NBA Draft grades 2024: Live results and analysis for every pick in Rounds 1-2 | Sporting News

The 2024 NBA Draft has arrived.

While this year’s draft class doesn’t have the same hype as last year’s Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, there are still plenty of talented prospects who will hear their names called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Familiar college basketball prospects like UConn national champions Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle are both projected top-10 picks. Others like Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht are expected to come off the board in the lottery.

International stars like Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr and Nikola Topic are three of the best players in this class.

If you’re looking to get up to speed on this year’s crop of prospects, you’ve come to the right place. The Sporting News has you covered with live grades and analysis for every pick in the 2024 NBA Draft below.

SN’S NBA DRAFT HQ: Live picks tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | 2-round mock

NBA Draft grades 2024: Live results and analysis for every pick

First round

1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg (France)

Risacher became the likely selection for the Hawks at No. 1 after Atlanta couldn’t get Sarr in for a pre-draft workout.

The 6-8 French wing fits an immediate need for perimeter shooting around Trae Young and Dejounte Murray … if the Hawks don’t trade one (or both) of their star guards. Risacher was streaky for JL Bourg this past season — shooting 35.2 percent from 3 — but there is no denying his long-term potential if he can develop as a shot-creator and maximize his tools to become a versatile defender.

2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, Perth (Australia)

A perfect fit falls right into the Wizards’ lap at No. 2.

Washington has been one of the NBA’s worst defenses over the past few seasons. Sarr is the type of athletic, mobile and versatile defensive anchor to help mend those issues. The 7-foot center is an elite shot blocker and lob catcher with budding offensive skills to give the Wizards a franchise building block.

3. Houston Rockets (via BKN): Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

The Rockets select Sheppard, one of the most reliable two-way prospects in this draft. Houston needed backcourt depth behind Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green, and Sheppard is a combo guard who can fit next to either player.

He’s a lights-out shooter who knocked down a jaw-dropping 52.1 percent of his 3s this past season. He’ll provide the Rockets’ bench with a blend of ball-handling, playmaking and on-ball defense. Learning from an undersized guard like VanVleet will only help his development, too.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, UConn

Landing Castle is a dream scenario for a Spurs team looking to build around Wembanyama.

Castle wants to play point guard and that is San Antonio’s biggest need. He is an elite and versatile defender, a budding playmaker, and can make an impact on offense with or without the ball in his hands. He’s willing to do the little things that contribute to winning, as seen during UConn’s run to a National Championship.

If Castle can improve his jump shot, he’ll be the best player in this draft class.

5. Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland, G League Ignite

The first surprise of the draft goes to the Pistons taking Holland — but it’s a pleasant one.

Holland is a versatile and relentless defender who plays with unlimited energy. He’s a raw offensive product but still managed to average 20.6 points per game for the Ignite despite lacking a reliable jump shot or polished shot-creation skills. He was once in the running to go No. 1 overall and I’m firm in believing he’s a top-five talent in this class.

Detroit is building an interesting core with Holland, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.

6. Charlotte Hornets: Tijdane Salaun, Cholet (France)

The Hornets take a massive swing on 18-year-old forward Salaun.

Salaun is an athletic slasher who has a limitless ceiling of potential. At his floor, he can defend multiple positions, crash the glass, and score in transition and off of cuts. If he ever develops a reliable 3-point shot, this pick will age really well for Charlotte.

It is a bit surprising it couldn’t trade back and still land Salaun later in the lottery, though.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, UConn

Clingan’s range was as wide as any prospect in this class with the possibility of going as high as first overall.

He lands with the Trail Blazers at No. 7, leaving their front office with some decisions to make on Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III.

Clingan is a massive presence at 7-2, 272 pounds with a 7-7 wingspan. He’s an elite rim protector and shot blocker who rebounds at a high level and poses a threat as a lob-catcher.

8. Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS): Rob Dillingham, Kentucky

The Timberwolves acquired Dillingham from the Spurs for a 2030 first-round pick swap and unprotected 2031 first-round pick, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Minnesota struggled to find backcourt contributors beyond Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker last season. Dillingham is a prolific shot creator and the best isolation scorer in this draft class. He will provide instant offense for a win-now team looking to return to the Western Conference Finals and beyond next season.

9. Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey, Purdue

The Grizzlies have made a major reach for Edey inside the top 10.

Memphis does need a center after trading Steven Adams to the Rockets last season but Edey felt attainable much later in the draft. This isn’t a knock on Edey as an NBA prospect — he made strides to improve weaknesses like his conditioning and mobility — but he still has clear limitations beyond scoring right at the rim.

10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, Colorado

The Jazz are in a re-tooling stage so they can afford to be patient with a prospect like Williams, who needs developing. He’s a versatile forward with the height, length and athleticism to be an impact two-way player but the 19-year-old is a project on both ends of the floor at this stage.

11. Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite

Falling to No. 11, Buzelis took a bit of a slide but the Bulls capitalized on the opportunity.

Buzelis is an athletic, 6-10 floor-spacing forward with so much untapped potential. He only shot 22.2 percent from 3 for the Ignite but his jump shot mechanics are clean. He made strides as an active defender and shot blocker who will only improve when he fills out his frame.

To top it off, he’s a Chicago native who should thrive for a franchise that is starting to hit the reset button.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU): Nikola Topic, Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

For a team like Oklahoma City that has an endless supply of draft capital, why not make a patient pick like Topic?

Topic is a pick-and-roll maestro and gifted passer with an explosive first step to get downhill to the rim.

He is undeniably one of the most talented players in this class but the 18-year-old was diagnosed with a partially torn ACL in the lead-up to the draft. There is a chance he has to sit out his entire first NBA season, but that turned out pretty well for the Thunder with Chet Holmgren.

13. Sacramento Kings: Devin Carter, Providence

The Kings are trying to get over the hump as a playoff team after a first-round exit in 2023 and a Play-In Tournament exit in 2024. Carter fits that bill as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this class.

Carter is a physical and competitive guard who made impressive strides as a scorer this past season at Providence. He’s a disruptive perimeter defender and sound playmaker. He finishes through contact at the rim and improved his midrange jumper. He’ll be a great backup to De’Aaron Fox.

14. Washington Wizards (via POR): Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh

The Wizards roll the dice on Carrington, an 18-year-old offensive-minded point guard. Carrington has all the makings of a prolific shot-creator and playmaker with shifty handle to break down defenders.

With Tyus Jones headed for unrestricted free agency, it was smart for Washington to target a long-term guard prospect like “Bub.”

15. Miami Heat: Kel’el Ware, Indiana

The Heat just signed All-Star center Bam Adebayo to a three-year, $166 million contract this afternoon. Now, they get some frontcourt size in Ware, a 7-foot backup center.

Ware’s mobility, athleticism and potential to stretch the floor makes him a great fit with the Heat. He’s a rim protector and lob catcher with developing offensive skills.

Once a five-star, top recruit coming out of high school, where better to maximize his talents than a renowned player development program like Miami?

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, Duke

The 76ers needed perimeter shooting and guard depth and they killed two birds with one stone on this pick. McCain is a combo guard who can play on or off the ball with a skillset that should seamlessly translate to the NBA.

He’s a connective playmaker and hard-working defender who hit 41.4 percent of his 3s as a freshman at Duke. Philadelphia nailed this pick.

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee

Knecht had no business being on the board at No. 17. The Lakers just got the steal of the draft.

Knecht is as NBA-ready as any player in this class and he lands with a team that is looking to win now. He’s a three-level scorer and excellent 3-point shooter who will make a killing on catch-and-shoot opportunities playing off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

18. Orlando Magic

19. Toronto Raptors (via IND)

20. Cleveland Cavaliers

21. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)

22. Phoenix Suns

23. Milwaukee Bucks (via NOP)

24. New York Knicks (via DAL)

25. New York Knicks

26. Washington Wizards (via LAC)

27. Minnesota Timberwolves

28. Denver Nuggets

29. Utah Jazz (via OKC)

30. Boston Celtics

Second round

The second round of the 2024 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, June 27 at 4 p.m. ET.

31. Toronto Raptors (via DET)

32. Utah Jazz (via WAS)

33. Milwaukee Bucks (via POR)

34. Portland Trail Blazers (via CHA)

35. San Antonio Spurs

36. Indiana Pacers (via TOR)

37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via MEM)

38. New York Knicks (via UTA)

39. Memphis Grizzlies (via BKN)

40. Portland Trail Blazers (via ATL)

41. Philadelphia 76ers (via CHI)

42. Charlotte Hornets (via HOU)

43. Miami Heat

44. Houston Rockets (via GSW)

45. Sacramento Kings

46. LA Clippers (via IND)

47. Orlando Magic

48. San Antonio Spurs (via LAL)

— 76ers forfeited second-round pick

49. Indiana Pacers (via CLE)

50. Indiana Pacers (via NOP)

51. Washington Wizards (via PHX)

52. Golden State Warriors (via MIL)

53. Detroit Pistons (via NYK)

54. Boston Celtics (via DAL)

55. Los Angeles Lakers (via LAC)

56. Denver Nuggets (via MIN)

57. Memphis Grizzlies (via OKC)

— Suns forfeited second-round pick

58. Dallas Mavericks (via BOS)