2024 NBA Rookies Who Already Look Like Draft Steals After Preseason
The 2024 NBA draft wasn't the most heralded in recent memory, although we've seen a number of rookies already create some headlines during the preseason.
No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has shined, yet for this exercise we're more interested in potential hidden gems who have excelled so far. A "steal" should be someone selected outside of the lottery who's going to end up making his front office look incredibly smart.
Even though it's been a relatively small sample size thus far, the following five rookies have all far outplayed their draft spots.
Jaylon Tyson, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Draft Position: 1st Round, No. 20 overall
Every year, it seems like NBA teams pass on really good basketball players simply because of their age or time spent in college. We saw this last year when the Miami Heat were able to get 22-year-old Jaime Jaquez Jr. at No. 18 and 23-year-old Trayce Jackson-Davis fell all the way to the Golden State Warriors at No. 57.
This season, Jaylon Tyson already looks like the guy teams probably overthought.
He will be 22 in December and spent three years in college, ending up as the offensive focal point at California last year. After looking like one of the best players at summer league, his strong play has carried into the preseason.
In a pair of contests, Tyson has flashed his overall game, averaging 9.5 points on 53.8 percent shooting while chipping in 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in 20.3 minutes. He can serve as a primary scorer or facilitator, has knocked down in-your-face threes and showcased his ability as a cutter, something he didn't get the opportunity to do much last year.
It's his versatility that should earn the 6'6" Tyson a spot in the Cleveland Cavaliers' rotation immediately, joining players like Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang off the bench.
For a team like the Cavs that now has three players on max deals, getting Tyson at No. 20 overall is going to be a needed low-cost talent for the next four years.
Dillon Jones, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Draft Position: 1st Round, No. 26 overall
As if the Oklahoma City Thunder needed yet another good, young player to build around, Dillon Jones has thrived this preseason.
Built like a tight end at 6'5" and 235 pounds, he is averaging 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and is shooting 54.1 percent overall and 50.0 percent from three over 22.9 minutes in his four games.
The 22-year-old can make an impact in a number of roles after he previously led the entire Big Sky Conference in points, rebounds (twice), assists and steals. He moves surprisingly well for his size and is able to break down defenders off the dribble and use his frame to finish through contact inside.
For now, it's hard to see where Jones will crack the rotation on a loaded Thunder team, though. OKC already has a bench of Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams and others.
If the Thunder decide they need more size and strength off the bench, though, Jones will be ready.
Jaylen Wells, F, Memphis Grizzlies
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Draft Position: 2nd Round, No. 39 overall
Only No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has averaged more points among rookies who have played in multiple preseason games than Wells, who's currently putting up 15.3 points in 24.0 minutes for the Memphis Grizzlies.
This has been a pleasant surprise for Memphis, as the 21-year-old has been incredibly efficient from deep (45.5 percent on 5.5 attempts a game) while also averaging 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals over four games.
At 6'7", Wells brings some much-needed size to a Grizzlies wing that will see 6'5" Desmond Bane start at small forward. He's versatile enough to grab rebounds and bring the ball up the floor, and he can serve as a catch-and-shoot threat while keeping driving lanes open for Ja Morant.
Wells averaged 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and made 42.9 percent of his threes after being named a starter roughly halfway through last season at Washington State, and he has carried that momentum all the way to the preseason now.
Memphis could have the Rookie of the Year in Zach Edey and may have selected one of the draft's biggest steals in Wells in the second round.
Tyler Kolek, PG, New York Knicks
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Draft Position: 2nd Round, No. 34 overall
Tyler Kolek was projected by many to go in the first round of the 2024 draft, as the former Big East Player of the Year led his conference in assists three straight years.
Falling to the New York Knicks in the early part of the second was nothing short of a gift, especially with the guard depth now cut with Donte DiVincenzo headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
Kolek leads all rookies in assists per game (5.0) this preseason while also averaging 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and just 1.0 turnovers in 18.4 minutes. He's continued to work the pick-and-roll and shown no hesitation when open three-pointers present themselves.
The Knicks have one of the best starting lineups in all of basketball with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Towns, although there's not a lot of depth behind them.
Kolek, 23, could be a real contributor for the Knicks already this season, as his role will continue to be setting the table for others and keeping the offense afloat when Brunson needs a breather.
Ryan Dunn, F, Phoenix Suns
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Draft Position: 1st Round, No. 28 overall
How does arguably the best defender in all of college basketball nearly fall to the second round of the draft?
Ryan Dunn's lack of offense or any real shooting ability saw him slide to No. 28 overall after he went just 12-of-51 (23.5 percent) for his career on threes, averaging 5.5 points and 0.5 assists in two years at Virginia. A 52.5 percent success rate from the free-throw line didn't inspire confidence, either.
Now through four preseason games, he ranks second in made threes (12) among all rookies, firing shots up with extreme volume and efficiency.
The 21-year-old is averaging 11.0 points on 44.4 percent accuracy from three and has already hit the same amount of outside shots in four preseason games as he did in two years in college.
His preseason play has been highlighted by a 20-point performance against the Denver Nuggets where he knocked down six threes and stuffed a Russell Westbrook jumper, reminding us all of his elite defensive skills.
Dunn was already the Phoenix Suns' best perimeter defender the moment he was drafted. If he even becomes an average outside shooter, he could be the steal of the draft.
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