The 2024 NBA Draft is less than a week away, workouts are in full swing and the NBA Finals are over with the Boston Celtics being crowned champions. Now that all 30 teams have turned their full attention to the offseason process, things are heating up.
Now the deadline for international prospects to remove their name from the NBA Draft class has come and gone, meaning the field of prospects is now final. Without major changes to the pool of potential first-round players, the names should sound familiar.
As NBA teams continue the process of evaluating talent and building a blueprint for their roster, here’s a look at how the first 30 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft could play out if teams focus on team needs and fit with the current roster.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Zackary Risachar, France
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Team Needs: Pieces that fit, wing scoring
Best Position: Zachary Risachar
Other Fits: Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan
2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, France
(Sarah Stier | Getty Images)
Team Needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best Position: Alex Sarr
Other Suits: Donovan Clingan
3. Houston Rockets: Donovan Clingan, UConn
Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Team needs: Star power, wing shooting
Best position: Trade away
Other fits: Reed Shepard, Stephen Castle
4. San Antonio Spurs: Reed Shepard, Kentucky
2024 NBA Draft (© David Banks | USA TODAY Sports)
Team needs: Point guard, wing shooting
Best position: Zachary Risacher
Other fits: Stefan Cassel, Mateus Buzelis
5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Bouzelis, G-League
Team needs: Wing talent, veteran presence
Best case: Mateus Buzelis
Other fits: Reed Sheppard, Stephen Castle, Cody Williams
6. Charlotte Hornets: Stephen Cassell, UConn
Team Needs: Wing shooting, rotational depth
Best Position: Reed Shepard
Other Fits: Dalton Knecht, Ron Holland
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams, Colorado
Team needs: Wing talent, high-upside player
Best position: Donovan Clingan
Other fits: Ron Holland, Dalton Knecht
8. San Antonio Spurs: Tidjane Salaun, France
Team needs: Point guard, wing shooting
Best position: Stephen Cassell
Other fits: Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Devin Carter, Providence
Team needs: Center, backup point guard
Best position: Donovan Clingan
Other fits: Kyle Ware, Jack Eddy
10. Utah Jazz: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth
Best position: Dalton Knecht
Other fits: Ron Holland, Nikola Topic
11. Chicago Bulls: Nikola Topic, Serbia
Team Needs: Young talent, rotational depth
Best Position: Stephen Castle
Other Fits: Ron Holland, Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Team needs: Experienced, rebounding forward
Best position: Tidjane Salaun
Other suitabilities: Tristan Da Silva, Ron Holland
13. Sacramento Kings: Jared McCain, Duke
Team needs: Scoring guard, wing depth
Best position: Devin Carter
Other fits: Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ron Holland, G-League
Team needs: Wing talent, high-upside player
Best position: Tidjane Salaun
Other fits: Jakobe Walter, Johnny Furphy
Select 15-30
15. Miami Heat: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Team needs: Young talent, rotational depth
Best case: Rob Dillingham
Other fits: Tristan da Silva, Cale Ware
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Carlton Carrington, Pitt
Team needs: Star power, guard depth, wing defense
Best case: Trade away
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Johnny Furphy
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jack Eddy, Purdue
Team needs: Wing shooting, rotational depth
Best position: Ron Holland
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Isaiah Collier
18. Orlando Magic: Jakobe Walter, Baylor
Team needs: Scoring guard, rotational depth
Best case: Carlton Carrington
Other fits: Tristan da Silva, Darron Holmes
19. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Smith, G-League
Team needs: Young talent, size on the wing
Best case: Jack Eddy
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Keeshon George
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
Team needs: Fits that fit, wing shooting
Best case: Jakobe Walter
Other fits: Jalen Tyson, Johnny Furphy
21. New Orleans Pelicans: Kyle Ware, Indiana
Team needs: Center, point guard
Best case: Kyle Filipowski
Other fits: Isaiah Collier, Yves Misi, Darren Holmes
22. Phoenix Suns: Isaiah Collier, USC
Team needs: Point guard, cheap depth
Best case: Isaiah Collier
Other fits: Ajay Mitchell, Tyler Kolek
23. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Shannon, Illinois
Team needs: Wing shooting, affordable depth
Best case: Tristan Da Silva
Other fits: Baylor Shearman, Johnny Furphy, Keeshon George
24. New York Knicks: Jalen Tyson, California
Team needs: Rotational depth
Best position: Kyle Ware
Other fits: Baylor Shearman, Keeshon George, Darren Holmes
25. New York Knicks: Yves Misi, Baylor
Team needs: Rotational depth
Best case scenario: Trade away
Other fits: Kevin McCullers, Ryan Dunn, Bronny James
26. Washington Wizards: Ajay Mitchell, UCSB
Team Needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best Position: Tyler Smith
Other Fits: Tyler Kolek, Kyshawn George, Bobby Klintman
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Baylor Shearman, Creighton
Team needs: Guard depth
Best case scenario: Baylor Shearman
Other fits: Johnny Furphy, Tyler Kolek
28. Denver Nuggets: Darren Holmes, Dayton
Team Needs: Center depth, wing depth
Best Position: Darren Holmes
Other Fits: Johnny Furphy, Ryan Dunn
29. Utah Jazz: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth
Best option: Johnny Furphy
Other options: Bobby Klintman, Justin Edwards
30. Boston Celtics: Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Team needs: Cheap depth
Best case scenario: Tyler Kolek
Other fits: Pacome Daddiet, Cam Christie
