The first round of the 2024 draft is now in the books. The full results of the day can be viewed right here.
Three French players were selected with the first six picks of the draft. The Hawks selected forward Zaccharie Risacher with the top pick, the Wizards drafted power forward/center Alexandre Sarr with the No. 2 selection, and the Hornets added forward Tidjane Salaun at No. 6.
All told, four French players were selected in the first round. Swingman Pacome Dadiet was drafted with the No. 25 pick by the Knicks.
Two players apiece were selected from Kentucky, UConn and Colorado in the first round.
It proved to be a fairly active night from a trade perspective. The Wizards and Trail Blazers kicked off the festivities with a pre-draft trade agreement that sent Washington the No. 14 pick, its second lottery selection. Portland was able to get out of tax territory by moving off the expiring contract of veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, while acquiring 23-year-old small forward Deni Avdija. The Wizards would go on to select Pittsburgh guard Carlton Carrington.
Washington made a second trade later in the first round, moving up in a deal with the Knicks to select Miami guard Kyshawn George using the No. 24 pick. New York, meanwhile, later shipped the No. 26 selection to the Thunder in exchange for five future second-rounders.
The Spurs flipped the No. 8 pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for Minnesota’s unprotected 2031 first-rounder and a top-one protected 2030 pick swap. The Timberwolves used the pick on Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham. Fresh off a run to the Western Conference Finals, Minnesota is able to add a blue-chip young lottery talent under team control.
The 2023 champion Nuggets offloaded three second-round picks and the No. 28 selection this year to acquire Dayton forward DaRon Holmes.
When it comes to potential draft steals beyond the lottery, the Lakers nabbed a potential keeper in sharpshooter Dalton Knecht out of Tennessee, who had been projected as a lottery selection before slipping on draft night.
The Trail Blazers’ selection of UConn big man Donovan Clingan at No. 7 was one of the night’s most interest selections, since it raises questions about Portland’s plans going forward for centers Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams. The Grizzlies were another team to use a top-10 pick on a center, adding some size to their frontcourt by nabbing Zach Edey at No. 9.
The draft continues on Thursday afternoon, with pick Nos. 31-58.
We want to hear from you. Who was the steal of the first round? Which team made the most questionable move? Who won the day?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in!
I like Ron Holland a lot, happy the Pistons have nothing standing in his way, although they might still mess up his development, as they seemingly want to do.
I love the pick, Ron Holland may end up being the best player in this draft, he has highest ceiling I don’t know if he is a hard worker, he is 18 so still teachable.
We are in the midst of re-building our development team. I love Vinson’s hiring (re. I love Blackstone for front office.
I like the Spurs taking big swings that could allow them to control strong assets at a point in time which they should be competing (and expensive), but I still think they didn’t get enough value in the deal. I don’t do this trade unless the Wolves add 2-3 seconds/something else of value. Might not sound like much, but they had leverage to ask for more.
On the surface it does indeed look like we got great value from you guys, but this was a weak draft. Your scenario would have happened next year in a deeper draft. I’m still surprised that SA didn’t keep him just to add talent, though. Side note, Im a Minnesotan but I went to college in SA and I absolutely love the city.
Topic at 12 to the Thunder…do we think he stays overseas for a year, or do they sign him right away? Not much of a path to playing time right now.
Bronny is a sure bet to go at 55 or 56 to Lakers or Suns…would another team take him slightly earlier, since the hit rate on a pick past 45 is so low anyway?
Lakers will probably purchase a pick earlier in the 2nd round than 55. Adds a lot more drama and shows LeBron that they “pulled out all the stops” to get Bronny.
@ Jacob. Signed straight up and won’t play next season. Surgery, recovery, can still be around the guys and learn. Only fell 12th because of said impeding Surgery. Great pick for OKC down the line. IQ is light years ahead of anyone in this draft. Played his first euroleague game @ 16yrs old. Been telling grown men what to do few yrs now. I say bigger Dragic who’s more capable finishing at the rim.
he has actually played very little in eurolegaue, much less than doncic at thi age, but he has more basketball IQ than most people in the draft the last couple of years.
he played meaningfull minutes domestically last year and internationally this year
Who’s rookie of the year? If Atlanta keeps both of their PGs along with Johnson I don’t see Risacher getting enough touches. Poole and Kuzma never met a shot they didn’t like so that makes it tough for Sarr. Shepard is going to be coming off the bench behind Green and VanVleet. Castle? Maybe I could see them moving Vassell to SF or playing him there making him the third option. Is Holland going to be playing in front of Thompson or Ivey? If Bridges is gone then maybe Salaun. Clingan, Dillingham and Edey will most likely have bench roles. I really like Cody Williams for Utah. They have a crowded backcourt but George and Sexton are the only ones that stand out, Williams is also big enough to play SF moving Markkanen to PF.
Good analysis. I think Sarr is a good bet for ROY. Clear path to 30+ minutes a game even when he plays poorly since winning isn’t the priority yet, and he has a great physical profile. I could see him being the runaway counting stats leader.
I also love the Williams pick for Utah. He doesn’t even look like he’s done growing yet and he’s very mature and has a great physical profile.
I don’t think the issue with this draft class is depth, I think it’s that the top-end talent isn’t top end. The #1-#12 picks are closer than most years not because the #12 pick is a bum but because the #1-#4 picks would be #7-#10 picks most years. ROY may still be one of those top 4 because they’ll be given big minutes, but I wouldn’t be shocked if ROY ends up being someone like Clingan, Williams, or Buzelis. For that matter, I wouldn’t even be all that surprised if it’s Williams’ new teammate, Isaiah Collier.
Lakers are the biggest winner today
Dalton Knecht is the best player in college
Lol lakers stink.
@Nrg- That may be the case, but it’s kind of hard to deny that they hit a home run yesterday. They got a better player in this year’s weaker draft than they got in last year’s better draft, and they had the exact same draft slot both years.
Celtics fan, lakers hater. You’re wasting your keystrokes, @myaccount2
Another year…another draft where my Suns don’t draft a PG. Was really hoping they take Kolek or Shead at 28 after the trade but alas we get another Defensive tweener who can’t shoot. Atleast we got some 2nds I guess
Dunn is solid value at 28 at least because you know he’ll for sure bring one redeeming trait to the league, making him a viable role player.
I surprisingly liked the Bulls pick of Buzelis, amd thought he was a potential steal with his upside.
He’s the perfect 4 that they’ve been missing, and it isn’t like they have any other 4s, so he should see plenty of playing time in order to help speed up his development.
I don’t think it’ll do them any favors for winning this season, but I do like a young and growing starting 5 of Giddey, White, Patrick Williams, Buzelis, and Vucevic. Then, Dosunmu can help lead the second unit off the bench, and they can actually start towards building a real core with a plan in place moving forward to build around their younger pieces.
Also, forgot to mention Bitim and Phillips in that second unit as well. Terry has been pretty disappointing, but Bitim and Phillips showed alot of potential moving forward as serviceable bench pieces with some upside moving forward if they continue to develop.
They need to bring in a couple versatile bigs, with one being a legit Center, add another veteran shooter or two, and they should be a competitive squad moving forward.
They won’t win very many games, but they can add a very good piece drafting early on next year, and then compliment their young pieces in free agency having everyone develop and learning to play together.
It’s at least A plan. That’s something I haven’t seen from this front office in awhile, and it would help restore at least some faith in their front office moving forward.
Kenect!
IMO I was hoping the Knicks would have taken Dunn. Dunn fell further then I thought he would
Why is Bronny still on the board…
Ja’Kobe Walter falling to 19 is a huge steal for the Raptors. Apparently they’ve been huge fans of him since early high school, and I can’t blame them. 6’5″ guard with a 6’10” wingspan? Potential as a movement shooter? Well above-average athlete? In a draft like this, he should have been picked higher as an upside guy at minimum, but the Raptors, currently starting their rebuild, could use a guy like him big time. He’s got big potential as a 2-way guy in the vein of KCP with greater upside. Sad he didn’t fall one more spot for my Cavs, though.
He certainly fits the mold for the Raps, I, too was surprised he slid. Solid grab.
I love that Tim Connelly essentially played a loophole within the second tax apron penalties. He just traded for a more salary than he’s giving up in present value, which the Wolves are technically barred from doing. Improving the team any way he can. Love it. Of course, I don’t expect Dillingham to come in guns blazing right off the bat. I think this is partially for next year when NAW gets paid.
With the obvious hope that he can develop into more of a playmaker and take over for Minnesota Mike.
knicks fans are some of the morst ignorant ones in the nba, booing an 18 yo kid.
even though the previous time they did it with Porzingis the became meme material