2024 NBA Draft first round winners and losers: Lakers, Sixers on list
The initial round of the 2024 NBA Draft has been completed.
Zaccharie Risacher, a player from France, was selected as the top pick by the Atlanta Hawks. Alex Sarr, another French player, was chosen as the second overall pick by the Washington Wizards. Following them, Reed Sheppard from Kentucky was picked by the Houston Rockets at number three.
In another place, Donovan Clingan from UConn was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 7th overall pick, and Matas Buzelis was chosen by the Chicago Bulls with the 11th overall pick.
Although those selections include some popular names from the class, there are other options that might end up being more successful.
Let's break down the 2024 draft by looking at five teams who came out on top and five teams who didn't fare as well.
Devin Carter Wins For Sacramento Kings
When selecting players, the key is to accurately assess their profiles. Are they special and different from others? Do they have the potential to improve, and by how much? While the 2024 draft may not have had the most impressive talent pool, Carter from Providence quickly caught our attention.
The Providence player stood at 6 feet 3 inches and had a wingspan of 6 feet 9 inches. He successfully made 37.7% of his 3-point shots out of 6.6 attempts in his last year. Additionally, he grabbed 8.4 rebounds and was able to defend different positions effectively, despite his size.
The Kings have a lot of guards on their team, such as De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, and Keon Ellis. However, Carter is a player who will be in the rotation from the very beginning. He could be seen as an improved version of Mitchell because Mitchell hasn't shown much improvement on the offensive end since being drafted in the first round.
Ranked at number 13, Carter might be a great steal for the Kings team, who are aiming to make a comeback to the playoffs next year.
Ron Holland, Detroit Pistons' Loser
Let's be honest: Holland is a top prospect with strong defensive skills and three-point shooting abilities. However, he may not be the best choice for the Pistons as the fifth overall pick.
He is just 18 years old, making him one of the youngest in his class, and he stands at 6 feet 6 inches tall with a wingspan of 6 feet 11 inches. While he may not excel at shooting from a stationary position, he is skilled at driving to the basket. He also shows promise defensively. However, the Pistons did not see a need for a player with his particular skill set.
Even though Cade Cunningham is leading the team, Detroit is struggling to find players who can create space on the court. Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren are key players who struggle with shooting, while Marcus Sasser and Isaiah Stewart help with spacing. Detroit needs more players who can create opportunities and open up the game to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.
When it comes to Detroit's top-five draft pick, Holland may not address all of the team's needs, but he will definitely bring value in certain areas.
Upcoming talent Ron Holland is generating a lot of excitement as a top prospect for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Dalton Knecht Wins With The Los Angeles Lakers!
For teams wanting to compete at a high level, such as the Lakers, selecting older players in the draft may not be a disadvantage. Knecht, a player from Tennessee who is 23 years old, is a versatile scorer with the ability to make shots from different areas on the court. He has an impressive 3-point shooting percentage of 39.7% on an average of 6.5 attempts per game.
He may not excel at creating his own shot, but he is able to score effectively in catch-and-shoot situations or when off-balance. As a result, he is likely to mesh well with various lineups that feature LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall with a wingspan of 6 feet 9 inches, Knecht has the ability to make offensive plays, but there are worries about his defensive skills. However, he could be a valuable asset for new head coach JJ Redick, who is skilled at creating plays to help Knecht adjust to the team.
The best player in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee's Dalton Knecht, is ready to be selected early in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Following speculation that Bronny James might be a first-round pick, he ultimately went undrafted. The Lakers opted for Knecht instead, as mentioned earlier, while the Phoenix Suns selected Ryan Dunn from Virginia with the 27th pick.
The guard is tall at 6 feet 2 inches and has a wingspan of 6 feet 7 inches. He shows promise as a good shooter from beyond the arc, making him a valuable 3-point shooter on the team. It will be interesting to see which team picks him in the second round of the draft, if any team does.
As the 2024 NBA Draft approaches this week, Kaz Famuyide from Fanatics sportsbook explores three potential landing spots for Bronny James.
Jared McCain Wins With The Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have been looking for additional players to step up and play well alongside Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a strong second choice, and their latest draft pick could also fill that role effectively.
McCain, who plays point guard for Duke, is considered one of the top scorers in the upcoming draft. Although he stands at 6-foot-2 with a 6-foot-3 wingspan, he makes up for his height disadvantage with impressive shooting statistics.
During his one season with the Blue Devils, he made 46 percent of his shots, 41 percent of his three-point shots, and 89 percent of his free throws. He will likely have a significant role as a backup player for the Sixers, which could turn out to be a great value for the team's overall performance.
Potential champion: Tidjane Salaün, Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have some talented young players like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, and Tre Mann. Salaün, an 18-year-old from France, might be able to join them. He's 6-foot-9 with a wingspan of 7-foot-2, which could make him a good stretch 4 player if he can improve his 3-point shooting and defense.
When it comes to France, the country had the second-highest number of players selected in the first round after the United States. Risacher, Sarr, Salaün, and Pacome Dadiet (who was drafted 25th overall by the New York Knicks) were the four French players chosen. However, we won't know how successful they will be until a few years from now. This shows that basketball is continuing to grow as a global sport.
