NEW YORK — The primary spherical of the 2024 NBA draft produced anticipated outcomes − a pair of French gamers in Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, for instance, have been chosen within the first two picks.
However the first spherical additionally yielded picks that have been whole surprises, ones that drew audible reactions from the group in attendance right here on the Barclays Middle after Commissioner Adam Silver learn off their names.
Whether or not it was groups in win-now mode drafting prospects who’re tasks, or gamers seemingly taken too excessive, listed here are the three largest shock picks from the primary spherical of the 2024 NBA draft.
Zach Edey, No. 9 to the Memphis Grizzlies
Earlier than Purdue’s run to a nationwide championship look within the NCAA Event, the consensus was that Edey, a 7-foot-4 middle, was at finest a late first-round prospect. However a string of double-doubles late within the match, together with a 37-point, 10-rebound game against UConn, gave him momentum headed into the NBA draft mix. And whereas Edey did rise late through the pre-draft course of, most mock drafts didn’t have him projected as a Prime-10 choose, provided that he’ll must refine and quicken his footwork and enhance his offensive recreation within the NBA.
Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington, No. 14 to the Washington Wizards (by way of Portland)
It isn’t that Carrington is not deserving of a first-round draft choose, it is that − as a late bloomer − he is one thing of an unknown commodity. He is 18 and was one of many youngest draft-eligible prospects. Actually, he wasn’t actually on the NBA draft radar popping out of his freshman yr at Pittsburgh earlier than he declared and have become a one-and-done. He performs level guard and flashed super imaginative and prescient, however he hit a late development spurt and might want to proceed to determine tips on how to use his added dimension. He is a candidate for a minimum of one season within the G League.
AJ Johnson, No. 23 to the Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks, although they suffered premature accidents late throughout their playoff run, wanted so as to add items to capitalize on their win-now window. Damian Lillard turns 34 in July. Including Johnson, a participant who has tons of upside however is just too uncooked, is dissonant with the place Milwaukee sits as a contender. Johnson performed simply 7.7 minutes per recreation final yr in Australia’s NBL, by way of the league’s Subsequent Stars program. It isn’t simply his offensive recreation he must work on; Johnson is simply 167 kilos in a 6-foot-4 body and never suited to NBA play, a minimum of at present.
