The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books.
Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher finished first overall to the Atlanta Hawks, followed by Alex Sarr, also French, at second behind the Washington Wizards, before Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard went to the Houston Rockets at third.
Elsewhere, UConn’s Donovan Clingan went to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7 overall while the Chicago Bulls selected Matas Buzelis at No. 11 overall.
But while these picks feature some of the most prominent names in this class, there are others who might prove better.
Let’s analyze the 2024 draft with five winners and losers:
WINNER: Devin Carter, Sacramento Kings
Player selection is all about getting the right profile. Are they unique enough? Do they have room to grow and by how much if so? Even though the 2024 draft didn’t have the most enticing talent, Carter of Providence stood out from the start.
The Providence guard stood 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan while hitting 37.7 percent of his 3-pointers on 6.6 attempts during his senior year, grabbed 8.4 rebounds and n has no problem defending multiple positions, regardless of his size.
The Kings may already have several guards, including De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell and Keon Ellis, among others, but Carter is a Day 1 rotation player. For Sacramento, he can essentially be a better version of Mitchell since the former first-rounder hasn’t developed much offensively.
At 13th overall, Carter could be a huge value to a Kings team hoping to bounce back in the playoffs next season.
LOSER: Ron Holland, Detroit Pistons
Let’s be clear: Holland is one of the best 3-and-D prospects in this class. But he doesn’t think the Pistons should have picked 5th overall.
At 18 years old, he is one of the youngest players in the class with a 6-foot-6 frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan. The G League Ignite product is not a great one-time shooter, but he can attack the basket with his slashing skills. There’s also a lot to like defensively, but the Pistons didn’t need his profile.
With Cade Cunningham as the team’s mainstay, Detroit hasn’t done a great job of surrounding him with spacers on the floor. Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren are prominent players who don’t shoot the ball well, with Marcus Sasser and Isaiah Stewart providing spacing. But Detroit needs more, as well as dynamic creators, to emerge from the depths of the East.
Holland doesn’t really fit Detroit’s needs for a top-five pick, although he will have his uses.
Forward Ron Holland is one of the hottest players in the 2024 NBA Draft.
WINNER: Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
For teams hoping to compete like the Lakers, older players in the draft aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Tennessee’s Knecht is 23 years old and a multi-level scorer who has converted 39.7% on 6.5 3-point attempts per game.
He’s not the best shot creator, but he can score in one-up or off-balance situations, so he should fit well in multiple lineups that include LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Knecht can connect the dots offensively although there will be some concerns about him defensively. But he should also be a useful player for new head coach JJ Redick, who can certainly design plays for him to help with his acclimation process.
SEC Player of the Year Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht is poised to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
LOSER: Bronny James
After some rumors that Bronny James might be selected in the first round, he ultimately wasn’t selected at all. The Lakers took Knecht, as mentioned above, while the Phoenix Suns, another possibility, took Virginia’s Ryan Dunn at 27th overall.
The 6-foot-2 guard has a 6-foot-7 wingspan with the potential to be a solid 3-point shooter, so he has the ability to be an impact 3-and-D guard early on. The intrigue will be about who picks him in the second round, if anyone picks him.
With the 2024 NBA Draft set to take place this week, Kaz Famuyide of sportsbook Fanatics discusses three possible destinations for Bronny James.
WINNER: Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have needed more players than Joel Embiid to create on their own. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a standout second option, with his latest draft pick potentially fitting the bill.
McCain, a point guard from Duke, is one of the best scorers in the draft. His 6-foot-2 frame with a 6-foot-3 wingspan has its woes, but he makes up for them with efficient shooting numbers.
In his lone season as a Blue Devil, he recorded a 46/41/89 shot split on 10.5/6/2.4 volume. He will have a role to play off the bench for the Sixers, which could become a solid value at No. 16 overall.
Honorable mentions
Could be a winner: Tidjane Salaun, Charlotte Hornets
With LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams and Tre Mann, the Hornets have promising youngsters at every position. Salaün, an 18-year-old Frenchman, could occupy fourth place. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Salaün could become a solid 4 if his 3-point shooting and ball-striking abilities prove effective.
Winner: France
Speaking of France, the European nation had the highest hopes in the first round behind the Americans. Risacher, Sarr, Salaün and Pacome Dadiet (25th overall from the New York Knicks) were the four off the board, although this will not be known. what will be their success until a few years later. Still, it’s another sign that the game is becoming more and more international.
News Source : www.nbcconnecticut.com
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