BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The primary spherical of the 2024 NBA draft wrapped up late Wednesday evening, and although there’s nonetheless yet another spherical — comprising 28 picks — left, it isn’t too early to interrupt down the implications from the evening.
The largest winner, arguably, wasn’t a staff or participant or govt, however a rustic. France has had an unprecedented run of success in getting gamers drafted within the first spherical. No staff made extra picks than the Washington Wizards, who got here into the evening with two however aggressively added one other in the midst of the spherical, and now they seem to have infused expertise onto a roster that badly wanted it.
Listed here are the winners and losers from the primary spherical of the 2024 NBA draft:
WINNERS
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs
The No. 4 total choice was all in regards to the Spurs giving final yr’s prime total decide, Victor Wembanyama, assist. However taking that one step additional, one of many greatest frustrations Spurs followers had final season was watching Wembanyama combating to get place within the publish, or slipping by the paint just for the staff’s ball handlers to completely miss Wembanyama — as troublesome as it might be to overlook a 7-foot-4 participant streaking down the ground.
Stephon Fortress performed each guard positions at UConn, however he’s most snug with the ball in his fingers, creating for others. He has wonderful measurement for the place at 6-foot-6 and maybe what is going to endear him most to teach Gregg Popovich is his effort and willingness to embrace the problem of defending the opposite staff’s prime guard.
Zach Edey
Edey, the two-time faculty participant of the yr at Purdue, went from a late first-round decide to fringe lottery decide to the No. 9 decide by the Memphis Grizzlies. Sure, he nonetheless has to show there’s room for a large 7-4 large in as we speak’s NBA, however he impressed executives and scouts together with his energy, low-post play and talent to move out of double groups. He additionally provides Memphis versatility for various types primarily based on opponent lineups. And he heads into a good state of affairs. Earlier than accidents and off-court issues sidelined Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have been one of many ascending groups within the West, profitable 51 video games in 2022-23 and 56 in 2021-22.
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UConn
Huskies coach Dan Hurley might have turned down overtures from the Lakers, however his staff nonetheless had a large imprint on the draft, particularly early on. Connecticut had two gamers chosen within the lottery for the primary time since 2012, when Andre Drummond (ninth) and Jeremy Lamb (twelfth) have been drafted. This time, the Huskies truly had two gamers picked within the prime 10, with Stephon Fortress going to the Spurs at No. 4 and Donovan Clingan going to the Path Blazers at No. 7.
France
Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr went 1-2 within the draft, marking the primary time two French gamers have been chosen with the primary two picks. Tidjane Salaun was drafted sixth, marking the primary time three gamers from a rustic apart from the U.S. have been chosen within the prime 10. New York took one other Frenchman, Pacôme Dadiet, at No. 25 in Wednesday’s first spherical. There’s a French renaissance taking place within the NBA proper now with rookie of the yr Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and spectacular rookie Bilal Coulibaly of the Washington Wizards. This draft marks the third consecutive yr that at the very least 4 French gamers have been drafted.
Washington Wizards
Washington began the evening with two first-round picks — No. 2 and No. 26. However an aggressive entrance workplace, led by president Michael Winger and common supervisor Will Dawkins, made a commerce with Portland to get one other lottery decide at No. 14. The Wizards chosen Alex Sarr second, Carlton “Bub” Carrington 14th and Miami’s Kyshawn George at No. 24 after a minor commerce with the New York Knicks. Now, the Wizards want these picks to work, but it surely’s clear the Wizards spent appreciable time investing on this draft as a part of the franchie’s main rebuilding effort.
LOSERS
Brooklyn Nets
The primary spherical of the draft was on the Brooklyn Nets’ Barclays Middle, and the Nets didn’t have a first-round decide. Additionally they don’t have a second-round decide Thursday, nonetheless, they may commerce into the second spherical. The Nets traded their 2024 first-round decide to Houston as a part of the deal that despatched James Harden from Houston to Brooklyn in 2021. That 2024 decide Houston obtained within the deal ended up being the No. 3 decide, and the Rockets chosen Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.
G League Ignite
The G League Ignite had two gamers chosen within the lottery (Ron Holland at No. 5 and Matas Buzelis at No. 11) and final season, the Ignite’s Scoot Henderson went No. 3. Nonetheless, the 2023-24 season was the final season for the Ignite which served as a spot for gamers who weren’t fascinated about faculty or taking part in internationally to develop and make cash. Nonetheless, NIL guidelines altered the faculty panorama and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver determined to shutter the Ignite. “We obtained to the purpose now with Workforce Ignite the place frankly we felt it didn’t make sense to compete towards these prime faculty applications, the place in lots of instances have higher amenities, top-notch teaching, constitution plane, et cetera,” Silver mentioned initially of the NBA Finals on June 6.
Too many bigs for the Portland Path Blazers
This isn’t in regards to the choice as a lot because it’s about roster development. Former UConn middle Donovan Clingan needs to be an on the spot rim protector, and all indicators are that his offensive recreation ought to proceed to enhance on the subsequent degree. He’s 7-foot-2 and 282 kilos and averaged 2.5 blocks in his two seasons with the Huskies, each of which resulted in nationwide championships. The problem is that Portland is on the hook for one more 7-footer, Deandre Ayton, for practically $70 million over the following two seasons, based on Spotrac.com.
Whereas Ayton’s offensive recreation is extra refined than Clingan’s at the very least at this stage, their type of play is slightly comparable, virtually making the Clingan decide redundant. Plus, as NBA groups more and more flip to hurry and athleticism to push tempo within the identify of scoring, having two bigs like Clingan and Ayton might make the Blazers offense a contact deliberate and plodding.
Too many guards for the Sacramento Kings
Just like the word in regards to the Blazers above, that is all about roster development. Devin Carter may very well find yourself as one of many higher picks of this draft, going to the Kings at No. 13, but it surely creates a large logjam within the backcourt. Sacramento has star level guard De’Aaron Fox and capturing guard Kevin Heurter beginning, with Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up Malik Monk, Keon Ellis and Davion Mitchell all on the bench.
Ellis stepped into the beginning function down the stretch and performed nicely after Heurter (shoulder) and Monk (proper knee) have been sidelined with accidents. The odd man out would look like Heurter, who’s underneath contract for the following two seasons at practically $35 million, per Spotrac.com. Now, Kings common supervisor Monte McNair has to juggle. Even then, the almost certainly consequence is for a number of of those proficient guards to waste away on the bench, barring accidents.
Winner and loser
Dalton Knecht
Tennessee capturing guard Dalton Knecht was a projected lottery decide — even prime 10 in some mock drafts — however fell to No. 17. He additionally “fell” into a great place with the Los Angeles Lakers. He will get to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and for brand new Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who embraces the fashionable NBA and 3-point capturing. That ought to work nicely for Knecht.