BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The first round of the 2024 NBA draft wrapped up late Wednesday night time, and although there’s nonetheless yet one more spherical — comprising 28 picks — left, it isn’t too early to interrupt down the implications from the night time.
The largest winner, arguably, wasn’t a group or participant or govt, however a rustic. France has had an unprecedented run of success in getting gamers drafted within the first spherical. No group made extra picks than the Washington Wizards, who got here into the night time with two however aggressively added one other in the course of the spherical, and now they seem to have infused expertise onto a roster that badly wanted it.
Listed here are the winners and losers from the primary spherical of the 2024 NBA draft:
WINNERS
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs
The No. 4 general choice was all concerning the Spurs giving final yr’s prime general decide, Victor Wembanyama, assist. However taking that one step additional, one of many largest frustrations Spurs followers had final season was watching Wembanyama preventing to get place within the publish, or slipping via the paint just for the group’s ball handlers to completely miss Wembanyama — as tough as it could be to overlook a 7-foot-4 participant streaking down the ground.
Stephon Castle performed each guard positions at UConn, however he’s most comfy with the ball in his fingers, creating for others. He has wonderful dimension for the place at 6-foot-6 and maybe what is going to endear him most to teach Gregg Popovich is his effort and willingness to embrace the problem of defending the opposite group’s prime guard.
Zach Edey
Edey, the two-time school participant of the yr at Purdue, went from a late first-round decide to fringe lottery decide to the No. 9 decide by the Memphis Grizzlies. Sure, he nonetheless has to show there’s room for an enormous 7-4 massive in at present’s NBA, however he impressed executives and scouts together with his power, low-post play and talent to go out of double groups. He additionally offers Memphis versatility for various kinds based mostly on opponent lineups. And he heads into a positive state of affairs. Earlier than accidents and off-court issues sidelined Ja Morant, the Grizzlies had been one of many ascending groups within the West, successful 51 video games in 2022-23 and 56 in 2021-22.
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UConn
Huskies coach Dan Hurley could have turned down overtures from the Lakers, however his group nonetheless had an enormous imprint on the draft, particularly early on. Connecticut had two gamers chosen within the lottery for the primary time since 2012, when Andre Drummond (ninth) and Jeremy Lamb (twelfth) had been drafted. This time, the Huskies really had two gamers picked within the prime 10, with Stephon Fort going to the Spurs at No. 4 and Donovan Clingan going to the Path Blazers at No. 7.
France
Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr went 1-2 within the draft, marking the primary time two French gamers had been chosen with the primary two picks. Tidjane Salaun was drafted sixth, marking the primary time three gamers from a rustic aside from the U.S. had been chosen within the prime 10. New York took one other Frenchman, Pacôme Dadiet, at No. 25 in Wednesday’s first spherical. There’s a French renaissance taking place within the NBA proper now with rookie of the yr Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and spectacular rookie Bilal Coulibaly of the Washington Wizards. This draft marks the third consecutive yr that not less than 4 French gamers had been drafted.
Washington Wizards
Washington began the night time with two first-round picks — No. 2 and No. 26. However an aggressive entrance workplace, led by president Michael Winger and normal supervisor Will Dawkins, made a commerce with Portland to get one other lottery decide at No. 14. The Wizards chosen Alex Sarr second, Carlton “Bub” Carrington 14th and Miami’s Kyshawn George at No. 24 after a minor commerce with the New York Knicks. Now, the Wizards want these picks to work, but it surely’s clear the Wizards spent appreciable time investing on this draft as a part of the franchie’s main rebuilding effort.
LOSERS
Brooklyn Nets
The primary spherical of the draft was on the Brooklyn Nets’ Barclays Heart, and the Nets didn’t have a first-round decide. Additionally they don’t have a second-round decide Thursday, nevertheless, they might commerce into the second spherical. The Nets traded their 2024 first-round decide to Houston as a part of the deal that despatched James Harden from Houston to Brooklyn in 2021. That 2024 decide Houston acquired within the deal ended up being the No. 3 decide, and the Rockets chosen Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.
G League Ignite
The G League Ignite had two gamers chosen within the lottery (Ron Holland at No. 5 and Matas Buzelis at No. 11) and final season, the Ignite’s Scoot Henderson went No. 3. Nevertheless, the 2023-24 season was the final season for the Ignite which served as a spot for gamers who weren’t thinking about school or taking part in internationally to develop and generate income. Nevertheless, NIL guidelines altered the faculty panorama and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver determined to shutter the Ignite. “We bought to the purpose now with Group Ignite the place frankly we felt it didn’t make sense to compete in opposition to these prime school applications, the place in lots of instances have higher services, top-notch teaching, constitution plane, et cetera,” Silver stated firstly of the NBA Finals on June 6.
Too many bigs for the Portland Path Blazers
This isn’t concerning the choice as a lot because it’s about roster building. Former UConn middle Donovan Clingan needs to be an prompt rim protector, and all indicators are that his offensive recreation ought to proceed to enhance on the subsequent degree. He’s 7-foot-2 and 282 kilos and averaged 2.5 blocks in his two seasons with the Huskies, each of which resulted in nationwide championships. The problem is that Portland is on the hook for an additional 7-footer, Deandre Ayton, for almost $70 million over the subsequent two seasons, according to Spotrac.com.
Whereas Ayton’s offensive recreation is extra refined than Clingan’s not less than at this stage, their fashion of play is reasonably comparable, virtually making the Clingan decide redundant. Plus, as NBA groups more and more flip to hurry and athleticism to push tempo within the title of scoring, having two bigs like Clingan and Ayton could make the Blazers offense a contact deliberate and plodding.
Too many guards for the Sacramento Kings
Just like the observe concerning the Blazers above, that is all about roster building. Devin Carter may very well find yourself as one of many higher picks of this draft, going to the Kings at No. 13, but it surely creates an enormous logjam within the backcourt. Sacramento has star level guard De’Aaron Fox and capturing guard Kevin Heurter beginning, with Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up Malik Monk, Keon Ellis and Davion Mitchell all on the bench.
Ellis stepped into the beginning function down the stretch and performed nicely after Heurter (shoulder) and Monk (proper knee) had been sidelined with accidents. The odd man out would look like Heurter, who’s underneath contract for the subsequent two seasons at almost $35 million, per Spotrac.com. Now, Kings normal supervisor Monte McNair has to juggle. Even then, the most certainly final result is for a number of of those gifted guards to waste away on the bench, barring accidents.
Winner and loser
Dalton Knecht
Tennessee capturing guard Dalton Knecht was a projected lottery decide — even prime 10 in some mock drafts — however fell to No. 17. He additionally “fell” into a great place with the Los Angeles Lakers. He will get to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and for brand spanking new Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who embraces the fashionable NBA and 3-point capturing. That ought to work nicely for Knecht.
