On3 sees Hall going to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
The 2024 NBA Draft is just two days away, and Clemson’s PJ Hall is one of several players hoping to hear their names called on Day 2 of the draft in New York.
On3 released its latest — and final — mock draft Monday morning and sees Hall going to the NBA champion Boston Celtics. Boston has the 30th and 55th picks in the draft, and On3 sees Hall being chosen by the Celtics in the second round.
In On3’s mock draft, Hall went one spot ahead of Southern California’s Bronny James. France’s Zaccharie Risacher has been forecast as the consensus top overall pick in this year’s draft.
Last week, CBS Sports had Hall going 41st overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Bleacher Report and The Ringer both projected Hall going four spots below at 45th overall to the Sacramento Kings, and The Athletic had the former Clemson forward going 50th overall to the Indiana Pacers.
Hall closed out a memorable four-year run at Clemson by averaging 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2023-24. He made all 36 starts last season and helped lead Clemson to the school’s first Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1980.
Hall is hoping to become the second Tigers player selected in back-to-back NBA Drafts. A year ago, Clemson’s Hunter Tyson was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 37th overall pick.
The NBA Draft begins Wednesday at 8 p.m. EDT at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with first-round coverage being televised by both ABC and ESPN. Round 2 begins Thursday at 4 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN.
Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham could become the point guard of the future alongside Victor Wembanyama on the San Antonio Spurs.
Dillingham is widely considered one of the top players at his position in this class. After averaging 15.2 points with 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent on 3-pointers as a freshman, the SEC named him Sixth Man of the Year.
In our latest 2024 NBA mock draft, we had Dillingham selected by the Chicago Bulls at No. 11 overall. But since then, the Bulls have traded for former Oklahoma City starter Josh Giddey and may no longer want a guard.
Meanwhile, in the latest mock draft from ESPN, analyst Jonathan Givony had Dillingham going a bit higher to join Wembanyama on the Spurs at No. 8 overall. Here is what Givony wrote:
“Dillingham conducted his first visits of the pre-draft process this past week with San Antonio, before moving on to Detroit and also meeting with Utah. An ankle injury he suffered prior to the NBA draft combine prevented him from conducting any competitive workouts for teams.
Dillingham’s dynamic ballhandling, playmaking and shot-making prowess could be a natural fit for the Spurs with the creativity he offers in the open court and the pick-and-roll. Pairing him with a veteran mentor guard such as Chris Paul — whom Dillingham has known from a young age, having played for his grassroots EYBL team (Team CP3) — could make sense should the Golden State Warriors elect to waive Paul’s non-guaranteed contract prior to their June 28 deadline.”
According to Givony, there are several other names to watch for the Spurs, too. That includes Matas Buzelis as well as Dalton Knecht, Cody Williams, Tidjane Salaun, and Nikola Topic.
Givony added that other teams that could consider Dillingham include the Jazz (No. 10 overall) and the Heat (No. 15 overall) as well as potential trade opportunities.
Will Collier be part of a Sixers trade package at No. 16 in exchange for a veteran role player?
USC’s Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis are expected to be picked in the 2024 NBA draft this week. In what most analysts view as one of the weaker draft classes in recent memory, there’s a strong chance we will see an avalanche of trades on draft night. This could be a year in which teams reasonably view a collection of assets as a better move than betting on this draft class. Stashing future picks in exchange for shipping this year’s draft choice has to be considered. With all of this in mind, one has to wonder if Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis will become trade pieces, either for teams who want to move up to get them or for teams who are convinced they will be available several spots down the draft board and will therefore provide greater draft value.
Sixers Wire has this note about Collier, who is viewed as a likely top-20 pick, probably in the 13 to 20 range:
“The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 16 pick in the 2024 NBA draft and are in the middle of doing their due diligence. While it is assumed that the Sixers will move that pick to acquire a win-now player to help them on their title chase, there is a chance they make that selection.”
The Sixers might be working out Collier to draft him, but they could just as easily be working him out to evaluate his draft value in a package which will give Philadelphia a veteran role player.
USC guard Isaiah Collier will know in a few days where he will begin his NBA career. The NBA draft will shape Collier’s future. Let’s see what’s being projected just before the main event. One team which has shown enough interest in Collier to hold a workout for him is the Philadelphia Sixers. The 76ers need to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference. One wonders if Collier is actually part of their NBA draft plans.
“The Sixers have conducted some predraft workouts. They have looked at prospects such as Baylor big man Yves Missi as well as Uconn’s Tristen Newton. Now, according to reports, they have brought in USC’s Isaiah Collier for a predraft workout, too as they are covering all their bases. Collier averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds as a freshman at USC. He shot 49% from the floor and 33.8% from deep as he showed off some real offensive game throughout his collegiate season. One has to like his fit next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey if the Sixers were to go this route.”
Since 2019, the Rockets have received “almost double the expected value of their draft picks,” per ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
Led by the likes of Alperen Sengun (No. 16 overall pick in 2021), Tari Eason (No. 17 in 2022), and Cam Whitmore (No. 20 in 2023), the Houston Rockets have found a surprising amount of production in recent years from picks made in the second half of the first round.
Now, according to statistical models from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, there’s an ability to quantify just how much.
Over the past five drafts (2019 to 2023), the three teams that have added the most value on a per-pick basis relative to what we would expect based on where they picked all have ties to the Houston Rockets’ front office. Along with Houston, that group includes the Philadelphia 76ers, who hired longtime Rockets executive Daryl Morey in 2020, and the Sacramento Kings, who hired Monte McNair from Houston in 2020 as their lead executive. Those teams rank just ahead of the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz.
Although Morey oversaw only one of those drafts, the Rockets themselves are far and away No. 1 by this measure, getting almost double the expected value of their picks. Houston picked the two players who most exceeded the expectations for their draft spot, Alperen Sengun at No. 16 in 2021, and Cam Whitmore at No. 20 last year.
It’s a strong endorsement for Houston’s current front office, led by general manager Rafael Stone and assistant general manager Eli Witus. Yet, it’s worth noting that Houston doesn’t currently have a pick in the middle-to-late portions of the 2024 first round, which is the area the Rockets have most frequently outperformed from.
So, for the Rockets to keep that streak going, the path will be a bit more challenging with only the No. 3 overall selection.
Williams looks to become the next Auburn player to join the NBA ranks.
Under [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag]’s direction, it has become common practice for Auburn basketball to produce NBA talent.
Pearl has produced six NBA draft picks since taking over the program in 2014, most recently sending [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] to the association as first-round picks in 2022. The next Auburn-made NBA product could be forward Jaylin Williams.
Williams had an impressive Auburn career which saw him average 10-plus points per game in four of his five seasons on the Plains. Now, he is ready to take the next step in his career by joining the NBA ranks.
Auburn’s Jaylin Williams is a versatile scorer that can make plays on both sides of the ball. He has a variety of skills but can tend to fade into the background too much at times, but he is a skilled forward that could end up being a second round pick in the 2024 draft.
Williams ends his collegiate career as Auburn’s all-time winningest player with over 110 wins. In five seasons at Auburn, Williams averaged 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over 141 games. He looks to join the likes of [autotag]Isaac Okoro[/autotag] and [autotag]JT Thor[/autotag] by becoming another former Tiger on an active NBA roster.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
The Spurs would be an exciting destination for Boogie Ellis.
We are less than a week away from the 2024 NBA draft. Workouts are being held. Rumors of which teams have their eyes on specific prospects are heating up. Former USC senior guard Boogie Ellis was recently hosted by Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.
According to Hoops Hype’s 2024 Draft Workout Tracker, San Antonio also met with future lottery picks Zaccharie Risacher, Tidjane Salaun and Reed Sheppard.
USC’s captain averaged 16.5 points and three assists per game but battled through numerous injuries in the process. Reflecting on the end of his career with the Trojans, Ellis told the LA Times:
“A lot of things in life don’t go the way you planned. But at the end of the day, you just gotta keep moving forward, just gotta make the best out of every situation.”
The 6-foot-2 San Diego native would be a solid fit with the Spurs and would most likely be a projected two-way player at the next level. He could also be a high-end backup guard. He has six years of college experience between Memphis and USC.
Ellis is expected to be an early second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
Rejean “Boogie” Ellis, the 6’3", 185-pound guard who transferred to USC after playing two seasons at Memphis worked out for the #Spurs. Ellis, who is projected to go in the second round has shown the ability to score both inside the paint and beyond the three-point arc. He has… pic.twitter.com/JiEonmxoXQ
The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly another interested trade suitor for Houston’s No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly another interested trade suitor for Houston’s No. 3 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft. Previous reports identified the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies as potential trade partners with the Rockets.
Portland’s interest in a deal for No. 3 was identified by both Jake Fischer (Yahoo! Sports) and Kelly Iko (The Athletic).
The framework of any potential deal appears similar. The Hornets, Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies are currently slated to pick in the 2024 lottery at No. 6, No. 7, and No. 9, respectively. Portland also owns the No. 14 overall selection (via Golden State).
In theory, all of those teams could offer a latter lottery pick along with some other asset in exchange for moving up to Houston’s earlier pick. The question, of course, is what that bonus asset would be.
Some reports identified Grizzlies veteran Marcus Smart as a potential target for the Rockets, though Fischer reports that Memphis has no interest in moving him. Others on social media have tossed out Portland’s Anfernee Simons as a fit for the Rockets, or perhaps a combination of both pick No. 7 and the No. 14 selection.
The Rockets would also need to send out matching salaries in any deal involving an established veteran players — though Houston has a number of short-term contracts among the likes of Jock Landale, Jeff Green, and Jae’Sean Tate that could facilitate such a deal.
Another option that’s reportedly of interest to the Rockets is trading the No. 3 selection for future draft capital, which could potentially broaden the pool beyond the NBA’s 2024 lottery teams.
The first round will take place on Wednesday night, June 26.
Isaiah Collier to the Lakers at No. 17, or is there another team who will select the USC star?
The NBA draft outlook for USC’s Isaiah Collier has remained relatively stable over the past month. Collier was viewed last year — when he entered USC — as a potential lottery pick, but as the NBA draft moves closer, the general consensus is that Collier will fall just out of the lottery and into the 15-20 pick range next week. The latest USA TODAY Sports mock NBA draft has Collier going at No. 19 in the first round. The destination: Canada. The Toronto Raptors have the 19th pick, and Collier might be headed to the Great White North.
“Should be healed from hand injury suffered during season. Has an NBA-ready frame and gets to the rack and finishes. Still needs to work on inconsistent jump shot and can be a shut-down defender if he puts his mind to it. Has lottery-caliber talent and could end up being a really strong pick for a team in this range.”
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Mike Sykes
Happy Friday, folks! Welcome back to Layup Lines. Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you’ve had a great week with an even better weekend ahead of you.
Don’t look now, but the NBA Draft is less than a week away! The festivities will begin next Wednesday and Thursday. A new crop of players will begin their NBA journeys.
The best out of that crop might be Alex Sarr — the 6-foot-11 Frenchman with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He is widely regarded as one of the best prospects in this draft class. He’s bounced between No. 1 and No. 2 overall on ESPN’s big board all season. He may be the closest thing we have to a consensus top prospect in a draft without one.
That’s why it’s so confounding that he wants to doom himself to a future with the Washington Wizards.
According to the latest from Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer, Sarr has been dodging workouts with the Atlanta Hawks in hopes of angling himself to go No. 2 overall to the Wizards. Yes, seriously.
Here’s more from Fischer:
“The Wizards are likely to remain at No. 2 as well, where Washington has the league convinced its focused on selecting Alex Sarr from the Perth Wildcats. The Wizards, according to people familiar with the situation, invested the most time and resources of any NBA club sending various personnel to Australia to evaluate Sarr. This situation is also considered the preferred outcome from Sarr’s camp, as it’s become well known that Sarr has so far declined to work out for Atlanta.”
Alex, my guy, are you sure about this one?
I mean, look. As a Wizards fan, I love this. It’s endearing that he wants to be in D.C. We love that sort of thing here. It goes a long way — just ask John Wall.
But dude. We ain’t talking about Harry Potter here. The Wizards have been, uh, Wizard-ing for a really, really long time. Udonis Haslem just said that players get sent to Washington to “get your affairs in order” a few days ago. And, look, as annoying as that is, he’s not wrong! There’s a reason why so many players leave D.C. and become NBA champions. It just hasn’t been great historically.
To be fair to Sarr, this might be less about the Wizards and more about the alternative. Sarr reportedly wants a more advanced offensive role as a power forward instead of a rim-running center. He’s more likely to find that in Washington than in Atlanta.
Plus, Bill Duffy, Sarr’s agent, doesn’t have a great history with Atlanta players either. So it makes sense that Sarr might be trying to angle his way down a pick here.
But, man. Alex, buddy. I hope you know what you’re in for.
But, given a bit of time, I think Redick could be pretty good! He has the passion for it. He just needs the reps.
Some fans proposed a pretty clever idea to get him up to speed — have him coach the Lakers’ Summer League team in Vegas this year. It’s a good idea! And it’s not without precedent — some pretty good coaches have done the same in recent years.
“Last season, before first-time Adrian Griffin took over for as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, he and his coaching staff got their feet wet in Las Vegas. While his tenure with the organization was ill-fated, it was still a wise move.
Steve Kerr, another former player who did not have any head coaching experience before he was hired, also coached the Warriors in NBA Summer League before his first official game with Golden State in 2014.
The previous season, Jason Kidd also made his head coaching debut during NBA Summer League for the Brooklyn Nets.
Redick should consider doing the same thing so he can have as many reps as possible before eventually stepping on the sidelines for his first game.”
The Lakers should tap in on this. Get JJ in Vegas this summer.
