2024 NBA first-round mock draft

Our second edition of the 2024 First Round NBA Mock Draft features quite a bit of player movement throughout - likely a sign that there won't be much of a consensus come draft night. Like the first edition, we've included NBA player comparisons for each of the prospects as well as references to where we had each player pegged in our first edition of the mock draft. Enjoy!

Previously: #1

NBA Comparison: A wealthy man's Mark Williams with a whole lot of attitude

Alex Sarr has risen from a mid-first round project to a potential number-one overall pick in the past few months. The 7-foot-1 French big man exploded off the screen in his two games against the G-League Ignite earlier this fall, dunking on everyone, blocking out the sun (12 blocks in two games), and intimidating opponents with his intensity. He even flashed the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. Despite having a plethora of raw big men on its roster, Detroit has to go with the best prospect available here regardless of fit.

Previously: #3

NBA Comparison: A fundamentality-sound LaMelo Ball

Yes, we have another Nikola coming to the NBA soon. This one is a big point guard who shares some of the elite court vision and creativity as his Serbian brethren, Nikola Jokic. Nikola Topic is another fast-rising prospect who could parlay his success in the Adriatic League (and now back in the EuroLeague) into being one of the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. Topić's game reminds me a lot of LaMelo Ball's in terms of his ability to keep defenders on their heels with no-look passes and hesitation moves (albeit with a lot less swagger than Ball). The Spurs love international players, and desperately need a point guard, so this seems like a match made in heaven.

Previously: #5

NBA Comparison: Michael Porter Jr.

Zaccharie Risacher is yet another stud Frenchman whose stock is on the rise. The 6-foot-10 wing appears to be an ideal big wing in the modern NBA with his ability to knock down threes, attack closeouts and defend multiple positions. He should be somewhere on the Harrison Barnes-Cameron Johnson-Michael Porter Jr. spectrum, depending on how elite of shooter he develops into. He and the Wizards pick from the 2023 NBA Draft could form quite the wing tandem in Washington someday.

Previously: #6

NBA Comparison: Buddy Hield

The Hornets are in the midst of a very slow rebuild around LaMelo Ball. They drafted Mark Williams to get him an ideal rim-running big man. They drafted Brandon Miller to get him a do-it-all wing. Now they draft the dead-eye shooter, Ja'Kobe Walter, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Baylor who is lighting it up in his freshman year. Walter has unlimited range and reminds me of Buddy Hield with his ability to score in bunches from anywhere on the court.

Previously: #9

NBA Comparison: Jalen Williams (his older brother)

Unlike his older brother, who was an unknown prospect from Santa Clara, Cody Williams is squarely on the NBA's radar as a freshman. At 6-foot-8, he's a little taller and thinner than his older brother (who is built like a tank), but he appears to also have the three-and-D wing thing down pat and is averaging 12.8 PPG on 60-50-68 shooting splits. It'll be interesting to see whether Cody can develop the on-ball abilities that his brother has displayed early in his career. Portland, a team that has seemingly been devoid of a star wing since the days of Clyde Drexler, will be happy to take him here and bet on his upside.

Previously: #8

NBA Comparison: Franz Wagner

Matas Buzelis is a difficult prospect to peg. On one hand, he is extremely skilled and, at 6-foot-10, plays like he could be another Franz Wagner. On the other hand, he's be limited by an injury this season and is a European player who is playing for a G-League Ignite team that is routinely getting embarrassed. Is he going to struggle to adapt to the NBA game? Is he athletic enough to have the ball in his hands as much as he has had it as a prospect? He's got a high ceiling, but lower floor, so he'll need to go to a franchise that has a penchant for player development like the Memphis Grizzlies.

Previously: #10

NBA Comparison: Early-career Domantas Sabonis

After landing their point guard of the future at the top of this draft, the Spurs beef up their frontcourt to further protect franchise player, Victor Wembanyama, by selecting Duke's Kyle Filipowski. The 7-foot, 230-pound center probably would have been a lottery pick had he gone pro last season, but instead opted to return to Duke for his sophomore year where he's been excellent, averaging 18.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG and 3 APG. His three-point stroke has improved dramatically as well (28.2 percent as a freshman; 41.2 percent this season), so he should be able to space the floor and allow Wemby more room to operate.

Previously: #4

NBA Comparison: A right-handed RJ Barrett

Ron Holland started the season off as the top prospect on a number of mock drafts. Then, after struggling for the G-League Ignite, fell like a rock. Now, after some strong performances as of late, he seems to be pegged in the mid-to-late-lottery range, which seems on point. He's excellent in the open court, and ferociously attacks the basket with straight-line drives and rim attacks. His jump shot mechanics are pretty smooth, but it remains to be seen whether he will eventually be able to shoot off the dribble or on the move. Ime Udoka loves him some ferocious, athletic wings who can defend, so Holland makes sense as a prototype for him to mold into a two-way force.

Previously: #7

NBA Comparison: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (as a draft prospect)

I expect the Hawks roster to look much different by the 2024 NBA Draft. Dejounte Murray will almost certainly be gone. Deandre Hunter and Clint Capela may be gone. Heck, Trae Young may even get traded if the franchise decides to move in a different direction after what will likely be another disappointing finish in Atlanta. UConn's stud freshman guard, Stephon Castle, has some of the highest upside in this draft with his slithery playmaking and versatility. Though he's been slowed by an injury early this season, he's been playing very well for the top-rated Huskies lately. And his game reminds me of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's when he was in Kentucky. Like SGA, he might be the type of prospect that shocks everyone the more his team puts the ball in his hands.

Previously: #18

NBA Comparison: John Collins (the athlete)

At a bouncy 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Tidjane Salaun certainly looks the part of an NBA player. Can the French forward actually play? It remains to be seen. He runs the court, cuts and dunks the hell out of the ball like a young John Collins. He's also flashing the ability to hit three-pointers as well. However, comparing him to Collins, the player, would be an insult to Collins who once averaged over 20 PPG in the NBA. That said, he's been rocketing up draft boards as of late due to some strong performances in the FIBA Champions League and French League. Portland will be happy to take a swing on a high upside forward like this towards the end of the lottery.

Previously: #2

NBA Comparison: Tyreke Evans adapted to modern basketball

While this certainly isn't a fit given Coby White's breakout this season, Isaiah Collier has fallen far enough at this point and has too much upside to slide any further. USC's 6-foot-4 power guard was previously in play for the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but a slump, followed by an injury have him dropping like a rock. Collier is very good in the open court and shifty with the ball in his hands, allowing him to attack from creative angles all over the court. Some see a resemblance to another legendary California guard, Baron Davis. I'm not sure he's as explosive as Davis - he reminds me more of a young Tyreke Evans, but with a more analytically-sound game (Evans' shortcoming was his shooting). 

Previously: #11

NBA Comparison: Walker Kessler

Donovan Clingan is a literal giant, standing at 7-foot-2 and weighing 265 pounds. And unlike a lot of big men that size, Clingan moves his feet very well and has very good hands - enabling him to run the court for easy fast break dunks and layups. While he'll have some trouble on the perimeter against the NBA's best guards, he'll have a massive impact around the basket and on the boards. He also has pretty solid vision and passing skills for a big man, so expect him to be a mid-to-late lottery pick and play a Walker Kessler-type of role for whichever team selects him. He'd be a perfect fit to play 20-25 minutes alongside Chet Holmgren. 

Previously: #20

NBA Comparison: Jordan Clarkson

With CJ McCollum getting a little long in the tooth, the Pelicans could be in the market for an explosive scorer off the bench. Enter Robert Dillingham, an electric player and absolute bucket who has figured out a way to stand out even amongst all of the other Kentucky guards and is averaging 14.5 PPG and 4.1 APG with 47-41-77 shooting splits. It'll be interesting to see how Coach Calipari distributes minutes to all of his talented NBA prospects as the season goes on.

Previously: #27

NBA Comparison: Austin Reaves

The son of a Kentucky legend, Reed Sheppard has exploded onto the scene this season despite having less NBA hype than some of his backcourt mates. Despite only starting one game this season (the most recent one), Sheppard is averaging 11.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.2 APG and 2.5 SPG with hilariously efficient 56-53-85 shooting splits. His advanced numbers suggest that he might be the Wildcats' best player. The Thunder love smart players who can make immediate decisions with the ball and shoot the rock. Sheppard checks those boxes here at no. 14.

Previously: #23

NBA Comparison: Terrence Jones

Tyler Smith is a 6-foot-10, lefty forward, like the rest of his G-League teammates this season, is a bit of a mystery because the team is a bit of a fiasco this season, often losing by substantial amounts. He does, however, have all the tools you need to be a successful stretch forward in the NBA - much like Terrence Jones was coming out of Kentucky. Sometimes the Terrence Joneses turn into stud NBA player; sometimes they flame out of the NBA. The Magic could use some floor spacers and having a 6-foot-10 one fits their type.

Previously: #17

NBA Comparison: Matisse Thybulle

Ryan Dunn, a 6-foot-8, uber-athletic sophomore small forward on Virginia, literally jumps off the screen when he goes up for a dunk or block. He'll enter the NBA as one of the top athletes in the league. Dunn has figured out how to utilize his God-given gifts on the defensive end where he is currently averaging a preposterous combination of 2 BPG and 2 SPG. However, like Matisse Thybulle, he'll really need to continue to refine his game and become a more efficient and consistent player (9.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 55-22-60 shooting splits). 

Previously: #14

NBA Comparison: Mitchell Robinson

Originally expected to be a one-and-done at Oregon, Kel'el Ware fell out of favor with the Ducks and was maddeningly inconsistent. Instead of declaring for the draft, falling to the second round and spending this season in the G-League, he smartly transferred to Indiana where his minutes and production have more than doubled. Ware has some of the most impressive blocked shots you will ever see, plus the ability to be a rim-runner and occasional threat from the three-point line. He'd make for a understudy to, and eventual replacement, for Mitchell Robinson.

Previously: Unranked

NBA Comparison: Toolsier, less athletic Ochai Agbaji

Like his Kansas brethren before him, Ochai Agbaji, Kevin McCullar is putting on an absolute show in his senior season for the Jayhawks, averaging 19.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 4.7 APG with 48-36-85 shooting splits. The 6-foot-6 wing can immediately be an NBA rotation player, and, despite being 23 years old, may have still have a lot of upside as seen by his improvement as a playmaker during his five seasons in the Big 12.

Previously: Unranked

NBA Comparison: Max Strus

Dalton Knecht is rocketing up the draft boards this season after some eye-popping performances, including a 39-point game against Florida, a 37-point game against North Carolina and a 36-point game against Georgia. At 6-foot-6, he has the size to both get his shot off and defend at the next level, the handle to attack closeouts and the shooting efficiency to be an elite floor-spacer (49-42-81 shooting splits). 

Previously: #26

NBA Comparison: Gabe Vincent

It's never a bad thing to have depth at point guard in the NBA. With Kyle Lowry set to be a free agent (or retire) at the end of the season, there's a good chance the Heat will be looking for another gritty guard like the one who helped them win the Eastern Conference last season, Gabe Vincent. Duke's freshman Jaren McCain, like Vincent, is a tough-nosed guard who can play on-ball - though he will need to improve his playmaking, as well as off-ball as a shooter (42 percent from three on more than five attempts per game).

Previously: #13

NBA Comparison: Jalen Johnson

Bobi Klintman's path to the NBA is a little abnormal. After showing some promise, but rarely producing like a first round pick at Wake Forest, the 6-foot-10 forward from Sweden flirted with declaring for the draft - and may have gone in the first round - before deciding to go play in the Australian NBL. While in the Land Down Under, Klintman has been given more opportunities to showcase his wide range of skills and reminds me a little of the type of prospect Jalen Johnson was a few years back when he cut his freshman season short at Duke. 

Previously: Unranked 

NBA Comparison: A less-polished Mark Williams

I know, I know - I can't just compare every super-athletic big man to Mark Williams, but that's who I think of when I Yves Missi jump off the screen to finish an alley-oop or block a shot. The 6-foot-11 big man from Cameroon possesses a 9-foot-1 standing reach and can literally touch the sky. He also has an immense amount of upside considering he didn't start playing basketball until 2018.  

Previously: #16

NBA Comparison: Collin Sexton

Wouldn't it be awesome if the Cavaliers, who drafted D.J. Wagner's father, Dajuan Wagner, with the sixth overall pick in 2002, took D.J. Wagner here? Once the top player in his high school class, the shine on Wagner isn't quite as bright as it once was. That said, the 6-foot-3 scoring guard from Kentucky, is still a first round talent. If the Cavs decide to make a big trade this offseason, it'll likely involve Donovan Mitchell, which will open up a need for a dynamic score-first guard, which is exactly what Wagner projects to be at the next level.

Previously: #19

NBA Comparison: Luis Scola 

Izan Almansa, a 6-foot-10 forward who already has a ton of FIBA experience and success, decided to play this season for the G-League Ignite. Though his average athleticism could be a problem for him in the NBA, his advanced feel for the game should get him drafted in the first round. The Thunder have so many talented young players that they'll probably need to select a player whom they can develop in the G-League for a season or two, so Almansa makes sense here at 24.

Previously: #28

NBA Comparison: Duncan Robinson

The unassuming stretch forward from UConn was a major contributor in the Huskies championship run last season, averaging 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG and shooting 40.2 percent from three. While he's mired in a bit of a slump at the moment, the 6-foot-9 forward's game is clearly more advanced than it was a year ago and has the type of sweet shot that should translate well to the pro game. Never a bad idea to surround Nikola Jokic with high-IQ shooters like Karaban.

Previously: #15

NBA Comparison: Lefty Cam Reddish

The 76ers have a very good team with a lot of depth at most positions, so they can get away with simply picking the player with the highest upside at this pick. Justin Edwards, a 6-foot-7 springy wing from Kentucky, has the perfect body and skill set to excel in the NBA. He could be an All-Star guard when he hits his prime, but could also be out of the NBA before his second contract. His college career has been maddeningly inconsistent (his shooting splits are 46-27-68 through 16 games) thus far, so there's a real chance he slips to the end of the first round. 

Previously: #24

NBA Comparison: Obi Toppin

After missing most of his sophomore season with a torn ACL, the 6-foot-9 explosive forward on Arkansas has flashed a lot of potential at various points during this season - like when he scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, hit four of seven three-pointers and blocked two shots in an upset victory over Duke. On the other hand, given his skill set and athleticism, you'd like to see more consistency out of him as he's only averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.7 RPG on 47-36-70 shooting. Toronto takes a risk on him here at number 27.

Previously: #29

NBA Comparison: Righty D'Angelo Russell

Carlton "Bub" Carrington is a lesser-known freshman out of Pitt who burst onto the scene with a triple-double in his first career collegiate game. The Baltimore native is a 6-foot-4 combo guard with a crafty game that keeps opponents off-balance with creative hesitations and stop-start dribble moves. Carrington and the Pitt Panthers are in the midst of a serious slump at the moment, which isn't uncommon for freshmen guards, so we're betting on the come here and assuming that Carrington's improves his efficiency by the end of the season.

Previously: Unranked

NBA Comparison: Poor Man's Yao Ming

Good for Zach Edey. The reigning Naismith Player of the Year returned to Purdue to work on his game and better-ready himself for the NBA this year...and he's accomplished just that. Some mock drafts even have him flirting with the lottery after he made major improvements to his conditioning and agility - both of which will be important for him in the NBA if he wants to be anything more than a Boban Marjanovic-type player. The 7-foot-4, 285-pound big man is averaging 22.9 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.2 BPG and shooting 62.7 percent from the field this season.

Previously: #30

NBA Comparison: De'Anthony Melton

How hilarious would this be if the Celtics - LeBron James Eastern Conference nemesis - drafts Bronny James and asks LeBron to join them at a steep discount? I think Bill Simmons would have a heart attack. Before his scary cardiac arrest suffered in a workout this past summer, James was shooting up the draft boards after stellar McDonald's All-American performance and USA Basketball performances. He's an excellent athlete, defender and connector on offense who needs to improve his shooting efficiency, but has the mechanics to do so. To be clear: He hasn't played like an NBA player thus far in his college career. However, he deserves at least the rest of the season to see if he can get back on the trajectory he was on last spring.