The NBA draft is officially one week away, meaning it’s time for our mock draft 5.0!\u00a0The draft lottery is decided, the NBA combine is complete, and individual workouts are taking place daily. It\u2019s a great time to be an NBA draft fan.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a great time for teams and scouts, although there may be a touch of stress as well. There\u2019s 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.\u00a0Let\u2019s take a look at our NBA mock draft 5.0!<\/p>\n
One of the few in consideration at number one overall,\u00a0Alexandre Sarr<\/a> is seen as one of the safer prospects. This perceived safety comes from his easy defensive projection while still possessing upside. Sarr<\/a>\u00a0is extremely mobile for his size, standing at a lanky seven-foot-one with a seven-foot-five wingspan. He\u2019s 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\u00a0Dereck Lively\u2019s<\/a> impact in Dallas, this may be just the floor for Sarr\u2019s potential at the next level. He’s also flashed ball-handling ability to go along with a solid shooting stroke.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Zaccharie Risacher<\/a> is a six-foot-nine French wing who fits what the NBA is looking for. Risacher\u2019s<\/a> stock has been consistently high due to his high percentage three-point shooting and solid defensive efforts. This \u20183-and-D\u2019 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\u2019s still a lot of untapped potential in his playmaking and physical growth.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Due to average length and perceived athleticism, Sheppard<\/a> 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<\/a> that helped address his explosiveness and athletic concerns. The Rockets could use consistency and perimeter shooting, and Sheppard has both in spades.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. Dillingham has seemingly been lobbying to play for the Spurs organization, and it’s a smart choice.\u00a0He 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.<\/p>\n Dillingham<\/a> 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. \u00a0Was he a \u2018spark-off-the-bench\u2019 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. \u00a0He will make a great pick-and-roll partner for franchise star Victor Wembanyama<\/a>.<\/p>\n In this mock draft, the Pistons bet on the upside of\u00a0Matas Buzelis<\/a>. 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<\/a>\u00a0is the best prospect outside of Risacher who has the ability to fit this mold. It\u2019s possible he has even more upside than Risacher as well.<\/p>\n Scouts and fans alike were frustrated throughout the season though with Buzelis\u2019 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\u2019s also shown some promise as a weakside shot blocker. If he puts it all together, he can become a special player.<\/p>\n This is a tricky spot for Charlotte’s front office. Stephon Castle<\/a> is a great fit but has been reported to only want teams in need of a point guard. LaMelo Ball<\/a> 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<\/a>, making that position not likely for a selection here.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. Castle<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The Trailblazers are delighted to stop the fall of Donovan Clingan<\/a> at pick seven. Clingan is a seven-foot-two big man<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n While there may be some mobility concerns, his measurements are eerily similar to those of Rudy Gobert<\/a>. The Trailblazers already have Deandre Ayton<\/a> and Robert Williams<\/a>, but a massive frontcourt may be appealing in the West.<\/p>\n The Spurs may surprise many here in selecting Ron Holland.<\/a> 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<\/a> is a six-foot-eight wing who played with the G-league ignite<\/a>. Due to the Ignite\u2019s awful season and inconsistent scoring numbers, many cooled on Holland as a top prospect. While he didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0If the Spurs can unlock Holland’s shooting ability as they’ve done for other prospects, he may possess the highest upside in the class.<\/p>\n Cody Williams<\/a>\u00a0rose to number one pick conversations before a rough backend of the season leveled out his stock. He\u2019s a six-foot-eight slender wing who played one season at Colorado.\u00a0Williams<\/a>\u00a0is the younger brother of starting rising star\u00a0Jalen Williams<\/a>\u00a0of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He\u2019s a smooth and fluid athlete who looks to have a very polished all-around game for his age.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Nikola Topic<\/a>\u00a0is a Serbian\u00a0six-foot-six point guard<\/a>\u00a0who can run the show and is currently\u00a0playing internationally<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n As a prospect who was once in contention for number one overall, the Jazz have a rebuilding roster that can be patient with Topic.\u00a0He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n With\u00a0Zach Lavine<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0DeMar DeRozan\u2019s<\/a> future uncertain, the Bulls select Devin Carter<\/a> out of Providence. Carter<\/a>\u00a0will hope to be a taller version of Pelican\u2019s fiery defensive point guard\u00a0Jose Alvarado<\/a>. 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<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Carter stands at six-foot-three and tries to keep constant pressure as an on-ball defender. He\u2019s 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\u2019s had big scoring outings that may give teams confidence. He should be a solid piece for a borderline rebuilding Bulls team.<\/p>\n The Thunder seem to be bought into having every position be able to space the floor. Dalton Knecht<\/a>\u00a0fits that mold perfectly and falls to the Thunder at 12.\u00a0Knecht<\/a>\u00a0put up big-game performances seemingly every night as he took the college world by storm. He\u2019s a six-foot-six wing who\u2019s 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\u00a0Terrence Ross<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> of the Hawks.\u00a0Currently, Knecht isn\u2019t the best lateral mover on defense, but there\u2019s reason to believe he will be serviceable.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an easy buy-in process when analyzing Ja\u2019Kobe Walter’s<\/a>\u00a0skillset. He\u2019s 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<\/a> one of the safer bets in this draft. Or does it?<\/p>\n Walter shot at lower percentages in the back half of the season and had some underwhelming performances on defense. He isn\u2019t 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.\u00a0The Kings are hoping to surge back into the playoff race and win now. Young wing prospects like Walter can provide a much-needed boost.<\/p>\n For this NBA mock draft, the Trailblazers take a high-upside wing in\u00a0\u00a0Tidjane Salaun<\/a>. At first glance, teams will be reminded a lot of\u00a0Michael Porter\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0athletic profile as a\u00a0pro comparison<\/a>. 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\u2019s draft range very wide. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The Heat take Isaiah Collier<\/a> as one of the best available players on the board at this point. Collier<\/a> is a prospect some have soured on, but it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0Collier will need to show better perimeter shooting and become less turnover-prone to stabilize his stock on NBA draft mocks and boards.<\/p>\n Jared McCain<\/a>\u00a0has had an excellent freshman season for Duke. He\u2019s had several big performances and has been a consistent performer throughout the year. What\u2019s really contributed to\u00a0McCain<\/a>\u2019s 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\u2019s ability as a \u20183-and-D\u2019 connector guard draws comparisons to\u00a0Donte DiVincenzo<\/a> and Sixers own,\u00a0De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a>. Both are either a little taller or have more length than McCain, but the roles and playstyles are very similar.<\/p>\n This pick belongs to the Lakers as the Pelicans will defer the 2o24 pick<\/a>\u00a0in favor of the Lakers\u2019 2025 selection. With that in mind, the Lakers select\u00a0Kel\u2019el Ware<\/a>\u00a0to play alongside or behind\u00a0Anthony Davis<\/a>. 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\u00a0Dereck Lively<\/a>\u00a0role in this NBA draft class. While there are questions about his motor, he does clearly possess NBA traits.<\/p>\n The Magic should value three-point shooting in this draft. Tristan Da Silva<\/a>\u00a0is a\u00a0combo forward<\/a> 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\u2019 main concern with Da Silva will be his athletic limitations. He might be a tweener with no true position, but he\u2019s proved he can affect the game in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n The Raptors select Kyshawn George<\/a> for this NBA mock draft, having been one of the worst three-point shooting teams this season. George<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It feels as if all the Cavaliers’ core players have been rumored<\/a> to be on the move at some point this offseason. In this state of flux, they stop the fall of Zach Edey<\/a> in this NBA mock draft and select Jarrett Allen<\/a> insurance.\u00a0Edey<\/a>\u2019s archetype as a big with no perimeter game and limited mobility usually doesn\u2019t bode well for an illustrious NBA career. He\u2019s a seven-foot-four giant though whose sheer production has placed him on NBA draft boards.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Pelicans don’t currently have glaring holes in their roster, but changes may come. With this luxury, they take Kyle Filipowski<\/a> from Duke. Filipowski<\/a> is a seven-foot big man with good perimeter skills. He was largely in lottery conversations for the majority of the season.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Suns are in desperate need of a true point guard, and Tyler Kolek<\/a> fits the bill. He’s limited in height and athleticism, but he plays with extreme toughness and IQ. Kolek<\/a> can provide rotational or even starting point guard minutes to give any team a floor general.\u00a0He will be great in setting up the Suns’ trio of stars on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n Yves Missi<\/a>\u00a0has quickly ascended many draft boards in his freshman season at Baylor. He\u2019s a seven-foot big man who\u2019s a fluid mover and provides an instant defensive impact. He will hope to fill the coveted big man role in today\u2019s game that\u2019s a shot blocker and pick-and-roll play finisher. His game is eerily similar to\u00a0Clint Capela<\/a>\u00a0who\u2019s made a living getting rebounds, catching lobs, and blocking shots.\u00a0He will provide a good insurance plan to the 36-year-old Brook Lopez<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0Tyler Smith<\/a> would be a great pick. Smith<\/a> 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\u2019t falling, how does he impact the game?\u00a0His plus shooting and mobility at the six-foot-ten should unlock good lineup versatility though.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never a bad idea to add more shooting to a roster, and the Knicks could use it.\u00a0Johnny Furphy<\/a> is a freshman sharpshooting wing<\/a> from Kansas, standing at six-foot-nine. Scouts do have questions about Furphy\u2019s athleticism and ability to compete on the defensive end. There also doesn\u2019t seem to be much upside in shot creation, but Furphy has shown decent playmaking as a connecting distributor.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Baylor Scheierman<\/a>\u00a0was a consistent leader for a talented Creighton basketball team. He\u2019s 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\u2019t be asked to carry as heavy an offensive burden at the NBA level.<\/p>\n Scheierman<\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t 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\u2019t hurt his chances.<\/p>\n Kevin McCullar<\/a>\u00a0was 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\u2019s also flashed some ability to be a kind of point forward this season, having multiple triple-doubles under his belt. He\u2019s 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.\u00a0The Timberwolves boasted a tenacious defense this season filled with wing defenders. McCullar<\/a> should only add to this playstyle and archetype in this NBA mock draft.<\/p>\n The Nuggets get incredible value in this NBA mock draft by taking\u00a0Ryan Dunn.<\/a>\u00a0Dunn<\/a>\u00a0is one of the more special\u00a0defensive prospects<\/a>\u00a0we\u2019ve 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Jaylon Tyson<\/a> 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<\/a> 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 \u20183-and-D\u2019 type of role early in his career, he has the creation ability to provide playmaking.<\/p>\n Cam Christie\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0name may sound familiar as he\u2019s the younger brother of Lakers\u2019 guard\u00a0Max Christie<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n2) Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher<\/h3>\n
3) Houston Rockets (Via Nets): Reed Sheppard<\/h3>\n
4) San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham<\/h3>\n
5) Detroit Pistons:\u00a0Matas Buzelis<\/h3>\n
6) Charlotte Hornets: Stephon Castle<\/h3>\n
7) Portland Trailblazers: Donovan Clingan<\/h3>\n
8) San Antonio Spurs: Ron Holland<\/h3>\n
9) Memphis Grizzlies: Cody Williams<\/h3>\n
10) Utah Jazz: Nikola Topic<\/h3>\n
11) Chicago Bulls: Devin Carter<\/h3>\n
12) Oklahoma City Thunder (Via Rockets): Dalton Knecht<\/h3>\n
13) Sacramento Kings: Ja\u2019Kobe Walter<\/h3>\n
14) Portland Trailblazers (Via Warriors): Tidjane Salaun<\/h3>\n
15) Miami Heat:\u00a0Isaiah Collier<\/h3>\n
16) Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain<\/h3>\n
17) Los Angeles Lakers: Kel\u2019el Ware<\/h3>\n
18) Orlando Magic: Tristan Da Silva<\/h3>\n
19) Toronto Raptors (Via Pacers): Kyshawn George<\/h3>\n
20) Cleveland Cavaliers: Zach Edey<\/h3>\n
21) New Orleans Pelicans (Via Bucks): Kyle Filipowski<\/h3>\n
22) Phoenix Suns: Tyler Kolek<\/h3>\n
23) Milwaukee Bucks (Via Pelicans): Yves Missi<\/h3>\n
24) New York Knicks: Tyler Smith<\/h3>\n
25) New York Knicks (Via Dallas): Johnny Furphy<\/h3>\n
26) Washington Wizards (Via Clippers): Baylor Scheierman<\/h3>\n
27) Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin McCullar<\/h3>\n
28) Denver Nuggets: Ryan Dunn<\/h3>\n
29) Utah Jazz (Via Thunder): Jaylon Tyson<\/h3>\n
30) Boston Celtics: Cam Christie<\/h3>\n