ESPN released a new NBA mock draft on Wednesday, one week before the opening round of the 2024 draft.
Writers Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo paired 58 prospects with specific spots in the draft, and both Duke players on the board went in the first round to some iconic franchises from the Northeast.
[autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag], the freshman who shot 41.4% from 3-point range and finished with three 30-point games as a debutant last season, went first to the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th overall pick.
The prediction would pair him with 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2023-24 Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey as the Sixers try to reach a summit that has eluded them for the past decade: the Eastern Conference finals.
“As an excellent shooter with impressive intangibles that have bolstered his case in the short and long term, McCain is well-prepared for an NBA adjustment and could be on a faster track to making an impact than your typical freshman,” Woo wrote.
[autotag]Kyle Filipowski[/autotag] went eight picks later to the New York Knicks with the 24th pick. A 7-footer who made the Second Team All-American squad as a sophomore averaged more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game, but his 2.8 assists per game make him an intriguing first-round prospect.
“Filipowski’s ability to handle, pass and shoot is difficult to come by at 7-foot, and the dearth of versatile bigs who can play inside and out will surely be attractive to a team picking in this range,” Givony wrote.
The NBA draft gets underway on June 26.