The 2024 Draft will be held on the night of Wednesday to Thursday for the 1st round (at 2 a.m. French time, on beIN Sports), with real chances of having three French players selected not only in the 1st round, but also among the lottery picks. Here, modestly, is our projection for the first round of this vintage, undoubtedly more talented and profound than anyone has been willing to tell us so far.
1- Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) – Ailier
We know that the Hawks are hesitant to trade their pick, but we started from the principle that they will want to take Zaccharie Risacher. The JL Bourg winger has been excellent this season and has had a quality workout with Atlanta according to specialists. His ability to ultimately become a perfect modern player in the NBA with shooting, defense and game intelligence tells us that he can establish himself as the most promising and talented prospect of this vintage. The Hawks would need a player like Alexandre Sarr, but we don’t feel they are more motivated than that. Go for Risacher, who can be a talent to count on in the event of a massive reconstruction in the months or years to come.
Zacharie Risacher without pressure before the draft: “If I am not number 1, I will not experience it as a failure”
2- Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards) – Interior
The Wizards need good vibes and talent. Alex Sarr clearly interests them and his profile as a strong defender and elite athlete with real room for interesting progression in other sectors makes him an essential prospect. We don’t see him going much lower, especially since he is the player with the most exciting ceiling, probably, among the theoretical lottery picks, with his compatriot Risacher.
3- Donovan Clingan (Houston Rockets) – Interior
The choice may surprise you and it in no way means that we consider the UConn pivot as the third biggest talent in this 2024 Draft. On the other hand, if the Rockets do not trade their pick, they will look for a player already ready, capable of bringing defense and certain baggage into the interior rotation where Alperen Sengun is already located. Clingan, two-time NCAA champion with the Huskies, seems completely NBA ready and capable of contributing to the rotation of a team that no longer wants to develop and wants to take things to the next level next season.
4- Nikola Topic (San Antonio Spurs) – Meneur
The young Serbian leader has a knee injury and will probably not play much next season. On the other hand, it is better to make sure to lock it early enough so that it does not go elsewhere. With his qualities as a playmaker and the ceiling that he seems to be able to reach with progress in shooting in particular, he looks like a good long-term choice for the Spurs. It would be a shame not to try to integrate him into the desired hard core around Victor Wembanyama. It might be with pick No. 8, but we would take it at this stage so as not to take any risks.
5- Reed Sheppard (Detroit Pistons) – Fullback
The Pistons already have people in the back positions, including Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. However, the fanbase needs excitement and players to rally behind to regain morale. Sheppard missed the NCAA Tournament, but remains a big shooter and a talented attacker, in addition to an aggressive and willing defender.
6- Ron Holland (Charlotte Hornets) – Fullback
His rating has dropped following the disappointing performances of Team Ignite, but Holland remains a player with frightening athletic potential, with a fairly certain defensive impact, while having the margin for offensive progression which would allow the Hornets to see a future in him. very good NBA player to add to the core of a group which will hope to do much better next season, with a new coach.
7- Matas Buzelis (Portland Trail Blazers) – Swingman
There is some ball in Buzelis, as they say, despite difficulties with Team Ignite in developing the qualities seen earlier. On position 4, Portland could recover a prospect with very interesting potential but still a little too raw. The playmaking has been a bit late and he will also have to show that the spacing he seems able to provide can be expressed in the NBA. In idea, it can become a highly sought-after forward point.
8- Cody Williams (San Antonio Spurs) – Ailier
The brother of Jalen Williams has a more defensive profile than his elder, with everything needed in store to become an elite stopper, while offering a fairly reliable outside shot that will be the difference between a simple energizer and a starter capable of joining the Wembanyama project in San Antonio for example.
9- Kel’el Ware (Memphis Grizzlies) – Interior
The loss of Steven Adams is significant for the Grizzlies, who seem a little light inside despite the presence of Jaren Jackson Jr. Ware is athletic, mobile and a deterrent near the rim. If we add to this the embryonic 3-point shot that he tried to develop with Indiana, the boy has great potential and can be one of the very good picks of this 2024 Draft.
10- Dalton Knecht (Utah Jazz) – Back/winger
Knecht is a senior, with the ability to score virtually any way, including from distance. Able to play 2 and 3 with an honorable defensive level, the Tennessee player does not have a very high ceiling but seems able to immediately bring things to a team like the Jazz.
11- Stephon Castle (Chicago Bulls) – Point guard/guard
The Bulls are normally in a reconstruction phase and we cannot imagine the squad remaining intact. If there is a thorough cleaning, Castle would be a very interesting combo guard to bank on for the future, with enormous potential – particularly defensive – seen during his only season at UConn. Castle also seems like he could become a good playmaker, which doesn’t hurt anything.
12- Zach Edey (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Interior
The Thunder is not missing much to be even more formidable in the West and to have a real contender’s face. An interior capable of helping Chet Holmgren for example? Edey and his immense (2.24m) interior presence, particularly at the finish, should fill this gap. We also know that the Canadian really wants to develop an outside shot in the NBA, which would change his ceiling quite radically.
13- Rob Dillingham (Sacramento Kings) – Arrière
Expected much higher this year, Dillingham could well land with the Kings, where he will be able to develop behind De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, bringing off the bench his carefree scoring and his shooting, while working to become a more reliable defender.
14- Tidjane Salaün (Portland Trail Blazers) – Winger
The Frenchman is one of the most intriguing prospects in this Draft class, with clearly scary upside if he develops properly. The Blazers normally have time to work on their youngsters and the Choletais, who already seems capable of contributing defensively to the NBA could benefit from it if Portland bets on him at this stage.
Tidjane Salaün, his secrets before his NBA Draft
15- Tyler Kolek (Miami Heat) – Meneur
Kolek is already experienced and has shown very good things with Marquette this year, with a high level of passing, leadership in the organization of the game and an appetite for clutch baskets. The Heat sometimes know how to trust younger players if they are able to fit into the local culture, which this kid seems capable of.
16- Devin Carter (Philadelphia Sixers) – Fullback
In the Providence jersey, he showed that he is one of the best college defenders and the Sixers would do well to add him to their back rotation if the opportunity presents itself like in this projection.
17- Yves Missi (Los Angeles Lakers) – Interior
The Cameroonian is very athletic, generous and dissuasive near the circle. The Lakers need new blood and players capable of breathing down Anthony Davis in the regular season. Missi may be one of them.
18- Jared McCain (Orlando Magic) – Arrière
A magnificent shooter from Duke, McCain can partly respond to the glaring lack of offensive juice that we saw in Orlando last year in the playoffs. And as in addition to his shooting and offensive skills, particularly in the use of the ball, he is an interested defender, we can see him bringing good things to the Magic.
19- Ja’Kobe Walter (Toronto Raptors) – Fullback
The Raptors can take bets and Walter, a little frustrating with Baylor but nevertheless endowed with obvious qualities, notably on shooting and tenacity, can be an interesting one who will pay off in the long term.
20- Carlton Carrington (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Arrière
The Cavs need scoring and offensive creativity, which Carrington is more than capable of providing, as he did with Pittsburgh. If his 3-point shot becomes more reliable, he will be a real added value and a good playmaker for anyone who bets on him.
21- Isaiah Collier (New Orleans Pelicans) – Arrière
A big potential scorer, he struggled to shine with USC in a season missed by the Trojans. However, his qualities could not completely evaporate and a team like the Pelicans, where he would bring his punch coming off the bench, could be an interesting area of expression.
22- Ryan Dunn (Phoenix Suns) – Ailier
The Suns don’t have time to develop young people, a priori. So why not look at a fairly phenomenal player defensively in the NCAA like Dunn, whose scouts tout the potential of being a future member of an All-Defensive Team, if not a very competent attacker?
23- Tristan Da Silva (Milwaukee Bucks) – Versatile winger
The senior from Colorado is a reliable, versatile and mature player, exactly what the Bucks need in their rotation since they also don’t particularly have time to focus on the development of young players. Da Silva can contribute immediately, as a facilitator and clean shooter.
24- Kyle Filipowski (New York Knicks) – Interior
Filipowski has the ball for an interior and real good hands. Depending on what happens around Hartenstein in the offseason, adding Dukie to the interior rotation can’t hurt. Tom Thibodeau will appreciate his fighting spirit and the idea that he can also become an extremely decent shooter.
25- Pelle Larsson (New York Knicks) – Ailier
Will you start shooting again? Larsson is already 23 years old, but has shooting and toughness in store, which should totally suit the Knicks as they continue their bid to return to the top.
26- KyShawn George (Washington Wizards) – Ailier
The Swiss who passed through France may seem like a somewhat raw talent, but his potential is exciting, which should be enough to satisfy the Wizards who normally have the time and the keys to develop young players. George’s shot is already very interesting when coupled with his height (2.03m).
27- Pacôme Dadiet (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Winger
Little has been said about the Frenchman from Ulm this season, but his potential, particularly offensively, is very real and the Wolves should not hesitate to add this piece to their extended group, even if it is to go back and forth in G -League initially.
28- Kevin McCullar Jr (Denver Nuggets) – Ailier
The Nuggets bench was too short this season and we must bring back elements capable of contributing immediately to the NBA. McCullar has the age (23) and profile to fit in just about anywhere, especially in Denver, thanks to his two-way profile and his playing intelligence.
29- Ulrich Chomche (Utah Jazz) – Interior
If the Jazz are indeed “shopping” Walker Kessler, they will need a young interior to integrate the expanded rotation. Chomche, who arrives from Cameroon, is the youngest player in this 2024 Draft, but has physicality and defense to offer, with one of the biggest upsides among the big men in this vintage.
30- Johnny Furphy (Boston Celtics) – Ailier
He has the head, the look and the shot to become a fan favorite in Boston, although there is a lot of work before he can seriously integrate the rotation of the 2024 NBA champions.
