The 2024 first-round NBA draft just concluded. A few trades happened, but none involved any major names in the league. With this draft labeled as a “weak” one compared to other classes, it was generally expected that teams would be hesitant to make some blockbuster deals to improve their roster construction.
The fun just started for all 30 prospects in the first round who got their names called by the NBA’s Commissioner, Adam Silver, on draft night. However, with talent across the board evenly spread out, many teams had questionable picks as the night went on.
Here are the final grades for all 30 NBA first-round picks from the 2024 draft.
Which teams had the highest grade after the first round of the 2024 NBA draft?
1. Atlanta Hawks – F Zaccharie Risacher (B)
With Alex Sarr refusing to work out with the Hawks leading to the draft, they had no choice but to select Risacher at first. It’s still a solid pick for Atlanta at one, but it’s a far cry from having a franchise cornerstone in the likes of Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembanyama. They had the chance to trade down, but the offers were likely unappealing for them, leading to the draft.
2. Washington Wizards – C Alex Sarr (B+)
This is where Sarr wanted to be, and he got his wish after refusing to work out with the Hawks. Many pundits were high on him because of his impressive showing against the G-League Ignite team months ago, in which he dominated. He is a good shot blocker for his size but lacks the physicality to bang up against bigger, stronger players. His three-point shot still needs some major improvement.
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3. Houston Rockets – G Reed Sheppard (A+)
The Rockets had some preliminary interest in UConn’s Donovan Clingan but ultimately went on to select Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard as the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The lights-out shooter and playmaker will inevitably play behind Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green in Houston but will have the chance to shine on a nightly basis if he performs above expectations.
4. San Antonio Spurs – G Stephon Castle (A-)
Castle played either the two or three spot at UConn, so the fit with the Spurs is a little bit blurry. But the team gets an A- here, as he is an exceptional player who fits perfectly well with the SA’s rebuild. They don’t need another franchise player, as they currently have Victor Wembanyama in the fold. San Antonio just needs a player who has tons of potential to evolve into a star, and Stephon Castle can be that guy in the future.
5. Detroit Pistons – F Ron Holland (C)
For a team that needs additional shooting, it’s quite baffling that they added a non-shooter in the 2024 NBA draft. To be fair, Ron Holland was once projected as the number one overall pick in this year’s class, but after a so-so showing with the G-League Ignite, the questions about his inconsistency just became louder and louder. Can he contribute to the Pistons starting from day one?
6. Charlotte Hornets – F Tidjane Salaun (A-)
Tidjane Salaun could be the steal of this draft. At just 18 years old, he already has the body of an NBA power forward. The Hornets need all the help they can get right now to escape mediocrity, and helping Salaun develop into a great player might be their best chance for playoff success in the future. He can shoot the threes, run the floor, and finish at the rim.
7. Portland Trail Blazers – C Donovan Clingan (A)
UConn’s Donovan Clingan had some serious interest as the top overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, with teams picking in the top three. It’s quite surprising that he fell to the Blazers at the 7th spot. He was a defensive behemoth in college and a great lob threat. His three-point shot needs development, but he’ll get there sooner rather than later.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (trade with Spurs) – G Rob Dillingham (C+)
The Wolves made a surprising trade here with the Spurs in order to draft Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham. While Dillingham’s offensive game is impressive, the same thing can’t be said about him when it comes to his defense. This is a high-risk, high-reward selection for the Wolves in the 2024 NBA draft, but they badly want to have a secondary creator on the team aside from Anthony Edwards.
9. Memphis Grizzlies – C Zach Edey (A-)
Edey’s early selection here surprised everyone. The Grizzlies wanted Clingan but fully understood that he may not fall into their laps at the ninth spot. The team needs a rim-protecting center to ease Jaren Jackson Jr.’s burden in the paint, and Edey should be the perfect fit for them moving forward. He finishes well around the basket and is an elite screener off the pick-and-roll, which Ja Morant will quickly exploit against opposing teams.
10. Utah Jazz – F Cody Williams (B)
Williams is another high-risk, high-reward selection in the 2024 NBA draft class. He is a good perimeter shooter and has the range to extend beyond the three-point line. He’s a good defender too. The only issue with him was his lack of an alpha mentality on the court, which is a huge contrast to his brother, OKC’s Jalen Williams.
11. Chicago Bulls – F Matas Buzelis (A)
Buzelis displayed a number of emotions when his name was called by Adam Silver as the newest member of the Chicago Bulls. A Chicago native, Buzelis gets a chance to play for his hometown and prove all his critics wrong. He was perceived as a top-five talent in this year’s class. His game needs some work, but the intangibles are already there.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – G Nikola Topic (A-)
This was a logical pick for the Thunder. Topic will certainly redshirt his first year in the league due to the ACL tear he suffered nearly a month ago. OKC can be patient with his recovery and become a solid contributor for them next year. He was widely viewed as a top-five talent in this draft class before his injury. Topic is a big floor general who can pass and score at the NBA level.
13. Sacramento Kings – G Devin Carter (B)
Devin, the son of former 13-year veteran Anthony Carter, has some NBA pedigree in his genes. He is ready to contribute to the Kings’ push for a playoff spot next season. With Davion Mitchell getting traded, expect Carter to run the point with Malik Monk as his running mate in the second unit. The Kings will have the most athletic back-up backcourt tandem in the league next season.
14. Washington Wizards (trade with Blazers) – G Carlton Carrington (B+)
Nobody expected Pittsburgh’s Bub Carrington to be a one-and-done prospect a year ago. But his strong play in college suggested otherwise. The Wizards get their floor general of the future in the 2024 NBA draft with Carrington in the fold. He was also one of the youngest prospects in the draft and is oozing with potential.
15. Miami Heat – C Kel’el Ware (C+)
This is quite a baffling pick for Miami. Ware certainly has all the tools to become a good rotation player, but his motor and love of the game are lacking in some areas. Plus, the team has Bam Adebayo playing at the center spot, which will spell inconsistent minutes for Ware next season and beyond. Perhaps the so-called “Heat Culture” could ignite his determination for the game.
16. Philadelphia 76ers – G Jared McCain (D+)
For personality traits, this would be a straight A, as McCain is one of the most popular prospects when it comes to social media followers. For fit? This is atrocious for the Sixers, especially when Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht is still on the board. McCain is a good player at Duke, but his development in the pros will be severely hampered as Tyrese Maxey will undoubtedly be the starting floor general for the Sixers for years to come and will play heavy minutes for the team.
17. Los Angeles Lakers – G Dalton Knecht (A+)
The Lakers couldn’t be happier that they landed a top-10 caliber player at the 17th spot in the 2024 NBA draft. Dalton Knecht is a hard worker and strives for perfection in his game. He may be one of the older prospects in this year’s class, but he is ready to compete for a starting spot for the Lakers next season. LA fans should rejoice as they truly got a steal here.
18. Orlando Magic – F Tristan da Silva (B-)
This pick makes sense for Orlando, as they are looking at a bigger playoff picture now rather than later. Tristan da Silva is one of the older prospects in this class, but he is ready to play 15 to 20 minutes for the team next season. If he bulks up a bit, he can play either forward spot, but for now, he’s a small forward. He is a good defender and has a decent three-point shot in his arsenal.
19. Toronto Raptors – G Ja’Kobe Walter (C+)
With RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick on the roster, selecting another two-guard in the draft is somewhat of a disappointment for Raptors fans. They needed a big man to help Jakob Poeltl in the paint or at least a backup point guard who could stabilize Quickley’s inconsistency. Walter has garnered some late lottery buzz leading into the 2024 NBA draft, and there’s a chance he’ll outplay either Dick or Barrett to get some playing time next season.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers – G Jaylon Tyson (C-)
California’s Jaylon Tyson needs the ball in his hands to be effective on the court. With Cleveland having Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell dominating the ball, Tyson will have a hard time scoring and facilitating for the team in the upcoming season. If he somehow adjusts his game and becomes a spot-up shooter, maybe he can crack the Cavs’ rotation.
21. New Orleans Pelicans – C Yves Missi (A-)
Some say that Missi is two years away from contributing on an NBA court, and they may be right or wrong on their take. What’s clear now is that he has the potential to become a DeAndre Jordan type of player once he develops his game with the Pelicans. Missi had some fans from several teams picking in the 15 to 20 range leading into the 2024 NBA draft, and that will tell you of his potential as a player down the road.
22. Denver Nuggets (trade with Suns) – C DaRon Holmes II (B+)
It’s an open secret that the Nuggets coveted Dayton’s DaRon Holmes leading into the draft, and they made a deal with the Suns as it became more apparent that he wouldn’t be available for them at the 28th spot. Holmes has a chance to contribute right away for the Nuggets next season as either Nikola Jokic or Aaron Gordon’s backup. He really improved his game after going back to Dayton for his junior season.
23. Milwaukee Bucks – G AJ Johnson (D-)
Johnson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school last year and played in Australia’s NBL instead of going to college. This was such a baffling pick for the Bucks, as they needed a player who could contribute immediately for them, with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo still in their primes. Johnson is a good prospect to develop, but they could have had Duke’s Kyle Filipowski to back up the aging Brook Lopez at the center spot next season.
24. Washington Wizards (trade with Knicks) – G Kyshawn George (C-)
The busiest team on draft night, the Wizards made a deal with the Knicks to select Kyshawn George at the 24th spot. They now have three young players selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft. While George was a good player for the Hurricanes last season, he still has a long way to go in order to be productive in the league. This could be a hit or miss for the Wizards in the future.
25. New York Knicks – G Pacome Dadiet (D)
After going all-in with Miles Bridges before the draft in a bid to become a legitimate contender in the East, the Knicks fumbled it by selecting a player who will likely be stashed for another year in Europe. Dadiet isn’t ready to play in the NBA now, and this is a long-term play for the Knicks. They should have selected Duke’s Kyle Filipowski as an assurance pick in the event of failing to re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a hefty contract this offseason.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (trade with Knicks) – F Dillon Jones (C+)
OKC traded away five future second-round picks to select Dillon Jones out of Weber State. The senior forward probably impressed the organization during his workout with them, as they sacrificed a ton of assets for this selection. Jones can still impact the game without touching the ball, and the Thunder value those traits seriously.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves – G Terrence Shannon Jr. (B+)
Shannon Jr. was one of the best college players last season and could score at all three levels. His draft stock slipped because of the legal woes off the court he had to endure before the 2024 NBA draft and his age, too, as a prospect(he turns 24 before next season). He will get his opportunity to shine with the Wolves as he is ready to contribute to them right from the get-go.
29. Phoenix Suns (trade with Nuggets) – F Ryan Dunn (A-)
While the Suns could have selected Marquette’s Tyler Kolek here to help with their point guard woes, Ryan Dunn is not a bad selection either. With all the firepower this team has on the offensive end, they need a solid defender at a low price to help them contend next season. Dunn was one of the best defensive players in college last season, and he could bring his relentless hustle to this team on a nightly basis.
29. Utah Jazz – G Isaiah Collier (B)
At this late in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft, this selection would not fit the high-risk, high-reward label. However, this is a huge fall for USC’s Isaiah Collier, who was once projected to be a top-three pick in this year’s class a year ago. He is a power guard who can pass the rock with ease, but his turnovers and shooting woes from the three were exposed at the college level last season. Still, the upside to becoming a solid contributor is there for him as the newest member of this up-and-coming Jazz team.
30. Boston Celtics – F Baylor Scheireman (A+)
The rich just got richer. Creighton’s Baylor Scheireman is a great fit for this Celtics team in their title defense. He’s a very good shooter who can create his own shot and is a great rebounder at his size. He won’t be tasked to do much with a stacked team like Boston but due to his high IQ on the court, don’t be surprised if he gets to play between 10 to 15 minutes per game for them next season.
