As the NBA Draft nears, the top prospects, the best team-fits, the lottery odds, and more, are the topics of discussion.
Here is a mock draft with the order based on the worst 10 teams in the league up-to-date. Let’s begin!
NBA Mock Draft: Picks 1 – 3
2024’s Top Prospect Hails from France for the Second-Straight Year
1 – Zaccharie Risacher F- France (Washington Wizards)
Zaccharie Risacher is next up in the line of great big men from France. Here, Risacher heads to Washington to add to their depth and create a core with himself, Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Deni Avdija. Risacher is one of the safest picks in the draft as he has many strengths. Poole and Kuzma are worse shooters than they think and Risacher can improve the team’s shooting numbers as actually shoots well.
He is not the most athletic but he has a good feel for the game, he is a playmaker and a great passer. He also finishes well around the rim making him a threat inside and beyond the arc. Risacher is deserving of the No.1 overall pick.
2 – Matas Buzelis F – G-League Ignite (Detroit Pistons)
Matas Buzelis has good size at 6’10, he is versatile, a good ball handler, and a natural playmaker.
He will need to improve his strength due to his thin frame. But with his efficient shooting, and ability to space the floor and move without the ball, he makes up for his frame.
Detroit has a lot of pieces that can mold into good players but Buzelis already has the intangibles to be a star as a rookie. Buzelis, Cade Cunningham, and James Wiseman make for a trio that can hurt you in multiple ways. Buzelis has the highest potential of anyone in this draft.
3 – Nikola Topic G – Serbia (San Antonio Spurs)
The San Antonio Spurs are desperate for a playmaker. They need a guy to run the offense and take pressure off Victor Wembanyama, who at times has to do too much. Topic brings out the best in players and Wembanyama could be the main beneficiary. Here, Topic is likely picked solely as a complimentary piece for the San Antonio French man.
Regardless of his recent knee injury, Topic has shown worthy of a No.3 pick. The combo guard can dominate on both ends of the floor. His toughness, size, and his creativity jump out at you. He has great size (6’6), he welcomes contact, and he can direct an offense with ease.
His shooting stroke is fair, he can finish in the lane and he is effective at any spot on the court. Topic is a perfect player for the Spurs.
NBA Mock Draft: Picks 4-7
7-foot phenom with superb defensive potential and NBA All-Star upside
4 – Alexandre Sarr C – France (Charlotte Hornets)
Sarr could very well be the No.1 overall choice come draft day and he has the skill-set to back that up.
Charlotte is a competitive team but needs guidance and players who care about winning games over Twitter highlights. Sarr’s 7’1 size stands out to you right away and with his mobility at that size, he is scary.
He is a versatile defender despite his thin frame and can both clog the lane and guard someone beyond the arc. Sarr in Charlotte limits the alley-oops and slows down the offense. But with what he offers from a quickness, leaping ability, and good-enough scoring standpoint, it is worth the system change.
5 – Cody Williams F – Colorado (Portland Trail Blazers)
Going guard here seems like the Portland thing to do. However, Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons are already developing a decent backcourt. Colorado’s Cody Williams is the must-take player for Portland.
The versatile forward can impact the game on both ends. On offense, he can finish in the lane over taller defenders and can score with the best of them.
On defense, he is a good shot-blocker for a smaller forward and he can guard four out of five positions on the floor. With scoring ability and rangy defense, you cannot ask for a better fit.
6 – Tidjane Salaun F – France (San Antonio Spurs) via Toronto
San Antonio snags their point guard of the future (Topic) and now at pick No.6, they add length, athleticism, and three level-scoring.
Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and especially Keldon Johnson are inconsistent and the team gets the best out of them every so often. Saluan’s ability to score near the rim, in mid-range, and beyond the arc really helps this young team. Saluan does not improve the team’s defensive rating but his dependable-scoring ability and length alone make him a perfect pick for San Antonio.
NBA Mock Draft: Picks: 7-10
Atlanta Hawks continue their trend of sharp-shooters
7 – Dalton Knecht G – Tennessee (Memphis Grizzlies)
Every year, there is the “high-IQ senior” who can be a great asset to a playoff team. Memphis was once a contender and at full strength, you can bet next year they get back in the mix.
Knecht does the right things for a team and is the most NBA-ready player on this list. He matured during his four years in college and it shows. Knecht’s scoring ability, his sneaky explosiveness above the rim, and how well he understands the correct spots to attack on the floor, have the make-up of an NBA starter.
He moves so well without the ball and if you watch a Klay Thompson game and you compare it to Knecht, you cannot tell their games apart. Knecht is an outstanding prospect for Memphis.
8 – Ron Holland G – G-League Ignite (Houston Rockets) via Brooklyn
The Houston Rockets are explosive and prospect Ron Holland would only add to it. Holland is “De’Aaron Fox 2.0” because of his speed, ability to make plays for everyone, and his high motor.
Holland can be Houston’s spark off the bench and be the second-unit best player. He can create space to score and his strong defensive tactics only add to his value.
Holland has “Rocket” written all over him and has a skill like a rocket speeding in the sky.
9 – Kyle FiliPowski C – Duke (Utah Jazz)
Utah is yearning for another anchor after the departure of Gobert. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski fills in greatly. He is excellent in the pick-and-roll, rolling to the basket or popping out from 18 feet.
Filipowski has good footwork and runs the lane better than most 7-footers. His touch around the rim is good enough and his ability to score in a variety of ways gives him the best chance to be a lottery pick in June.
Utah has guards and forwards who can distribute the ball well and score. Filipowski would give them a dominant inside presence.
10 – Reed Sheppard G – Kentucky (Atlanta Hawks)
The Atlanta Hawks have a history of having shooters on their team. Kyle Korver. Jason Terry, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Joe Johnson and Steve Smith. That is quite the list and Sheppard can be next.
Sheppard along with Ron Dillingham created the best guard duo in the SEC in 2023 and Sheppard in particular can come in right away and be effective.
You cannot teach shooting ability and that alone gives Sheppard instant minutes. His size does not impress but his ability to do other things like pass the ball, when in a shooting slump makes up for it.
This year’s draft does not have the next-Wembanyama, but still a handful of franchise-changing players.
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Desmond Ordonez is an avid sports fan and resides in Boise, Idaho. Desmond frequently covers NFL and NBA news. Follow him on Twitter at @des_ordo21 and follow us @TotalApexSports for more content.
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