Best Picks of The 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA season may have just ended with the Boston Celtics as newly crowned champions, but rest and relaxation is for the weak. Less than two weeks following the series final, NBA hopefuls are seeing their dreams come true at the NBA draft. Like every other draft, there are countless questions that are still left unanswered. These questions relate to both player future’s and the strategies/future game plans of NBA teams. The two-day event sparked lots of conversation from the French takeover in recent years to Bronny James, and everything in between.

This draft was not as anticipated as some in the past, and was widely ignored by some of the fans. It would be a mistake to look over this draft, or any draft. and view it as unimportant. Look at the 2013 NBA draft for example, which was viewed in a similar light. This draft class produced Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo, CJ McCollum, and Rudy Gobert. That star-studded list is nothing to be laughed at and proves why this 2024 will still have value to the future of the NBA. Just because the first overall pick is not someone looked to be a savior of franchises does not mean that pick lacks value.

After preparing for this draft and seeing where each player went, I have come up with a list of the 12 best picks from the 2024 NBA Draft. This list is comprised of 6 first round picks and 6 second round picks. There are many players and picks that I think show a lot of potential, so these are certainly not the only 12 that I liked. As there are NBA scouts and general managers that miss on picks each year, I will undoubtedly miss on a few of my favorite selections. Since there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding this draft, some of the top players fell and may end up making a lot of teams regret letting them slide. Let me know which of my favorites you agree/disagree with and what picks I left out.

Round 1

Donovan Clingan

1.07 to Portland Trail Blazers

This is a perfect example of taking the best player available as opposed to taking the best team fit. The Blazers may have two young centers in Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams, but they took the best player available with the 7th pick. Clingan was a prospect that saw his draft stock rise in the pre-draft process leading to projections in the Top 3. The two-time NCAA Champion being available with the 7th pick was a surprise to say the least. In my eyes, Clingan is the most sure pick in the draft and Portland knows what they are getting in the 7’2 UConn center. Clingan is a fantastic rim protector, rebounder, and finishes with ease around the rim. He does lack the dynamic offensive game that you see in the games best big men like Embiid and Jokic. While he might not ever be an MVP winner, I believe Clingan will have a long and successful NBA career. Several draft experts say Donovan can develop into a Rudy Gobert type of center and I tend to agree with them. The Trail Blazers drafted the safest player in the draft with the 7th overall pick, who also has All Defense caliber upsides. Clingan will be an impact player right away and fits the timeline of this young Portland squad.

Rob Dillingham

1.08 to Minnesota Timberwolves

The freshman star from Kentucky had some question marks following his only season for the Wildcats and entering the NBA draft. However, going to the Timberwolves could not be a better fit. Dillingham represents a heat check scorer that can immediately help the bench depth. After watching the NBA Playoffs, it was easy to see the value of bench scoring. Outside of Sixth Man of The Year, Naz Reid, the Timberwolves did not have many scorers that struck fear in opposing teams’ hearts. Dillingham is a guy that can come right in and hit three or four three pointers before the defense knows what hit them. The Timberwolves will not need him to start immediately as they have veteran point guard Mike Conley and All Star Anthony Edwards starting in the guard spots. The Kentucky product shot 44% from three this past season and also provides playmaking ability. In the long-term, Dillingham is a guy that Minnesota can run their offense through once he checks into the game. While he is a smaller guard, Dillingham attacks the rim and plays aggressive defense. Dillingham was an intriguing, polarizing prospect that is going to a team that couldn’t be a more perfect fit.

Matas Buzelis

1.11 to Chicago Bulls

In five years I think there’s a possibility that this pick is looked back on as one of the steals of the draft. Buzelis played last season in the G-League with the Ignite. I agreed with many of the mock drafts that had Matas going as one of the top five picks, yet he managed to slide all the way to pick eleven. Buzelis possesses a unique skill set and really does just about everything you’d want a top prospect to do. He attacks the basket, is active on the defensive side of the ball, and possesses a strong feel for the game. When you watch him play, you can see the IQ of the young hooper fully on display. The two biggest knocks on Buzelis was his lackluster shooting this past season and his slight frame. He shot under 30% from three with the Ignite and seems to get knocked off his spot by bigger defenders more than you’d like to see. From the shooting perspective he shot a great percentage in high school and has a smooth looking jumper, so the Bulls are hoping that can be developed. Chicago also looks like a team that is ready to rebuild and tank. Buzelis is still young so he’ll be given plenty of time to gain experience along with young player Josh Giddey and Coby White. Outside of the potential Buzelis has, the emotion shown by he and his family on draft night was really awesome to witness. Despite finishing his high school career at powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, Buzelis is a Chicago native who was ecstatic to play for his hometown Bulls. The playmaking wing has a lot of potential and will have extra excitement playing for the team he grew up rooting for.

Jared McCain

1.16 to Philadelphia 76ers

This is a prospect that I fell in love with during the second half of his freshman season at Duke. The big questions about McCain will be his lack of size and athleticism. At 6’2 he will be a smaller guard and the fact that McCain is not an explosive athlete doesn’t help his case either. With that being said, there are real reasons that I am such a big fan of this kid. The first skill he possesses is elite shooting, which he showcased by shooting 41% from 3. McCain also plays with a level of basketball intelligence and competitiveness that is commendable. He averaged 5 rebounds per game as a small guard and was tenacious on the defensive end. He refused to be bullied by bigger players, fought over screens, and proved he was an all around great basketball player. The 76ers find themselves needing a player that has the precise skills that McCain has in his arsenal. Philadelphia is entering this offseason surrounded by a lot of uncertainty. A majority of their team from last year are free agents. Suring up the perimeter shooting to score around their star Joel Embiid. At the trade deadline last year, Philly traded for Buddy Hield and it didn’t necessarily work out. McCain will be able to come off the bench immediately and fill that scoring roll. In time, I believe the Duke product can fill a larger role and really dominate for Philly. Get used to the painted nails and TikToks because Jared McCain isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Dalton Knecht

1.17 to Los Angeles Lakers

I would challenge anyone to find a mock draft that had Knecht falling to the Lakers with the 17th pick. Knecht went the JUCO route before transferring to Northern Colorado and finally ending up at Tennessee for his final year. At Tennessee he averaged 21.7 points and was one of the best players in college basketball. Knecht will be an impact offensive player for LA right away. He has the ability to score at all three levels and handles double teams while finding the open man. He fell a bit in this draft because he is one of the older prospects at 23 years of age. He also was targeted on the defensive end by opposing teams in college. These don’t worry me at all and I still believe the Tennessee star will fit right in with the Lakers. He will be able to take some pressure off of Anthony Davis and LeBron right away. His ability to be a knock down three point shooter will also immediately be on display when people go to double the two Laker stars. As the Lakers push to get more mileage out of their aging assets, Knecht’s ability to produce will be vital to the future of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Terrance Shannon Jr.

1.27 to Minnesota Timberwolves

First off, I want to praise Terrance Shannon Jr. for the professionalism and perseverance he displayed while having his name dragged through the mud. I am normally not a huge proponent of the sayings that go, “the apologies should be 100x louder than the…..” but I agree with that here. Shannon was not given the benefit of the doubt and endured the “season from hell” this past season. Shannon still averaged 23 points and led Illinois to the Elite Eight of the tournament. Shannon is an attacking wing that has the ability to stretch the floor. The offensive development for Shannon since his time at Texas Tech has been incredible. His bread and butter has always been attacking the basket, but his scoring in other areas really took off this past season. Shannon’s defensive performance dipped as he took on more offensive responsibility at Illinois. I think Shannon can really produce on the defensive end for the Timberwolves as he adjusts offensively to the pace and style of the NBA. As Shannon’s stock dropped due to the allegations, he became a steal for a true contender. The Timberwolves are early winners of the 2024 Draft in my book, they got two players that can contribute right away coming off the bench. In years to come, I look forward to seeing Shannon and Dillingham produce and develop in Minnesota.

Round 2

Tyler Smith

2.03 to Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks decided to start a youth movement for the future of their franchise during this draft. They went with teenage prospects AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith. Smith was selected in the second round after forgoing college and playing one season with the G-League Ignite. The Ignite struggled mightily this season but Smith was a bright spot. He averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes proving he can still produce in a limited role. Smith is a bit of a tweener position wise, but has the shooting ability to play either a stretch 4 or a small ball five. The 6’9 prospect was projected to go in the first round by some experts but found his way to the Bucks early in the second round. Smith is a great athlete that complements his knockdown shooting. His athleticism allows him to get to the basket while his height gives him a high release on perimeter jumpers. His defense may need some work but could develop over the years. Milwaukee is one of the older teams in the NBA so drafting a young prospect is helping the team prepare for the future. As players like Brook Lopez and Kris Middleton age past their prime, youth and athleticism are what this Milwaukee roster is craving. We might not see immediate production from Smith or Johnson but they are looking to develop into productive players in the future.

Johnny Furphy

2.05 to Indiana Pacers

After playing one season with Kansas, Johnny Furphy was one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2024 draft. Furphy was invited to the green room and the expectation was for him to go somewhere in the late teens/ early twenties of the draft. He fell to Indiana which is a great spot for the young Aussie. Furphy is a knockdown shooter with sneaky athleticism and a great feel for the game. He had an up and down season with Kansas but ultimately was a difference maker. His three point shooting opened the floor for other players and Furphy was constantly in attack mode in transition. He struggled defensively to get over screens and battle bigger players in the post. However, the former Jayhawk has the right skill set and size that will help him develop into an NBA caliber defender. The Pacers are an interesting team with a lot of young talent that now have playoff experience. I wouldn’t currently put them as a top four team in the East so adding a young talent to develop makes perfect sense for where their roster is at. This pick honestly worked out perfectly for both sides. Indiana traded their first round pick for Pascal Siakam but ended up getting a first round prospect with their second round pick, and Furphy is a team’s top prospect coming out of the draft despite sliding to the second round. Furphy has all the tools you want in a modern wing and I expect to see him playing big time minutes in years to come.

Bobi Klintman

2.07 to Detroit Pistons

For anyone who is unaware of who Bobi Klintman is, here is a brief overview. Klintman is a native of Sweden who moved to the United States and played his final year of high school basketball at powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. He played the 22-23 season with Wake Forest before playing the 23-24 season in the Australian NBL. Bobi has traveled all over the world and to be honest, his game represents that. He can space the floor, distribute, defend, and handle the ball. At 6’9 it is not easy to find someone who possesses all of these skills. While the Swedish native can seemingly do it all, he does not have one specific skill that he can rely on. This causes his game to be inconsistent at times. For Bobi to truly make a career in the NBA, he will need to become more consistent as life in the NBA for a second rounder can become short-lived if consistency and impact are lacking early on. For the Pistons, taking a swing on a skilled 6’9 wing who can shoot was the right move. As a team that is really lacking when it comes to perimeter shooting, Klintman will be able to assist with spacing the floor for some of Detroit’s more downhill attackers. Not all draft picks work out, especially in the second round. However, Klintman has the ability and talent to carve a role out for himself in the NBA.

Pelle Larsson

2.14 to Miami Heat

I’m at the point with the Miami Heat that I just assume that their draft picks will become impact players in the league. Larsson was a key piece for this year’s Arizona team. Similarly to Bobi Klintman, Larsson is versatile and can do just about everything you would ask of an NBA player. However, like Klintman, there isn’t one specific area that Larsson particularly excels at. He had career highs in both three point shooting (42.6%) and assists (3.7 APG) this past season. These skills will be important as he looks to solidify his spot on Miami’s roster. While he won’t be the primary ball handler in Miami, being a connector on offense would help him earn play time early. The other vital skill will be his three point shooting. Pelle was great percentage-wise this year, but he only shot 3 three pointers per game. Larsson will need to improve his comfortability and volume from beyond the arc. When it comes to Miami, they don’t have a shortage of players that are capable of getting consistent minutes on their roster. So the initial opportunity is not there for Larsson. Luckily for him, Miami has proven to be incredible with their player development team. I doubt we’ll see Larsson contribute right away, but with development defensively and to his shooting, the skilled guard can help Miami in the future.

Harrison Ingram

2.18 to San Antonio Spurs

Harrison Ingram is a sleeper prospect that I love going into this draft. After transferring from Stanford, Ingram had his best season with North Carolina. Ingram averaged 12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 1.4 SPG this past season with the Tar Heels. While Ingram was a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, he lacks the explosive athleticism normally associated with prospects of Ingram’s caliber. What Ingram lacks in athleticism he makes up for with his IQ, toughness, and rebounding. The former Cardinal and Tar Heel has the ability to be a connector offensively and do a lot of the dirty work for his teammates. Ingram was a glue guy and key contributor this past season with North Carolina. When the Tar Heels were really clicking, Ingram was playing his best. On the offensive end, Ingram is a gritty player that shot better than expected this past year at North Carolina. Despite barely shooting 30% his two seasons at Stanford, Ingram shot 38.5% of 4.6 attempts per game this past season. The continual development of his offensive game, primarily his shooting, will either make or break Ingram’s NBA career. For San Antonio, this is a great value pick in the second round. While they plan to build their roster around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, guys like Ingram will be needed to do some of the dirty work. This is a low risk, high reward pick because if the offense can develop for Ingram, he’ll be able to contribute to the young Spurs.

Kevin McCullar Jr.

2.26 to New York Knicks

I’m going to be honest here, I was not a huge proponent of either Jayhawk prospect. I think Furphy and McCullar are both great players, but when they were mocked to go in the first round, that was a little rich for my liking. However, considering they each fell to the second round, the value on both picks were incredible. For McCullar, the fall here was likely due to his lingering knee injury from this past season and his age (played 5 years of college basketball.) With those issues being undeniable, the production when he became “The Guy” this year at Kansas was also undeniable. Kevin averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He has the ability to score at all three levels offensively and locked down Big 12 opponents while both at Kansas and Texas Tech. Outside of his health, the next big question for McCullar is his three point shooting. He only shot 33% this past season but shooting 80% from the free throw line indicates that he can continue to develop as a shooter. Simply put, the Jayhawks were significantly worse without McCullar on both ends of the floor as they went from championship contender to first weekend exit with him out. For New York, they need players like McCullar as they will have very little cap flexibility after extending and trading for star players like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Additionally, McCullar is a player that is tough defensively and will fit perfectly in Tom Thibodeau’s system. If McCullar can become more consistent with his shooting and get healthy, he may be contribute and be a steal towards the back end of the second round.

There you have it, the best picks from the 2024 NBA Draft. As I stated in the beginning some of these picks won’t pan out and some of the players I didn’t mention will become stars/steals. One thing I will say is that some of these players might not become valuable contributors for 2-3 years. A perfect example here is Aaron Nesmith, who was traded by the Celtics but now is a valuable contributor and starter for the Pacers. So while I look forward to revisiting this list and seeing where I was right/wrong, I plan on waiting to give all the players from this draft time to develop. Let me know where I was right and where I was wrong!