Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA may have scrubbed its draft combine stats after briefly displaying potentially incorrect measurements

UConn’s Stephon Castle was listed at 6-foot-2 in socks, which isn’t correct.

As the league gathered in Chicago for the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, some potentially incorrect measurements caused some confusion.

This was the first time that all players were required to participate in the event in order to get drafted. However, the first day didn’t exactly go as according to plan.

For example, UConn’s Stephon Castle was originally listed on NBA.com at 6-foot-2.25 in socks. During his freshman season, however, he was listed on the team website at 6-foot-6.

Castle’s listed measurements at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine sounded more like Providence’s Devin Carter, who would have the next name among all of the invitees when listed alphabetically.

NBA.com also listed his teammate, Tristen Newton, at 6-foot-3.25 in socks.

When they played together in college, Castle was clearly multiple inches taller than Newton. He is also multiple inches taller than Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard (measured at 6-foot-1.75) and Rob Dillingham (measured at 6-foot-1) as well.

While discrepancies between heights are not uncommon, it is often caused by whether or not a prospect was wearing shoes.

It is, of course, rare for a player to shrink multiple inches since the last time they were measured. That is why various experts were quick to point out that these listed measurements were likely misprints.

So once Castle’s measurements were called into question, others were viewed with a shadow of a doubt as well. As expected, then, the league did not take long to address these concerns.

While screenshots live forever, the data was no longer available shortly after fans may have noticed these discrepancies. Expect them to fix the issues and update it soon with the correct information.

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Former Duke star Jared McCain lights up 3-point line at NBA Draft Combine

Jared McCain, who averaged more than 14 points per game as a freshman, lit up the 3-point line during Monday’s drills at the NBA Draft Combine.

[autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag], unsurprisingly, is a great 3-point shooter.

The former Blue Devil averaged more than 41% from beyond the arc in his freshman season, and he fared a lot better than that during Monday’s drills at the NBA Draft Combine.

McCain took 25 attempts from behind the 3-point line during a drill in front of NBA scouts. He made 19 of them.

While he played for head coach Jon Scheyer at Duke, McCain made eight 3-pointers in two separate games for the Blue Devils. He scored 25 points in the first half against Florida State and he made six 3-pointers in the first half against James Madison in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-3 guard’s offensive ceiling moved him inside the top 10 on two major draft boards recently, with both The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman considering him one of the best players on the board. He gave the scouts in attendance on Monday no reason to second-guess that logic.

McCain and the rest of the available prospects will wait until June 26 to hear their names called in the NBA Draft.

Latest NBA Mock Draft has Spurs taking Nikola Topic at No. 4

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the San Antonio Spurs took Nikola Topic with the fourth pick.

The San Antonio Spurs have landed the fourth and eighth picks in the 2024 NBA Draft via the NBA Draft Lottery. They have a chance to bring in two young prospects to help build around Victor Wembanyama. In the latest mock draft (post-lottery) from Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, he has the Spurs taking Nikola Topic at No. 4.

“More than anything else, the San Antonio Spurs will value his ability to create shots for teammates with his dribble manipulation, vision and advantageous 6’6″ size for passing,” Wasserman wrote. “The Spurs also don’t have a ball-handler who puts pressure on defenses and the rim like Topić. And it was promising to see him hit both of his three-point attempts in his first game back.

“While his outside percentages have been underwhelming, he shows confidence and command stepping into jumpers, and his free-throw numbers have always been near or over 80.0 percent. Unless the Spurs question the translatability of his scoring or see more upside in a shotmaker, Topić’s production/comfort level overseas and his fit with Victor Wembanyama could give him an edge with San Antonio.”

Topic’s playmaking and ball-handling would give the Spurs a much-needed boost at the point guard position.

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Bronny James to stay in 2024 NBA draft, end college career after one season

Former USC Trojans guard Bronny James will reportedly remain in the NBA draft process rather than returning to college basketball.

Guard Bronny James will stay in the 2024 NBA draft process after one season playing college basketball with the USC Trojans,  according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Bronny is the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, and has widely been considered a potential draft pick or priority free agent signing despite a pedestrian performance for the Trojans as a freshman in 2023-24.

James suffered cardiac arrest in July and was unable to suit up for the Trojans until December, ultimately appearing in 25 games and making six starts. Across 19.3 minutes per game, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He shot 48.1% on two pointers, 26.7% on threes, and 67.6% from the free throw line.

The 6’3 guard was invited to participate in the 2024 NBA draft combine taking place this week, and has been fully cleared to play.

Reports that LeBron wants to play with his son helped elevate Bronny’s draft stock, but LeBron has since backed off that comment – making it difficult to know if a team will be willing to use a draft pick to take a player who averaged less than five points per game on inefficient shooting in his only collegiate season.

Alex Sarr likely will be the No. 1 2024 NBA Draft pick, but Victor Wembanyama comparisons are so unfair

Alex Sarr is a French big who may go No. 1, but don’t compare him to Wemby.

The Atlanta Hawks shockingly won the lottery and now own the rights to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

When they are eventually on the clock, assuming that they keep the pick, the Hawks are expected to select Alex Sarr from the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s NBL. While this class may lack an obvious star player, the 19-year-old big is widely considered the most likely candidate to hear his name called first.

Sarr is a strong defensive prospect who showed some promising shooting touch while playing for the Wildcats. Considering that he is also originally from France, if he goes No. 1 overall, comparisons to Victor Wembanyama are only natural.

RELATED: NBA Draft odds for who the Hawks will take with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the 2024 lottery

But even though he is the first player selected in this draft, comparing the two players is entirely unfair.

We are starting to see some of those trickle in already, though putting these players in the same conversation isn’t the right call. It starts Sarr off with very unrealistic expectations and sets him up for disappointment.

For one, Wembanyama is one of the most uniquely physically gifted players the NBA has ever seen. At 7-foot-3 in socks with an estimated wingspan of 8-foot, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year is beyond a rarity just on his physical measurements.

Meanwhile, Sarr officially measured at 6-foot-11.75 in socks with a 7-foot-4.5 wingspan. That is obviously impressive but a bit more prototypical.

RELATED: The top 9 candidates for the Hawks’ No. 1 pick in the NBA draft

It isn’t worth going over all of the similarities and differences between the two players, but most notably, Wembanyama was the most obvious No. 1 pick since LeBron James. He would have gone as the top prospect any year.

Sarr is probably who Atlanta would select if the draft were tomorrow, but he is far from a lock with the first pick. In many other drafts, he would likely not be as close to a consensus at No. 1 overall as he is now. Even this year, there are several other candidates that could actually leapfrog him on draft night.

Let both of these young players develop naturally on their own timelines without putting them side by side. It will be more fair to both of them that way.

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Bronny James is medically cleared for the NBA, but will he prove he’s ready for the next level?

Bronny James can show the world that he belongs.

USC Trojans freshman guard Bronny James has reportedly passed the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel and is medically cleared to play in the pros.

After suffering a terrifying cardiac arrest, he missed the start of his freshman season. But he eventually returned to play and found his way into the rotation for USC.

While it was a disappointing season for the Trojans and his team missed the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the guard kept all his options open after the season. He entered the transfer portal and also declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.

RELATED: Bronny James’ move to declare for the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal was inevitable

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, meanwhile, will likely stay in the 2024 NBA Draft.

James, who is currently attending the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, can show that he belongs. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony reported James is expected to fully participate in five-on-five scrimmages while in Chicago.

While his freshman season was less than ideal and there were times when he was expected to return to school for (at least) another season, James can soon potentially show pro scouts and executives that he deserves to hear his name called in the 2024 NBA Draft.

He likely isn’t going to light the world on fire with his scoring during these scrimmages. But if he plays solid defense and distributes the ball well and hustles while hitting his spot-up 3-pointers, all of which he is capable of on the court, it can help him quite a bit.

Even though he will likely get selected to play alongside his father on the Lakers, the guard has a chance to show that he is achieving this on his own merit with a solid performance at the NBA Draft Combine.

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To keep or to trade? After landing No. 3 draft pick, Rafael Stone excited by Houston’s options

“The possibility of adding another young talented player in the draft or through a trade, we’re excited about that possibility,” Rafael Stone says.

Known for his strategic thinking, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone found himself in an unfamiliar position on Sunday after the NBA’s 2024 draft lottery. The annual event determines where teams pick in the first round, which takes place this year on June 26.

For the past three years, Stones selected players out of necessity in Houston’s rebuilding phase, which was brought on after James Harden’s departure. So, when the Rockets surprisingly secured the No. 3 pick in 2024, Stone was left with a strategic choice: keep the pick or trade it in a package for a veteran player or future assets. The decision could significantly shape the team’s future.

With Houston’s existing young core of rotation players, it might seem unlikely it would add another young player who would compete for minutes. However, that is not necessarily the case.

“The possibility of adding another young talented player in the draft or through a trade, we’re excited about that possibility,” Stone said in a post-lottery press conference. He had just arrived at the draft combine in Chicago after scouting prospects in France in recent days.

That seemed an unlikely scenario after the emergence of Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, who played key roles as rookies in helping the Rockets go 41-41 last season. Add in the developmental leaps made by shooting guard Jalen Green and center Alperen Sengun in their third seasons — and promise shown by second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. — and Houston has the blueprint to be a special team.  

“The guys we have in the locker room today, we’re excited to bring back,” Stone said at his end-of-season press conference last month. “We’ll look at things, but, again, I don’t view our roster as, ‘We’re missing X; we need to go find it.’ It’s not like we have a gaping hole.”

Many college and NBA analysts believe this draft class is weaker than in most years. The consensus is that many top-10 players in this class are outstanding role players, rather than superstars. If Houston keeps the pick, it could help them in the future by allowing their selection to develop with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G League affiliate. 

“I think last year’s draft was a different draft than we’ve seen in a while, just because there was so much attention focused on just one guy (Victor Wembanyama),” Stone said. “That wasn’t the case in the two drafts before it, and I don’t think it’ll be the case this year.”

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Ime Udoka on Houston’s roster needs: Shooting, defensive versatility, shot creation

In an interview with Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Ime Udoka identified shooting, defensive versatility, and shot creation as roster needs in Houston.

The young and improving Houston Rockets (41-41) have a promising nine-man rotation for the 2024-25 NBA season. Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun will likely again start. Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Steven Adams should feature off the bench.

Even so, it’s far from a perfect roster. Some of the gaps could be filled through internal improvement, but further roster upgrades, including with the recently acquired No. 3 pick in the 2024 first round, could also help the situation.

Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, spoke Sunday to Kelly Iko of The Athletic from the NBA draft combine in Chicago.

When asked about areas of needed improvement, Udoka said:

We’re trying to have internal growth with our guys we have, first and foremost. But shooting is always at a premium, so you look at that. Versatility across the board with how we defend and want to play. And well-rounded players, we want shot creation as well. Trying to cover all the bases and with that third pick, you can do that with a lot of these players.

Among plausible draft candidates at No. 3, shooting and shot creation could point to guards such as Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. Meanwhile, defensive versatility could perhaps point to an established big man, such as Connecticut’s Donovan Clingan.

The first round will take place Wednesday, June 26.

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Report: Don’t be shocked if Rockets keep, rather than trade, No. 3 pick

“The key to sustained contention is getting more bang-for-the-buck from as many non-star roster spots as possible,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe writes.

With six talented young prospects already in place and the Houston Rockets (41-41) showing NBA-leading improvement last season, many around the league have speculated their 2024 first-round draft pick from Brooklyn could be trade bait for a veteran player that could help win more games in the short-term.

But with Sunday’s 2024 draft lottery placing that pick at No. 3 in the order — six slots higher than expected — could the calculus change?

ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who was in the lottery drawing room on Sunday afternoon in Chicago, writes of the Rockets:

The Rockets already have six intriguing young players in Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore. Paying all of them will be hard. Finding minutes for all of them was already hard. They signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks last summer, and won 41 games.

None of this means Houston *has* to trade the found money of the No. 3 pick. It’s a relatively affordable salary slot, and the key to sustained contention is getting more bang-for-the-buck from as many non-star roster spots as possible. The return on that pick alone may not be sufficient for the Rockets to move it. That could change if they attach one of their young players, but it would have to be worth their while.

Houston indeed wants to win more next season. Sources expect it to investigate the market for that No. 3 pick alone and in combination with other assets. But don’t be shocked if it keeps it, either.

Green and Sengun are eligible for contract extensions this offseason, while Smith and Eason will be in 2025.

With a much more expensive team on the horizon, there’s a case to be made that a relatively inexpensive rookie-scale contract could make sense for general manager Rafael Stone and the Rockets.

Per David Weiner, an NBA salary cap guru who follows the Rockets, the No. 3 pick in 2024 will have a starting salary of $10.3 million in 2024-25 before gradually increasing in the coming years.

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Bleacher Report releases two-round NBA mock draft with Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman shared his latest projection for the upcoming NBA draft on Sunday night, and both Blue Devils went round one.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, a longtime NBA scout and draft analyst, shared an updated two-round mock draft on Sunday evening.

With the draft order now set after Sunday’s lottery, Wasserman thinks playmaking guard Jared McCain will go 13th overall to his hometown team, the Sacramento Kings.

McCain, who made more than 41% of his 3-pointers as a freshman, has earned praise for his ability to create on offense. He’s only 6-foot-3 and less than 200 pounds, but he averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in his only season of college basketball.

“He’s shown plenty of ways to compensate (for his size) with his crafty ball-handling and pace, shooting versatility, touch shots in the lane and finishing adjustments,” Wasserman wrote.

Teammate Kyle Filipowski, the All-American 7-footer, went 19th overall to the Toronto Raptors. Filipowski might weigh in at nearly 250 pounds, but the Bleacher Report scout said his skinnier frame and struggles against larger forwards and centers show he’d be better suited as a large forward.

However, a 7-footer who averaged 2.8 assists and shot nearly 35% from beyond the arc remains a promising prospect.

“Shooting range, post skill, improved finishing and passing and defensive mobility create versatility that should lock Filipowski into the late-lottery/mid-first-round range,” Wasserman wrote.