With the Draft Lottery behind us, the first 14 picks of the NBA Draft are officially set!
The Atlanta Hawks –despite just a 3.0 percent chance at the first overall pick – have locked up the top selection in June’s Draft. While the Hawks were the big winner, the Pistons were unarguably the biggest loser. Despite having the worst record in the NBA, they dropped to 5th overall for the second consecutive year.
So you know what this means! It’s time for a fresh post-lottery mock draft!
How Does the NBA Draft Lottery Work?
Following the conclusion of the season, the NBA uses a lottery system to decide the first 14 picks in the draft order.
Before we look at the draft order, here’s how the NBA Draft Lottery system works:
Also, the NBA shares the footage of the lottery drawing after each draft. You can watch the 2023 procedure here.
Original 2024 NBA Draft Lottery Odds & Order
While we know how the Draft Lottery shook out, it’s fun to take a look at where the odds were and where everyone ended up. Here are what the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery odds for the No. 1 overall pick were via Tankathon.
- Detroit Pistons (14-68): 14% – Actual Pick: 5th
- Washington Wizards: (15-67): 14% – Actual Pick: 2nd
- Charlotte Hornets: (21-61): 13.3% – Actual Pick: 6th
- Portland Trail Blazers: (21-61): 13.2% – Actual Pick: 7th
- San Antonio Spurs (22-60): 10.5% – Actual Pick: 4th
- Toronto Raptors (25-57): 9.0% (Spurs own pick, Top-6 protected) – Actual Pick: 8th
- Memphis Grizzlies (27-55): 7.5% – Actual Pick: 9th
- Utah Jazz (31-51): 6.0% (Thunder own pick, Top-10 protected) – Actual Pick: 10th
- Brooklyn Nets (32-50): 4.5% (Rockets own pick) – Actual Pick: 3rd
- Atlanta Hawks (36-46): 3.0% – Actual Pick: 1st
- Chicago Bulls (39-43): 2.0% – Actual Pick: 11th
- Houston Rockets (41-41): 1.5% (Thunder own pick) Actual Pick – 12th
- Sacramento Kings (46-36): 0.8% – Actual Pick – 13th
- Golden State Warriors (46-36): 0.7% (Blazers own pick, Top-4 protected) Actual Pick: 14th
2024 NBA Mock Draft
1. Atlanta Hawks – F/C Alexandre Sarr – Perth, France – 18 Years Old – 7’1, 218 lbs
Alexandre Sarr has a lot of similar traits to Victor Wembanyama. To be clear, that is not to say he’s anywhere near the prospect Wemby was –he isn’t – but the playing style and physical traits are similar. He’s over 7 feet tall and has the athleticism to do a little bit of everything on the court. Things could change after the combine, but I think he goes No. 1 as of now.
The Hawks have Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela on the books for next year, but Sarr’s skillset is so unique that right now I don’t think they pass on him. Trading one of the other two big men could make a lot of sense for a Hawks team looking for new life.
2. Washington Wizards – PG Nikola Topic – Red Star, Serbia – 18 Years Old – 6’6, 201 lbs
Nikola Topic is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He can overpower smaller defenders and blow by bigger bodies. He struggles on the defensive end of the floor, but his offensive upside is fantastic. He can finish in traffic, he’s a great passer, and he’s a dangerous shooter. He feels like a lock to go somewhere within the top 5. Why not a Washington team with plenty of room to take on a high-upside project?
3. Houston Rockets – G Reed Sheppard – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 187 lbs
If the Hawks were the biggest winner, the Rockets are probably the second biggest jumping up six spots to 3rd overall (via the Nets pick). Houston has one of the most fun and talented young cores in the NBA and Sheppard would fit right in. He was a lethal three-point shooter at Kentucky, and he has some defensive upside.
We should keep an eye on this pick as a potential trade piece, however. The Rockets appear adamant in returning to the playoffs sooner rather than later.
4. San Antonio Spurs – SF Zaccharie Risacher – JL Bourg, France – 18 Years Old – 6’9, 204 lbs
Risacher is one of the more polarizing players in the draft. Some projections have him going as high as first overall. He can be a lethal shooter from the wing and is your typical three-and-D player that every NBA team covets. The length the Spurs would have on the floor between him and Wemby could create a lot of problems for opposing teams. Plus, giving Gregg Popovich the chance to develop Risacher seems like a perfect fit.
5. Detroit Pistons – SF Cody Williams – Colorado – 19 Years Old – 6’8, 185 lbs
Brother of OKC’s Jalen Williams, Cody can also do a little bit of everything. Defensively, he can guard just about any position. Offensively, he’s dangerous in transition, a great finisher at the bucket, and a very good catch-and-shoot player. He’s got a chance to make an immediate impact wherever he ends up. The Pistons are pretty set at guard with Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham, so adding a three-and-D forward who can do it all and has a ton of upside seems like a logical fit.
6. Charlotte Hornets – SF Matas Buzelis – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 195 lbs
He suffered an ankle injury that kept him off the floor early in the season, but after coming back and getting comfortable, Buzelis showed why he’s likely to be a lottery pick.
He is versatile on offense, though his ball handling could be more consistent. Defensively, he’s capable of guarding multiple positions. He won’t be a top option offensively early in his career, but his catch-and-shoot ability gives him quite the upside. Charlotte has a few ball-dominant options already in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, so Buzelis seems like a fit and will be in a good situation to continue developing alongside that young core.
7. Portland Trail Blazers – G Stephon Castle – UConn – 19 Years Old – 6’6, 190 lbs
Castle showed throughout the NCAA Tournament just how good he can be. He’s a matchup nightmare defensively for guards. He has very good ball-handling skills and can finish strong at the rim. While there are some questions about his jumper, there is enough there to instill confidence in his ability to become a reliable threat.
Overall, there is A LOT to like with Castle as a two-way player. Portland needs help in a lot of places now, and Castle can do a little bit of everything and brings a winning attitude and style of play from UConn.
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) – G Rob Dillingham – Kentucky – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 176 lbs
Dillingham can beat you in so many different ways offensively. He can get to the hoop, finish at the rim, find the open man, and get hot shooting the ball. He’s a versatile guard who showed special flashes at Kentucky but might need some development time in the NBA. He’s not an awful defender, but not particularly noteworthy on that end either. He has a very high ceiling but needs time to develop.
The Spurs can afford him that time and allow him to learn on the job alongside a talented young core. They also need a future guard to pair with Wemby.
9. Memphis Grizzlies – C Donovan Clingan – UConn – 19 Years Old – 7’2, 265 lbs
I’m not sure which direction the Grizzlies will go here, but Clingan seems like a safe pick for them that can fortify their frontcourt. He would be a complimentary fit alongside Jaren Jackson Jr and would give Memphis the rebounder that they need. Could they go with a guard here? Possibly. But if they get healthy with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane next year, I think Clingan would be a solid fit and fill a bigger need.
10. Utah Jazz – Isaiah Collier – G – USC – 19 Years Old – 6’4, 205 lbs
Utah needs a lead guard, and Collier can do a little bit of everything for them in that role. He’s a two-way player that impacts both ends of the floor. He’s dangerous driving with the basketball and can get to the bucket in a hurry. His shooting from three can use some consistency, but his ability on both ends of the floor guard gives him a pretty high floor it would seem. Collier’s two-way nature and higher floor feels like a solid block in Utah’s rebuild.
11. Chicago Bulls – Ron Holland – G League – 18 Years Old – 6’8, 200 lbs
Holland would be a little bit of a project, but the traits are there and would be very tempting for the Bulls. He’s an explosive player who plays at 100 mph all the time. He’s a solid ball handler who can get to and score at the rim. He’s a menace defensively. He’s raw and would come with some growing pains, but with Zach LaVine likely on the way out, Holland could provide Chicago with some explosiveness and aggression that they would need.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Dalton Knecht – Tennessee – 22 Years Old – 6’6, 213 lbs
Knecht had a fantastic season with Tennessee and took the Vols farther than they’ve been able to go in the NCAA Tournament in recent history. He proved he can score in different ways, but his biggest asset is his shot-making.
Knecht shot just a tick under 40 percent from three on the year and nearly carried the Vols by Purdue in the Elite Eight with a 37-point performance. His versatile skillset would be a great fit in OKC where he could fill just about any role asked and provide some very solid depth scoring to a team that’s ready to make a run at an NBA title.
13. Sacramento Kings – SG Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’5, 180 lbs
Walter is a high-level shotmaker and has the ability to be a dangerous threat offensively. Inconsistency plagued him at Baylor at times, but that’s an issue a lot of teenagers in college battle through at times. Walter’s got a very high ceiling and could give the Kings a high-ceiling and dangerous shooter that could replace Malik Monk if he does indeed leave in free agency.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GSW) – F Tidjane Salaun – Cholet Basket, France – 18 Years Old – 6’9, 203 lbs
Salaun is going to be one of the younger prospects in the Draft. He’s developed the ability to score at all three levels, and at his height that’s an enticing trait for any NBA team. He’s shown the ability to create his own shot as well, which again at his size is a big plus. He has to fill out a bit and defensively he needs to make some strides, but he’s got many of the traits that a lottery team could fall in love with.
15. Miami Heat: Jared McCain – Duke – 19 Years Old – 6’3, 197 lbs
16. Philadelphia 76ers: G Terrence Shannon Jr – Illinois – 23 Years Old – 6’6, 220 lbs
17. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers): C Kyle Filipowski – Duke – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 248 lbs
18. Orlando Magic: PG Devin Carter – Providence – 21 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
19. Toronto Raptors (via Pacers): C Yves Missi – Baylor – 19 Years Old – 6’10, 235 lbs
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: F Bobi Klintman – Cairns, Sweden – 20 Years Old – 6’10, 225 lbs
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via Bucks): PG Tyler Kolek – Marquette – 23 Years Old – 6’3, 195 lbs
22. Phoenix Suns: G Carlton Carrington – Pittsburgh – 18 Years Old – 6’5, 190 lbs
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans): C Kel’el Ware – Indiana – 20 Years Old – 7’0, 223 lbs
24. New York Knicks (via Mavericks): Johnny Furphy – Kansas – 19 Years Old – 6’9, 202 lbs
25. New York Knicks: DaRon Holmes II – Dayton – 21 Years Old – 6’10, 221 lbs
26. Washington Wizards (via Clippers): G Kevin McCullar – Kansas – 23 Years Old – 6’6, 210 lbs
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Kyshawn George – Miami – 20 Years Old – 6’8, 205 lbs
28. Denver Nuggets: F Tristan da Silva – Colorado – 22 Years Old – 6’9, 229 lbs
29. Utah Jazz (via Thunder): F Tyler Smith – G League – 19 Years Old – 6’11, 224 lbs
30. Boston Celtics: C Zach Edey – Purdue – 22 years Old – 7’4, 300 lbs
