NBA draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo break down the likely picks, odds and best fits for prospects prior to Sunday's lottery.
UConn center Donovan Clingan is expected to be one of the first bigs selected in the 2024 NBA draft. Even though the draft class lacks star power at the top, each team in the lottery would still love to secure the No. 1 pick.
Sheppard, the best shooter in the class, could be another interesting option with his potential to operate alongside either Cunningham or Ivey in staggered lineups.Although there's not a clear-cut top prospect in this draft, the Wizards have the bandwidth to build their roster patiently as they continue their rebuild. They are in it for the long haul under team president Michael Winger and currently have the advantage of time.
The frontcourt is a natural place to look to strengthen the roster and build around last year's No. 2 pick, whose future looks extremely bright after finishing third in the Rookie of the Year race. Sarr and Clingan can each make a compelling argument for being the first big man to come off the board, with defensive impact at the forefront of the discussion. Every NBA team could use a versatile, intelligent, smooth-shooting wing such as Risacher, who also can defend multiple positions.
The Spurs struck gold in last year's draft lottery, and this year is icing on the cake while building aroundexperiment only amplified the need for a point guard who can complement Wembanyama's extraordinary skill level, making the draft's top backcourt prospects the natural place to look regardless of where this pick lands.
Risacher is another safe option in many ways, even if he doesn't answer any of the immediate questions the Spurs have in the backcourt.Most likely pick if they stay at 6: Matas Buzelis | SF An injury-plagued season gives the Grizzlies a chance to add more talent to a roster already featuring three significant building blocks in. The center position, where the Grizzlies shuffled players in and out of the lineup all season, is a natural place to look, starting with Clingan. He looks ready to play a role right away for a team hoping to bounce back into playoff contention but still has upside to grow into at just 20 years old.
If the Grizzlies don't move up and Topic is still on the board, pairing him with Morant could be interesting because of the Serbian player's excellent size and playmaking acumen.The Jazz are in a somewhat flexible position, entering the offseason with the league's second-youngest roster and having exhibited plenty of patience in putting the team together.
Shooting was a weakness for the Rockets this campaign, so it makes sense to consider Risacher, Sheppard and Knecht if Houston moves into the top four. There also are questions regarding whether Sengun can anchor a top-flight NBA defense by himself from the center position, so pairing him with a unicorn-type big man who can guard all over the floor such as Sarr might be attractive, especially if the team feels his perimeter shooting will be a strength.
While there are some questions about where Castle's upside lies, he could be an ideal complementary player who addresses multiple needs on the Hawks' roster, particularly if they decide to move on from Murray. Castle could be on the board even if Atlanta doesn't move up and is a viable target if they do.The Bulls have been treading water for several years and now are staring at an aging roster with few prospects for improvement internally.
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