With the 2024 NBA Draft done, we can now scrutinize every selection each team has made throughout the two-day process. In contrast to the constant belittling of the talent of this class, there will be a bunch of them who are primed to enjoy a long career in the association.
For comparison, the 2000 draft class was widely perceived as the weakest class in the 2000s era but nonetheless produced gems like Kenyon Martin, Mike Miller, and Jamal Crawford. While it’s still anybody’s guess who will become a solid contributor among all the prospects in 2024, quite a few of them have flown under the radar during the draft process despite having immense potential to succeed at the NBA level.
These are the five absolute worst-value picks from the 2024 NBA Draft and the five greatest.
Which selections in the 2024 NBA Draft were highly valuable, and which ones were not?
Worst Value: Kel’el Ware
The 15th spot is quite a bit of reach for Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, even for Miami. Most mock drafts had him in the mid-20s leading to the draft. While some scouts are reportedly high on his game, a bunch of others are seriously questioning his motor and love for basketball.
Entering college in 2022, Ware was once considered a possible lottery pick in 2023. However, during his freshman year in Oregon, his playing time declined due to his inconsistent work ethic. He then transferred to Indiana to improve his stats, but the team only compiled a 19-14 record for the season. And the fit with Miami is questionable, considering that Bam Adebayo will command the bulk of minutes at center.
Great Value: Dalton Knecht
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It’s quite baffling that the SEC Player of the Year was dodged like a plague by cellar-dweller teams in the 2024 NBA Draft. Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht was arguably the best pure scorer in college last season and stepped up in big moments during March Madness a few months ago. At the 17 spot, the Lakers landed a great player who can help them win now, with LeBron James still playing at a high level.
Teams were allegedly scared that he’s already 23 years old and has a lower ceiling compared to other prospects. Well, I hate to break it to you, but a bunch of legends in history went on to have long, successful careers in the association even though they were older prospects when entering the NBA. Patrick Ewing, Kenyon Martin, and Dikembe Mutombo were all 23 or older by the time they were drafted into the league.
Worst Value: AJ Johnson
The Bucks needed a prospect who could help them win now, with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo still in their prime. However, the complete opposite happened when they made quite a gamble at 23, selecting unproven guard AJ Johnson, who spent a year in Australia’s NBL.
There is certainly potential for the young guard to improve his game at the NBA level, but the pick was a huge risk, considering his meager stats with NBL’s Illawarra Hawks – 2.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.7 APG and shooting just 37% on the floor. What’s puzzling is that nobody cared about him being selected this high, while Bronny James got a ton of flak while posting better numbers than Johnson while playing at USC. Many pundits had Johnson in the 40 to 50 range in most 2024 NBA mock drafts. If it weren’t for Milwaukee, Johnson would have ended up as a draft and stash selection by another team.
Great Value: Ryan Dunn
Grabbing Virginia’s Ryan Dunn at 28 is a win for Phoenix. The team’s payroll is one of the highest in the league, and their flexibility in signing quality players is severely limited. Dunn instantly provides relief in both their salary cap situation and the defensive side of the court. His offense may never come, but he was among the best defensive players in college last season, especially on-ball.
His three-point shot mechanics still require a lot of work, but there’s hope that he’ll improve on that end in the future. What he can provide right now for this Suns team is his relentless motor and hustle on defense.
Worst Value: Pacome Dadiet
Add this one to all the Knicks’ recent head-scratching picks within the last 20 years. Their front office truly loves selecting unheralded guys who need a ton of work to become NBA-quality players, but the truth is, only a few of them ever materialized on the hardcourt.
Why did they bother to select another young Frenchman like Dadiet if they failed to develop another French baller like Frank Ntilikina properly seven years ago? With their accelerated timeline to contention and Isaiah Hartenstein’s impending free agency, they needed a big one who could contribute next season, and Dadiet just presented an additional logjam at the forward spot for the Knicks.
Great Value: Johnny Furphy
Furphy was widely considered a first-round talent heading into the 2024 NBA Draft but inexplicably slid into the second round. He’s extremely young-looking and doesn’t offer much outside of shooting, but he’s a tough kid, having played Australian Rules Football during his teen years.
At 6 foot 9, he rebounded the ball well and was a great team player with Kansas last season. Furphy needs to bulk up at the NBA level in order to contribute consistently, but at the 35 spot in the second round, this was a steal for the Pacers organization. Don’t be surprised if he gets some playing time under head coach Rick Carlisle next season.
Worst Value: Jaylon Tyson
Three schools in three years? That’s quite a red flag in NBA circles. While his transfer from Texas Tech to California was justifiable after experiencing discriminatory remarks from former controversial head coach Mark Adams, it’s hard to wrap around our heads that Tyson managed to transfer and play basketball for a different team each year in college.
Worse, he’s probably going to be buried at the end of the Cavaliers’ bench. He needs the ball on his hands to be effective on the court, but with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Caris LeVert on the team, his potential to contribute right away will be highly unlikely.
Great Value: Zach Edey
Selecting Purdue star Zach Edey at nine was the biggest surprise of the night in the recently concluded 2024 NBA Draft. If social media was the judge, this selection was deemed a horrendous one for the Grizzlies.
Edey is one of the most highly debated prospects in recent years. He’s 7 foot 4 and has a great touch around the basket. However, due to today’s emphasis on shooting, his stature and lack of mobility are somewhat viewed as a liability. But plenty of non-shooting centers still thrive in the league today, such as Rudy Gobert, Daniel Gafford, Clint Capela, and Ivica Zubac. As a two-time National College Player of the Year, Edey will inevitably find his success in the NBA. Memphis now offers him a chance to start at center for them as early as next season.
Worst Value: Kyshawn George
The Washington elected to select three first-round prospects under the age of 20, which is the right choice for this struggling franchise going forward. While Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington are solid picks, it’s entirely hard to imagine that Kyshawn George will be able to supplant the position of Deni Avdija at small forward, which was recently vacated due to a trade with the Blazers.
While George flashed some potential during his lone season with the Miami Hurricanes, his production was limited, even though he was given a ton of chances to produce. Is his game better suited at the NBA level? Perhaps yes and no. He kind of slid into the draft after getting a ton of buzz after the lottery, especially in the 15 to 20 range.
Best Value: Bronny James
As the 55th pick, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum summed it up perfectly when he said that Bronny James is a “low-risk, high-reward” kind of player for the Lakers. The best-case scenario is that he’ll develop into a solid contributor for the Lakers sooner rather than later with the help of his father, LeBron James, who is now his teammate. If he doesn’t develop into a rotation player, at least the Lakers will sell enough tickets to fill up their arena, as people would want to see LeBron and his son play on the court at the same time.
Coming off a scary heart condition, it’s quite admirable that Bronny was able to suit up for USC last season despite posting so-so numbers on the court. It’s not just about the physical battle; it’s also about the mental aspect of it, especially after suffering a near-death experience at such a young age. Bronny James also impressed scouts during the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages. Plus, we can’t deny that he’s LeBron’s son. He has the genes to succeed at this level.
