Omari Sankofa IIDetroit Free Press
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The 2024 NBA draft, scheduled for June 26-27, is less than three weeks away.
The Detroit Pistons' pick (No. 5 overall) will be one of the first major decisions made by their new front office, led by president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon. It's expected to be one of the more unpredictable drafts in recent memory, and information on Langdon's draft philosophy, at the moment, is light.
Regardless, here's how the first round could shake out and why it makes sense for the Pistons to ignore positional fit.
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1. Atlanta Hawks: PF/C Alex Sarr
Vitals: 7 feet 1, 224 pounds.
From: France.
Averages: 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1 steal, 18 minutes.
According to reports, the Hawks are still evaluating their options after leaping nine spots during last month’s lottery. Fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher has become a popular choice to go first overall, but Sarr’s defensive mobility — which has been compared to Evan Mobley’s and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s — makes him an appealing choice for a franchise set to hit the reset button, to some extent, this offseason.
2. Washington Wizards: F Zaccharie Risacher
Vitals: 6-9, 210 pounds.
From: France.
Averages: 11.1 points, 4 rebounds, 47% overall, 38.7% from 3.
The Wizards need help everywhere following a 15-win season. Risacher likely has the highest upside of any prospect outside of Sarr, thanks to his soft shooting touch and defensive length.
3. Houston Rockets: G Reed Sheppard
Vitals: 6-3, 187.
From: Kentucky.
Averages: 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 53.6% overall, 52.1% from 3.
There aren’t many obvious needs for a Rockets team that improved to 41 wins last season while boasting young talent at every position. Sheppard is arguably the best shooter in this year’s draft and should jell with any lineup due to his playmaking and defensive hustle.
4. San Antonio Spurs: G Rob Dillingham
Vitals: 6-2, 176.
From: Kentucky.
Averages: 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, 47.5% overall, 44.4% from 3.
The guard out of Kentucky’s draft stock is all over the place after posting underwhelming measurements at the draft combine, standing 6-1 without shoes with a slight 164-pound frame. Thanks to Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs can live with his defensive shortcomings and gamble on his potential as an all-around spark plug scorer and playmaker.
5. Detroit Pistons: C Donovan Clingan
Vitals: 7-3, 280.
From: UConn.
Averages: 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 assists (0.8 turnovers).
Yes, the Pistons already have two young bigs in Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. But Langdon can’t draft for fit after taking over the NBA’s worst team. Clingan should be a strong rim protector from day one, with his broad 7-foot-7 wingspan and strong awareness of where he should be in drop coverage. Combine that with his interior scoring and short-roll passing, and he’s likely the best player available here.
His arrival could force the Pistons to eventually choose between him and Duren, as they both profile as pure centers. There’s nothing wrong with positional competition, and Detroit could roll with both young bigs until they’re forced to eventually commit to one. The Dallas Mavericks have shown it can be done this postseason with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
6. Charlotte Hornets: G Stephon Castle
Vitals: 6-7, 215.
From: UConn.
One of the draft’s top perimeter defenders — as well as a capable playmaker and downhill threat — Castle is an ideal partner next to LaMelo Ball and would give the Hornets one of the biggest backcourts in the league.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: F Ron Holland
Vitals: 6-8, 206.
From: G League Ignite.
His efficiency suffered on a poor G League Ignite team lacking point guard play, but Holland’s motor, athleticism, all-around game and age (he'll still be 18 on draft night) gives him a high ceiling.
8. San Antonio Spurs: F Tidjane Salaun
Vitals: 6-10, 212.
From: Cholet Basket (France).
He’s still raw, but Salaun is a late riser thanks to his frame, athleticism and upside as a shooter.
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9. Memphis Grizzlies: G Dalton Knecht
Vitals: 6-6, 213.
From: Tennessee.
The Grizzlies should leap back into contention next season with Ja Morant’s return, and Knecht’s shooting and scoring ability should help them from Day 1.
10.Utah Jazz: F Matas Buzelis
Vitals: 6-10, 209.
From: G League Ignite.
Despite struggling to knock down outside shots last season, Buzelis remains one of the draft’s top two-way prospects and an intriguing frontcourt fit with Walker Kessler.
11. Chicago Bulls: G Nikola Topic
Vitals: 6-6, 201.
From: Red Star (Serbia).
Once considered a potential No. 1 pick thanks to his elite pick-and-roll feel and size, Topic’s partial ACL tear may cause him to drop outside of the top 10. The Bulls need a point guard, so this is a strong fit.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: F Cody Williams
Vitals: 6-8, 190.
From: Colorado.
There aren’t any obvious needs for a young, contending Thunder team. Pairing Williams, a defense-minded wing, with his older brother, Jalen, is an enticing opportunity.
13. Sacramento Kings: G Devin Carter
Vitals: 6-3, 193.
From: Providence.
An all-around guard, Carter’s defense and outside shooting could make him a plug-and-play option for a Kings team in the title hunt.
14. Portland Trail Blazers: G Jared McCain
Vitals: 6-3, 197.
From: Duke.
The freshman guard has few weaknesses — he can really shoot the ball from 3 (41.4%) and competes defensively.
15. Miami Heat: F/C DaRon Holmes II
Vitals: 6-10, 235.
From: Dayton.
The All-American had a statistically dominant season as a junior — 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while making more than half of his shots and nearly 39% of his 3s.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: F Tristan da Silva
Vitals: 6-9, 217.
From: Colorado.
This is a great fit for a Sixers team with title aspirations, as da Silva is an efficient all-around scorer who can even handle playmaking responsibilities as a power forward.
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17. Los Angeles Lakers: F Johnny Furphy
Vitals: 6-8, 202.
From: Kansas.
The 19-year-old wing brings size, shooting and athleticism to a Lakers team in need of instant contributors as they try to maximize their window with LeBron James.
18. Orlando Magic: C Kyle Filipowski
Vitals: 6-11, 248.
From: Duke.
This pick would be a bit of a zag for a Magic front office that has prioritized positional length above all else. Filipowski doesn’t have an impressive wingspan, but his all-around ability as a shooter and distributor, while also being solid defensively, makes him a very strong fit.
19. Toronto Raptors — G Isaiah Collier
Vitals: 6-3, 210.
From: USC.
Collier had an up-and-down season, but his powerful downhill game would give the Raptors a different look at backup point guard compared to their starter, Immanuel Quickley.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: G Ja’Kobe Walter
Vitals: 6-6, 195.
From: Baylor.
Walter is a prototypical off-guard who entered the season with top-10 hype but didn’t quite shoot well enough from 3 (34.1%) to establish himself as a clear lottery pick.
21. New Orleans Pelicans: C Yves Missi
Vitals: 7-0, 215.
From: Baylor.
With Jonas Valanciunas entering restricted free agency, Missi makes sense as a long-term fit thanks to his upside as a rim protector and lob threat.
22. Phoenix Suns: C Zach Edey
Vitals: 7-4, 300.
From: Purdue.
Men’s college basketball’s most dominant player ends up on a Suns team that’s all-in on winning a championship, and in need of depth.
23. Milwaukee Bucks: G Cam Christie
Vitals: 6-5, 190.
From: Minnesota.
As one of the draft’s better 3-and-D prospects, the brother of former MSU standout Max Christie (now a Laker) should fit right in on a Bucks team led by Giannis Antetokoumnpo and Damian Lillard.
24. New York Knicks: G/F Kyshawn George
Vitals: 6-8, 205.
From: Miami (Florida).
A 40.8% shooter from 3 last season, George makes sense for a Knicks team that could lose two veteran shooters (former Pistons Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks) in free agency.
25. New York Knicks: F/C Tyler Smith
Vitals: 6-10, 223.
From: G League Ignite.
Smith has room for growth defensively but can really shoot the ball and could bolster New York’s bench.
26. Washington Wizards: G Carlton Carrington
Vitals: 6-4, 190.
From: Pitt.
The Wizards address their need at point guard with the draft’s youngest college player, who boasts big upside as a defender, shooter and playmaker.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Tyler Kolek
Vitals: 6-1, 197.
From: Marquette.
The 23-year-old guard is as well-rounded as they come offensively — a strong shooter and efficient all-around scorer who is also one of the draft’s best passers.
28. Denver Nuggets: C Kel’el Ware
Vitals: 7-0, 242.
From: Indiana.
Ware has De’Andre Jordan-like leaping ability around the rim and also shot 42.5% from 3, albeit on low volume, and ironically, fills Jordan's role as the backup center for the 2023 champions.
29. Utah Jazz — F Pacome Dadiet
Vitals: 6-8, 187.
From: Ratiopharm (France).
Still only 18, Dadiet profiles as a skilled offensive wing if his game comes together.
30. Boston Celtics: F Baylor Scheierman
Vitals: 6-7, 205.
From: Creighton.
Boston uses the final pick in the first round by adding a 23-year-old 3-and-D wing to a roster stacked with 3-and-D wings.
Contact Omari Sankofa II atosankofa@freepress.com. Follow him@omarisankofa.
Feeling a draft?
What:2024 NBA draft.
Fast facts: Round 1— June 26; Barclays Center, New York;Round 2— June 27; Seaport District Studios, Secaucus, New Jersey.
Pistons’ picks (overall pick in parentheses): Round 1— 5 (5);Round 2— 23 (53)
