As play-in concludes, Rockets learn 2024 draft lottery odds for own pick

With Chicago and Atlanta eliminated, Houston is now locked into the No. 12 odds slot (for the May 12 draft lottery) with its own 2024 first-round pick.

With the Eastern Conference play-in tournament for the playoffs now complete, the Houston Rockets have clarity on the odds figures for their own first-round pick entering the May 12 draft lottery.

That lottery, which sorts through the selections of the league’s 14 non-playoff teams through weighted odds, determines the first four picks of the 2024 NBA draft. Beyond that, it’s all sorted by record.

Even though Atlanta (36-46) and Chicago (39-43) had worse records than Houston (41-41), they would have fallen behind the Rockets in the draft order, should either have advanced to the playoffs. (Playoff teams are sorted from No. 15 to No. 30 in the overall order.)

However, because both the Hawks and Bulls were eliminated in the East play-in tournament, Houston ultimately sticks with the No. 12 odds slot that it had following the 2023-24 regular season.

Houston’s 2024 first-round pick will head to Oklahoma City (owing to the 2019 Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade) unless it is among those top-four lottery selections. In that scenario, the Rockets would convey a second-round pick to the Thunder, instead.

Based on that No. 12 odds slot, here’s a look at the possibilities:

  • No. 1: 1.5%
  • No. 2: 1.7%
  • No. 3: 1.9%
  • No. 4: 2.1%
  • No. 12 or lower (pick goes to OKC): 92.9%

In short, Houston has only a 7.1% chance of keeping its pick.

One silver lining for the Rockets is that they do own Brooklyn’s 2024 first-round pick (from the 2021 James Harden trade), and that pick has no protections and will convey, no matter what.

Moreover, with Brooklyn owning the No. 9 odds slot, that pick is highly likely to be ahead of the Houston pick in the order. The only way the Rockets could be ahead of the Nets in the order would be if Houston defies the odds to win one of the four lottery picks — and in that scenario, they would own both selections.

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Ja’Kobe Walter: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’5 | 6’10 WS | 195 LBS Team: Baylor Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 16 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Walter averaged 14.5 points in 35 games with 32.3 minutes per contest game. He recorded 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, …

2004 | 6’5 | 6’10 WS | 195 LBS

Team: Baylor

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 16

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Walter averaged 14.5 points in 35 games with 32.3 minutes per contest game. He recorded 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting percentages were 37.6 percent from three, 34.1 percent from three, and 79.2 percent from the foul line.

Donovan Clingan: NBA Draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 7’2 | 7’7 WS | 280 LBS Team: Connecticut Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 19 2023-24 stats: In the 2023-24 season, Clingan played 33 games averaging 22.1 minutes per game. He scored 12.9 points per game, shooting 64.3 percent …

2004 | 7’2 | 7’7 WS | 280 LBS

Team: Connecticut

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 19

2023-24 stats:

In the 2023-24 season, Clingan played 33 games averaging 22.1 minutes per game. He scored 12.9 points per game, shooting 64.3 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, and 57.4 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, he recorded 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks, 0.5 steals, 2.0 personal fouls, and 0.8 turnovers per game.

His late mother, Stacey Clingan, played college basketball for the University of Maine.

Stephon Castle: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’6 | 6’9 WS | 215 LBS Team: Connecticut Best aggregate mock draft rank: 5 / Worst rank: 20 Agency: Wasserman Group 2023-24 stats: In 32 games, Castle averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, with 2.9 assists. He shot 47.0 percent from …

2004 | 6’6 | 6’9 WS | 215 LBS

Team: Connecticut

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 5 / Worst rank: 20

Agency: Wasserman Group

2023-24 stats:

In 32 games, Castle averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, with 2.9 assists. He shot 47.0 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three, and 76.0 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, he recorded 0.6 blocks, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 turnovers per game.

His father, Stacey Castle, starred at Far Rockaway High and was a teammate of current UConn associate head coach Kimani Young. He played briefly at Oak Hill Academy before committing to Wake Forest, where he played alongside Tim Duncan.

Ron Holland: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’8 | 6’11 WS | 206 LBS Team: G League Ignite Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 12 Agent: Justin Haynes, Bill Duffy 2023-24 Stats: In 15 games of the 2023-24 season, Holland averaged 18.5 points, shooting 47.4 percent from the …

2005 | 6’8 | 6’11 WS | 206 LBS

Team: G League Ignite

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 12

Agent: Justin Haynes, Bill Duffy

2023-24 Stats:

In 15 games of the 2023-24 season, Holland averaged 18.5 points, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from three, with 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Clemson guard Chase Hunter enters his name for the 2024 NBA draft

Chase Hunter is headed to the NBA draft.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team are losing one of their top players to the 2024 NBA draft.

Senior guard Chase Hunter took to social media Wednesday to announce that he will enter his name for the NBA draft, but maintain his eligibility. PJ Hall did the same thing last season, later opting to return for the another season with the Tigers. A smart decision from Hunter, who can see where he may land in the draft and make a decision on what is best for him.

Hunter was phenomenal for the Tigers this past season, especially in the tournament as they made their run to the Elite 8. He earned West All-Region Team honors as the Tigers’ clear top performer in March Madness. During the regular season, he averaged 13.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 0.5 steals per game, while adding in 0.3 blocks per game.

While he could depart for the NBA, there is still a chance he could return for one more season.

Sooners legend Blake Griffin officially announces retirement

Blake Griffin, a generational athlete and former Oklahoma Sooner announced his retirement after a 14-year NBA career.

An Oklahoma basketball legend called it a career on Tuesday. Sooners basketball legend Blake Griffin announced his retirement in a post he shared via social media on Tuesday morning.

Griffin ended his NBA career after 14 years. The bulk of his career came as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers after he was drafted in 2009 as the first overall pick. He also spent time with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics.

Griffin retired as a six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA Second Team, two-time All-NBA Third Team, and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2009.

 

As a high schooler from Oklahoma City, Griffin won multiple state championships. He signed with the Sooners and went on to earn selections on the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and to the first-team All-Big 12 after posting 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds and ranking ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and third in field goal percentage in the Big 12 Conference.

Instead of bolting for the impending NBA Draft, he stayed for one more year. He cemented his status as an Oklahoma basketball legend. During his sophomore season, he became the first player in Big 12 history to record back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. He dropped 40 points and 23 rebounds against Texas Tech, becoming the only player in Big 12 history and the third player in the history of the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball program to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game, joining [autotag]Wayman Tisdale[/autotag] and [autotag]Alvan Adams[/autotag].

He led Oklahoma to a regional final that saw them lose to eventual national champion UNC. That year, Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during the regular season and earned All-American first team honors. He also swept every major player of the year award. He’s the only Sooner to win the Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph Rupp Trophy, John Wooden Award, and the Associated Press Player of the Year in the same season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Cody Williams: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 6’8 | 7’2 WS | 180 LBS Team: Colorado Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 17 Estimated NIL earnings: Over $150,000 (Celsius, Topps) 2023-24 Stats: Williams averaged 28.1 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field, 41.5 …

2004 | 6’8 | 7’2 WS | 180 LBS 

Team: Colorado

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 3 / Worst rank: 17

Estimated NIL earnings: Over $150,000 (Celsius, Topps)

2023-24 Stats:

Williams averaged 28.1 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three-point range, and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributed 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.6 steals, and scored 11.9 points per game.

His parents, Ronald and Nicole Williams, were both members of the United States Air Force. His older brother is 2022 former lottery pick Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Zaccharie Risacher: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’10 | 6’11 | 210 LBS Team: JL Bourg (France) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 18 Across 51 games in all leagues, Risacher averaged 10.5 points, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range. He …

2005 | 6’10 | 6’11 | 210 LBS

Team: JL Bourg (France)

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 18

Across 51 games in all leagues, Risacher averaged 10.5 points, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range. He also contributed 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest.

Risacher’s father, Stéphane, won a silver medal with the French National Team at the Olympics.

Nikola Topic: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’6 | 7’0 WS | 201 LBS Team: Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) Best aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 15 Agent: Misko Raznatovic In 13 Adriatic League games, Topic averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, shooting 52.4 percent from the …

2005 | 6’6 | 7’0 WS | 201 LBS

Team: Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Best  aggregate mock draft rank: 1 / Worst rank: 15

Agent: Misko Raznatovic

In 13 Adriatic League games, Topic averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, shooting 52.4 percent from the field and a three-point percentage of 28.2 percent. He also recorded 0.9 steals and 3.1 turnovers per game.

His father, Milenko Topic, is a former professional basketball player, head coach and gold medalist with the Yugoslavian National Team.