2024 NBA Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 1-15

My first 2024 NBA Mock Draft is up. Find out who goes where in my very first 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: November 10, 2023.

1. Memphis Grizzlies: Alexandre Sarr, C, Perth Wildcats
   
   
   Memphis has Ja Morant at point guard, Desmond Bane at shooting guard, Ziare Williams at small forward, Jaren Jackson Jr. at power forward, and Xavier Tillman at center. Brian Bayless has Matas Buzelis the consensus top prospect in most NBA Mock Drafts going first overall after ending my most accurate mock draft streak with 15 correct first round picks in 2023. Wes Langley has Ron Holland of Ignite going first overall. Ron Holland and Alexandre Sarr wowed me on tape, but I didn't get that impression from Matas Buzelis who didn't take any three point shots in the tape I watched of him. Ziare Williams has gotten off to a rough start, but he's still averaging over 10 points a game which is why I ended up mocking Alexandre Sarr to Memphis with the first overall pick in my 2024 NBA Mock Draft.
   
   
   
   The 7-1 217 lb Alexandre Sarr is a big with the versatility to play the 4 at power forward or the 5 at center. He can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. He defends well and can hit shots from short range, medium range, or long range. Sarr is a good dunker too and will play with both the Perth Wildcats and Overtime Elite this season prior to the 2024 NBA Draft. Sarr is the closest thing the 2024 NBA Draft has to Victor Wembanyama, but Memphis better pray that Sarr isn't another Hasheem Thabeet otherwise the Grizzlies will continue to waste Ja Morant's prime years.
   
   
   
2. Washington Wizards: Ron Holland, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
   
   
   Washington currently has Tyus Jones at point guard, Jordan Poole at shooting guard, Deni Avdija at small forward, Kyle Kuzma at power forward, and Daniel Galford at center. You also have Corey Kispert as your second small forward.
   
   
   
   The 6-8 200 lb Ron Holland is versatile enough to play both the 3 at small forward and the 4 at power forward. I get that you also have Taylor Hendricks for depth behind Kuza. Holland got 36 points against the Perth Wildcats while Sarr got 24 points. Both players can hit shots from short range, medium range, and long range on tape. Holland can generate assists. I think Holland can defend effectively, but I'd like to see more game film where he is playing defense as well as offense for content creators on Youtube going forward. Holland has gotten double digit rebounds in games and Holland feels like the most complete player that can pass, shoot, block, rebound, and steal at the NBA level outside of Alexandre Sarr which is why I mocked him at 2.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Charlotte Hornets: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg
   
   
   The Charlotte Hornets have LaMelo Ball at point guard, Terry Rozier at shooting guard, Gordon Hayward at small forward, P.J. Washington at power forward, and Mark Williams at center. Everyone in Charlotte's starting five is averaging 10.5 points per game with four of these starters averaging 15.5 points per game with Williams being the guy who averages 10.5 per game which happens to be an improvement over his rookie season. Brandon Miller is averaging 15.3 points per game off the bench even with Ball and Washington getting into foul trouble with Ball, Miller, and Washington all averaging 4 fouls a game. Miller will take off for Charlotte the split second Hayward gets injured, but in the meantime he can perform offensively while continuing to develop defensively while reducing his number of fouls.
   
   
   
   The 6-9 204 lb Zaccharie Risacher is the best defender, three point shooter, passer, and blocker of the remaining players on the board. He's not as complete as the top two players, but checks most boxes. A big reason why Charlotte started 1-3 was due to the fact that Ball, Miller, Washington got into foul trouble with each averaging 4 fouls a game through four games.
   
   
   
   Charlotte can go best player on their board at 3 in the 2024 NBA Draft as long as Charlotte retains 4 of their six starters. If Hayward leaves after this season, it opens up the possibility of having Miller as your new starting small forward with Risacher in the sixth man role that Miller is currently playing where he can come in off the bench for Miller or Washington if either forward gets into foul trouble starting in 2024. Risacher can hit short range, mid range, or long range shots. He blocks and rebounds. He's a more complete player than Gordon Hayward from a defensive standpoint and his upside long-term is higher as well. If Charlotte is fortunate enough to get another top pick, just take the best player on the board and stockpile this roster with talent.
   
   
   
   Zaccharie Risacher can defend against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, and the 3 at small forward in short range situations. You want to see him defend more in medium range and long range shot situations too, but Risacher's defensive play is good enough to make him my third best player in the 2024 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
4. Houston Rockets: Stephon Castle, SG, Connecticut
   
   
   Houston has Freddy VanVleet at point guard, Jalen Green at shooting guard, Dillon Brooks at small forward, Jabari Smith Jr. at power forward, and Alperen Senguin at center with all five players averaging over 10 points per game. Houston drafted Amen Thompson, a point guard out of Overtime Elite fourth overall, but he's only averaging 6.7 points per game so far. Houston clearly needs more forward depth with both Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. averaging 4 fouls per game so far. Amen Thompson is your backup point guard while the current backup small forward is Cam Whitmore.
   
   
   
   The 6-6 215 lb Stephon Castle is a combo guard that is versatile enough to play point guard at the 1 and shooting guard at the 2. I like Stephon Castle as someone that you can stash for depth behind Jalen Green. If Amen Thompson doesn't improve on his 6.7 points per game early in 2023, Castle could potentially supplant Amen Thompson as the top guard off the bench.
   
   
   
   Stephon Castle is a better scorer than Thompson, but he's not the defender Thompson was heading into the 2023 NBA Draft. Having both of those guards off the bench to compliment Freddy VanVleet who has a club option in 2025 at point guard along with Jalen Green who is an RFA by then gives Houston insurance if Houston or the one of the starters wants out of Houston by then.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Detroit Pistons: Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
   
   
   Detroit has their starting five with Cade Cunningham at point guard, Jaden Ivey at shooting guard, Ausar Thompson at small forward, Isaiah Stewart at power forward, and Jalen Duren at center. I think Isaiah Collier is the best player available, but not the best pick for the Detroit Pistons to make at 5 since the Pistons have both Killian Hayes and Marcus Sasser for depth at point guard behind Cade Cunningham who both look decent off the bench so far.
   
   
   
   You can make a case for Matas Buzelis or Justin Edwards here. Justin Edwards impressed me more as a defender on tape, but needs to improve his three point shot. Maybe it's just me, but Justin Edwards seems like an ideal bench player behind Ausar Thompson at this point. If Thompson ever gets injured Edwards would be able to pick up where Thompson left off if he can fix his long range since the short range and medium range shots are there.
   
   
   
   Justin Edwards can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, or the 3 at small forward. He would be a great player to bring off the bench if Detroit moves on from Alec Burks after this season.
   
   
   
6. Chicago Bulls: Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
   
   
   Lonzo Ball cannot stay healthy. Chicago has Colby White at point guard, Alex Caruso at shooting guard, Zach LaVine at small forward, Demar DeRozan at power forward, and Nikola Vucevic at center. Upgrading both the point guard and shooting guard positions has to be priority uno for the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 NBA Draft with Lonzo Ball's injuries the last two years.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 205 lb Isaiah Collier passes well, defends well against other point guards that play the 1. His only limitation is that seems dependent on making short range shots. Collier can become a top five pick if he improves his mid range and long range shots at USC because he's a better defender than Stephon Castle.
   
   
   
   
   
7. New York Knicks: Aday Mara, C, UCLA
   
   
   New York has three good starters with Jalen Brunson at point guard, R.J. Barrett at small forward, and Julius Randle at power forward whose effective in the regular season. The New York Knicks have needed to replace Mitchell Robinson for about three or four years now, but were never in position to draft a viable replacement which is why the Knicks settled.
   
   
   
   The 7-3 245 lb Aday Mara can shoot short range, mid range, and long range shots. He can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center.
   
   
   
   Aday Mara has NBA traits that you covet despite playing limited minutes on Basket Zargoza in Spain. Aday Mara will play at UCLA this Fall too as he was cleared to play for UCLA just hours ago.
   
   
   
8. San Antonio Spurs: D.J. Wagner, PG, Kentucky
   
   
   San Antonio has most of the pieces with Devin Vasell at shooting guard, Keldon Johnson at small forward, Victor Wembanyama at power forward, and Zach Collins at center. Getting that facilitator at point guard is the final void as moving Jeremy Sochan from power forward to point guard hasn't worked out while benching your best point from a season ago in Tyus Bowser.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 175 lb D.J. Wagner was the MVP of the 2023 McDonalds All American Game. He can hit shots from short range, medium range, or long range. D.J. Wagner will enroll at Kentucky this Fall.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Utah Jazz: Tyrese Proctor, PG, Duke
   
   
   Utah moved Talen Horton-Tucker to point guard even though he played small forward in college. Jordan Clarkson is reliable at shooting guard, Lauri Markannen is a viable small forward, and John Collins has done alright at power forward since being traded from Atlanta to Utah. The Utah Jazz need to add depth at either point guard or center.
   
   
   
   Even if Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker leave, you still got Collin Sexton and Keyonte George for depth at point guard. I view George as more of a shooting guard than a true point. Tyrese Proctor could breakout for Duke this year and is currently projected as Duke's highest draft pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
   The 6-5 183 lb Tyrese Proctor could break out for Duke. He didn't produce a lot as a freshman, but he's expected to break out in his sophomore season with Duke.
   
   
   
10. Cleveland Cavaliers: Matas Buzelis, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    Cleveland has Darius Garland at point guard, Max Strus at shooting guard, Donovan Mitchell at small forward as a second shooting guard, Evan Mobley at power forward, and Jarrett Allen at center with all five starters averaging over 10 points a game. Cleveland could use another small forward which allows you to move Donovan Mitchell back to his natural position at shooting guard. Matas Buzelis entered the year as the preseason favorite to go first overall, but my big issue with him is I didn't see him hit three pointers in his highlights or his tape which is why I'm lower on him than most.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Phoenix Suns: Kyle Filipkowski, C, Duke
    
    
    Phoenix has Eric Gordon at shooting guard, Grayson Allen at small forward, and Kevin Durant at power forward. I view Allen as a shooting guard and Durant as a power forward. Bradley Beal is moving from shooting guard to point guard and is currently injured. This means getting a center who can do more offensively than Jusef Nurkic is the best play for the Phoenix Suns.
    
    
    
    The 7-0 248 lb Kyle Filipkowski is versatile enough to play the 4 at power forward or the 5 at center giving the Phoenix Suns a starting center. He can hit shots from short range, medium range, and long range. You'd like to see him continue to improve defensively in terms of consistency, but he's more of an asset as a defender than a liability even though you'd like to see Filipkowski showcase quicker foot speed and reaction time when defending.
    
    
    
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Izan Almansa, PF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    Oklahoma City has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at point guard, Josh Giddey at shotting guard, Jalen Williams at small forward, and Chet Holmgren at center. A power forward to round out this starting five is needed before the Oklahoma City Thunder can make a serious playoff push.
    
    
    
    The 6-10 216 lb Izan Almansa is the top power forward left on the board. Some have him going in the top 10, but he's a great value pick for the Oklahoma City Thunder right around this spot.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Sacramento Kings: Bronny James, SG, USC
    
    
    The Sacramento Kings have De'Aaron Fox at point, Kevin Huerter at shooting guard, Malik Monk at small foward, Keegan Murray at power forward, and Domantas Sabonis at center. I think taking Bronny James this early could be a reach in terms of value, but my gut is telling me the Sacramento Kings will end up picking Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 180 lb Bronny James is a combo guard that can play the 1 at point guard and the 2 at shooting guard. He's also the son of NBA legend LeBron James.
    
    
    
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Cody Williams, SF, Colorado
    
    
    Portland has Malcolm Brogdon at point guard, Shaedon Sharpe at shooting guard, Jerami Grant at power forward, and DeAndre Ayton at center. Portland also has Scoot Henderson as the backup point guard, and Anfernee Jennings is now the backup shooting guard despite entering the season as the starting shooting guard. Simmons might move to the wing at small forward, but if he doesn't, a small forward will be needed with this pick. Kris Murray is the backup power forward. Jabari Walker is the backup small forward when Simmons is injured, but he hasn't taken the next step despite showing promise as a freshman at Colorado prior to the 2023 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 185 lb Cody Williams could be a player who ends up being a starter for the Portland Trail Blazers at small forward. The only way Cody Williams doesn't start for Portland day 1 is if Anfernee Simmons moves to small forward and Portland roles with two shooting guards instead of a small forward. Williams would still be a valuable depth player for Portland.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Miami Heat: Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor
    
    
    Miami has Tyler Herro at shooting guard, Jimmy Butler at small forward, and Bam Adeboyo at center. Miami moves Tyler Herro back to his natural position at point guard and drafts the best player on the board as a shooting guard at 15.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 180 lb Ja'Kobe Walter had 28 points in his debut with Baylor. He's going to be picked in the top half of the 2024 NBA Draft if he keeps this up. He could be a potential riser.