The 2024 NBA Draft is done, and aside from a couple of veterans changing teams, most transactions on draft night involved future pick swaps and acquiring more assets in the future for most NBA teams. With the second-round selections over, we can now assess the grades for each team and how their new players will help them next season.
Here’s a fun fact before we start: Around 25% of second-round picks will never get a chance to step foot on an NBA court, and only 26% of them go on to sign a second contract in the league.
This is the final 2024 draft grades for all 30 NBA teams after the two-day festivities.
Which teams had the highest grades after the conclusion of the 2024 NBA Draft?
Atlanta Hawks: B+
Round 1: Zaccharie Risacher (1)
Round 2: Nikola Durisic (43)
The Hawks made it clear that they are comfortable in developing Risacher’s potential as a player. It remains to be seen if the French forward will become a star in the league, but he has the intangibles to get there. Durisic is a 6-foot-8 wing who can provide some toughness in the perimeter for Atlanta.
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Boston Celtics: A-
Round 1: Baylor Scheierman (30)
Round 2: Anton Watson (54)
The already-stacked Boston roster doesn’t need much, but it ended up with two seniors after draft night. Scheierman was one of the best players in the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages and could essentially earn minutes next season for the Celtics. Gonzaga’s Watson was a good defender in college at the post.
Brooklyn Nets: D
Round 1: None
Round 2: None
The Nets did not have a single selection in the 2024 NBA Draft and did not attempt to acquire a pick who can help their rebuild. They just elected to sit this one out after trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. It’s hard to fathom that they did not like one single prospect in this year’s class and traded at least a few of their future assets to acquire a pick.
Charlotte Hornets: A
Round 1: Tidjane Salaun (6)
Round 2: KJ Simpson (42)
The Hornets get an A grade solely because they selected young French phenom Tidjane Salaun. If they develop him correctly, he could be the steal of this draft. This team also needed a backup point guard and got it with KJ Simpson in the second round. The future finally looks bright on this often mediocre Hornets team.
Chicago Bulls: A-
Round 1: Matas Buzelis
Round 2: None
Drafting a top-five talent like Buzelis at the 11th spot of the 2024 NBA Draft is a win for Chicago. Although his three-point shot needs some work, Buzelis is already an elite player off the dribble and could drive to the basket with ease due to his 6-foot-9 frame. Plus, he’s super pumped up as he’s going to play for his hometown during his rookie season in the league.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C-
Round 1: Jaylon Tyson (20)
Round 2: None
Although California’s Jaylon Tyson was one of the elite scorers in this draft, he needs the ball to thrive on offense. With Garland and Mitchell still in the Cavs, his opportunity to display his offensive arsenal will be severely limited. They could have opted for a wing at this position who can defend and shoot threes. This was a baffling pick for the franchise.
Dallas Mavericks: B-
Round 1: None
Round 2: Melvin Ajinca (51)
The Mavs don’t have a first-round draft pick due to the plethora of trades they’ve done in the past to surround Luka Doncic with enough talent to compete for a championship. They moved up the board from 58 to 51 to get Melvin Ajinca from France. The small forward has some game and NBA potential, but he will likely end up as a draft and stash player for now. They could have gone for Bronny to entice LeBron to Dallas, but Rich Paul reportedly threatened teams not to draft him as they have their eyes set on the Lakers.
Denver Nuggets: B
Round 1: DaRon Holmes II (22)
Round 2: None
The Nuggets desperately wanted Holmes after his workout with them. They traded up from 28 to 22 in order to get him in the 2024 NBA Draft. At 6 foot 9, Holmes improved as a three-point shooter during his junior year at Dayton. He also has a decent post-up game in his arsenal.
Detroit Pistons: C-
Round 1: Ron Holland (5)
Round 2: Bobi Klintman (37)
Detroit badly needed shooters but went on to draft non-shooters in the draft with Holland and Klintman. Ron Holland only shot 24% percent behind the arc during his lone season with the G-League Ignite. The only silver lining is that Holland is still 18 and still has room to grow. Klintman shows promise on both ends of the floor, but at 21 years old, it’s quite a red flag that he’s still considered a developing prospect.
Golden State Warriors: C-
Round 1: None
Round 2: Quinten Post (52)
With Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney still on the roster, it’s quite baffling that the Dubs added another big man in the draft. Post is a senior out of Boston College. He can run the floor well but will inevitably spend some time in the G-League next season due to the logjam at the team’s frontcourt.
Houston Rockets: A+
Round 1: Reed Sheppard (3)
Round 2: None
The Rockets won here after staying put and drafting Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard. The team needs additional shooting, and with an insane 52% clip from three in college, Sheppard will undoubtedly help them in that department. He could become the team’s starting point guard if they decide to move on from Fred VanVleet a few years from now.
Indiana Pacers: A
Round 1: None
Round 2: Johnny Furphy (35), Tristen Newton (49), Enrique Freeman (50)
There’s no doubt that the Pacers were the biggest winners on the second day of the 2024 NBA Draft. Furphy is a first-round talent who slipped in the second round. Newton is a proven winner at UConn, and Freeman went from literally no offers from any Division I school to being a legitimate prospect at Akron.
Los Angeles Clippers: B+
Round 1: None
Round 2: Cam Christie (46)
Cam Christie, the younger brother of Lakers guard Max Christie, generated some first-round buzz leading into the draft. But at just 18, don’t expect him to play much next season for the Clippers. Still, a potential first-rounder at 46 is a tremendous outcome for the Clippers. This is a pick for the future, and most pundits consider his upside as a shooting guard high.
Los Angeles Lakers: A+
Round 1: Dalton Knecht (17)
Round 2: Bronny James (55)
Knecht’s slide from a potential top-ten pick to the 17th spot is a blessing for the Lakers. They need players who can help them win now, and the Tennessee guard checks all the boxes for them. He was the best scorer in the SEC, and opposing teams even designed their game plan to slow him down. Selecting Bronny James at the latter part of the second round is just the icing on the cake. Nepotism or not, fans will tune in to see the first father and son duo play on an NBA court together next season.
Memphis Grizzlies: A
Round 1: Zach Edey (9)
Round 2: Jaylen Wells (39), Cam Spencer (53)
Why is Edey getting a ton of hate after his high selection? He was a two-time National College Player of the Year at Purdue. He thoroughly outplayed UConn’s Donovan Clingan in their matchup. He was better statistically than Clingan in various NBA Draft Combine tests. This was a good pick for the team. Wells and Spencer were good pickups in the second round as well. They know how to scout gems in the latter part of the draft. Just ask GG Jackson II.
Miami Heat: B-
Round 1: Kel’el Ware (15)
Round 2: Pelle Larsson (44)
Ware’s selection is quite baffling, especially with Bam Adebayo manning the center spot for the Heat in the foreseeable future. His motor and love for the game were questioned leading into the 2024 NBA Draft. However, Larsson is a great value pick for them at 44, as he was a great shooter during his time in Arizona.
Milwaukee Bucks: D+
Round 1: AJ Johnson (23)
Round 2: Tyler Smith (33)
AJ Johnson’s surprise selection at 23 was a head-scratcher as Milwaukee needed players who could contribute immediately with their championship window still open. He needs at least a couple of years to develop and become a contributor at the NBA level. They somehow salvaged it by selecting Tyler Smith early in the second round, who could play behind the aging Brook Lopez next season.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B-
Round 1: Rob Dillingham (8), Terrence Shannon Jr. (27)
Round 2: None
While Rob Dillingham is one of the best shot creators in this draft class, his small stature will be exploited by guys at the NBA level. Can the Wolves hide him on the defensive side of the court? Shannon Jr. was one of the best scorers in college last season and was considered a late-lottery talent leading into the 2024 NBA Draft. This team drafted a couple of guys who can possibly take the pressure off of Anthony Edwards on offense.
New Orleans Pelicans: A-
Round 1: Yves Missi (21)
Round 2: Antonio Reeves (47)
The Pelicans addressed their needs at the center position by drafting Yves Missi from Baylor. He’s an extremely raw prospect but holds immense potential to grow into a DeAndre Jordan-type of player down the line. Reeves is an explosive athlete off the bounce and was a very good scorer at Kentucky.
New York Knicks: B
Round 1: Pacome Dadiet (25)
Round 2: Tyler Kolek (34), Kevin McCullar Jr. (56), Ariel Hukporti (58)
The Knicks needed to be creative with their draft selections, as they were limited in their spending after acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Nets. Dadiet at 25 was baffling as he is not ready to contribute any meaningful minutes for the Knicks next season. However, drafting Kolek and McCullar Jr. in the second round was a fantastic move from their front office. Hukporti has some upside as well, but he’ll be a draft and stash pick for them.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A-
Round 1: Nikola Topic (12), Dillon Jones (26)
Round 2: Ajay Mitchell (38)
This was a great draft for the Thunder. Nikola Topic might sit out next season to rehab his ACL injury, and they can afford him missing time due to their emergence as a threat in the West. Jones at 26 was kind of a question mark as they surrendered five future second-round selections to the Wizards to get into that spot. But he could ball, no doubt. Mitchell, at 38, was a great value pick as he could contribute right away to this up-and-coming franchise.
Orlando Magic: B-
Round 1: Tristan da Silva (18)
Round 2: None
The Magic addressed a need when they selected Colorado’s Tristan da Silva at the 18th spot in the 2024 NBA Draft. He can essentially play behind or alongside Franz Wagner next season. At already 23 years old, he’s ready to contribute now and help them go deep in the playoffs sooner rather than later.
Philadelphia 76ers: C+
Round 1: Jared McCain (16)
Round 2: Adem Bona (41)
While McCain was one of the best three-point shooters in college last season, his fit with this team is somewhat odd, as Tyrese Maxey is their undisputed point guard for years to come. Maybe Maxey will slide into the two spot and have McCain run the point for a few plays next season? Who knows. The addition of UCLA’s Adem Bona was widely seen as a plus, as he’s a great rim protector in college.
Phoenix Suns: B
Round 1: Ryan Dunn (28)
Round 2: Oso Ighodaro (40)
The Suns addressed their needs while maintaining some flexibility by selecting players who can contribute immediately, including defensive standout Ryan Dunn and physical big man Oso Ighodaro. Both will not be starting any time soon, but they could realistically play between 10 and 12 minutes next season in Phoenix.
Portland Trail Blazers: B+
Round 1: Donovan Clingan
Round 2: None
While selecting UConn’s Donovan Clingan will warrant an A+ grade, trading away draft picks for future assets and staying silent mostly in the draft ended in a perplexing night for Blazers fans. Clingan was a defensive behemoth in college, and his game will translate well into the pros. With three centers now on their roster, they are definitely going to shop either Ayton or Williams in the upcoming free-agency period.
Sacramento Kings: B
Round 1: Devin Carter (13)
Round 2: None
Carter is the best rebounding point guard in the 2024 NBA Draft. With the Kings trading away Davion Mitchell after draft night to free their logjam at the backcourt, expect Carter to contribute right away as a member of the Kings next season. Plus, he’s a solid defender despite only standing at 6 foot 3.
San Antonio Spurs: A+
Round 1: Stephon Castle (4)
Round 2: Juan Nunez (36), Harrison Ingram (48)
Even though the Spurs traded away their 8th pick to Minnesota in exchange for future assets, their draft night still ended with a huge win for the franchise. UConn’s Stephon Castle is mostly seen as a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander type of player, and his upside to becoming a star in the future is immense. Nunez is the second-best international point guard in the draft, and selecting him at 36 is a steal. Ingram is a glue guy and will be well-liked by their fans next season due to his motor and hustle plays.
Toronto Raptors: B
Round 1: Ja’Kobe Walter (19)
Round 2: Jonathan Mogbo (31), Jamal Shead (45), Ulrich Chomche (57)
While the selection of another guard, Ja’Kobe Walter, was puzzling due to the plethora of players who play a similar role on their roster, the Raptors’ front office made a smart choice by drafting Mogbo in the second round. Aside from Scottie Barnes and Jonathan Mogbo being very good friends, Mogbo is a first-round talent who slid in the second round. Shead is a tough point guard and could earn minutes as early as next season. Chomche is still years away from the NBA level and is a draft-and-stash prospect.
Utah Jazz: A
Round 1: Cody Williams (10), Isaiah Collier (29)
Round 2: Kyle Filipowski (32)
The Jazz managed to draft three players who were getting lottery-type buzz a few months before the 2024 NBA Draft. Williams is a high-risk, high-reward player, but if the organization develops him right, his ceiling will be similar to that of his older brother, OKC’s Jalen Williams. Collier was once considered a top-three pick a year ago before his inconsistent year at USC. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski generated some late lottery love on early mock drafts but fell in the second round due to the off-court drama surrounding his family and his girlfriend. If all of them pan out, Utah will be back in the playoff picture soon.
Washington Wizards: A
Round 1: Alex Sarr (2), Carlton Carrington (14), Kyshawn George (24)
Round 2: None
The Wizards are finally committed to their rebuild. Their three first-round selections are all under 20. Sarr was heavily considered the top overall pick in this year’s draft but set his sights on number two after refusing to work out with the Hawks. Carrington is a steal at 14 and has star potential. George was a good shooter during his lone season in college, but he needs to develop other facets of his game in order to contribute to the Wizards next year. Expect this team to stay busy in the upcoming offseason as they will try to unload their veterans to give these three young guys some playing time.
