Five players who will outperform their 2024 NBA Draft results

The 2024 NBA Draft gets underway Wednesday night, with the first round taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The second round will take place Thursday afternoon at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.

The 30 players selected Wednesday will have reached the pinnacle of the basketball world and reap the financial rewards that come with being a first-round pick.

There are, however, players who won’t hear their name called who will go on to have impactful NBA careers.

Here are five players likely to be selected in the second round or signed as undrafted free agents who in time will be viewed as 2024 draft class steals.

Kevin McCullar Jr.

The one player on this list who could be selected Wednesday is McCullar, although most mock drafts have him going in the second round. One reason for that is a knee injury the former Kansas star suffered this past season which required surgery and kept him from competing at the NBA combine. There’s plenty to like about McCullar, but what stands out is his mid-range scoring and tireless motor. 

McCullar, who measured just over 6-foot-5 at the combine (without shoes), is also a plus defender who can guard multiple positions thanks to his 6-foot-9 wingspan.