Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

San Antonio selects UK’s Rob Dillingham to trade to Minnesota Timberwolves

However, in a twist, the Spurs are sending Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves for draft assets.

The San Antonio Spurs have made their second pick of the 2024 NBA draft, following up their No. 4 pick of University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle. With their No. 8 overall pick of the draft, San Antonio has selected University of Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham.

However, in a twist, the Spurs are sending Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2031 unprotected first round pick and a 2030 pick swap (top 1 protected) to the Spurs for Dillingham. It remains unclear whether San Antonio will use some of those draft assets to land a player via trade in the near-term future, but it seems likely that San Antonio will be looking to use at least some draft assets to add to the team this summer.

The Spurs still have a pair of second round picks to use when that section of the draft kicks off tomorrow on Thursday (June 26) afternoon at Nos. 35 and 48 as well.

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Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard becomes first collegiate player selected in 2024 NBA draft

The Kentucky guard was taken No. 3 overall Wednesday night.

The first overall collegiate player selected in the 2024 NBA draft Wednesday night comes from the SEC, as Kentucky Wildcats guard Reed Sheppard went at pick No. 3 overall to the Houston Rockets.

Selected in front of Sheppard were two prospects from France in Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr at No.’s 1 and 2, respectively. Risacher went to the Atlanta Hawks, while Sarr was taken by the Washington Wizards.

Sheppard was one of the top overall freshmen in college basketball this past season, even despite starting only 5-of-33 games for the Wildcats. Over that season, Sheppard averaged 12.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.5 SPG while leading the SEC in multiple statistical categories.

Named the 2023-24 SEC Freshman of the Year, among other honors, the guard was also one of the top three-point shooters in college basketball at 52.1% from deep. Sheppard also shot 53.6% from the field, as well as 83.1% at the free throw line.

The former Kentucky guard was also joined by fellow Wildcat teammate Rob Dillingham as SEC players selected within the Top 10 picks, who went No. 8 overall to the San Antonio Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama had the best reaction to 3 French players going so high in the 2024 NBA Draft

Victor Wembanyama loved seeing three French players go so high in the 2024 NBA Draft.

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama seemed very proud to see his fellow French players get drafted so high during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) and Tidjane Salaün (Charlotte Hornets) all went within the first six picks of this year’s draft on Thursday night, making that three players from France taken that high.

Risacher followed in Wembanyama’s footsteps in being taken first overall in the draft out of France, which in part sparked the latter to tweet “C’est la France frère” from his Twitter (X) account and followed it with three French flag emojis.
That translates in English to “It’s France brother.”

We’ll see how these young French basketball players translate to the league once they make their debuts, as following in Wembanyama’s footsteps is a tall task for any player in the league, much less all the other great French players to make it in the NBA.

However, Wembanyama will undoubtedly welcome them once they arrive out of country pride.

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Rockets draft Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard at No. 3 in NBA draft

With the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Rockets selected guard Reed Sheppard out of the University of Kentucky.

With the third overall pick on Wednesday in the 2024 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets selected guard Reed Sheppard out of the University of Kentucky.

Sheppard was named SEC Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals on 52.1% shooting from 3-point range. He had seven 20-point games, including a season-high 32 points and the game-winning shot on Feb. 27.

The 20-year-old established himself as a top-five pick after a tremendous season with the Wildcats. He was also said to be in contention as the No. 1 pick by the Atlanta Hawks.

Sheppard becomes the Rockets’ third top-five pick in as many years (Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson). He is the third player to be drafted at No. 3 by the Rockets in franchise history, joining Rodney McCray in 1983 and Smith in 2022.

The 6-foot-3 guard led the country in 3-point percentage and finished 10th in total steals (82). He was the only player in the country to record at least 145 assists, 80 steals and 75 3-pointers, and just the second in program history with 80 or more steals in a season.

Sheppard projects to be able to step in and contribute immediately as the Rockets look to return to the playoffs. He has the potential to develop into a two-way player and help the Rockets now.

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Stephon Castle wore an awesome castle chain piece to the 2024 NBA Draft

Alright, this is fantastic from Stephon Castle.

As he was being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the fourth-overall pick on Wednesday night, former UConn standout Stephon Castle made sure to dress in style for the occasion.

Castle wore an incredibly sharp suit to the 2024 NBA Draft’s first round, complete with an outstanding castle chain piece to complete the outfit.

Obviously, this is the perfect pick for a chain piece for Castle, and we hope he breaks this out sometime during his rookie season for his pregame look.

As far as accessories go for NBA draft outfits, Castle’s castle chain piece easily takes the cake to us.

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Wizards take Frenchman Alex Sarr with No. 2 pick in NBA draft

The Wizards on Wednesday selected Frenchman Alexandre Sarr from the Perth Wildcats in the NBL with the second overall pick in the draft.

The Washington Wizards on Wednesday selected Frenchman Alexandre Sarr from the Perth Wildcats in the NBL with the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Sarr averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 52% shooting from the field last season with the Wildcats. He scored in double figures 14 times, including a season-high 18 points, five blocks and two rebounds on Jan. 26 against the S.E. Melbourne Phoenix.

The 7-footer was in contention to be the top pick of the Atlanta Hawks but declined to work out with the organization, clearing the way for the Wizards to take him at No. 2. He said before the draft that he wanted to land with the right team, and that will now be the Wizards.

The Wizards’ selection at No. 2 is the third time the team has drafted at that position in the common era. He became the second international player selected after the Hawks took fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick.

Sarr is highly touted for his ability to protect the paint and block shots with his 7-foot, 4 1/4-inch wingspan. He has an evolving offensive game and has drawn some comparisons to Giannis Antetokounmpo with his size, skill set and ability in the open court.

The 19-year-old will join a roster featuring Bilal Coulibaly, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole and Johnny Davis, among others. He projects to add scoring, rebounding and a post presence to the roster.

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Hawks select Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher with No. 1 pick in NBA draft

With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Hawks selected Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher out of JL Bourg.

With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher out of JL Bourg from the French League and EuroCup.

Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star after averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range in 65 games in France. He joined Kristaps Porzingis and Jonas Valanciunas as recipients of the award.

The 19-year-old emerged as the front-runner for the top pick after the Hawks won the draft lottery last month. He visited the organization last week and likely established himself as its choice after a strong showing in his workout and interview.

Risacher is the Hawks’ first No. 1 pick since David Thompson in 1975. He is their highest-drafted player since Marvin Williams was selected with the fifth overall pick in 2005. It is the first time in history a player without college experience was chosen first in consecutive years.

The Hawks were also said to be considering other prospects with the top pick, like Donovan Clingan, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard. However, the team couldn’t secure a predraft workout with Sarr after the 7-footer declined their invitation.

Risacher projects to check many boxes for the Hawks at the next level. He is highly touted for his passing, playmaking on offense and shooting ability. He also brings defensive versatility, given his size and ability to guard multiple positions.

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ESPN accidentally showed Tidjane Salaün while introducing Dalton Knecht during 2024 NBA Draft

Well, that’s not Dalton Knecht.

Wednesday night’s first round of the 2024 NBA Draft brought Tennessee star Dalton Knecht to the start of his professional career.

However, the ESPN broadcast of the evening’s festivities didn’t seem to know who Knecht was as they tried to showcase him before the picks began coming off the board.

Once the lower third for Knecht’s name appeared on the broadcast, French prospect Tidjane Salaün came up instead in a very confusing mix up.

We’re not entirely sure at what happened for the broadcast to confuse Knecht for Salaün, but it certainly kept viewers on alert to point out the mistake for themselves.

They don’t look alike at all, so we’re very unsure how this happened.

The broadcast eventually got it right, but what a strange mistake regardless.

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NBA Draft announcers: Who’s calling it on ESPN and ABC in 2024?

Here’s who will be calling and analyzing the 2024 NBA Draft.

Happy 2024 NBA draft, friends.

That means we’re going to be sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting to see who our favorite team will pick out of the college and international ranks in a two-day affair from the league.

In the meantime: If you’re here, you’re probably wondering who the voices you’re hearing on the broadcasts of the event from Brooklyn. We have answers! Both ESPN and ABC will broadcast it with different crews.

Here’s who will be involved:

ESPN: Malika Andrews, Jay Bilas, Andraya Carter, Richard Jefferson, Monica McNutt, Jonathan Givony, Bobby Marks and Adrian Wojnarowski.

ABC: Kevin Nagandhi, Bob Myers Stephen A. Smith, Monca McNutt, Jonathan Givony, Bobby Marks and Adrian Wojnarowski.

Enjoy!

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Nets are still looking to acquire picks in the 2024 NBA Draft

Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Brooklyn Nets are still looking to acquire picks in the 2024 NBA Draft that begins Wednesday.

The Brooklyn Nets are now committed to a full rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for a haul of draft picks late on Tuesday night. While Brooklyn received enough draft capital to do their own rebuild thanks to the trade of Bridges, they still have more on the agenda.

Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Nets are still looking to acquire picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, the first round of which begins on Wednesday. While Brooklyn did what many had been suggesting them to do by trading Bridges away for draft capital, the Nets did not acquire a pick in the 2024 Draft and that seems like something they still want to achieve.

“The Nets, per sources, are still looking to acquire picks in this draft,” Fischer wrote on X. “There’s going to be plenty of calls into Brooklyn, offering packages with tonight’s first round selections for Nets wings Cam Johnson and/or Dorian Finney-Smith. Brooklyn seems quite open for business.”

There has been various reports of the Nets looking for draft capital in the 2024 Draft, with rumors of them reaching out to the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves for their picks late in the first round. There is also reporting from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that suggest that Brooklyn could be trading most of the better players currently on the team to get more draft picks and/or young players.

For Johnson and Finney-Smith, both forwards represent skill sets that are coveted by every team in the NBA regardless of whether the team is in a position to win or not. Finney-Smith is an veteran forward who has proven to be able to shoot the three-ball with above-average efficiency while Johnson is a knockdown three-point shooter that provides solid rebounding and can hold his own on the perimeter defensively.

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