetypes. His shot creation, rim pressure, and defense make him the perfect backcourt mate for Lamelo Ball. If he continues to improve as a shooter, the sky is truly the limit for him.
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8. Toronto Raptors: Dink Pate (Guard)
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Upside, upside, upside. This is a guy I expect every team to be after. Who wouldn’t want an athletic and fluid 6’8 guard with 2 years of pro experience? He’s a natural playmaker that uses his physical tools to create easy looks for himself and others. He’ll need to continue to work on his three point shot if he wants to reach his full potential.
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9. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Nolan Traore (Guard)
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Traore has pairs good positional size and defense with great playmaking. He’ll have to continue improving on his three point shot to stick in the league though as being a non shooter negates his biggest strength. If he puts it all together then him and Castle will be an elite backcourt for years to come.
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10. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeeley (Wing)
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The Spurs need to continue to put shooters around Wemby. That’s exactly what McNeeley does… shoots the leather off of the ball. At 6’7 210 he has the potential to play 2-4. He’ll be able to learn behind Harrison Barnes for a year before taking over a major role in San Antonio.
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11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Noa Essengue (Forward)
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Essengue will be one of if not the youngest players in the draft this year. He’ll more than likely start his career as a versatile defender and play finisher, but he has the potential to be much much more than that. The good news is that OKC will be able to be more than patient with him as he continues to develop his handle and three point shot,
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12. Houston Rockets: Rocco Zikarsky (Big)
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The Rockets have one of if not the best young cores in the NBA. The one thing they’re missing? A backup big man. Zikarsky would be the perfect backup to Sengun. His size and strength would be the perfect change of pace behind Sengun. His a great shot blocker who has shown tremendous touch around the basket. He may never be a three point shooter though, and that’s okay as he’s more than serviceable as is.
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13. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL): Kon Knueppel (Wing)
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Knueppel’s ability as an off ball scorer would make him an ideal fit alongside Trae Young. He’ll be able to develop behind Bogdan Bogdanovic and Deandre Hunter before sliding into their roles.
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14. Golden State Warriors: Jamir Watkins (Wing)
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Unfortunately, the Steph Curry era in Golden State is nearing an end. If they want to make one last championship push, they need to add some win now pieces around him very soon. Jamir Watkins is just that. Watkins is a fantastic defender and positional rebounder who showed flashes of playmaking while shooting 34.4% from 3.
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15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA): Kasparas Jakuccionis (Wing)
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What do you give the team who has everything? The answer for me, more high upside players. Jakuccionis is a skilled wing player who is also a gifted playmaker. He’s a solid defender and finisher despite not being a high level athlete. If he can improve his
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16. New Orleans Pelicans: Boogie Fland (Guard)
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With CJ McCollum entering the tail end of his career, the Pelicans could really use some added scoring pop from their backcourt. That’s exactly what Fland will provide. Coach Cal is known for producing great NBA guards no matter what school he is at, and Fland looks to me the next one to join that list. He’s an shifty and explosive scorer from all three levels despite his small frame. He’s also an underrated playmaker.
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17. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Zvonimir Ivisic (Big)
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After adding a high upside wing at #13, the Hawks next biggest need becomes a little more blurry. With Capela set to be a FA soon, going with a big would make sense. Ivisic is a skilled 7 footer that showed tons of flashes as a freshman. He’s a great rim protector and play finisher who showed tons of flashes as a self creator and playmaker. If he can show those flashes more constantly, he could be a staple in the Hawks front court for years to come.
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18. Indiana Pacers: Hugo Gonzalez Pena (Forward)
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The Pacers are a young team that doesn’t have a ton of holes. That makes them the perfect team to take a shot on a versatile young forward like Gonzalez Pena. He’s physical skills make him an enticing prospect, but he’s still extremely raw. The Pacers will be able to be patient with him as he develops.
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19. Memphis Grizzlies: Will Riley (Wing)
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The Grizzlies are another young and competitive team without many holes. This allows them to take a shot on another high upside wing in Riley. Having reclassified, he’s on of the younger players in the class. His size and shot creation make him an intriguing prospect, but he’ll have to continue working on being a better space creator as well as creating more rim pressure.
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20. Houston Rockets (via PHX): Asa Newell (Big)
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The Rockets double down on big guys here after taking Zikarsky at #12. While he is more of a bruiser, Newell gives them the exact opposite… he’s an uber athletic big who is a terror in transition and can space the floor offensively.
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21. Orlando Magic: Donavan Freeman (Forward)
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Freeman is a versatile defensive forward who continues to improve offensively. If he continues to show his ability to create shots for himself both in the paint on the perimeter then he will find himself shooting up draft boards.
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22. Utah Jazz (via CLE): Derrion Reid (Forward)
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Reid is a big bruising forward who dominates on the interior with his size, athleticism, and motor. He’s been developing as a passer and perimeter defender as well, but the real swing skills for him will be if he can develop a consistent three point shot.
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23. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Drake Powell (Wing)
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The Nets double down on defensive minded players after taking Flagg at #1. Powell is a high motor wing who is a versatile defender. At this point though, his offensive game is a major question mark that will determine where (if at all) he’s drafted.
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24. Dallas Mavericks: Adou Thiero (Wing)
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Thiero is as versatile of a player as you will find in all of college basketball. He’s a great athlete with a fantastic frame (6’8 220 lbs). He’s a late bloomer that still possesses many of the guard skills he had before hitting his growth spurt. He’s a versatile defender who brings great positional rebounding, finishing, and playmaking to the table. If his three point shot continues to be more consistent then he’ll be a force for years to come.
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25. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Jalil Bethea (Guard)
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Bethea is a skilled shot creating guard with great positional size at 6’5. The issue is, all he can really do right now is score. He isn’t much of a playmaker and can be turnover prone at times. He’s also not currently a good defender. He’ll need to improve in these areas to stick in the league long term.
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26. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Kanon Catchings (Forward)
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Catchings is a good athlete at 6’9 who has great fluidity. He’s a true two-way forward. He’s a versatile defender who also has a consistent three point shot. He’ll have to continue to develop his ability to score in the paint to maximize his potential.
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27. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Ian Jackson (Guard)
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The rich keep getting richer. OKC adds a skilled guard with great positional size (6’5) in Jackson. He creates tons of rim pressure and is a skilled finisher. He also defends very well. The issue is that he’s not a great playmaker or shooter yet which makes it hard for him to be a true lead guard.
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28. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): Tyrese Proctor (Guard)
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Proctor is an extremely skilled playmaker and defender who possesses great positional size at 6’6. Last season he improved greatly as a finisher at the rim, but still needs to continue to improve his three point shot,
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29. Brooklyn Nets (via OKC): Ben Saraf (Guard)
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Saraf is a crafty guard with excellent positional size at 6’6. He isn’t a freak athlete, but makes up for that with quick high IQ decisions. He’s very efficient with the ball in his hands and is no slouch of a defender. Like many other jumbo guards, his three point shot will be what ultimately determines if he’d able to reach his ceiling.
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30. Boston Celtics: Jaxon Robinson (Wing)
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Jaxon Robinson is as plug and play of a player as there is in this class. He has ideal size for a wing at 6’7 and is a knock down shooter and excellent off ball mover. He’s by no means a lockdown defender, but he is more than serviceable on that end.