The 2024 NBA Draft has been and gone, which means that it’s now time to break down the picks and see who got it right and who got it wrong.
When grading the teams, it’s important to bear in mind a few things:
Was the team in a position to draft for fit or was it just a case of take the best player available?
Did a team reach for a player and take him higher than he was projected, or did a team take someone who slid unexpectedly to them?
Did the pick(s) make sense in terms of where the team is at on their timeline?
All of these things factor in to how I graded each team.
Without further ado, let’s dive into my team grades below!
ATLANTA HAWKS
Picks: Zaccharie Risacher (1), Nikola Djurisic (43)
Grade: B+
Analysis: The Hawks truly reinforced their wing depth with both of their picks. Risacher going number 1 after Sarr refused to work out for the Hawks looked like the smart money bet and it played out that way. There are those that are a lot lower on this pick but I like it for them- they add size, shooting and secondary playmaking from the wing and Risacher would fit with whichever route they decide to go, whether that’s trading one of Trae Young/Dejounte Murray or keeping them both. Their second round pick of Djurisic is a masterpiece in my opinion. He has first-round talent so to get him at 43 is a steal! He will give them sneaky playmaking, solid defense and the makings of a reliable shooter. Well played, Hawks. Well played.
BOSTON CELTICS
Picks: Baylor Scheierman (30), Anton Watson (54)
Grade: B
Analysis: For a team that was as dominant as the Celtics were this past season, this draft offered a chance to add some depth around the edges. Picking up Baylor Scheierman with the last pick of the first round gives the Celtics some more shooting and rebounding off the bench. Watson could potentially give them some back up Big minutes but will likely see a lot of run in the G League. Neither pick really offers a ton of upside potential, but the Celtics are coming off of a championship season with Tatum and Brown entering their primes so upside isn’t necessarily the play here. Picking up guys that can contribute immediately is a solid choice here.
BROOKLYN NETS
Picks: None
Grade: N/A
Analysis: Not much to say here to be honest. They didn’t own any picks in this draft and didn’t work their way into the draft at any point. I think it’s clear that they are now in full-on tank mode with the trade of Mikal Bridges so it will be interesting to see what they do next season.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Picks: Tidjane Salaun (6), KJ Simpson (42)
Grade: B-
Analysis: Charlotte took perhaps the biggest upside swing by taking Salaun at number 6. The French forward offers a lot of potential and has shown some great flashes this year, but number 6 feels a little high. Charlotte obviously see a lot in him though and his fit alongside LaMelo and Brandon Miller isn’t exactly terrible. KJ Simpson is a solid pick up here in the second round as well but don’t expect to see him play a lot of minutes. Overall, it’s not the worst haul but it’s not the best either. Typical Hornets.
CHICAGO BULLS
Picks: Matas Buzelis (11)
Grade: A-
Analysis: Buzelis is back in Bull Country! After the Caruso/Giddey trade and rumours of Vucevic, LaVine and DeRozan being on the move too, it certainly appears that the Bulls are gearing up for a full on rebuild. Getting the versatile Buzelis, who at one point in the cycle was considered one of the top prospects to go number 1, is a great move for Chicago. His defensive skillset would be valued among a young core of Coby White, Patrick Williams and Josh Giddey and he adds some much needed size to their roster too. The Bulls only took one bite of the draft apple but they took it well and drafted a player that can kickstart a new period in Bulls history.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Picks: Jaylon Tyson (20)
Grade: B-
Analysis: Adding a player who can score and shoot from the wing while also having the potential defensive tools to become a solid defender is what a lot of teams are looking for. In Jaylon Tyson, the Cavs get a player who is a capable scorer both inside and out, is a big time rebounder from the wing and has shown enough defensive flashes to show he has the potential to defend well at the next level. He fits in well with their current core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, and can contribute meaningful minutes immediately given his age and strength. A solid pick if unspectacular pick.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Picks: Melvin Ajinca (51)
Grade: B-
Analysis: The Mavs had one pick in the second round and used that selection on Melvin Ajinca, the French wing prospect. With the way the Mavs are built, there’s no immediate need for Ajinca to come over and could develop into a nice draft-and-stash prospect for them to bring over in a few years time. If he does come over this season, he offers size on the wing and, I hate to use this phrase, true 3&D. He won’t be asked to do much beyond this and, being honest, this would suit both sides just fine.
DENVER NUGGETS
Picks: DaRon Holmes II (22)
Grade: B
Analysis: The Nuggets reinforce their Big Man rotation behind Jokic by taking the well-rounded Holmes. Holmes can play both in the paint with his back to the basket and step out to the 3 point line and stretch the floor. He does a fantastic job of defending the paint with his ability to rebound and block shots. He fits in with the way the Nuggets play and will be willing to take on any task asked of him. As a late first rounder he should provide immediate value for a Nuggets team looking to keep their cap sheet at a manageable level.
DETROIT PISTONS
Picks: Ron Holland (5), Bobi Klintman (37)
Grade: B-
Analysis: The Pistons shocked a lot of people when they took Ron Holland at number 5. The talent and athleticism is obviously there with him if he can put it all together, but the Pistons have a ton of athletic guys on the roster like Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. What they don’t have is a ton of shooting and so far, Holland hasn’t proven to be an effective outside shooter yet. He has the potential to be, no doubt, but you wonder if Detroit would maybe have been better served taking someone like Knecht at this spot. Picking up Klintman should help with Big Man depth as he can provide reliable minutes and is able to shoot it capably. This could be a draft of “what ifs” for Detroit, but it could also be a turning point in the franchises history. Time will tell.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Picks: Quinten Post (52)
Grade: C
Analysis: There’s not much to say with this pick really. At this far back in the draft, there’s not much you can do wrong but on the flip side, the chances of finding a rotational piece to add to the roster becomes slimmer. The Warriors pick up Quinten Post, the solid Big Man from Boston College. He’ll surely have the Summer League to show what he can provide, with the obvious being the much needed size he will bring to a roster where the tallest players are the 6ft 9in Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney. Maybe don’t expect to see too much of him beyond Summer League though.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Picks: Reed Sheppard (3)
Grade: A
Analysis: The Rockets got this pick so, so right. Their roster is full of talented, athletic, versatile young guys like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason. What they lacked was shooting, and they managed to grab the best 3 point sniper in this draft. Aside from the obvious shooting gifts (he shot 52% from 3 this year!) he’s a capable secondary ball handler that knows how to run an offense and keep the ball moving. He’s also a very dogged defender with quick hands so will provide a ton of effort on that end as well. All in all, he could end up being the best player in this class.
INDIANA PACERS
Picks: Johnny Furphy (35), Tristen Newton (49), Enrique Freeman (50)
Grade: B-
Analysis: Indiana picked up some pieces who can add some value around the edges of the team, but none of them are needle movers. Furphy will be able to provide a ton of 3 point shooting and defense, Newton provides some back up minutes at the guard spots and Freeman will bring a ton of energy on defense off the bench in a limited role. I can see them developing into reliable rotation pieces in the future, but this feels like a solid draft from Indiana, nothing more.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Picks: Cam Christie (46)
Grade: B
Analysis: The Clippers set up the Battle of Los Angeles by taking Cam Christie, the brother of Lakers guard Max Christie, with their second round pick. Christie’s slide on draft night was a bit surprising but I feel he has the skills to outplay his draft position. He may not see a ton of minutes on this Clippers team in win-now mode, but will provide outside scoring when he does see the floor. He can be relied on to handle to ball a little bit and plays with good instincts. Good pickup here for the Clippers.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Picks: Dalton Knecht (17), Bronny James (55)
Grade: A
Analysis: The Lakers should be laughing all the way to the bank with how their draft shook out. Having Dalton Knecht slide all the way to them at 17 was unexpected to say the least. Being arguably the best shooter in this class, his shooting off the bench will add extra firepower to the Lakers lineup and help space the floor even more for them. It is their pick in the second round that drew the most eyes though. As the draft wore on and we got closer and closer to the Lakers pick at 55, Bronny James was still on the board. In securing the young James with their pick, they could very well have secured the immediate future of James the elder as well. With his son now on the Lakers, and with his stated desire to play with Bronny before he retires, this could very well be the thing that seals the return of the King. If that happens, the Lakers will be very pleased indeed.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Picks: Zach Edey (9), Jaylen Wells (39), Cam Spencer (53)
Grade: C+
Analysis: I want to like the Grizzlies draft haul more than I do, but I just can’t get behind the logic in taking Edey at 9. Yes, I know he was extremely productive this year, but we have yet to see how that translates to an NBA floor and pick 9 feels a little high. They may have been better served exploring trading back in the draft, but it is what it is. They add big-time size to the roster in Edey while getting that rim protection they need. Picking up Wells and Spencer feel like solid picks, especially if the Grizzlies experience injuries like they did last year then they could see a lot more minutes than expected. I’m afraid picking Edey too high at 9 just brings their grade down a bit in my mind.
MIAMI HEAT
Picks: Kel’el Ware (15), Pelle Larsson (44)
Grade: B+
Analysis: If there was ever a team that is primed to get the best out of Kel’el Ware, then it’s the Heat. A big dose of Heat Culture could be exactly what he needs to unlock a tantalising skill set. He can play in the post, step out and hit the 3, finish at the rim, rebound and block shots. He could see some meaningful minutes behind Adebayo and he could learn a lot as Bam’s protege. Getting Larsson in the second round is a solid pick, but I would have stayed with Djurisic if I were them. That being said, Larsson could be a competent contributor right away so you can’t complain with that.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Picks: AJ Johnson (23), Tyler Smith (33)
Grade: C
Analysis: You can kind of see what the Bucks were trying to do here, but the execution is terrible. They reached waaaaaaaayy too far to get Johnson at 23 and to be honest, this wouldn’t have looked so bad if the picks were reversed. Johnson does have a ton of natural playmaking ability but will need time to develop into the player he could be, which poses a problem with Giannis in his prime and Dame still looking to compete. Tyler Smith was a great get in the second round and his size and shooting could see him eventually step into a Boppy Portis-type role. That Johnson pick though drags the Bucks grade down here.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Picks: Rob Dillingham (8), Terrence Shannon Jr. (27)
Grade: A
Analysis: Minnesota pulled off an absolute heist to take Dillingham! They got probably the best true lead guard in this class for essentially 2 future firsts. He’s in the perfect situation as well with having Mike Conley on the roster, who better to teach a young, undersized lead guard how to succeed at the next level. I absolutely adore this pick for Minnesota. Getting Shannon at the end of the first round with their own pick adds a nice amount of versatility to the roster and he should be able to come in and contribute immediately. The Timberwolves were fingertips away last season and adding these picks could set them up to get over that line in the very near future.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Picks: Yves Missi (21), Antonio Reeves (47)
Grade: B
Analysis: The Pelicans haul here is divisive that's for sure. On the one hand, Missi is an undeniable upside swing. He's raw but he's shown the flashes to confirm that the talent is there. He's good inside but doesn't have much of an outside game yet and that's where the division comes. How is he going to fit with Zion? It's no secret that Zion is at his best with an open runway to the basket so having another big clogging the paint won't see Zion play to his strengths. It'll be interesting to see how they figure that out when they share the floor together. Reeves, though, is a fantastic pickup as well, showing good touch on his shot from the outside so he should be able to see some minutes as a scorer off the bench. Overall I like this for New Orleans but they need to figure out that fit with Zion to truly get the best out of both players.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Picks: Pacome Dadiet (25), Tyler Kolek (34), Kevin McCullar Jr. (56), Ariel Hukporti (58)
Grade: B+
Analysis: New York take home an interesting haul of players. Dadiet may have been a surprise to some but he's got the game and deserves to be a first rounder. He's a smooth forward with playmaking chops, decent shooting touch and solid defense. Also coming to MSG and should see decent minutes is Tyler Kolek. A true floor general with a dogged determination on defense, an ability to read the game and drive an offense and a fantastic shooting touch, he could develop into the Knick back up behind Brunson. Late in the second round they also pick up McCullar and Hukporti. McCullar could contribute value on the wing if he stays healthy and Hukporti is likely to be a draft and stash but could give some solid backup Big minutes if he comes this year. Solid draft for the Knicks.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Picks: Nikola Topic (12), Dillon Jones (26), Ajay Mitchell (38)
Grade: B
Analysis: I really want to be higher on the haul here for the Thunder, especially since they picked up who I think is the best playmaker in this class in Topic at 12, but I can't help feeling the move for Dillon Jones at 26 was misguided. They probably could have moved into the early second round and taken him there instead. The addition of Mitchell in the second round is a solid pickup and will look to develop in the backup guard role, especially with Topic redshirting a year because of his knee problems. If Topic was medically available this year then I'd grade them higher but it is what it is.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Picks: Tristan da Silva (18)
Grade: B
Analysis: The Magic had one job, to find a shooter to add some outside shooting to their offense, and to a degree they did that. Tristan da Silva is a solid shooter and certainly provides the Magic with some extra size, which is a trait they've been leaning into, but they needed to add a shooter like Sheppard or Knecht, a true 3-point sniper. The fact that Knecht dropped all the way to 17 was gutting as I thought Orlando would try to move up one spot to get him. As it is, da Silva is a great get for Orlando and would fit in well alongside Wagner and Banchero, perhaps rotating with those two to provide a fantastic frontcourt rotation. Solid for Orlando but could have been so much better.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Picks: Jared McCain (16), Adem Bona (41)
Grade: A
Analysis: Philadelphia were in a position with their roster where they need bodies! They only had 4 players on the roster before the draft, but they made the most of the chances they had here. Getting McCain at 16 was a fantastic start and adding Bona in the second round won't hurt them at all. Slightly undersized, McCain showed he can play on and off the ball, is a fantastic shooter and plays will real energy. He looks set to be a great piece in Philly’s guard rotation. Turning to Bona, adding a high energy Big to learn from and play behind Embiid is a great get here. His length and athleticism have the ability to impact the game on both ends and should be a good fit in Philadelphia. One of my favourite draft hauls this one.
PHOENIX SUNS
Picks: Ryan Dunn (28), Oso Ighodaro (40)
Grade: B
Analysis: For a team with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker on the roster, it could be argued that they don't need anymore defense so picking up the best defensive prospect in this class is a no brainer. I love Dunn’s fit here and as strong as his defense is, I think he showed the makings of a solid offensive game this year, although whether that can develop fully in the shadow of Phoenix’s big 3 remains to be seen. Adding Ighodaro as well bolsters that defense even more, alongside a flourishing offensive game. Solid nights work from the Sun's that adds some great looking pieces to their rotation.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Picks: Donovan Clingan (7)
Grade: A-
Analysis: Portland gets a fantastic steal here by picking up Cling Kong at 7. It's fairly clear by this pick that either Ayton or Williams are on their way out but I think Clingan can more than ably fill that spot. He's dominant down low on both sides of the ball. His massive frame makes him a shot blocking monster and rebounding machine. On offense he does his damage mostly inside but an outside shot isn't in the realms of impossibility. The pick and roll chemistry with Clingan and Scoot could be through the roof and honestly, there's no better center in this class for him to improve alongside. With a core of Scoot, Sharpe, Simon's, Avdija and Clingan, the Trail Blazers look set for the future.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Picks: Devin Carter (13)
Grade: A-
Analysis: Sacramento get one of the most productive guards in College Basketball last season. Carter is a standout defender on the perimeter and plays with a great intensity. He locks down opposing ball handlers and makes their night a nightmare. On the offensive end he's just as much of a dog. He’s a solid shooter and can attack the basket with ease. He knows how to run an offense but is equally effective off ball. He could develop into a great running mate alongside Fox in the Kings backcourt.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Picks: Stephon Castle (4), Juan Nunez (36), Harrison Ingram (48)
Grade: A-
Analysis: I want to set my stall out early on this one - I love the Spurs draft haul here! They got Castle at 4, who I think has the skills to develop into a full time lead guard, Juan Nunez at 36 who is a perfect draft-and-stash prospect who will benefit from another year overseas with Barcelona, and the extremely versatile Ingram, who could provide immediate minutes on a young Spurs team. Castle is the star of the show here though, and should be able to develop a deadly pick and roll game with Wemby. He provides some defensive steel on the perimeter, will be a solid outside shooter and the thought of Castle throwing lobs to Victor all game long is just too tantalising to be true!
TORONTO RAPTORS
Picks: Ja’Kobe Walter (19), Jonathan Mogbo (31), Jamal Shead (45), Ulrich Chomche (57)
Grade: B
Analysis: This is the last team I wrote analysis for, and it's the team I have the hardest time deciding where I'm at with their draft haul. I don't expect Chomche to come over right away but I think the other 3 players they picked up could develop into something for the Raptors. Walter went a bit lower than his preseason projection but offers the Raptors a solid backup at the guard spots that could develop into a starter one day. Shead could be a productive contributor in his first season if he sees minutes but I'm not sure how likely that is. Mogbo likewise could contribute to the Raptors frontcourt rotation immediately, but we’ll need to see how that shakes out. Overall I think they've done well, got some pieces that could give some minutes immediately and also got some pieces to develop for the future.
UTAH JAZZ
Picks: Cody Williams (10), Isaiah Collier (29), Kyle Filipowski (32)
Grade: A-
Analysis: The Jazz had an outstanding draft and they didn’t even need to do anything to make it happen! First Cody Williams presented himself to them at 10, which is the perfect range for him. He showed last year that he had the skillset to succeed and feels like a fantastic pick for Utah. Next, Isaiah Collier somehow slid all the way to them at 29. He could provide the answer for them at Point Guard as the only true lead huard on the roster, and at 29, provides immense value considering I would have taken him a lot higher. Finally, picking up Filipowski at the start of the second round is the icing on the cake as Utah continues to stockpile size at the forward/center positions. A frontcourt of Markkanen, Filipowski and Kessler would be a nightmare next season for other teams to face.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Picks: Alex Sarr (2), Carlton Carrington (14), Kyshawn George (24)
Grade: A+
Analysis: With Sarr refusing to workout for the Hawks, it became more and more clear as we got closer to draft night that Sarr would go to the Wizards. While there was always a possibility the Wizards would make a mess of it, (because let’s be honest, it’s the Wizards) the made the right call and picked up the dynamic big man at pick 2. Their follow up moves are what sealed this as a great draft for them. First, they used Portland’s pick at 14 that they acquired in the Avdija/Brogdon trade to pick up Bub Carrington, then traded up from 26 to 24 to take Kyshawn George. In one round of the draft, the Wizards pick up a dynamic 1-3-5 combo and form a new exciting young core around Bilal Coulibaly. One thing is for sure, this a different Wizards team to the one that entered the draft, and one that could be starting an upward trajectory sooner rather than later.