2024 NBA Mock Draft: UConn’s Donovan Clingan goes No. 1 to Hawks over Alex Sarr; Zach Edey picked in lottery

Reports suggest that the Hawks are very high on Clingan and he is in play to go off the board first. Clingan is an intriguing prospect because of his high floor. He can slot into Atlanta’s lineup immediately and be a defensive anchor in the middle. The drawbacks of his overall game are that he isn’t a great offensive scorer, and he played just under 23 minutes per game last season at UConn. Clingan doesn’t have the upside of others in his class, and I want to reiterate that Sarr should be the pick here. If the Hawks want to postpone their rebuild, Clingan is the right choice because you know exactly what you’re getting.

With Sarr still on the board, the Wizards shouldn’t hesitate to make the French big man the selection. Sarr has one of the highest ceilings in this class because of his elite two-way potential. The shooting is still a work in progress and it will be his swing skill. Sarr would be another foundational piece for Washington’s rebuild next to Bilal Coulibaly.

Sheppard’s draft ceiling likely starts with this pick. The Rockets will have to decide if they want to keep this pick or trade it for a win-now player. Sheppard is one of the best shooters in this class and if the Rockets keep this pick, he could serve as the point guard of the future.

Risacher is a strong contender to be the No. 1 overall pick, but in this mock draft, he slides to an ideal situation in San Antonio. He is a skilled forward with tremendous shooting upside and would fit perfectly next to Victor Wembanyama in the frontcourt. Point guard remains the biggest need for the Spurs, but taking the best player available is the smart play.

Buzelis has a connection to the Pistons front office that could make him the favorite at this spot. Buzelis’ agent, Michael Tellem, is the son of Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem. While that connection alone isn’t going to make him the surefire selection, his unique blend of dribbling, passing and shooting is worth the swing.

Castle has expressed a strong desire to play point guard in the NBA, and while his wish may get granted, Castle would fit perfectly next to LaMelo Ball in the backcourt. Castle is a defensive menace and can double as a wing distributor. A young core of Ball, Castle and Brandon Miller would be fun to watch.

Knecht is the safest pick in this draft because of his high floor and polished offensive game. Knecht can come into the league and be a double-digit scorer immediately because of his shotmaking abilities. Knecht worked out for Portland earlier in the cycle and would be a perfect match for a rebuilding Trail Blazers team.

With the Spurs going with a wing at No. 4, Dillingham is the perfect selection with their other lottery pick. I ranked Dillingham No. 1 overall on my personal big board because he has the goods to be an elite guard in the NBA. Yes, there are concerns about his height and defense, but when in doubt, pick a Kentucky guard.

The Grizzlies need a win-now type player from this class to get back to the playoffs, and Carter fits that bill perfectly. Carter is a tough-nosed defender who can rebound at a high level. His testing numbers at the NBA Draft Combine were among the best in his class.

The Jazz could use a player of Williams’ caliber and drafting him near the end of the lottery is tremendous value. When you watch the film from his freshman season at Colorado, there’s reason to believe that if he puts more weight on his lengthy frame — like his older brother Jalen Williams did during his first two seasons in the NBA — he can be the best two-way player in his class.

The former No. 2 recruit from the 2023 cycle dealt with a hand injury mid-way through his season at USC that sidelined him for about a month. After his return, Collier showed why he was one of the best freshmen in his class. Collier is a point guard built like a middle linebacker, and his strong frame allows him to bully his way to the rim. The numbers also don’t do it justice to how skilled of a passer Collier is. He can be the PG of the future for the Bulls.

The Thunder need size, so drafting Edey would fill that void. Another reason Edey could make sense in OKC is he can play next to Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt. Holmgren is a versatile defender who can stretch the floor, so playing them in certain situations could work. OKC ranked near the bottom of the league in team rebounding, so drafting one of the best rebounders in the country could be worth the gamble.

Sacramento Kings GM Monte McNair tends to shy away from drafting teenagers, but Holland should be the exception if he falls this fall. Holland’s athleticism is evident, but his defensive potential intrigues me. He has quick hands and tends to get into passing lanes while defending off the ball.

Salaün is soaring up draft boards as of late, and there’s a real chance he will end up as a lottery pick. In this mock, the Trail Blazers selected Knecht with their first lottery pick. Drafting Salaün at the end of the lottery fills the need for a wing on a roster full of talented guards.

Arguably the best 3-point shooter in his class, McCain was elite in knocking down shots from beyond the arc in transition. McCain projects as more of an off-ball guard at the next level, but his strong rebounding skills make him equipped to thrive at the next level.

Da Silva is a big wing who was a great shooter at Colorado. Da Silva is one of the oldest prospects in the draft. He is also one of the most NBA-ready players because of his ability to score off cuts, catch and shoot attempts, dribble handoffs, and in isolation.

If the Lakers are looking to draft a big man to either backup Anthony Davis or play next to him in the frontcourt, Filipowski should be an option. Filipowski is probably the most skilled player offensively at his size in this class. Filipowski is more of a four than a five at the next level, but his archetype is what NBA teams are looking for.

The latest injury news about Topić’s knee is cause for concern and could result in him dropping on draft night. This would be a drastic slide for a player once projected as a surefire top-10 pick. Topić isn’t going to blow you away with his speed with the ball, but he plays in control. He’s worth the swing at No. 18.

Carrington has been one of the biggest risers throughout this process and may be off the board before the Raptors have the chance to pick him. Carrington could serve as the point guard of the future for a rebuilding Raptors team.

Walter’s 3-point shooting will be his swing skill. As for everything else, he will need to be more aggressive in driving to the basket and getting to his spot on mid-range jumpers. Walter shot 214 3-pointers, compared to 160 shots from inside the arc.

Missi is one of my favorite prospects in this class because of his skill set as a rim runner and shot blocker who is also very fluid with his movements. Missi isn’t going to knock down a ton of jumpers and 3-pointers in the NBA, but his athleticism can fill a need for a Pelicans team in need of a backup center.

The Suns biggest need heading into next season is finding a cheap and reliable point guard. Kolek checks both of those boxes. He’s a skilled playmaker who can complement Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker.

After an up-and-down freshman season at Oregon, Ware transferred to Indiana, where he turned his career around and put himself back in the conversation as a first-round pick. Ware could serve as a valuable backup center for the Bucks.

Dunn’s offensive game isn’t going to blow you away, but his defense is his most valuable skill. Dunn can step in right away and be a key rotation piece for the Knicks because of it.

With the Knicks going with a wing with their first first-round selection, Holmes makes sense as a potential Isaiah Hartenstein replacement. Holmes would fill a need on New York’s roster for a rim-protecting stretch big. If Holmes makes it to No. 25, he will be the steal of the draft.

It’s hard not to be excited about the upside George showed during his freshman season at Miami. George will need time to develop his game and Washington would be a perfect fit for that very reason. Coming out of the draft with Sarr and George should give Wizards fans hope.

Scheierman will turn 24 this September, which means he will have a chance to become the oldest first-round pick since Chris Duarte went 13th overall in 2021. Scheierman is a high-volume shooter from distance who can score in various ways from outside.

Tyson would be the perfect pick for an experienced team less than a year removed from winning an NBA title. Tyson was Cal’s No. 1 option last season. He is a proven two-way wing who could contribute to the rotation from Day 1.

Smith knocked down 36% of his 3-pointers this past season for G-League Ignite. The southpaw can stretch the floor, and his wingspan (7-foot-1) could intrigue NBA decision-makers. Coming out of the draft with Williams and Smith — two skilled wings — would be quite the haul for Danny Ainge and company.

There’s been buzz over the last few weeks that Bona could sneak into the end of the first round because of his performance at the NBA Draft Combine and how he’s fared in team workouts. Bona is a standout defender who can contribute to winning from Day 1. Bona would give the reigning champs another rotation piece who can help in their quest to repeat.