Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

2024 NBA mock draft roundup: First-round projections for Rockets

The Rockets own Brooklyn’s first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft, so who might they bring in? Here’s an early look at several projections.

Conference play is beginning in college basketball — and as the level of competition rises, the NBA draft picture for many of this year’s top prospects will increasingly come into better focus.

In 2024, the Rockets are unlikely to keep their own first-round draft choice, since Houston’s pick goes to Oklahoma City unless it lands in the top four of the draft lottery. With the NBA season nearing its midpoint, that scenario is becoming very unlikely, as Houston has remained near or slightly above .500 for most of the 2023-24 season.

Even if the Rockets don’t qualify for the 2024 playoffs, which would take a top-four finish completely off the table, the odds of a team near .500 securing one of the four lottery selections are very low.

Houston does, however, have a first-round selection headed its way from Brooklyn as part of the blockbuster James Harden trade from January 2021. The Nets have increasingly struggled in recent weeks, which is boosting the outlook for where that pick lands.

As of early January, here’s a look at who draft experts have going to Houston (with the Brooklyn pick) in the latest wave of mock drafts. Keep in mind that the projected pick slot varies based on the exact date of each mock’s publication, since the standings change daily.

The Rockets are also currently slotted to have three draft selections in the 2024 second round. Further details are available here.

Latest NBA Mock Draft has Bulls select Baylor wing with 8th pick

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Ja’kobe Walter out of Baylor.

As the season rolls on, the Chicago Bulls should focus most of their energy on the trade deadline. Despite their recent success, the Bulls still don’t have the talent to compete with the top teams in the East, and getting assets in return for their veteran assets should be a top priority.

However, since the Bulls will likely finish toward the bottom of the conference and perhaps even miss the playoffs, the NBA Draft will be important, too. Chicago could end up with a top-10 pick this year, and nailing that selection will be crucial to the future success of the franchise.

In a recent NBA Mock Draft compiled by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Bulls would select Ja’kobe Walter out of Baylor.a

The 19-year-old is currently in his freshman season with the Bears. At 6-foot-5, he’s proven to be a reliable three-point shooter with solid defensive tools.

“Positional tools and shotmaking versatility create a floor and easy fit that’s seemingly solidified Ja’Kobe Walter in the top-10 discussion,” Wasserman wrote.

“His skill set is tailored for plug-and-play off-ball scoring, with Walter shooting 40.0 percent on spot-up threes and 9-of-16 on shots off screens. But he’s also looked effective scoring in ball-screen situations, mostly by attacking downhill, finishing through contact or earning trips to the free-throw line.

“At 6’5″ with length and strength, he has the defensive tools to pair with a jumper, creating a low-risk, popular archetype.”

So far this year, Walter is averaging 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 44.5% from the floor and 41.3% from deep on 5.8 three-point attempts per game.

For a Bulls team that should be constantly looking to add shooting, Walter makes a ton of sense.

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Harrison Ingram starting to move up in NBA draft rankings

UNC basketball forward Harrison Ingram has moved up the 2024 NBA draft big board after a good start to the season.

North Carolina is off to a 10-3 start through the first 13 games of the 2023-24 college basketball season including going 2-0 in the ACC. Coming off a big road win at Pitt, the Tar Heels are hoping to prove they are one of the elite teams in the conference.

And a big reason why UNC is off to a good start is the play of Harrison Ingram.

The former Stanford standout transferred to North Carolina this offseason after originally being recruited by the Tar Heels a few years back. Ingram has been one of UNC’s most consistent players, averaging 13.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from the field.

For his play, Ingram is drawing some praise in terms of the upcoming 2024 NBA draft. In the latest ESPN big board, Ingram moved up all the way to No. 41 on the list.

Now, 41 is the second round but it is an increase from where he was when he started the season. That’s not good news if you’re hoping for him to stay around for another season in Chapel Hill.

It is good news for Ingram as the Tar Heels head into the ACC schedule as his draft stock will continue to increase if he plays like this.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rockets reap benefits as Brooklyn tumbles in standings, rises in projected NBA draft order

With the Nets piling up losses, it’s becoming increasingly possible that Brooklyn could send a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA draft to Houston.

For the 2023-24 Rockets, the most important short-term implication of Wednesday’s home game versus the Brooklyn Nets was securing a win and improving to two games over .500 (17-15).

Houston has clear ambitions of competing for a play-in tournament spot, or earning an outright playoff berth this season.

Longer term, there’s also a major benefit to hanging a loss on the Nets (15-20), who have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.

Owing to the blockbuster James Harden trade in January 2021, the Rockets control Brooklyn’s first-round NBA draft capital through 2027. With the Nets on the verge of tumbling out of play-in tournament range in the Eastern Conference standings, it’s becoming increasingly possible — if not likely — that Houston will receive a lottery selection from the Nets in the 2024 draft.

That could add a significant asset to an improving young core that already includes Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

Granted, it’s not all rosy for the Rockets and their future draft outlook. Because of its own ill-fated trade under previous general manager Daryl Morey, Houston will likely lose its own 2024 first-round pick to Oklahoma City as part of the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook deal from 2019. (The pick is top-four-protected, but that protection is increasingly unlikely to kick in, since the Rockets are quickly approaching the midpoint of the 2023-24 season and still above .500.)

Even so, the unprotected pick the Rockets will land from the Nets is likely to be higher in the order than the one Houston will probably lose to Oklahoma City. Thus, current general manager Rafael Stone has to be pleased. Here’s a look at implications and reaction to that Brooklyn pick, which projects to be at No. 10 in the draft order.

Zach Edey is now a projected NBA draft lottery pick in ESPN’s latest big board update

The consensus collegiate player of the year is improving his draft stock.

After earning consensus men’s college basketball National Player of the Year honors last season, Zach Edey is now improving his draft stock.

The Purdue star big man, who played for Canada during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, is a fascinating basketball prospect. When the 7-foot-4 center initially decided to return to college for his senior season, he wasn’t initially seen as a first-round draft pick.

While our latest mock draft at For The Win doesn’t have Edey projected to hear his name with one of the first thirty picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, it is hard to ignore the productivity and efficiency we have seen from him.

RELATED: Projecting the first round with Ja’Kobe Walter leading the way

Based on his performance thus far, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo moved Edey into the No. 14 overall ranking on their latest big board update. Givony explained why:

“The runaway favorite to repeat as national player of the year, Edey has found another gear with his conditioning, mobility and productivity, looking noticeably more impactful on both ends of the floor. He has shown better versatility stepping outside the paint defensively, blocking shots prolifically while drawing fouls and dunking even more than usual, finding some real swagger to his game this season.

Edey has done it against many of the top teams in college basketball, with big performances against Arizona, Alabama, Marquette and Tennessee, even showing some new facets to his game as a passer when double-teams inevitably come. While there will surely be some skepticism around his age, lack of perimeter shooting and ability to hold his own as a pick-and-roll defender, Edey has some clear virtues NBA teams can tap into early in his career and is worthy of a fresh look, possibly as a lottery-level prospect in a class lacking sure-fire contributors.”

Edey leads all men’s college basketball players in BPR, per EvanMiya.com. He is also the current leader in Player of the Year rankings according to both BartTorvik.com and KenPom.com.

While there is still plenty of basketball remaining this season, he has shown particularly notable improvement at drawing fouls to increase his free-throw rate. Edey has drawn 9.8 floor fouls per 100 possessions, via CBB Analytics, which is the most among all Division I players.

His progress (and draft stock) is worth monitoring, especially considering this isn’t considered a particularly strong class of future pros.

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Projected first-round pick Tyler Smith: ‘I’m a player that can play in any system’

Rookie Wire recently caught up with Tyler Smith to discuss playing with the Ignite, the 2024 NBA draft, defending at a high level and more.

On a team with several projected NBA draft picks, Tyler Smith is showcasing himself at a high level this season and is emerging as one of the top prospects with the G League Ignite.

Smith, a former consensus five-star prospect, signed with Overtime Elite for the 2022-23 season. He was named to the All-OTE second team after averaging 15.7 points, eight rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 47.5% shooting from the field with Cold Hearts.

He joined the Ignite on June 30.

Playing alongside Ron Holland, Matas Buzelis, Izan Almansa and London Johnson, Smith is climbing draft boards and is in the mix to become a first-round pick on June 27 with a strong campaign with the Ignite.

Smith is averaging 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range off the bench in 19 games with the Ignite. He has registered three 20-point performances, including a season-high 22 points on Dec. 8 in a loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors.

The 6-foot-11 forward has developed into a versatile player who can run the floor and provide floor spacing at the next level. He is still adjusting to the physicality in the G League and is working to improve defensively, especially against smaller players.

Smith will have the opportunity to continue to improve his draft stock over the remainder of the season with the Ignite. He is projected to be a mid-to-late first-rounder this year and could jump higher with a strong pre-draft process.

Rookie Wire caught up with Smith at the G League Winter Showcase to discuss playing with the Ignite, the 2024 NBA draft, defending at a high level and more.

Should Bronny James stay at USC for another year?

Bronny James should return to the USC Trojans for another year despite his dad LeBron’s desire to play with him in the NBA next season.

The USC Trojans have now had freshman Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, in the mix for the past four games – a stretch where they went 1-3 with losses to Long Beach State, Auburn, and Oregon with the only win over Alabama State.

Of course, Bronny is not to blame for the losses – USC was struggling before his return as well – but he also hasn’t helped turn things around quite like people had hoped.

Coach Andy Enfield has brought James along slowly – understandable considering his early season absence was due to a July cardiac arrest – and in 15.5 minutes per game, he is averaging 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 assists while shooting 66.7% (2-3) from two and 33% (4-12) from three.

Stats in such a small sample size don’t tell nearly the full story, but with only 19 regular season games remaining – and the very real potential of not making the NCAA Tournament – it makes sense for James to strongly consider returning to the Trojans for his sophomore season rather than declaring for the 2024 NBA draft.

LeBron has indicated a desire to play in the NBA with his son, and after just turning 39, the urgency for Bronny to get to the league is a factor. Regardless of his performance as a freshman, an NBA team will likely draft Bronny for the potential opportunity to sign LeBron – who is averaging 25.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists this year for the Lakers.

However, a weak Pac-12 gives Bronny very few opportunities to showcase his skills against premier college talent and caps his ability to get valuable development in college.

A return to USC would give him a chance to start in 2024-25 with the departures of both Isaiah Collier, who will be a top pick in 2024, and Boogie Ellis, who is out of eligibility.

Bronny will be in the NBA, but rushing into the league could stunt his development and actually hurt his long-term potential, while a return to college could make him a more polished all-around prospect – and after all, it sure doesn’t look like his dad is slowing down like most players his age.

Why Gonzaga’s Anton Watson should be on 2024 NBA draft radar

Anton Watson’s size and defensive instincts make him an NBA draft prospect, and improved outside shooting should get the Gonzaga star selected.

It is incredibly rare for fifth year seniors to get selected in the NBA draft. The NBA values youth and upside above all else, and 23-year-olds who weren’t good enough to get drafted early in their college career rarely move the needle later on.

But the 2024 draft class is considered historically weak, which could lead to more teams prioritizing adding role players who can instantly contribute, rather than taking a shot on younger players who may have more upside but who aren’t performing well in college or overseas.

That leads us to Gonzaga’s 6’8 forward Anton Watson, a fifth-year senior from Spokane who has gone from a sub-20 minute per game role player to the leading scorer on a top-15 team in the country this season.

Watson is currently averaging 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 57.3% on two pointers and 42.9% from beyond the arc. He turned a lot of heads with a 32 point outburst against the UCLA Bruins in the Maui Invitational, and he paced the Zags with 20 points in a loss to the UConn Huskies in mid-December.

Watson is among the best on-ball defensive players in the country, with incredibly active hands, good body control, upper body strength, and athleticism which has resulted in 179 career steals – second in Gonzaga basketball history only behind Hall of Fame guard John Stockton.

His frame and defensive instincts have had him on the NBA radar since he was a freshman back in 2019-20, but his lack of consistent offense has always held him back – particularly his struggles to shoot from distance.

The modern NBA requires you to be able to space the floor and knock down threes, which is why even elite college players like Oscar Tshiebwe, Kofi Cockburn, Adama Sanogo, and Watson’s former teammate Drew Timme haven’t been able to make it.

However, Watson has made massive strides in this area, going from 11.1% as a freshman, 15% as a sophomore, 22.7% as a junior, 33.3% as a senior to his current 42.9% mark – while his attempts per game has increased in each season as well.

A 6’8 forward who can defend 2-5 and at least capably knock down open threes absolutely has a spot as a 3-and-D role playing wing in the modern NBA, and in a draft class without a lot of obvious long term NBA talent it should absolutely be on the minds of scouts and general managers to consider Watson with a second round pick.

He’ll be 27 by the time his rookie contract is up, but a contending team picking in the second round would be wise to lock him up as a rotational bench piece – rather than gambling on an underperforming underclassmen or an unproven international player.

Matas Buzelis caps career night with game-winning shot for Ignite

Matas Buzelis produced a career performance and hit the game-winning shot on Tuesday to lead the Ignite over the Remix.

Projected top-five pick Matas Buzelis produced a career performance and hit the game-winning shot on Tuesday to lead the G League Ignite over the Rip City Remix.

Buzelis finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks in the 108-106 victory. He went 6-of-8 from the field as the Ignite overcame a 22-point second-half deficit to improve to 3-9 in the Showcase Cup.

Playing in his fourth game, Buzelis showed his offensive versatility from his dribbling and hesitation moves to his footwork in the paint. He sank the game-winner on a nifty 12-foot turnaround jumper with 0.4 seconds left.

Buzelis missed the first eight games of the regular season with the Ignite due to an ankle injury. He debuted with the team on Dec. 2 but was on a minute restriction. He appears to be back to full health after logging a season-high 30 minutes against the Remix.

The 19-year-old was the fifth-ranked prospect in the class of 2023 and is viewed as a high lottery pick next year. Standing at 6 feet, 10 inches, Buzelis has a great blend of size and ballhandling skills that seem to be translating in the G League.

Buzelis is averaging 13 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal on 48.7% shooting from the field. He has scored in double figures three times and looks to be rounding into form after missing time.

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Spurs select Nikola Topić, potential point guard of future, in recent mock draft

In a recent 2024 NBA Mock Draft, the San Antonio Spurs picked up a potential point guard of the future – Nikola Topic.

Roughly six months after the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, things haven’t gone too well. Following a promising 3-2 start to the season, the Spurs have now lost 17 games in a row. It’s been a rough year, but on the bright side, they’re in line for another top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Pairing Wembanyama with another top pick could set the Spurs up beautifully moving forward, but they need to be sure to nail the selection. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently wrote a mock draft, and in it, the Spurs landed the second-overall selection.

With the pick, Wasserman has the Spurs picking Nikola Topić of Mega MIS.