The 2024 NBA Draft (7 p.m. CT, June 26., ESPN/ABC) is a little more than a week away, and there remains a lot of uncertainty.
This draft doesn’t have a consensus top pick, but two players seemingly have separated themselves as contenders for that spot. Once you get past the second pick, the murkiness in the top 10 could lead to chaos.
The Memphis Grizzlies like the idea of adding a center, but options in the top 10 are limited. They’ll have a big group of wings and guards to choose from.
More intel is out. Some prospects are rising up the boards while others have seen their stock drop. Here’s our second mock draft.
1. Atlanta Hawks — Zaccharie Risacher, F JL Bourg (LNB), France
Height/weight: 6-foot-9, 204 pounds
Alex Sarr was the name who generated most of the buzz as the potential No. 1 pick for most of the year, but the tide has shifted in Zaccharie Risacher's direction. The idea makes sense for the Atlanta Hawks, considering Jalen Johnson is the team's power forward of the future and center Onyeka Okongwu can be the heir apparent to Clint Capela as the starter. Atlanta has decent wings, but Risacher's upside as a two-way small forward fits right into what the Hawks need.
2. Washington Wizards — F/C Alex Sarr, Perth Wildcats (NBL), France
Height/weight: 7-1, 224 pounds
It feels like every time the Washington Wizards have had a nice young center, they ship him away. Last season Kristaps Porzingis was their starter, and this year it was Daniel Gafford. Both of them made the NBA Finals as starting centers on the two participants. Maybe Washington realizes its previous mistakes and capitalizes with Sarr. Having the Frenchman as a defensive anchor bodes well for a team that has plenty of scoring but could use more game-shifting defenders.
3. Houston Rockets — Reed Sheppard, PG/SG Kentucky
Height/weight: 6-3, 182 pounds
I still don't expect the Rockets to hold on to the No. 3 pick, but if they do, Reed Sheppard makes all the sense. He projects well alongside the 6-7 Amen Thompson at guard, and his shooting can play in the league right away. Players shooting 52.1% on 3-pointers aren't growing on trees or anything else.
4. San Antonio Spurs — Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite
Height/weight: 6-10, 197 pounds
Point guard is the primary need for the Spurs, but they don't have to reach at No. 4. Matas Buzelis is a potential upside selection who can play both forward spots. At 6-10, he is another potential defensive nightmare matchup alongside Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Buzelis needs work as a shooter, but he averaged more than one steal and block per game with G League Ignite.
5. Detroit Pistons — Donovan Clingan, C UConn
Height/weight: 7-3, 282 pounds
The Pistons' front office made some changes this offseason. When that happens, no one on the current roster is safe (unless you're Cade Cunningham). Jalen Duren has been productive since his rookie season, but there are questions in Detroit on if he's the center of the future. Clingan is the best rim protector in the draft. His defense would be an upgrade over an area of Duren's game that still needs work.
6. Charlotte Hornets — Dalton Knecht, G/F, Tennessee
Height/weight: 6-7, 212 pounds
LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams are good building blocks for Charlotte. Putting another shooter on the floor with Ball's high-level playmaking skills could catapult Charlotte's offense to the next level. Miller has the versatility to be a guard or forward, and his defensive upside is enormous. Knecht continues to be a popular name in NBA draft circles. Concerns about his age (23) have mostly been canceled out by him being one of the players with the highest floor in the class with his ability to shoot on the catch, off the dribble and multi-position versatility.
7. Portland Trail Blazers — Ron Holland, F G League Ignite
Height/weight: 6-8, 206 pounds
The Blazers need a wing, and Holland is arguably the most talented one on the board here. For what he lacks as a playmaker, the forward makes up for with elite athleticism. He was extremely productive with G League Ignite, and there's reason to believe his efficiency will improve by being surrounded with better talent.
8. San Antonio Spurs — Nikola Topic, PG/SG, Crvena Zvezda (Serbian KLS), Serbia
Height/weight: 6-6, 201 pounds
Nikola Topic's partially torn ACL and a negative wingspan are reasons for a slight fall for what is the draft's best playmaker. He's a perfect fit for a Spurs team that could use a guard capable of taking advantage of Wembanyama's unique size and Devin Vassell's shot-making ability.
9. Memphis Grizzlies — Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn
Height/weight: 6-7, 210 pounds
A big is the Grizzlies' first need, and No. 9 still feels too high to reach for any other available options. A wing shooter would be next, but Sheppard and Knecht are off the board. The next highest priority in Memphis should be a wing defender and Castle fills that box. Still, there's much more to the former five-star recruit's game. He is a dynamic scorer capable of playing both guard spots. His defense and transition scoring were major reasons why UConn cut the nets in April. Those two areas just so happen to be major priorities in Memphis.
Castle's shooting is an area of concern, but there is reason to believe he can be a better shooter at the NBA level. He shot 26.7% at UConn on 3-pointers, but he impressed scouts at the NBA combine with his shooting performance.
10. Utah Jazz — Cody Williams, F, Colorado
11. Chicago Bulls — Rob Dillingam, G Kentucky
12. Oklahoma City Thunder — Tidjane Salaun, F Cholet (LNB Pro A), France
13. Sacramento Kings — Devin Carter, G Providence
14. Blazers — Kyle Filipowski, F/C Duke
15. Miami Heat — Ja'Kobe Walter, G Baylor
16. Philadelphia 76ers — Jared McCain, G Duke
17. Los Angeles Lakers — Kel'el Ware, F/C Indiana
18. Orlando Magic — Kyshawn George, G/F Miami
19. Toronto Raptors — Zach Edey, C Purdue
20. Cleveland Cavaliers — Ryan Dunn, G/F Virginia
21. New Orleans Pelicans — Yves Missi, C Baylor
22. Phoenix Suns — Isaiah Collier, PG USC
23. Milwaukee Bucks — Tristan da Silva, F Colorado
24. New York Knicks — Tyler Kolek, PG Marquette
25. Knicks — Tyler Smith, F G League Ignite
26. Wizards — Terrence Shannon Jr., G Illinois
27. Minnesota Timberwolves — Carlton Carrington, G Pittsburgh
28. Denver Nuggets — DaRon Holmes, F/C Dayton
29. Jazz — Johnny Furphy, G, Kansas
30. Boston Celtics — Jaylon Tyson, G, California
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Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: NBA mock draft 2.0: Grizzlies miss out on center, but go to NCAA champ
