The small forward class for the 2024 NBA draft looks to be a strong one. There’s a decent chance that all six prospects on this list go inside the lottery. While there may not be the franchise-altering talent that’s been present in previous drafts, these prospects should help any team.
Let’s take a look at the best small forwards in the 2024 NBA draft.
2024 NBA Draft Best Small Forwards
1) Zaccharie Risacher: JL Bourg (France)
Zaccharie Risacher is a six-foot-nine French wing with a lot of upside. Risacher’s stock has been consistently high as of late due to high percentage three-point shooting. His consistency actually may earn him the top spot overall in this NBA draft class, not just at small forward. Risacher has also shown great value as a secondary playmaker to go along with his ‘3-and-D’ wing archetype. This archetype makes his floor somewhat safe, and there’s still a lot of untapped potential in his athleticism and physical growth. A perceived high-floor prospect with still a lot of untapped potential will keep Risacher in top three conversations.
2) Ron Holland: G-League Ignite
Ron Holland is a six-foot-eight wing playing with the G-league ignite. Due to the Ignite’s record and inconsistent scoring numbers, many have cooled on Holland as a top prospect. While he hasn’t had the most consistent performance, Holland still can impact the game on both ends. His NBA-ready size and athleticism at six-foot-eight should translate well to filling different roles for any NBA team. If the ball handling and shooting can start to better trend upward, he’s one of the few in this class with the possibility of star potential. He’s shown enough flashes for scouts to buy into that potential, and playing on a bad G-league Ignite team may give him slack.
3) Matas Buzelis: G-League Ignite
Scouts and fans alike have become frustrated with Matas Buzelis’ lack of consistent aggression or big-game performances. His flashes are very bright though, and it can be argued that he has the highest upside in class. Buzelis is a six-foot-ten wing with polished offensive skills. His fluidity at that size though places him high on the small forwards list for this NBA draft class. Buzelis’ projections however are still based on the eye test rather than current production. This may cause him to drop on draft night unless he does well in private workouts. He’s shown flashes of ability to shoot it at all three levels though and is a great athlete in space. He’s also shown some promise as a weakside shot blocker.
4) Ryan Dunn: Virginia
Ryan Dunn is one of the more special defensive prospects we’ve seen recently. Not only is he the best defensive small forward/wing, he’s the best defender in this NBA draft class overall. He easily projects to have a specific role at the next level as a defensive ace for any team. Dunn’s a six-foot-eight forward with elite mobility and athleticism. His athletic traits should test extremely well if he participates in the combine. Dunn’s main question marks however come from his complete lack of offense and perimeter shooting. If he proves he can become at least competent offensively, he may rise even higher up draft boards.
5) Tidjane Salaun: Cholet Basket (France)
At first glance, teams will be reminded a lot of Michael Porter’s athletic profile. Tidjane Salaun is a lanky six-foot-ten wing who has shown a clean shooting strike combined with solid athleticism. This archetype has led him to be the most polarizing small forward prospect for this NBA draft class. His draft stock has led him to be seen as a top 10 or top 20 pick depending on evaluation. If he continues to shoot the three-ball at high percentages though, a top 10 projection should be more accurate. Playing professionally in France, Salaun has handled the challenge well while possibly being the youngest prospect come draft night.
6) Kevin McCullar: Kansas
Kevin McCullar is a superb defender for the highly-ranked Kansas Jayhawks squad. At six-foot-six, he has the size and defensive instincts to match up with a lot of guards and wings in the NBA. He’s also flashed some ability to be a kind of point forward this season, having multiple triple-doubles under his belt. He’s a sixth-year college player, so he will be very old for a rookie. He’s likely to contribute immediately though if given a defined role similar to Jaime Jaquez this year for the Heat.
