2024 NBA Mock Draft: How 5 Trades Could Impact Round 1
The NBA draft lottery set the selection order for next month's talent grab.
That might be all we know with this draft, though. And even that isn't entirely certain, since the New Orleans Pelicans still have until June 1 to decide whether they want the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick (No. 17) or if they'd rather wait to get next year's.
Scouts and analysts alike seem less than thrilled with the top prospects in this class. There isn't a consensus No. 1 prospect on the board, meaning even the first pick is a mystery. Throw in the likelihood of some draft-night (or draft-nights, rather) dealing, and there are myriad ways in which this process could play out June 26 and 27.
We'll take a step at predicting the unpredictable anyway with a first-round mock featuring five different potential deals along the way.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth Wildcats
1 of 30
Alex Sarr seemingly comes closest to being this draft's top prospect. He's the name most frequently found atop mock draft boards, and if Atlanta's against-all-odds climb to No. 1 impacted that at all, it only cemented it.
The Hawks may see him both as the best prospect in the class and the one most able to address their needs. His defense is ahead of his offense, but that's where the Hawks need the biggest boost.
They landed 27th in defensive efficiency, their third consecutive campaign with a bottom-third ranking. He's an all-purpose stopper with the length and athleticism to protect the paint and the fluidity and quickness to chase players around the perimeter.
Offensively, there is considerable room for growth, especially if he's able to play off a playmaker like Trae Young or Dejounte Murray. Sarr will be crushing lobs as soon as he steps foot on an NBA hardwood, but the real intrigue lies with his potential as a spacer and creator.
He could be a dream pick-and-choose partner for whichever guard Atlanta opts to keep.
2. Washington Wizards: Nikola Topić, PG, KK Crvena Zvezda
2 of 30
Because the Wizards waited so long to stumble out of the Bradley Beal era, their rebuild has the longest runway of any. Their demand for young talent is so great that the only way they can misfire with this pick is trading it for a veteran.
As Washington continues assembling a young core, it would make a ton of sense to get a top-shelf table-setter like Nikola Topić. The 6'6" playmaker can pressure defenses off the dribble and then exploit the openings his dribble penetrations can create.
He processes the game quickly and routinely delivers on-time and on-target passes. And if he can barrel his way to the basket, he has a deep bag of finishing trips there, too.
He isn't a perfect prospect. His outside shot is a work in progress, his dribble moves aren't quite dizzying and his defensive effort comes and goes. Still, he's the kind of player who can elevate others around him, so this pick would be as much about assisting the other young players on this roster as it would be about bringing Topić into the fold.
TRADE at 3. Memphis Grizzlies (via Rockets): Donovan Clingan, C, Connecticut
3 of 30
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Jae'Sean Tate, Jock Landale and No. 3 pick
Houston Rockets receive: Marcus Smart and No. 9 pick
This pick, which originally belonged to the Brooklyn Nets, is expected to be in play as Houston aims to keep climbing the ladder out West, per ESPN's Zach Lowe. Memphis' No. 9 pick is reportedly expected to be on the table, too, as the full-strength Grizzlies have a real chance to reestablish themselves as one of the conference's elites.
Still, Memphis might see Donovan Clingan as the kind of prospect capable of playing an impact role right now and growing into something even greater down the line. The Grizzlies, remember, have a Steven Adams-sized hole on the interior, and the 7'2", 265-pound Clingan could fill it with a similar blend of physicality and paint protection.
If Memphis views Clingan as a capable starter, that might be a big enough prize to leap up the draft board at the expense of Marcus Smart, who might not be the shooting threat the Grizzlies want playing alongside Ja Morant.
Jock Landale would strictly be a salary-filler, and while Memphis may not view Jae'Sean Tate as much more than that, he could hustle his way into a rotation role.
TRADE at 4. Atlanta Hawks (via Spurs): Zaccharie Risacher, SG/SF, JL Bourg-en-Bresse
4 of 30
Atlanta Hawks receive: Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins, No. 4 pick, 2025 first-round pick (their own) and 2026 first-round pick swap rights (their own)
San Antonio Spurs receive: Trae Young
As things stand, the Spurs hold two top-10 picks (Nos. 4 and 8), so if they want to follow the slow-and-steady model for building around Victor Wembanyama, they can do it.
Given how much he showed as a freshman phenom, though, it might already be time to accelerate—especially with the young centerpiece being reportedly "intrigued by the idea" of playing with Trae Young, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
The Hawks, meanwhile, might read their lottery fortune as the sign it's time to pivot toward something new. After nabbing Sarr at No. 1, they could add another lengthy Frenchman in Zaccharie Risacher, who projects as at least an athletic three-and-D and has shown enough flashes of ball-handling and passing to suggest he could become so much more.
Between Sarr, Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks could be loaded up front sooner than later, and that's before factoring in Keldon Johnson (and, if they see a role for him, Zach Collins).
Atlanta would also regain control of its next two drafts, meaning that if it encounters any growing pains going forward, it would at least reap the rewards of them.
5. Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis, SF, G League Ignite
5 of 30
Like clockwork, the Detroit Pistons went into another lottery with the highest of hopes and came out of it holding the No. 5 pick for the third consecutive year.
Some have argued Detroit should move this selection for more immediate help, but the value of the fifth pick in this draft isn't delivering the kind of assistance the Pistons—who haven't cleared a .310 winning percentage since 2018-19—require to make this a competitive club.
Even if fans are getting restless, it's probably in the franchise's best interest to keep building its young core. Matas Buzelis could be a big step in the right direction, especially if he finds consistency with his three-ball. The 6'10" playmaker is the good kind of jack-of-all-trades, where the label speaks more to his versatility than any lack of an exceptional skill.
As a second creator supporting Cade Cunningham, Buzelis could thrive as a connector. He can make quick, simple reads, and that savviness also extends to his off-ball movement. It would help if his outside shooting was more of a sure thing, but if it was, he might not make it to the No. 5 pick.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky
6 of 30
Put a healthy LaMelo Ball back front and center of Buzz City, and Charlotte's young core should start to crystallize. Last year's No. 2 pick, Brandon Miller, already looks like a home run addition, and a full-strength Mark Williams is a double-double machine.
The Hornets have options here, but the net-shredding Reed Sheppard might be as good as it gets. He can operate both on and off the ball, meaning he's a fit both alongside and in relief of Ball (or, if Ball's injury issues don't go away, even as an insurance policy). Sheppard's handling isn't elite, but his passing is sharp, and his perimeter shot is pure (52.1 percent during his one-and-done run at Kentucky).
Sheppard doesn't have great size for a combo guard (6'3"), but that seldom holds him back defensively. He lives in his opponent's air space, and his instincts are strong enough for him to wreak havoc in passing lanes.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Tennessee
7 of 30
Portland isn't even a calendar year removed from closing the Damian Lillard chapter, so it feels like it could take a while to get things turned around. There have been rumblings about the Trail Blazers aiming to compete sooner than later, and if enough of their young talent pops, that idea isn't totally outlandish.
A leap year from even one of Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson could be transformational in a best-case scenario.
That's all a long-winded way of saying Portland might not feel the need to sell out for upside here. Instead, the Blazers could be drawn to an instant-impact contributor like Dalton Knecht, a 6'6" scorer with an ignitable three-ball. After posting big numbers during his final season at Northern Colorado, he did the same during his lone campaign at Tennessee, averaging 21.7 points on 45.8/39.7/77.2 shooting.
He is probably best as an off-ball shooter, where he flies around the floor and can launch from any angle. When he gets run off the three-point arc, though, he has enough wiggle to create space and soft touch around the basket.
TRADE at 8. New York Knicks (via Spurs): Rob Dillingham, PG/SG, Kentucky
8 of 30
New York Knicks receive: Pick No. 8
San Antonio Spurs receive: Picks Nos. 24, 25 and 38
After sacrificing two firsts and a future swap in our Trae Young trade, the Spurs might want to start replenishing their draft-pick stock. Sending this selection, which came from the Toronto Raptors, for a couple of late firsts and an early second would give San Antonio the flexibility to make additional moves.
New York, meanwhile, might be looking at its loaded-when-healthy roster and wondering where it can fit three rookies. The Knicks could easily conclude that they can't, so they instead package the picks for a climb into the top 10 for an Immanuel Quickley replacement.
Rob Dillingham, a Kentucky product just like Quickley, could be the off-the-bench spark plug New York has been without since giving up Quickley in the OG Anunoby trade. It might be tricky to pair Dillingham with Jalen Brunson, since both are undersized scoring guards, but the Knicks might not be in the market for a new starter, anyway.
Instead, they could see real value in finding someone who can keep the offense humming when Brunson needs a breather.
TRADE at 9. Houston Rockets (via Grizzlies): Cody Williams, SF/PF, Colorado
9 of 30
While the Houston Rockets could be in the market for an instant upgrade, they should be careful about going all-in too quickly.
So, a deal like our hypothetical one could be perfect, since Houston would get a ready-made veteran contributor like Marcus Smart, who previously played for head coach Ime Udoka in Boston, and still be able to grow its young nucleus with Cody Williams.
The brother of Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Jalen Williams, Cody pairs significant scoring upside with top-shelf defensive tools. If he bulks up, there won't be many defensive assignments that give Williams major issues.
His off-ball scoring could shine in Space City, as he could feast on the chances created by Fred VanVleet and Alperen Şengün. Williams looks like a plug-and-play role player at worst with an outside shot at becoming an all-purpose big wing.
10. Utah Jazz: Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite
10 of 30
The Utah Jazz's decision with the 10th pick will be telling. If they really want to build around Lauri Markkanen, as The Athletic's Tony Jones reported, then they could look toward a polished prospect who can contribute from opening night.
Skepticism regarding that approach remains warranted, especially after Utah made big upside swings with Taylor Hendricks (No. 9) and Keyonte George (No. 16) at last year's draft. The Jazz could bet big on potential here, too, with Ron Holland, the No. 1 prospect on the latest big board from B/R's Jonathan Wasserman.
Holland didn't have a great year with the G League Ignite, but he's an 18-year-old with athleticism, an elite motor and sky-high potential on defense. He needs to buff up his shooting and decision-making, but Utah can probably afford to wait longer than some think. (More on that later.)
11. Chicago Bulls: Ja'Kobe Walter, SG/SF, Baylor
11 of 30
The Chicago Bulls are, on paper at least, built to win with offense, but they just finished 19th in offensive rating and 21st in true shooting. They have to up their scoring and spacing, and that's regardless of what happens with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.
Ja'Kobe Walter was inconsistent during his lone season at Baylor, but that did little to lower his sky-high ceiling on offense. If developed right, he could become a knockdown outside shooter with enough shake to separate himself and enough strength to finish through contact.
TRADE at 12. Utah Jazz (via Thunder): Stephon Castle, SG, Connecticut
12 of 30
Utah Jazz receive: Josh Giddey, Ousmane Dieng, No. 12 pick, 2025 first-round pick (their own), 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via MIA), 2028 first-round pick swap (via DAL) and 2029 first-round pick swap
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Lauri Markkanen
There may not be much Lauri Markkanen trade speculation originating from Salt Lake City, but there's a reason it exists virtually everywhere else. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is right in the heart of his prime, and a lot of his teammates are nowhere close to their own.
He also needs a new (and enormous) contract by next summer, and the Jazz may be too far away from being competitive to justify that cost.
So, instead Utah could handle Markkanen's exit the same way it did Donovan Mitchell's and Rudy Gobert's: by turning him into a pile of draft picks and prospects. Josh Giddey's size and playmaking could make him a fun fit with Keyonte George, and if Ousmane Dieng ever develops, he could become the big, two-way wing this roster needs to come together.
The Jazz could further their rebuilding effort here with Stephon Castle, who just filled a starting spot for the national champion Huskies as a teenaged freshman. He is a tenacious defender who can attack downhill and make things happen as a secondary playmaker.
13. Sacramento Kings: Tyler Smith, PF, G League Ignite
13 of 30
It wouldn't be shocking to hear Sacramento entertaining offers for this pick given that its two best players—De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis—are right in their primes. In certain drafts, it might be worth it to move the pick for immediate assistance, but since this talent grab is pretty lowly regarded, this isn't one of them.
So, the Kings keep the pick and try finding a long-term fit to pair with Sabonis and Keegan Murray in the frontcourt. If Sacramento sees Tyler Smith playing passable defense at this level, then it could easily be drawn to his combination of size (6'11") and spacing.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via Warriors): Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet
14 of 30Even if the Blazers want to field a more competitive club, they shouldn't be conservative with both of their lottery picks. So, after grabbing a relatively sure thing earlier with Knecht, they swing big for upside here with 18-year-old Tidjane Salaun.
He's only slightly less raw than freshly plucked produce, but there are plenty of physical tools and flashes of two-way stardom. If properly polished, he could be a three-and-D wing who can create for himself and his teammates.
TRADE at 15. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Heat): Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
15 of 30
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pick No. 15, 2030 first-round pick and 2029 first-round pick swap
Miami Heat receive: Donovan Mitchell
Doesn't it feel like as soon as the curtain drops on Cleveland's playoff run, we could hear rumblings of Donovan Mitchell wanting out of Northeast Ohio? The Heat surely hope so, as their annual itch for a half-court creator has never been scratched.
Move Mitchell to South Beach and give coach Erik Spoelstra a healthy roster, and Miami would be right in the middle of next season's championship chase.
Losing Mitchell would sting for Cleveland, but the hurt would only be temporary. With time, it's possible the Cavaliers put their roster in an even better position to contend. Tyler Herro could share the scoring load with Darius Garland, Jaime Jaquez Jr. could be the connector this wing rotation has long been without and the draft assets could be used in future deals whenever this core signals it's time to cash in those chips.
As for Isaiah Collier, he's a 6'5" playmaker who could get real interesting in a hurry if he found consistency with his outside shot and decision-making.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Tristan da Silva, SF/PF, Colorado
16 of 30
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Tristan da Silva, SF/PF, Colorado
The Sixers have one of the league's top tandems in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, plus the cap space and trade chips needed to potentially expand their star collection this offseason.
They will, of course, need reliable role players around them, and Tristan da Silva should arrive with a high enough floor to snag a rotation spot early on, if not right away.
He has such a glue-guy game, it's surprising that he wasn't able to land an NIL deal with Elmer's while serving as a walking adhesive in Boulder. During his final season with the Buffaloes, he posted a 49.3/39.5/83.5 shooting slash with per-40-minutes averages of 18.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 combined steals and blocks.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
17 of 30
The Lakers may not have this pick, as the New Orleans Pelicans have until June 1 to decide whether they want this selection or if they'll wait to receive L.A.'s 2025 first-rounder instead. Even if the Pelicans defer, L.A. still might not make this pick, as it could be shopped around amid the team's search for a third star.
If the Lakers keep it, then Kel'el Ware could deepen this frontcourt and open more possibilities to play super-big with Anthony Davis at power forward, since Ware has flashed some long-range shooting ability. He'd also be an impact rim-runner with enough length and hops to finish lobs at one end and erase shots at the other.
18. Orlando Magic: Jaylon Tyson, SF/PF, California
18 of 30
Given Orlando's longstanding need for shooting, there could be temptation to reach on a spacer here. This feels too early for the remaining perimeter specialists, though, so the Magic could grab Jaylon Tyson for his shot-creation and defensive versatility while hoping his three-point shot continues perking up.
Tyson never shot the three-ball with much volume in college, but his 37.8 percent splash rate and 77.8 free-throw percentage over the past two seasons both give reasons to believe he'll be a plus-spacer at some point.
19. Toronto Raptors (via Pacers): Jared McCain, PG/SG, Duke
19 of 30
The Raptors might not be thrilled about sliding back at the lottery and therefore losing their top-six-protected pick to San Antonio, but having Jared McCain make it to the 19th spot might help cushion the blow.
The 6'3" combo guard needed a little time to find his footing at Duke, but by season's end he was routinely shredding opposing defenses. Over the 16 games he played between February and March, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 47.1 percent overall and 42.7 percent from distance.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Johnny Furphy, SF, Kansas
20 of 30
If Cleveland shifts focus forward with a Donovan Mitchell deal, then it could add Johnny Furphy here and have fun finding all kinds of uses for his ignitable outside shot.
While it's unclear what else he'll offer at the next level, his willingness to play a role could allow him to carve additional niches as an open-floor finisher, an energetic rebounder and a serviceable team defender.
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via Bucks): Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence
21 of 30
This could be a busy summer for the Pelicans, who reportedly plan to "aggressively explore" Brandon Ingram's trade market, per NBA insider Marc Stein. If New Orleans winds up reshaping its supporting cast around Zion Williamson, then beefing up the backcourt should be a priority.
Devin Carter can help with that. He is a pesky, persistent on-ball defender who doesn't mind doing dirty work (8.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this past season) and showed plenty of promise with his perimeter shot (career-highs of 84 triples and a 37.7 three-point percentage).
22. Phoenix Suns: Yves Missi, C, Baylor
22 of 30
The top-heavy Suns really need to hope they find a rotation player with this pick, so it could make sense to target more of a niche role player.
That's potentially underselling Yves Missi if he continues developing his face-up game, but he feels most likely to wind up as a bouncy big who keeps active around (and above) the rim but doesn't contribute much away from it.
That should be fine for Phoenix, which needs a better change-of-pace option behind Jusuf Nurkić. If the Suns ever need some extra zip, Missi could be their accelerator.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans): DaRon Holmes II, C, Dayton
23 of 30
With Brook Lopez on the wrong side of 36 and approaching his final season under contract, the Bucks should probably start thinking about finding his successor. DaRon Holmes II isn't quite as big (6'10", 235 lbs), but he potentially brings a similar blend of shot-blocking and shot-making that could make him a frontcourt fit with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Holmes should be a helpful paint protector and rebounder, but shooting will be his swing skill. He splashed 38.6 percent of his threes this past season, but the volume wasn't great (2.5 attempts per game) and neither was his free-throw shooting (71.3 percent, which was actually a career-high by a wide margin).
TRADE at 24. San Antonio Spurs (via Knicks): Kyshawn George, SG/SF, Miami
24 of 30
With the Spurs having acquired an established star in Trae Young in this mock already, they could swing for some upside in this spot. Kyshawn George offers plenty of it as a wing-sized (6'8", 205 lbs) playmaker.
As a secondary ball-mover, George could turn ball reversals into drive-and-kick chances. When away from the ball, his 40.8 percent three-point shooting has a chance to shine.
TRADE at 25. San Antonio Spurs (via Knicks): Payton Sandfort, SF, Iowa
25 of 30
If the Spurs plan to pick apart opponents with a Trae Young-Victor Wembanyama two-man game, then they'll need as many shooters around them to keep defenses honest. Payton Sandfort is one of the best in this class.
There aren't many layers to his skill set, but he doesn't necessarily need them as a 6'7" swingman with a fiery outside shot. He drilled 94 threes at a 37.9 percent clip this past season, and his smooth, repeatable mechanics suggest there's room for that accuracy to improve.
26. Washington Wizards (via Clippers): Pacome Dadiet, SF/PF, Ratiopharm Ulm
26 of 30
If the Wizards aren't swinging for the fences here, they're probably doing it wrong. Pacome Dadiet offers arguably as much as any prospect still on the board.
The 6'8" Frenchman won't turn 19 until after the draft, and he's already shown comfort shooting both off the catch and on the move. With more time for his game and body to mature, he could also be a pliable defender and connector-type distributor.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
27 of 30
While the Timberwolves gave Mike Conley a two-year extension in February, they have yet to clear things up regarding their plans behind him. Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin both have unrestricted free agency awaiting them, as does part-time playmaker Kyle Anderson.
Given the positional need and Minnesota's prominent place in the NBA hierarchy, the Timberwolves can eschew some upside and instead target a proven producer like Tyler Kolek. He is undersized (6'3") and not at all explosive, but he has a great feel for the game, a typically reliable outside shot and a craftiness to free himself from bigger, more athletic defenders.
28. Denver Nuggets: Kyle Filipowski, PF/C, Duke
28 of 30
The Nuggets won't leave a hole in their rotation behind Nikola Jokić forever, right? Kyle Filipowski could be a fascinating candidate for the job.
The skilled 7-footer offers a little of everything on offense, whether that's handling and distributing or shooting and post-scoring. He'll need to get stronger to hold his own on the interior, but his ability to pull defenders away from it already has value.
29. Utah Jazz (via Thunder): Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Africa Academy
29 of 30
Utah continues its youth movement with its third first-round pick of this mock. Ulrich Chomche might be the furthest away from contributing at the NBA level, but the Lauri Markkanen-less Jazz would have all the time in the world to wait and see what this 18-year-old (until December!) could become.
Chomche is essentially a 6'11", 225-pound blank canvas, but his combination of length, mobility and quickness could lead to some really high-end outcomes. There is a rough outline of a shot-blocker with shooting touch and a pinch of passing here.
30. Boston Celtics: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
30 of 30
Despite being the best player in men's college basketball for two years running, Zach Edey must wait until the final selection to sneak into the first round. There are real questions regarding how his game will translate to the modern NBA, but at a certain point, it's hard to ignore his blend of size (7'4", 300 lbs) and skill.
He'll be constantly pulled away from the basket by opposing offenses, but the Celtics—who need all the reliable depth they can get behind the oft-injured Kristaps Porziņģis and soon-to-be 38-year-old Al Horford—will hope Edey can get that production back and then some with his soft touch, passing out of the post and hints of shooting range.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference and NBA.com.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.
.jpg?w=600 "NFL Draft Day 3 Grades 🔠")
.jpg?w=600 "Undrafted Free Agent Tracker ✍️")
.jpg?w=600 "Full Bryce Young Trade Return 🔁")