2024 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: Filling team needs in first round

The 2024 NBA Draft is less than one week away, with workouts in full swing and the NBA Finals over after the Boston Celtics were crowned champions. Now that all 30 teams have fully focused their attention on the offseason process, things are heating up.

The deadline has now come and gone for international prospects to remove their name from the NBA Draft class, meaning the field of prospects is now final. Without a major shift in the pool of potential first-round players, the names should look familiar.

As NBA teams continue the process of evaluating talent and building the blueprint of their roster, here is a look at how the first 30 picks could play out in the 2024 NBA Draft if teams focus on team needs and fit with the current roster.

1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, France

Team needs: Pieces that fit, wing scoring
Best case: Zaccharie Risacher
Other fits: Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan

2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, France

Team needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best case: Alex Sarr
Other fits: Donovan Clingan

Team needs: Star power, wing shooting
Best case: Trade away
Other fits: Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle

4. San Antonio Spurs: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

Team needs: Point guard, wing shooting
Best case: Zaccharie Risacher
Other fits: Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis

5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis, G-League

Team needs: Wing talent, veteran presence
Best case: Matas Buzelis
Other fits: Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle, Cody Williams

6. Charlotte Hornets: Stephon Castle, UConn

Team needs: Wing shooting, rotational depth
Best case: Reed Sheppard
Other fits: Dalton Knecht, Ron Holland

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams, Colorado

Team needs: Wing talent, high-upside players
Best case: Donovan Clingan
Other fits: Ron Holland, Dalton Knecht

8. San Antonio Spurs: Tidjane Salaun, France

Team needs: Point guard, wing shooting
Best case: Stephon Castle
Other fits: Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham

9. Memphis Grizzlies: Devin Carter, Providence

Team needs: Center, backup point guard
Best case: Donovan Clingan
Other fits: Kel’el Ware, Zach Edey

10. Utah Jazz: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee 

Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth
Best case: Dalton Knecht
Other fits: Ron Holland, Nikola Topic

11. Chicago Bulls: Nikola Topic, Serbia

Team needs: Young talent, rotational depth
Best case: Stephon Castle
Other fits: Ron Holland, Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Filipowski, Duke

Team needs: Veteran, rebounding forward
Best case: Tidjane Salaun
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Ron Holland

13. Sacramento Kings: Jared McCain, Duke

Team needs: Scoring guard, wing depth
Best case: Devin Carter
Other fits: Rob Dillingham, Carlton Carrington, Isaiah Collier

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ron Holland, G-League

Team needs: Wing talent, high-upside players
Best case: Tidjane Salaun
Other fits: Ja’Kobe Walter, Johnny Furphy

Picks 15-30

15. Miami Heat: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Team needs: Young talent, rotational depth
Best case: Rob Dillingham
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Kel’el Ware

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Carlton Carrington, Pitt
Team needs: Star power, guard depth, wing defense
Best case: Trade away
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Johnny Furphy

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Zach Edey, Purdue
Team needs: Wing shooting, rotational depth
Best case: Ron Holland
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Isaiah Collier

18. Orlando Magic: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
Team needs: Scoring guard, rotational depth
Best case: Carlton Carrington
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, DaRon Holmes

19. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Smith, G-League
Team needs: Young talent, size on wing
Best case: Zach Edey
Other fits: Tristan Da Silva, Kyshawn George

20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
Team needs: Pieces that fit, wing shooting
Best case: Ja’Kobe Walter
Other fits: Jaylon Tyson, Johnny Furphy

21. New Orleans Pelicans: Kel’el Ware, Indiana
Team needs: Center, point guard
Best case: Kyle Filipowski
Other fits: Isaiah Collier, Yves Missi, DaRon Holmes

22. Phoenix Suns: Isaiah Collier, USC
Team needs: point guard, cheap depth
Best case: Isaiah Collier
Other fits: Ajay Mitchell, Tyler Kolek

23. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Shannon, Illinois
Team needs: Wing shooting, cheap depth
Best case: Tristan Da Silva
Other fits: Baylor Scheierman, Johnny Furphy, Kyshawn George

24. New York Knicks: Jaylon Tyson, California
Team needs: Rotational depth
Best case: Kel’el Ware
Other fits: Baylor Scheierman, Kyshawn George, DaRon Holmes

25. New York Knicks: Yves Missi, Baylor
Team needs: Rotational depth
Best case: Trade away
Other fits: Kevin McCullar, Ryan Dunn, Bronny James

26. Washington Wizards: Ajay Mitchell, UCSB
Team needs: Young talent, point guard, center
Best case: Tyler Smith
Other fits: Tyler Kolek, Kyshawn George, Bobi Klintman

27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
Team needs: Guard depth
Best case: Baylor Scheierman
Other fits: Johnny Furphy, Tyler Kolek

28. Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes, Dayton
Team needs: Center depth, wing depth
Best case: DaRon Holmes
Other fits: Johnny Furphy, Ryan Dunn

29. Utah Jazz: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Team needs: Wing talent, guard depth
Best case: Johnny Furphy
Other fits: Bobi Klintman, Justin Edwards

30. Boston Celtics: Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Team needs: Cheap depth
Best case: Tyler Kolek
Other fits: Pacome Dadiet, Cam Christie