NBA Draft 2024: Latest Mock Predictions from Industry Experts After NBA Finals

With the 2024 NBA Finals now in the history books, the collective attention of the hoops world can shift over to the upcoming draft.

For a lot of franchises, their attention has been there for a while.

Regardless what people think about this draft—some are, admittedly, very low on it—history says it will deliver stars, solid starters and at least a decent number of helpful role players. There is plenty of production to be found for the front offices that know the right places to look.

With draft buzz building, let's dig into three recent expert mocks—from B/R's Jonathan Wasserman, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie and ESPN's tandem of Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo—to get a better grasp on what's to come.

Disagreements Start at the Very Top

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 6: Zaccharie Risacher #17 participates in a drill during the 2024 NBA Treviso Draft Combine on June 6, 2024 in Treviso, Italy. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Gioele Mason/NBAE via Getty Images)

In most draft cycles, the No. 1 pick would be established by now—or usually long before now, actually. But this is not one of those drafts.

While Wasserman and the ESPN crew both mocked French forward Zaccharie Risacher to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1, Vecenie instead has them taking UConn center Donovan Clingan:

"One reason: Clingan is the name I have heard linked with the Hawks most often over this past week. He wouldn't be the sexiest pick, but would fill a few objectives for Atlanta. Firstly, the organization has not yet shown any indication of rebuilding, so it might prefer to select a player who can fit with its roster sooner rather than later. Secondly, coach Quin Snyder had success in Utah building around an elite big man screener and rim protector in Rudy Gobert. Clingan, who impressed in a recent workout for Atlanta, would provide the Hawks a potentially dominant interior presence and high-character big locked up for the near term."

Clingan, for context, was the No. 6 pick (to the Charlotte Hornets) for Wasserman and the No. 7 selection (to the Portland Trail Blazers) for the ESPN crew.

Vecenie left Risacher on the board until the No. 4 pick, where he joined Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. According to Vecenie, experts have questions surrounding every top prospect in this class. For Risacher, specifically, it's about whether he possesses "significant athletic upside," while the worries with Clingan are if he "can stay on the court in the playoffs."

Still Some Agreements Within the Top 5, Though

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Alex Sarr of the Wildcats warms up before game one of the NBL Semifinal series between Perth Wildcats and Tasmania Jackjumpers at RAC Arena, on March 08, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

While these experts don't agree on how the draft will start, they do align on three of the first five picks.

All three have French big man Alex Sarr being snatched up by the Washington Wizards at No. 2. In Woo's opinion, Washington "has the runway available to be patient with Sarr's development, making it a strong fit for him—and vice versa—on paper."

They all went the same direction at No. 3, too, with the Houston Rockets grabbing sharpshooter Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky. Wasserman cautioned that the Rockets could move this pick, but feels that if they don't, they "should love what Reed Sheppard brings to their rotation: elite shooting, passing and intangibles/character that scouts and executives praised after interviewing him at the NBA combine."

Finally, they all agreed on the Detroit Pistons taking 6'9" swingman Matas Buzelis from the G League Ignite. Vecenie called this pick "a key swing spot in the draft," but noted Buzelis fits the "bigger wing" profile that the New Orleans Pelicans often sought out when new Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon was part of their front office.

But What About Bronny?

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Bronny James warms up during the 2024 NBA Combine on May 15, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

While time only knows whether all of this predraft focus on Bronny James will be warranted, the fact he comes from NBA royalty—his father, as you surely already know, is LeBron James—means that attention will never go away.

So, it makes sense to see what the experts think about the King's firstborn.

All three have the same idea: The Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron's current employer (provided he picks up his player option or inks out a new deal with the team), taking Bronny with the No. 55 pick.

Vecenie and the ESPN crew made their second-round predictions without analysis added, but Wasserman shared his thoughts. He noted that teams "sound certain" about whether James will be drafted, but wrote that the Lakers "remain the popular guess as to his most likely destination." In Wasserman's eyes, "passing [on Bronny] at No. 55 would signal to LeBron how little the team thinks of Bronny."