With all the picks, this is a good time to analyze the 2024 NBA Draft. Of course, as you know by now, this was not one of the best NBA Draft classes ever by any means, and most players selected in the first round likely won't They are only role players – with some exceptions.
2024 NBA Draft Analysis: Five Takeaways From the First Round
That's why even Atlanta Hawks fans weren't thrilled or had a huge reaction in the NBA draft when they won the lottery, knowing they were unlikely to get a generational talent.
However, this is always an exciting time for NBA teams, and some moves end up making a big impact in the long run. With that in mind, we'll share with you the biggest stories from the event.
Sam Presti continues to build
If there's anyone who can take the risk, it's Sam Presti. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a select group of players, and with no elite big man out there, they swung for the fences with a big gamble by taking on Serbian goaltender Nikola Topic.
Tobik will miss most — if not all — of his senior season with a knee injury, but was expected to be a top-five prospect before that. He's a big point guard with great playmaking skills and court vision, and while he needs to work on his shooting and defensive skills, his ceiling is much higher than some of the other players in this class.
Mega gamble memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies were in desperate need of a quarterback. So they decided to take it literally by going for the tallest man in the draft. Zack Eddy was expected to be taken at least six picks, but the Grizzlies chose physicality over talent here.
Eddie was dominant in college, and his resume at Purdue is impressive. He is capable of making an immediate impact as a goalkeeper and midfielder. However, there are major concerns about his perimeter defense and whether his massive body will hold up. Competitors and marginal competitors can take risks.
A New Era in Chicago
The Chicago Bulls began their rebuild by trading Alex Caruso, and the pursuit of Matas Bozlis may mean they’re ready to enter surrender mode. That’s because he plays roughly the same position as Patrick Williams, who has yet to secure a first-round pick.
Bozles has a high positivity and a great sense of the game, but his presence there pretty much means Williams is on his way out. The same can be said for DeMar DeRozan, and if they're lucky, even Zach LaVine.
Tottenham builds prison
The San Antonio Spurs didn't trade up as some analysts expected, but they still made a big splash with their first of two first-round picks, trading the other pick for future assets. Acquiring Stephon Castle would do wonders for their already promising defense.
Even if he doesn't perform well offensively, we're talking about one of the best defensive prospects in this class. Combined with Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan, Tottenham will have their opponents in prison for years to come.
The Lakers won the first round
Rob Pelinka got a big deal. It made sense that the first pick in the JJ Redick era would be a white guy with a good shot. Dalton Knecht could be a ready-to-play player for a team looking to compete now, and can’t afford to wait for a young player to develop.
He may not be young by NBA Draft standards, but he is the most NBA-prepared player in this class. He can knock down shots from all three levels, and he'll learn from one of the best off-ball shooters and scorers of all time.
