Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

Former UC Santa Barbara guard Ajay Mitchell reveals his biggest strengths ahead of draft

Mitchell is drawing plenty of interest ahead of the NBA draft and is looking to showcase his overall game in workouts.

Former UC Santa Barbara junior Ajay Mitchell is drawing plenty of interest ahead of the 2024 NBA draft and is looking to showcase his overall game in team workouts.

Mitchell was named to the All-Big West first team after averaging 20 points, four assists, four rebounds and 1.2 steals on 39.3% shooting from 3-point range. He was one of four players in the country to average at least 20 points, four assists and four rebounds.

The Belgian finished second in the conference in scoring and seventh in assists. He produced four 30-point games this past season, including a career-high 39 points on Dec. 30 in a win over UC-Riverside, which tied the program record for a single game.

Mitchell was pleased with his season on and off the court.

I grew up in Belgium. My dad played college ball and all of my siblings played college sports, so I always wanted to play college. For me, it was important to show that I could compete against bigger, stronger athletes and just show that a European kid could make it in college.

Mitchell was invited to compete in the draft combine last month in Chicago, Illinois. He averaged seven points, 4.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and one steal in two scrimmage games and also had a strong showing in the shooting drills in the event.

The 6-foot-4 guard is projected to be a second-round pick, given his offensive versatility and ability in pick-and-roll situations. The lefty is crafty in the paint and has great court vision to get his teammates involved as the lead ballhandler.

He believes those traits will translate well to the next level.

I think I can bring IQ. Obviously, make a play for myself (and) make a play for my teammates and read the game; that is one of my strengths. Then, being competitive, coming in and working hard and working hard to make my teammates better.

Mitchell has worked out with 13 teams so far in the predraft process, including the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves. He will finish with 18 total workouts before the draft on June 26-27 and is enjoying the process.

“I had four (workouts) before the combine and (the rest) of them after,” Mitchell said during his visit with the Pacers on Wednesday. “It has been great. I love it. It is a fun experience. I’d rather have a lot of workouts than none, so (I’m) grateful.”

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Nikola Djurisic: NBA draft scouting report

2004 | 6’7 | 6’8 WS | 208 LBS Team: Mega Basket (Serbia) Agent: Jared Mucha Best aggregate mock draft rank : 25 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Djurisic averaged 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per …

2004 | 6’7 | 6’8 WS | 208 LBS

Team: Mega Basket (Serbia)

Agent: Jared Mucha

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 25 / Worst rank: NR

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Djurisic averaged 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. He shot 44.4 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from three, and 76.3 percent from the foul line.

Born into an athletic family, his father is former pro footballer Duško Djurisic, and his mother is former Olympian and pro volleyball player Vesna Čitaković.

Trentyn Flowers: NBA draft scouting report

2005 | 6’6.5 | 6’8 WS | 201 LBS Team: Adelaide 36ers (Australia) Agency: Daniel Hazan Best aggregate mock draft rank : 23 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Flowers averaged 5.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.1 blocks, and 0.2 steals …

2005 | 6’6.5 | 6’8 WS | 201 LBS

Team: Adelaide 36ers (Australia)

Agency: Daniel Hazan

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 23 / Worst rank: NR

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Flowers averaged 5.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.1 blocks, and 0.2 steals per game. He shot 43.6 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three, and 64.9 percent from the foul line.

San Antonio Spurs hosting free 2024 NBA draft watch party

The hosts will show the whole first round of the draft.

The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly hosting a free 2024 NBA draft watch party at The Rock at La Cantera at Frost Plaza (located at 1 Spurs Way, San Antonio, Texas, 78256) according to KENS’ Jeff Garcia. It will take place on the day of the big event (June 26) of course, with things kicking off at 6 p.m. local time.

The hosts will show the whole first round of the draft (the second round will be held on another night starting this year, per league changes) to see what San Antonio will do with their Nos. 4 and 8 picks in the first round.

That could of course involve trading one or both of the picks, but we suspect the Spurs will be making at least one of the two lottery selections as they seek to improve the roster for next season.

To read a little more about the event and what to expect, check out the full post from KENS.

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Should the Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine to the Detroit Pistons for fifth pick of the 2024 NBA draft?

Would such a deal make sense for both parties?

We have heard rumbles about the Chicago Bulls perhaps trying to move up in the 2024 NBA draft lottery to get the player they have set their sights on (whoever that may be), but sparse chatter about what such a move might actually look like.

But one team analyst recently made a stab at creating a framework and a range of targets on such a swap, hinting at dealing away Zach LaVine and the Bulls’ 11th overall pick for Isaiah Stewart and the fifth overall pick of the draft. This would be the cohost of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast, Will Gottlieb, who proposes the Bulls then use that pick to pursue University of Connecticut big man Donovan Clingan or other top prospects in the draft.

Would such a deal make sense for both parties? Could both teams find easier, less costly ways to fill key roles on their rosters moving forward? Or is this a slam dunk of an idea?

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his take and react.

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The Ringer: ‘Little bit of doubt’ surrounding Reed Sheppard, Rockets

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann: “Lately, I’ve heard a little bit of doubt cast on the Sheppard thing with the Rockets. We’ll see if that’s a smokescreen or not.”

Ever since the Houston Rockets surprisingly landed the No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2024 first round, Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard has been a projected favorite in the NBA’s mock-draft community.

But, with the June 26 first round now two weeks away, could momentum be starting to turn in a different direction?

On Wednesday’s newly released episode of The Ringer’s NBA Draft Show, J. Kyle Mann told Kevin O’Connor:

Lately, I’ve heard a little bit of doubt cast on the Sheppard thing with the Rockets. We’ll see if that’s a smokescreen or not, but I still think they should take him.

The full episode can be listened to below. Sheppard is regarded as one of the best and most efficient shooters of the 2024 NBA draft class, but the sample is relatively small after playing just one season off Kentucky’s bench. Moreover, he’s somewhat undersized (6-foot-3, 182 pounds) for a player who isn’t viewed as a pure point guard.

If Houston doesn’t trade the No. 3 pick, other potential draft names under consideration (beyond Sheppard) could include Connecticut center Donovan Clingan; Connecticut guard Stephon Castle; and French forwards Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.

Some of these prospects could take private workout visits to Houston during the days leading up to the draft, which could further nudge the Rockets in one direction or another. Stay tuned!

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Rob Dillingham will become draft-eligible after completing workout in Los Angeles

Rob Dillingham has reportedly recovered from an ankle injury, clearing the way for him to conduct his required predraft testing.

Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham has reportedly recovered from an ankle injury, clearing the way for him to conduct his required predraft testing, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Dillingham wasn’t able to participate in on-court testing last month at the combine because of the injury, and isn’t yet eligible to be selected in the NBA draft, based on new requirements in the collective bargaining agreement. He also hasn’t attended team workouts.

The 19-year-old plans on completing the requirements needed to become draft-eligible on Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers‘ practice facility. He will receive an invitation to the draft upon completion of the athletic testing and shooting drills.

Dillingham was named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and one steal on 44.4% shooting from 3-point range as a freshman. He ranked ninth in the conference in assists and 3-point percentage.

He is considered one of the top guards in the draft and a potential top-10 pick. He flourished playing with or without the ball and was exciting to watch in transition, with his lightning-quick speed and ability to change directions seemingly at the drop of a dime.

Dillingham will likely attend private team workouts after his practice session on Friday. He may only have the opportunity to meet with a handful of teams ahead of the draft on June 26-27.

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Emmanuel’s KJ Jones II in OKC for presumed predraft workout with Thunder

Emmanuel’s KJ Jones II in OKC for presumed predraft workout with Thunder.

The calendar has flipped to June, which means NBA teams are intensifying their predraft process and hosting players for workouts and visits. The 2024 NBA draft will take place from June 26-27.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this year’s class with a sole draft pick of the No. 12 selection. OKC was gifted the free lottery pick via the Houston Rockets.

The Thunder will host several meetings with draft prospects in the coming weeks. This includes players outside the lottery range as OKC will likely seek to add undrafted free agents or even buy back into the second round if it likes someone enough.

One possibility is Emmanuel’s KJ Jones II. He posted on social media he was in OKC for a presumed predraft workout with the Thunder.

The 23-year-old played five college seasons from 2019-24 at the Division II level at Emmanuel. He was named the NCAA DII Player of the Year in his final season.

In 33 games last season, Jones II averaged 26.2 points on 46.9% shooting, 4.9 rebounds and four assists. He shot 36.6% from 3 on 5.6 attempts. At 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, he has decent size for a guard.

Jones II will likely be an undrafted free agent target. He has a shot to join the Thunder’s summer league squad and possibly be added to the G League’s OKC Blue for next season if he impresses enough.

A full list of 2024 NBA draft prospects that have worked out or visited the Thunder in the predraft process can be viewed here.

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Could Colorado’s Cody Williams be a sleeper draft target for the San Antonio Spurs?

At just 19 years old, Williams has time to shape his game to compliment his physical gifts.

Could University of Colorado small forward Cody Williams be a sleeper draft target for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2024 NBA draft? At just 19 years old, Williams has time to shape his game to compliment his physical gifts. And they have him standing at nearly 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wing span that help him defend in ways which get him compared to Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Jaden McDaniels.

As we hinted, his offensive game is a work in progress, but if you happen to be a believer in his ability to grow that aspect of his toolkit, he could be the steal of the first round.

And his existing size, length, and athleticism gives him a fairly high floor should that gamble not pan out.

The folks behind the “SSPN: A San Antonio Spurs Podcast” YouTube channel took a closer look at his game and his fit in San Antonio. Check it out for yourself above!

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Should the San Antonio Spurs take Providence College point guard Devin Carter?

Sometimes compared to star Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White, Carter has been garnering a fair amount of attention.

Should the San Antonio Spurs take Providence College point guard Devin Carter in the 2024 NBA draft? Standing at 6-foot-2 with a near 6-foot-9 wing span, Carter is a bit undersized at under 200 lbs., but his length, athleticism, and aggressive style of play on both ends make up for that quite a bit.

Sometimes compared to star Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White, Carter has been garnering a fair amount of attention above where he has been mocked, including in range of the Spurs’ No. 8 pick. And Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Givony relates that San Antonio is “high” on Carter, who has also worked out with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings.

The folks behind the “TSR Sports” YouTube channel took a closer look at how he might fit with the Spurs on a recent episode of their show.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say!

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