With the 2024 NBA draft order now set, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor released his first post-lottery mock draft on Sunday.
In his first projection with the 30-team order fully set, O’Connor projected sharpshooting freshman sensation Jared McCain as the 15th pick to the Miami Heat and All-American 7-footer Kyle Filipowski as the 28th pick to the Denver Nuggets.
McCain would join last year’s Eastern Conference champions, and O’Connor’s scouting report compared the Blue Devil to Seth Curry, another Duke star. The California native shot 41.4% from 3-point range last season and put together two 30-point games in the NCAA Tournament.
Filipowski, if the projection holds, would join last year’s NBA Finals champion. After being named a Second Team All-American as a sophomore in 2023-24, averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds, he’d have the chance to play alongside and learn from three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The prediction moved Filipowski a lot lower than he had been for much of the pre-draft process. Most player rankings consider both Blue Devils prospects top-20 picks.