Welcome to the fourth edition of our 2024 NBA Mock Draft, and our last update pre-lottery! The Sports Bank is the only independently-owned, mom and pop shop website to do a mock draft for all four of the major North American sports. And while most mock drafts don’t fill out player descriptions, we do.
For our NHL Mock Draft go here. The NFL mock can be found here. The 2024 Major League Baseball Mock Draft can be found here.
Note: the order has not yet been set, and we derived our order from Tankathon. All outstanding trades have been taken into account towards determining the order. The lottery, to determine the order at the top of the draft, will take place on May 12. The NBA Draft itself will be held June 26-27.
This mock draft is listed at NBA Mock Draft Database and Eat, Drink and Sleep Football NBA Mock Draft Database.
Team needs were not taken into account here.
1. Atlanta Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg
International prospect who is in the mix to go first overall.
2. Washington Wizards, Alex Sarr, PF/C Perth
Another international prospect who is in the mix to go first overall. This draft no consensus #1 overall prospect; far from it.
3. Houston Rockets via Brooklyn Nets, Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
With apologies to Wycleaf Jean, “We built this concept, Knecht like NYNEX (All right)
Drinks at the bar, my American Express”
Not sure why the Black Coaches Association made Knecht, who is Caucasian, the Black History Month Player of the Month, but hey, it’s yet another award for the Vols alpha dog.
4. San Antonio Spurs, Cody Williams, SF, Colorado
It’s totally up in the air right now in regards to who the #1 overall pick will be. Williams is definitely in the mix to get there though.
5. Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky
The only player in the country that has amassed at least 75 steals, dished out at least 140 assists and made at least 70 3-pointers. And according to KenPom, his three point percentage of 52.6% leads the nation, his true-shooting percentage (70.4%) is 4th and his effective field-goal percentage (68.2%) is 7th.
6. Charlotte Hornets, Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
The NCAA Tournament has been great for his NBA Draft stock. Dude is tearing it up this March Madness, and looks set to win tournament Most Outstanding Player. The big man is a sure fire lottery pick now.
7. Portland Trail Blazers, Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
Considered one of the most exciting, fun to watch players in all of college basketball. This despite the fact that he doesn’t start for UK. Dillingham averages 15.0 points per game off the bench for the Cats, the second best scoring average on the team.
8. San Antonio Spurs via Toronto Raptors, Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star
Exciting international prospect who is certain to go somewhere in the high part of the lottery.
9. Memphis Grizzlies, Matas Buzelis, SF, G League
First of many G-League players that you’ll see this in NBA mock draft.
10. Utah Jazz, Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn
Very fast rising prospect who is moving up the list within the lottery. UConn’s dominate run through March Madness is certainly helping his stock.
11. Chicago Bulls, Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
No matter what happens….this team still won’t be very good. They will never ever be good again. The Bulls, as an organization, just can’t get out of their own way. Not sure why we went with a GarPax style pick here, as both Gar Forman and John Paxson are long gone. Maybe it’s just force of habit.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder via Houston Rockets, Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
A lot of people aren’t familiar with his game, as he played out on the west coast, late at night. But IYKYK!
13. Sacramento Kings, Terrence Shannon Jr., SG, Illinois
On the court, you know what he can do. Announcers have called him the college Lebron and the college Giannis this March Madness. That is not hyperbole by any means. You can see the next level speed and strength that this Chicago native possess.
His outside shooting skills match his ability to drive to the tin too. The question marks are all about off the court with this guy. Due to his legal situation, TSJ or TJ, himself, will have a much brighter spotlight shined upon them.
This is just a simple fact. It means there is going to be a lot misinformation and disinformation out there. It’s time to combat that. So we’re re-linking all of our stories that we did on him and his legal situation this season here, with the full archives:
Dec 28- Terrence Shannon Jr. responds to the charges, claims innocence.
Jan. 5- the incident report comes out, and more information is revealed.
Jan 9- Shannon takes legal action against the University.
Jan. 19- Shannon is reinstated and starts playing again.
14. Portland Trail Blazers via Golden State Warriors, Ron Holland, SF/PF, G League
One of the highest rated prospects in the G League this season
15. Miami Heat, Tidjane Salaun, SF, Cholet Basket
Like we said, lots of G League and foreign players in this year’s draft class.
16. Philadelphia 76ers, Yves Missi, C, Baylor
A big man who would be taken much higher in the draft…if this 25-30 years ago
17. New Orleans Pelicans via L.A. Lakers, Ja’Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor
Back to back Baylor? Yes, Bears are a national powerhouse juggernaut now.
18. Orlando Magic, Tyler Smith, PF/SF, G League
More G League love!
19. Toronto Raptors via Indiana Pacers, Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana
What is up with IU always underachieving based on their talent? They never do anywhere close as good as they should, given the future NBA talent on their roster.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers, Carlton Carrington, PG/SG, Pittsburgh
His name sounds like a Great Gatsby character, but we assure you that this combo guard is indeed a real person.
21. New Orleans Pelicans via Milwaukee Bucks, Bobi Klintman, F, Cairns
More overseas player love!
22. Phoenix Suns, Zach Edey, C, Purdue
We’ve certainly written about this guy quite a bit, who (like former Illini Kofi Cockburn, happened to be born about 25 to 30 years too late. Back then, Edey would be a top 3 pick. You can read all of our posts about the back to back national player of the year here, here and here. Edey’s pro stock is greatly underrated. He wins individual awards like Real Madrid wins Champions League titles.
His height, skill set, mobility, footwork, acumen and on the court CV make him a sure first rounder.
23. Milwaukee Bucks via New Orleans Pelicans, Jared McCain, PG, Duke
Jon Scheyer’s team kind of underachieved this season, given all the NBA talent they have.
24. New York Knicks via Dallas Mavericks, Ulrich Chomche, NBA Academy Africa, Cameroon
The NBA Draft has certainly gotten more global in recent years and this might be the most global yet.
25. New York Knicks, DaRon Holmes II, PF, Dayton
Look at Dayton- producing the NBA talent now!
26. Washington Wizards via L.A. Clippers, DJ Wagner, PG, Kentucky
Wagner is logging 10.3 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game, while starting 26 of 27 games played.
The Camden, New Jersey, native has a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio and did not commit one against No. 1 Kansas in 25 minutes of action.
Wagner had a breakthrough game with a 22-point, six-assist effort in the overtime win over Saint Joseph’s.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves, Ryan Dunn, SF, Virginia
It is always interesting to see how UVA guys translate and adapt to the next level. It’s a change of pace to say the least.
28. Denver Nuggets, Kyshawn George, SG, Miami
Lots of good shooting guards in this draft class.
29. Utah Jazz via OKC Thunder, Dillon Jones, SF, Weber St.
Our first small school prospect in our mock.
30. Boston Celtics, Kevin McCullar, SG, Kansas
And Boston goes for a two/off-the-ball/shooting guard to complete the first round. This NBA Mock Draft has now concluded, please link and share!
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.