The NBA draft is officially one week away, meaning it’s time for our mock draft 5.0! The draft lottery is decided, the NBA combine is complete, and individual workouts are taking place daily. It’s a great time to be an NBA draft fan.
It’s also a great time for teams and scouts, although there may be a touch of stress as well. There’s a plethora of information on prospects for people to digest at this point. While the 2024 class is considered weak, there are still great prospects that teams can find high value in. Let’s take a look at our NBA mock draft 5.0!
NBA Mock Draft 5.0
1) Atlanta Hawks: Alexandre Sarr
One of the few in consideration at number one overall, Alexandre Sarr is seen as one of the safer prospects. This perceived safety comes from his easy defensive projection while still possessing upside. Sarr is extremely mobile for his size, standing at a lanky seven-foot-one with a seven-foot-five wingspan. He’s already NBA-ready on the defensive end, blocking shots and using his length and mobility on the perimeter. He averaged 1.3 blocks and 0.5 steals in only 17 minutes per game having played in a professional league overseas. Similar to Dereck Lively’s impact in Dallas, this may be just the floor for Sarr’s potential at the next level. He’s also flashed ball-handling ability to go along with a solid shooting stroke.
The Hawks don’t have a clear pathway to success and may be teetering on the brink of a rebuild. Sarr is the best player in this situation. He has star upside with untapped potential on offense, but should also be an impact player at this end of the floor. In a draft class and franchise with so many uncertainties, Sarr goes number one in this NBA mock draft.
2) Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher
Zaccharie Risacher is a six-foot-nine French wing who fits what the NBA is looking for. Risacher’s stock has been consistently high due to his high percentage three-point shooting and solid defensive efforts. This ‘3-and-D’ wing archetype is always valuable, and Risacher looks to be the best of this mold for this class. This makes his floor somewhat safe, and there’s still a lot of untapped potential in his playmaking and physical growth.
His limited self-creation ability isn’t what you’d like to see this high in the draft, but he’s a solid prospect. The Wizards are happy to see him here at number two in this NBA mock draft, and he’ll have plenty of time to develop.
3) Houston Rockets (Via Nets): Reed Sheppard
This will be Houston’s fourth top-four pick in as many years. Their roster is filled with young talent but also has some veteran players. Reed Sheppard is the pick here because he can fit with any roster. Sheppard is far and away the best pure shooter in this draft and does a lot outside of just shooting. He also averaged 2.5 steals and 4.5 assists per game this season as he was one of Kentucky’s primary playmakers.
Due to average length and perceived athleticism, Sheppard is another prospect who doesn’t possess the usual upside of a number three pick. He’s a rock-solid player, however, and will provide a boost to any team that drafts him. He also jumped a combine high 42-inch vertical that helped address his explosiveness and athletic concerns. The Rockets could use consistency and perimeter shooting, and Sheppard has both in spades.
4) San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham
The Spurs reportedly have shown interest in moving up, but keeping their two picks could prove more valuable. With their first pick in this NBA mock draft, the Spurs select Rob Dillingham. Dillingham has seemingly been lobbying to play for the Spurs organization, and it’s a smart choice. He can immediately inject the scoring and shot-making boost the Spurs need. His size and defense can cause concern, but San Antonio has the infrastructure to cover his weaknesses.
Dillingham is a twitchy scorer who plays with a lot of flash. The major concern for Dillingham coming into the season was exactly what role he could fill at the next level. Was he a ‘spark-off-the-bench’ microwave scorer? Can he play true point guard? Dillingham answered these questions by mostly proving he can succeed at whatever role is needed. Once firmly in the rotation at Kentucky, he thrived with just about any lineup on the floor. He will make a great pick-and-roll partner for franchise star Victor Wembanyama.
5) Detroit Pistons: Matas Buzelis
In this mock draft, the Pistons bet on the upside of Matas Buzelis. Buzelis is a popular mock pick to the Pistons for good reason. The Pistons need help at the forward positions, and specifically someone who can shoot. Buzelis is the best prospect outside of Risacher who has the ability to fit this mold. It’s possible he has even more upside than Risacher as well.
Scouts and fans alike were frustrated throughout the season though with 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. He can shoot it at all three levels and is a fluid athlete in space. He’s also shown some promise as a weakside shot blocker. If he puts it all together, he can become a special player.
6) Charlotte Hornets: Stephon Castle
This is a tricky spot for Charlotte’s front office. Stephon Castle is a great fit but has been reported to only want teams in need of a point guard. LaMelo Ball does have question marks around his long-term fit, but he’s been a star when healthy. The front office also seems to like young center Mark Williams, making that position not likely for a selection here.
The Hornets take arguably the best player and fit available here in Castle despite the point guard concerns. His positional size and defensive prowess should blend well in a backcourt of Ball and Brandon Miller. Castle is a tall lead guard at six-foot-six. His physical tools allow him to be either a point guard with good size or a wing with good ball-handling ability. Castle’s defensive excellence in the postseason was well noted. He was consistently tasked with shutting down the opposition’s best guard or wing. If Castle can figure the jump shot and self-creation out, he could become a steal even at the sixth pick.
7) Portland Trailblazers: Donovan Clingan
The Trailblazers are delighted to stop the fall of Donovan Clingan at pick seven. Clingan is a seven-foot-two big man in his sophomore season with the Huskies. He won his second national championship this season and was dominant throughout the tournament. Clingan has a clear projected role as a frontcourt anchor on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. He has great shot-blocking ability and is a good play-finisher on the interior.
While there may be some mobility concerns, his measurements are eerily similar to those of Rudy Gobert. The Trailblazers already have Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams, but a massive frontcourt may be appealing in the West.
8) San Antonio Spurs: Ron Holland
The Spurs may surprise many here in selecting Ron Holland. The Spurs are known for making bold moves in the draft and have shown they aren’t afraid to select prospects higher than the consensus. Holland is a six-foot-eight wing who played with the G-league ignite. Due to the Ignite’s awful season and inconsistent scoring numbers, many cooled on Holland as a top prospect. While he didn’t have 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.
Holland is an explosive athlete who may be able to guard positions one through four at the NBA level. Next to Dillingham, their strengths and weaknesses are perfectly opposite of each other. If the Spurs can unlock Holland’s shooting ability as they’ve done for other prospects, he may possess the highest upside in the class.
9) Memphis Grizzlies: Cody Williams
Cody Williams rose to number one pick conversations before a rough backend of the season leveled out his stock. He’s a six-foot-eight slender wing who played one season at Colorado. Williams is the younger brother of starting rising star Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s a smooth and fluid athlete who looks to have a very polished all-around game for his age.
However, scouts were disappointed by his affinity for mediocre performances as he never exploded or took over a game. Young wings with production and upside like Williams are usually always at the top of the draft though. The Grizzlies are a playoff-caliber team when their stars are available. Williams will hope to round out their young roster with an injection of talent on the wing.
10) Utah Jazz: Nikola Topic
Nikola Topic is a Serbian six-foot-six point guard who can run the show and is currently playing internationally. The Jazz have a rebuilding roster filled with promising young talent. Topic can be an advanced point guard who can get everyone involved. He’s sustained multiple knee injuries this season, and teams inside the lottery will have his medicals. It was recently revealed that he has a partially torn ACL.
As a prospect who was once in contention for number one overall, the Jazz have a rebuilding roster that can be patient with Topic. He’s not an explosive athlete, but his craft and playmaking ability more than makeup for it. Topic can be the jumbo-sized point guard that is becoming a trend in the NBA.
11) Chicago Bulls: Devin Carter
With Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan’s future uncertain, the Bulls select Devin Carter out of Providence. Carter will hope to be a taller version of Pelican’s fiery defensive point guard Jose Alvarado. His play is based on physicality and high energy. This projected defensive impact was also helped further after the NBA combine. Carter tied for the highest max vertical at 42 inches, posted the fastest sprint at 2.87, and had the second-fastest lane agility time at 10.63. It was an impressive showing, and it earned him an apparent promise from a team inside the lottery.
Carter stands at six-foot-three and tries to keep constant pressure as an on-ball defender. He’s also adept as a team defender and chasing through screens for steals. Carter has been seen as streaky on offense up to this point, but he’s had big scoring outings that may give teams confidence. He should be a solid piece for a borderline rebuilding Bulls team.
12) Oklahoma City Thunder (Via Rockets): Dalton Knecht
The Thunder seem to be bought into having every position be able to space the floor. Dalton Knecht fits that mold perfectly and falls to the Thunder at 12. Knecht put up big-game performances seemingly every night as he took the college world by storm. He’s a six-foot-six wing who’s a great perimeter shooter and also goes for big dunks when given a runway. His movement shooting ability sprinkled in with highlight dunks is very similar to a later-career Terrence Ross.
Knecht has also shown value as a cutter making him a good off-ball role player. Role players will be valued in this draft, and his overall ability is very similar to Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Hawks. Currently, Knecht isn’t the best lateral mover on defense, but there’s reason to believe he will be serviceable.
13) Sacramento Kings: Ja’Kobe Walter
It’s an easy buy-in process when analyzing Ja’Kobe Walter’s skillset. He’s long, athletic, and can shoot the three-ball at a high clip. He can also use this length and athleticism to be effective on the defensive end. This 3-and-D archetype makes Walter one of the safer bets in this draft. Or does it?
Walter shot at lower percentages in the back half of the season and had some underwhelming performances on defense. He isn’t the strongest in the self-creation department, so his stock is solely based on that 3-and-D role. He will need to re-confirm particular worries regarding his defense and consistent shooting in the draft process. The Kings are hoping to surge back into the playoff race and win now. Young wing prospects like Walter can provide a much-needed boost.
14) Portland Trailblazers (Via Warriors): Tidjane Salaun
For this NBA mock draft, the Trailblazers take a high-upside wing in Tidjane Salaun. At first glance, teams will be reminded a lot of Michael Porter’s athletic profile as a pro comparison. Salaun is a lanky six-foot-ten wing who has shown a clean shooting strike combined with solid athleticism. Shooting the three-ball at the high percentages made Salaun’s draft range very wide. He’s still a project pick in most eyes but he flashed enough to suggest he may be further along in his development than previously believed. Clingan was a safe pick at number seven while Salaun will represent a home run swing for the Trailblazers.
15) Miami Heat: Isaiah Collier
The Heat take Isaiah Collier as one of the best available players on the board at this point. Collier is a prospect some have soured on, but it’s not quite the time to bail on him as a top prospect. Collier is a big and physical point guard listed at six-foot-five and 210 pounds.
This physicality should fit Heat culture well. He uses size as well as solid athleticism when finishing at the rim, and he can be a floor general on offense. Collier will need to show better perimeter shooting and become less turnover-prone to stabilize his stock on NBA draft mocks and boards.
16) Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain
Jared McCain has had an excellent freshman season for Duke. He’s had several big performances and has been a consistent performer throughout the year. What’s really contributed to McCain’s rise however is his three-point shooting combined with solid perimeter defense. He shot 41.4 percent from deep on just under six attempts per game. McCain’s ability as a ‘3-and-D’ connector guard draws comparisons to Donte DiVincenzo and Sixers own, De’Anthony Melton. Both are either a little taller or have more length than McCain, but the roles and playstyles are very similar.
17) Los Angeles Lakers: Kel’el Ware
This pick belongs to the Lakers as the Pelicans will defer the 2o24 pick in favor of the Lakers’ 2025 selection. With that in mind, the Lakers select Kel’el Ware to play alongside or behind Anthony Davis. Ware was a sophomore transfer playing at Indiana this season. Standing at seven-foot-one and containing elite athleticism for his size, Ware shines on the defensive end blocking shots as well as a lob-dunk finisher. He will hope to fill the Dereck Lively role in this NBA draft class. While there are questions about his motor, he does clearly possess NBA traits.
18) Orlando Magic: Tristan Da Silva
The Magic should value three-point shooting in this draft. Tristan Da Silva is a combo forward who plays the game the right way and does a lot of things well. At six-foot-nine, he shot 39.5 percent from the perimeter and is a solid team defender. Scouts’ main concern with Da Silva will be his athletic limitations. He might be a tweener with no true position, but he’s proved he can affect the game in a variety of ways.
19) Toronto Raptors (Via Pacers): Kyshawn George
The Raptors select Kyshawn George for this NBA mock draft, having been one of the worst three-point shooting teams this season. George has been a late riser to NBA draft boards mostly due to upside and a coveted archetype. George is a six-foot-eight jumbo guard who’s shown playmaking upside combined with great shooting ability. He shot the ball at 40.8 percent from three on just over four attempts per game.
Someone with playmaking and shooting ability at six-foot-eight always makes scouts excited. George came onto draft boards late as he had to find his place on a talented Miami team. His role and playing time fluctuated throughout the season, but he began to find his rhythm in conference play. The Raptors have the time and patience to allow George to develop properly.
20) Cleveland Cavaliers: Zach Edey
It feels as if all the Cavaliers’ core players have been rumored to be on the move at some point this offseason. In this state of flux, they stop the fall of Zach Edey in this NBA mock draft and select Jarrett Allen insurance. Edey’s archetype as a big with no perimeter game and limited mobility usually doesn’t bode well for an illustrious NBA career. He’s a seven-foot-four giant though whose sheer production has placed him on NBA draft boards.
He averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior. This included a 37-point performance in the national championship game against UConn. If he can prove his shot blocking and length are enough to make up for a lack of mobility, an NBA team will be very intrigued.
21) New Orleans Pelicans (Via Bucks): Kyle Filipowski
The Pelicans don’t currently have glaring holes in their roster, but changes may come. With this luxury, they take Kyle Filipowski from Duke. Filipowski is a seven-foot big man with good perimeter skills. He was largely in lottery conversations for the majority of the season.
In his sophomore season at Duke, he showed much better percentages and overall play. His shooting touch and fundamentals for his size certainly all pass the eye test. He also showed better foot speed on defense and some positive playmaking this season.
22) Phoenix Suns: Tyler Kolek
The Suns are in desperate need of a true point guard, and Tyler Kolek fits the bill. He’s limited in height and athleticism, but he plays with extreme toughness and IQ. Kolek can provide rotational or even starting point guard minutes to give any team a floor general. He will be great in setting up the Suns’ trio of stars on a nightly basis.
23) Milwaukee Bucks (Via Pelicans): Yves Missi
Yves Missi has quickly ascended many draft boards in his freshman season at Baylor. He’s a seven-foot big man who’s a fluid mover and provides an instant defensive impact. He will hope to fill the coveted big man role in today’s game that’s a shot blocker and pick-and-roll play finisher. His game is eerily similar to Clint Capela who’s made a living getting rebounds, catching lobs, and blocking shots. He will provide a good insurance plan to the 36-year-old Brook Lopez.
24) New York Knicks: Tyler Smith
The Knicks are possibly in the market to trade one or both of their back-to-back picks. However, if they should hold on to these picks adding Tyler Smith would be a great pick. Smith is a smooth lefty forward at six-foot-ten with good mobility. He moves like an NBA wing and has a smooth release on his shooting stroke. Smith still needs to show that he possesses an elite trait or gain a defined role to rise up draft boards. When his shot isn’t falling, how does he impact the game? His plus shooting and mobility at the six-foot-ten should unlock good lineup versatility though.
25) New York Knicks (Via Dallas): Johnny Furphy
It’s never a bad idea to add more shooting to a roster, and the Knicks could use it. Johnny Furphy is a freshman sharpshooting wing from Kansas, standing at six-foot-nine. Scouts do have questions about Furphy’s athleticism and ability to compete on the defensive end. There also doesn’t seem to be much upside in shot creation, but Furphy has shown decent playmaking as a connecting distributor.
Furphy earned his way into a starting key contributor as a freshman on a good Kansas team. Six-foot-nine wings who can really shoot the ball are always worth looking at in the back of the first round.
26) Washington Wizards (Via Clippers): Baylor Scheierman
Baylor Scheierman was a consistent leader for a talented Creighton basketball team. He’s a lefty who took 289 three-pointers this season which is good for most on this list. He shot those threes at 38.1 percent and averaged 8.3 attempts per game. These are impressive numbers although he won’t be asked to carry as heavy an offensive burden at the NBA level.
Scheierman isn’t just a three-point shooter either, as he racked up 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as well. He plays the game with great finesse and could prove to be a plus playmaker even at the NBA level. Being one of the top shooters in this NBA draft class certainly won’t hurt his chances.
27) Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin McCullar
Kevin McCullar was 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 fifth-year college player, so he will be very old for a rookie. However, he still may be able to contribute immediately if given a defined role. The Timberwolves boasted a tenacious defense this season filled with wing defenders. McCullar should only add to this playstyle and archetype in this NBA mock draft.
28) Denver Nuggets: Ryan Dunn
The Nuggets get incredible value in this NBA mock draft by taking Ryan Dunn. Dunn is one of the more special defensive prospects we’ve seen in a long time. He clearly 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. The problem is his offensive game is virtually nonexistent in every area, which keeps him outside the lottery on NBA draft boards. If he proves he can become competent offensively, he will be a steal.
29) Utah Jazz (Via Thunder): Jaylon Tyson
Jaylon Tyson had a breakout year after transferring to California this year. He nearly averaged 20 points per game and shot the three-ball at 36 percent on 4.5 attempts. This explosion has placed Tyson on NBA draft boards after struggling to find success in college. At six-foot-seven, he has NBA traits on the wing. While he may play in a ‘3-and-D’ type of role early in his career, he has the creation ability to provide playmaking.
30) Boston Celtics: Cam Christie
Cam Christie’s name may sound familiar as he’s the younger brother of Lakers’ guard Max Christie. Similar to his brother in 2023, Christie has a smooth jumper and is a top shooter in his NBA draft class. He shot 39.1 percent on 5.4 attempts per game for the Golden Gophers this season.
At six-foot-five and only 18 years old, Christie would be a great upside pick for an NBA team. The reigning champs wouldn’t need him to contribute right away, and Christie could adjust at his own pace.
