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2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS Team: Kansas Agent: WME Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 …
2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS
Team: Kansas
Agent: WME
Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35
2023-24 stats:
In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 80.5 percent from the foul line.
As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, the 2024 NBA Draft will mark a crucial point for them. After three years of mediocrity with their current core, Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted that the current roster isn’t working. Now, the Bulls …
As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, the 2024 NBA Draft will mark a crucial point for them. After three years of mediocrity with their current core, Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted that the current roster isn’t working. Now, the Bulls should be looking to plan for the future, and that will start with who they are able to select in the upcoming draft.
The emergence of Coby White as a potential star this season was monumental for the Bulls, as they now have a guy they can partially build around moving forward. Ayo Dosunmu falls under that same category, as he also enjoyed a great 2023-24 season. But they cannot do it alone, and the Bulls will need to add some young talent around them if they want to brighten their future.
Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht could be a guy they look to target. Some mock drafts have the 23-year-old being off the board by the time Chicago’s pick comes around, but his shooting and scoring ability make him a very intriguing fit for the Bulls.
The NBA Mock Draft ESPN posted on April 17 has Knecht going to the Houston Rockets at pick nine.
“The Rockets turned the page on their rebuilding process by hiring head coach Ime Udoka and making a splash in free agency last summer, indicating they could look at more ready-made players with this pick considering the plethora of youth already on the roster,” wrote Jonathan Givony. “Shooting will likely be a priority for Houston this summer, and the dynamic perimeter game of the nearly 23-year-old Knecht — who made 40% of his 3s this season — could be attractive with this pick.”
Bleacher Report’s NBA Mock Draft on April 22 has Knecht falling to the Utah Jazz with the eighth pick.
“Despite the loss to Purdue, Dalton Knecht added another special scoring performance to a resume that already shows 30-40-point games against Kentucky, Auburn, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida,” wrote Jonathan Wasserman. “He put up 37 points in the Elite Eight off mostly signature shotmaking that scouts deem translatable, given his size, stroke and general shooting versatility. He seemingly has an ideal skill set for a complementary role at the next level, where he can space the floor, curl off screens and take dribble handoffs into pull-ups or drives.
“Turning 23 years old this month, Knecht will have some skeptics who worry about age for a lottery pick. But most teams won’t be overly picky in 2024. The idea of adding a plug-and-play scorer with a valued core skill and professional approach will look appealing outside the top five.”
In the mock draft posted by No Ceilings on April 9, Knecht goes to the Memphis Grizzlies at seven.
“Despite being burdened with a heavy offensive load and heaps of defensive attention, Knecht managed to knock down 42.4% of his threes during conference play this season,” wrote Maxwell Baumbach. “Chase him off the line, and he may put someone on a poster. Knecht registered 27 dunks this past season. That’s an excellent mark for a wing, but it’s even more impressive when taking into account that he both missed time and played through injury.
“While he may be older, Knecht may also boast more upside than his fellow graduate peers, as he’s a late bloomer who didn’t finish growing until college and just completed his first high-major season. Defensively, Knecht needs to make improvements, but Tennessee wasn’t worse with him on the court on that end.”
This is a weird draft. It’s been heralded as the worst draft in a long time, but Knecht seems like a great player. The question is, should the Bulls want to grab someone a bit younger?
Knecht has a great NBA skill set. With his shooting and ability to score in bunches, he makes a ton of sense for the Bulls in terms of his on-court fit. But if the Bulls want to plan for the future, drafting someone a bit younger could make some sense.
That said, at this point, the Bulls should just want to grab the best player available. If Knecht falls to the Bulls at pick 11, they should definitely seriously consider snagging the Tennessee product.
Still a little raw but polished enough to play with San Antonio next season, we’d be open to a flier on this young swingman,
Would it make sense for the San Antonio Spurs to use their late second round pick to draft a 3-and-D forward? If you ask Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman his opinion, the answer is yes — and he has one in mind for the Spurs to consider in his latest mock draft.
Wasserman currently has San Antonio taking Baylor forward Jalen Bridges with the 46th overall pick of the draft this summer. A 6-foot-9 22-year-old, Bridges has been compared to Florida alum Dorian Finney-Smith. “Scouts are starting to mention Jalen Bridges in the second-round sleeper discussion,” suggests the B/R draft expert.
“After hitting 6-of-10 3s in two NCAA tournament games, he finished the year at 41.2% on 5.1 attempts per game.”
Are the San Antonio Spurs standing pat this summer? https://t.co/3goeyEYys0 pic.twitter.com/LCwuSfAW6Q
— SpursWire (@Spurs_Wire) April 25, 2024
“Even if teams aren’t buying the improved self-creation and pull-up flashes, he’s developed into an accurate off-ball shot maker (15-of-27 off screens) with an excellent defensive profile,” writes Wasserman.
Still a little raw but polished enough to play with San Antonio next season, we’d be open to a flier on this young swingman,
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2003 | 6’10 | 225 lbs | 7’1 WS Team: Cairns Taipans (Australia) Agent: Michael Tellem Best aggregate mock draft rank: 21 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Klintman averaged 9.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks …
2003 | 6’10 | 225 lbs | 7’1 WS
Team: Cairns Taipans (Australia)
Agent: Michael Tellem
Best aggregate mock draft rank: 21 / Worst rank: NR
2023-24 stats:
In 2023-24, Klintman averaged 9.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He shot 44.3 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three.
Salaün, who will turn 19 in August, is averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and one steal with Cholet Basket in France.
Tidjane Salaün, a 6-foot-9 forward from France, told Jonathan Givony of ESPN on Thursday that he had declared for the 2024 NBA draft after three years with Cholet Basket.
Salaün, who will turn 19 in August, is averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and one steal on 33% shooting from 3-point range in 48 games. He started 48 games between all competitions and is among the team leaders in scoring and rebounding.
He started playing with the Cholet Basket youth team in 2021 before joining the senior roster for this season. He is producing at a high level against some of the top teams across Europe and is emerging as one of the top international prospects.
NEWS: Tidjane Salaun, a potential lottery pick, has declared for the 2024 NBA draft, he told ESPN.
STORY: https://t.co/TJuXqdjb26 pic.twitter.com/CABzQsNpDm
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 25, 2024
Salaün is considered a potential lottery pick. He has dazzled with his ability to handle the ball in transition, drive and finish at the rim. He crashes the glass on both ends of the court with force and can also defend multiple positions with his reported 7-foot, 2-inch wingspan.
He represented France last year in the FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists in seven games. It was his first time playing for his country after he was previously cut from its under-17 team.
With Cholet Basket still in its season and competing for a playoff spot, Salaün likely won’t arrive in the United States until later in the pre-draft process. He will have the opportunity to meet with teams for interviews and workouts once his season is over.
The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.
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Ajinça recently returned from a two-month injury absence and put up his best outing, recording 19 points and nine rebounds in a win.
Melvin Ajinça, a 6-foot-7 forward from France, has declared for the 2024 NBA draft after one season with Saint-Quentin in the LNB Pro A, his agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN on Wednesday.
Ajinça, the cousin of former seven-year veteran Alexis Ajinca, is averaging 10.4 points and 3.3 rebounds on 35.1% shooting from 3-point range. He recently returned from a two-month injury absence and had his best outing on Saturday, recording 19 points and nine rebounds in a win.
He started the year a bit slowly after transitioning to the top league in France, but he eventually settled in and showcased himself at a high level. His return has helped Saint-Quentin in its attempt to qualify for the playoffs.
NEWS: Melvin Ajinca, a potential first-round pick, is entering the NBA Draft, his agent Bouna Ndiaye told ESPN. Ajinca had a breakout performance at the FIBA U19 World Cup last summer and is having a strong season in Pro A France with Saint-Quentin. pic.twitter.com/rRmGJt4lEm
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 24, 2024
Ajinça, who will turn 20 on the first night of the draft, began playing professionally in 2019 with Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball. He eventually joined Saint-Quentin with the junior team before earning promotion to the senior roster this season.
He is considered a potential first-round pick this year. He brings good size to the next level and is highly touted for his shooting ability with his smooth lefty stroke. He has a quick release and is lethal, at times, coming off screens and on the move.
He leaped up draft boards after a tremendous showing with France last year in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup alongside Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. He was the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 19.3 points and 2.9 rebounds en route to the silver medal.
The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.
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In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select Carlton Carrington out of Pittsburgh.
Obviously, by the time the 2024 NBA Draft rolls around, everyone who follows the San Antonio Spurs will have their eyes on the top five selections. However, the Spurs could also find some value in the second round, as more and more teams are drafting quality players late in the draft. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently wrote a mock draft, and in it, he has the Spurs selecting Pittsburgh guard Carlton Carrington with the 35th overall selection.
“Carlton Carrington could generate first-round consideration, but he’s not a lock, which will lead to an interesting decision over whether to scrimmage at the NBA combine,” Wasserman wrote. “It’s easy to see the appeal to a 6’5″, 18-year-old guard who averaged 4.1 assists and 2.0 threes and hit 102 pull-up jumpers. There are just questions about his lack of quickness and burst, which limited his rim pressure and led to a red-flag low steal rate.”
For all the concerns Wasserman detailed there is an equal amount of upside. Carrington’s offensive game could be very useful for the Spurs, who would benefit from more perimeter creation.
In 33 games at Pittsburgh in his freshman season, Carrington averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 41.2% from the field and 32.2% from behind the three-point line.
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In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls pick Purdue’s Zach Edey with the 11th pick.
This offseason is an important one for the Chicago Bulls as they look to shake up their roster and move forward past their current core, which Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted isn’t working. As they plan for the future, the 2024 NBA Mock Draft will provide them a chance to add young talent. In No Ceilings’ latest mock draft, they have the Bulls selecting Purdue center Zach Edey with the 11th pick.
“Edey may not seem like a traditional home run swing, but for a team like Chicago that wants to stay competitive, Edey’s unique talents and tools could fit their play style and give them a weapon X of sorts,” wrote Corey Taluba.
The 7-foot-4 big man lost in the National Championship to UConn this past season. His last two years with the Boilermakers were nothing short of dominant.
Some question whether or not he’ll be effective at the NBA level, but Taluba believes the Bulls can afford to take on his unique style of play.
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2005 | 6’10 | 7’0 WS | 230 LBS Team: G League Ignite Best aggregate mock draft rank: 9 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Almansa averaged 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 55.6 percent from the field and 20.0 …
2005 | 6’10 | 7’0 WS | 230 LBS
Team: G League Ignite
Best aggregate mock draft rank: 9 / Worst rank: NR
2023-24 stats:
In 2023-24, Almansa averaged 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 55.6 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from three.
Playing for JL Bourg Basket of Bourg-en-Bresse, France, the 6-foot-9 swingman is still a bit raw at just 19 years old.
The San Antonio Spurs are hoping to strike gold in their quest to use their first round draft assets to add talent that fits the style of play and age curve of French rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama in the 2024 NBA draft.
And alongside names like Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan from UConn and Rob Dillingham of Kentucky, fellow Frenchman and forward Zaccharie Risacher could be the sort of high-upside prospect that the Spurs hope to put next to Wemby. Currently playing for JL Bourg Basket of Bourg-en-Bresse, France, the 6-foot-9 swingman is still a bit raw at just 19 years old.
He can defend well in space, but doesn’t rebound or pass as much as someone as capable as he is at both should. His 38.6% 3-point shot is interesting if at low volume, though his free throw rate hints his jumper should translate.
The host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, sat down with Jack Thompson, formerly with San Antonio Sports Star, to talk about Risacher and if the Spurs should take him with their draft pick. Check it out above!
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