Kodaball's 2024 Mock Draft

This draft may be weak and have no defined top tier talent, but it is setting up to be one of the most entertaining drafts in recent memory. This year has often been compared to 2013, where the two lone stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ruby Gobert were picked 15th and 27th, while a slew of role players and busts dominated the lottery.

While there’s no marquee talent like Victor Wembanyama, draft analysts agree that impact role players and starters litter this draft, and with hardly any general consensus, we could once again see some of this draft’s best talents slip into the later picks. In this mock, trades are ignored, and team needs are heavily weighted, with even first round consensus being difficult to come by. With less than a week to go before the draft, here is our final mock.

#1 Atlanta Hawks - Alexandre Sarr

F/C - Perth (NBL)

Personal Big Board Ranking: #1

Atlanta got incredibly lucky by landing the first pick in the lottery, getting the opportunity to jump-start a franchise defined by its recent mediocrity.  The “alien arms race” is about to begin, with Chet and Wemby’s rookie explosion and the looming arrival of Cooper Flagg marking the early beginnings of the Freak Era™. While there’s little consensus about the first overall pick, I find it difficult not to look in the direction of Alexandre Sarr. Sarr is the perfect foil to those aforementioned giants, and with luck, one of their counterparts in the upper echelons of the league. 

Atlanta gets to draft a frighteningly mobile, 6’11 big with an almost 7’5 foot wingspan. Sarr’s defensive ceiling is limitless, even when trapped on an island against a smaller player. His blend of skill, instincts, and size allows him to cover insane amounts of the floor, especially from the baseline to the arc on a shooter. On offense, Sarr can handle the ball and does a good job at finding open shooters and cutters. His spacing ability is still pretty unrefined, but he’s comfortable taking them, and his form suggests that better results may be down the line. 

In terms of his fit with Atlanta, Jalen Johnson is more than capable of playing at the three, and the pairing of Sarr and Okongwu seems incredibly intriguing, especially with the spacing of Young, Bogdanovic and Hunter. Signed, sealed, delivered, Sarr should go first. 

#2 Washington Wizards - Zaccharie Risacher

F - JL Bourg 

Big Board Ranking: #11

The overwhelming media consensus is that Zaccharie Risacher will not fall below two, and that the Wizards would take the French wing with the second pick if he drops. Big two-way wings are always a premium, and Risacher can defend multiple positions and score the ball on multiple levels. His frame and athleticism make him a serious threat in transition, and his quick release makes his three pointer difficult to guard. 

The question is, can he be more than just a 3&D wing? His handle is sloppy and he hasn’t shown much in the way of being able to create his own shot. There’s an obvious role in the league for a guy like Risacher, but is there more? Risacher’s pathway to immediate success may be direct, but for a team in the dregs of a brutal rebuild, there’s certainly an argument for a larger swing. Risacher strikes me as a high level role player as opposed to a franchise player, and maybe in a weak draft, that's worth the second pick. 

#3 Houston Rockets - Reed Sheppard

G - Kentucky 

Big Board Ranking: #2

Reed Sheppard was a devastating shooter at the college level, nailing a jaw dropping 52% of his 4.4 attempts a game at Kentucky. This elite tool has overshadowed his tenacity on defense, and while it’s easy to label him undersized, he’s too skilled to not take at pick three. 

If the Rockets intend to start both Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, adding an off-ball spacer like Sheppard would be perfect. Sheppard has flashed some playmaking chops, but in Houston, he gets to develop it in the background under the tutelage of a successful small guard in FVV. Sheppard should instantly make an impact as a pure shooter, as well as with his pesky on-ball defense and ball-handling. 

Reed has been undervalued and underrated for much of his career due to his size, but I think he’s talented enough to overcome it. He broke up a lot of plays where he was singled out, and showed that he can hang above his height defensively. People are overthinking Reed Sheppard. 

#4 San Antonio Spurs - Matas Buzelis

F/G - G-League Ignite

Big Board Ranking: #4

While point guard may be the Spurs biggest need, Matas Buzelis is too talented to pass on here. 

Buzelis vs. Risacher will be a debate in the first few picks, and while Risacher may have the higher floor, Buzelis has the higher ceiling. Unlike Risacher, Buzelis embraces contact at the rim in the half court and is more advanced in creating for himself and others. There are major concerns about his outside shooting, due his 27% percent line in his stint with the now defunct G-League Ignite. He shot the three much better in high school, so there’s reason to hope that 2023 was a fluky year on a very bad team. Buzelis is a creative enough scorer to survive while he develops his shot, and landing in San Antonio, a organization with a history of developing shooting is ideal. 

Defensively, Buzelis stands out for his ability to contain and trap opponents with his length. He’s also sneaky good at defending the rim as a help defender, and despite only weighing 197 lbs at 6 '10, can handle physicality and get boards. Towards the end of his season at the Ignite, Buzelis grabbed 8.5 rebounds a game as a teenager. 

If Buzelis can develop his three, or prove that last season was just a fluke, he’s got all the two-way talent to be one of the best players in this draft. 

#5 Detroit Pistons - Dalton Knecht

G/F - Tennessee

Big Board Ranking: #9 

Dalton Knecht is probably a controversial pick here, given that he’s not exactly a “high ceiling” guy getting picked by the worst team in basketball. The Pistons are in year six of their rebuild, and have to start trying to win. They’re going to have to pay Cade, and all reports indicate a swing for a veteran name in the offseason. There were a lot of ingredients at play for the Pistons’s disaster soup of a season, but it all came back to their total lack of three point shooting. Dalton Knecht can fix that problem, and is overwhelmingly the “safest” bet in this draft range. 

If you plan on trotting out a lineup that features Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, you need someone who’s going to space the floor. Is Knecht going to get smoked on defense? Absolutely, but Knecht’s presence allows the Pistons to play elite backline defenders like Thompson and Duren together, which hopefully mitigates Knecht’s limitations.

#6 Charlotte Hornets - Stephon Castle

G/F - UConn

Big Board Ranking: #5

The overarching question with Stephon Castle is what position he will play at the next level. Landing in Charlotte would be the perfect place for him to experiment and figure out whether point guard is an ideal home for him. LaMelo Ball has played some of his best basketball with Terry Rozier, who averaged 5 assists in the same backcourt, but is also frequently hurt. 

Regardless of where he’s playing, Castle will bring tenacious defense and playmaking to the floor. As a connective piece between Ball and Brandon Miller, one could easily see Castle playing a Marcus Smart-y role while Charlotte accelerates their rebuild. There’s potential for much more with Castle, who makes threes in bunches, but hasn’t shown it over a full season. 

#7 Portland Trail Blazers - Ron Holland

F - G-League Ignite 

Big Board Ranking #7

Like Buzelis, Ron Holland is a victim of the awful G-League Ignite. The Ignite lost basically all their games and Holland struggled to shoot with any consistency. The fact that Holland was able to average nearly twenty points a game in a professional league as a teenager in one of the worst basketball situations possible should be viewed as a massive positive. Holland is probably going to be raw and need time to develop on offense, but can be very impactful to Portland as a defender and a lob threat. Holland will be eighteen years old (!!) on draft night, and is one of the best athletes and defenders available in this draft. There is smoke about him falling as far as the late lottery, which plays into the hands of wing defense hungry teams like the Kings or a contender like the Thunder who can afford to let him wait in the wings. 

#8 San Antonio Spurs - Nikola Topic

G - Crvena Zvezda 

Big Board Ranking: #10 

I spoke earlier about the beginning of the Freak Era™, and after drafting Matas Buzelis, the Spurs can fully commit to this idea by drafting the 6 '5 playmaking guard, Nikola Topic. Topic’s slide down draft boards after his ACL injury is understandable, but the tear is only partial. He will likely struggle from beyond the arc (his FT percentage is a good future sign), but his adept passing and creativity would benefit the Spurs while bringing size to the guard position. Topic’s elite playmaking would make him indispensable for Victor Wembanyama, and would allow the Spurs to target a score-first guard in free agency. 

#9 Memphis Grizzlies - Donovan Clingan

C - UConn 

Big Board Ranking: #3 

Donovan Clingan falling this far would be the steal and story of the draft, but with the Spurs, Hornets, Pistons, and Blazers having centers locked in, Clingan could easily fall to nine if he doesn’t go top three. Clingan is enormous, standing at almost 7 '2 with a near 7' 7 wingspan. Rudy Gobert tells us that even if his shooting is purely theoretical, there’s a place in the league for a glass cleaner like Clingan.

This would be the perfect storm for Memphis. League sources have hinted at Memphis trading up to pick three for Clingan, but in this scenario, he’s slid down to nine. Clingan and Jaren Jackson are perfect for each other, yin and yang. Clingan, coming off back to back college championships, could be deep into the playoffs in year one. 

#10 Utah Jazz - Cody Williams

F - Colorado 

Big Board Ranking: #14

Cody Williams is not likely going to be a contributor on day one, something that could scare a lot of teams off. The Jazz are in a position where they can afford to take a swing on upside and add yet another tall wing to their growing stable. He’s going to need to get bigger and stronger to succeed at the next level, but his potential as a defensive wing with facilitating ball skills is fascinating. 

#11 Chicago Bulls - Tidjane Salaun

F - Cholet 

Big Board Ranking: #17

Do the Bulls intend to compete next year? Whether they do or don’t, the Bulls need size and shooting, and Tidjane Salaun could fit that bill while also being one of the higher upside swings around at 11. He’s young and he’s raw, but he’s got one of the highest ceilings of the players available. Salaun is massive, and uses his length to be an irritating defender on and off the ball. He stands at 6'9 and weighs over two hundred points, and will be eighteen when his name is called. His rebounding and motor is somewhat underrated, traits that would complement Nikola Vucevic well, and act as a fallback if the jumper is slow to translate. 

#12 Oklahoma City Thunder - Yves Missi

C - Baylor 

Big Board Ranking: #6

While the Thunder secured the one seed in a stacked Western Conference, Yves Missi was a quick drive down the I-35 displaying all-defensive potential at Baylor. He’s a scheme-defying defender at only nineteen years old, with tons of room to grow. With his established rebounding tool, he’s the perfect fit for the emerging Thunder who desperately needed a rebounding focused change of pace to Chet Holmgren. Missi is a non-shooter, but for a win-now Thunder team with spacing up and down the squad, it might not matter. 

#13 Sacramento Kings - Kel’el Ware

C - Indiana 

Big Board Ranking: #8 

The Kings need size, and need to figure out how to build a defense around Domantas Sabonis. Kel’el Ware could answer both questions at pick 13. Kel’el is in the mold of Myles Turner, and while the 2018-2020 Pacers disappointed in the playoffs, they had the 3rd and 6th best defenses in the NBA. Ware’s rim protection and length would maximize Sabonis on the defensive end, while spacing the floor on the other. He’s extremely mobile for his massive frame, and would finally give Fox (and Monk?) the lob threat they've lacked. 

There are effort concerns that all lead back to his poor freshman stint at Oregon. While his lack of motor is evident in the film, the off-the-court context is that Ware joined an Oregon program as a top recruit, and was the third center in the pecking order behind N’Faly Dante and Nathan Bittle, and was mocked in the media by head coach Dana Altman. 

Ware needed a coach to buy into him, and the second Indiana’s Mike Woodson did that, Ware exploded. He was one of the best offensive and defensive rebounders in the Big 10, while racking up three stocks per game. Kel’el Ware is a special talent, and a coach like Mike Brown may be able to get the best out of him. 

#14 Portland Trail Blazers - Tristan Da Silva

F - Colorado 

Big Board Ranking: #18

Portland may be looking to accelerate the timeline a little more, and picking up a “pro ready” wing in Tristan Da Silva would do just that. Da Silva is a defensive grinder with a mean three pointer and playmaking upside. Adding Da Silva and Holland allows Portland to take an upside swing while also adding the shooting that they need. 

#15 Miami Heat - Rob Dillingham

G - Kentucky 

Big Board Ranking: #12

The collective NBA world groans as the Miami Heat get another elite talent falling into their lap with

Rob Dillingham. Was this fall real, or engineered by Klutch Sports? If Miami retains Jimmy Butler and wants to compete again, Dillingham has immediate upside with his 44% 3pt shooting and ball handling. Dillingham under the watchful eye of Erik Spolestra could become something special. Dillingham’s size will be targeted in the NBA, but if anyone can scheme around it, it’s Erik Spolestra. 

#16 Philadelphia 76ers - Devin Carter

G - Providence

Big Board Ranking: #13

Devin Carter to the Sixers feels like a homerun. Carter is a irritant 3&D guard who is best as a secondary playmaker, making him an ideal fit next to Tyrese Maxey. If Carter’s ugly shooting form translates to the NBA, he’s going to play in this league for a long time. 

#17 Los Angeles Lakers - Isaiah Collier

G - USC 

Big Board Ranking #16

Isaiah Collier stands out as a potential value pick due to his freaky athleticism and pedigree prior to the incredibly weird situation that was USC. Collier made opposing defenses work, with his occasionally overconfident playmaking and ability to finish through contact at the rim. Los Angeles needs a playmaker to swing the ball to their stars, and Collier could do that and provide solid defense day one. 

#18 Orlando Magic - Carlton Carrington

G - Pittsburgh 

Big Board Ranking #19

Orlando likes to run big lineups, and Carlton "Bub" Carrington is the big scoring guard that Markelle Fultz wasn’t. With Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black in the fold, the Magic can afford to take their time with one of the youngest prospects in the draft. Carrington needs to improve his spot-up shooting and bulk up a bit to better attack the rim, but long-term, he’s an incredibly intriguing fit with the tall Orlando Magic. 

#19 Toronto Raptors - Jared McCain

G - Duke

Big Board Ranking: #15

Toronto struggled to space the floor last year, and drafting Jared McCain to pair with Gradey Dick would certainly help. If Scottie Barnes is given more work as a playmaker, having McCain’s shooting and slashing as a weapon around him will make his life easy. He’s also a sneaky good rebounder, and like Barnes, has an infectious personality. Toronto needs to build a foundation and a culture, and McCain would certainly help. 

#20 Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyshawn George

G/F - Miami 

Big Board Ranking: #21

Adding another versatile shooting wing is exactly what Cleveland needs to bolster a weak bench. Kyshawn George is a tall 3&D wing with potential to be an impactful playmaker, ironically reminiscent of a younger Georges Niang. George can defend across multiple positions, a helpful attribute for a bench wing on a team that wants to make a push. 

#21 New Orleans Pelicans - Daron Holmes II

F/C - Dayton

Big Board Ranking: #22 

Daron Holmes II can bring the rim protection that Jonas Valanciunas didn't, while retaining the same ability to space the floor. Holmes is experienced and versatile, perfect for a team that wants to step towards really competing. He put up monster numbers against albeit weaker competition at Dayton, and would add to the Pelicans’ already very versatile defense. 

#22 Phoenix Suns - Tyler Kolek

G - Marquette

Big Board Ranking: #23

Tyler Kolek racked up over five hundred assists in his final two years at Marquette, and now, he’ll have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker at his disposal. Kolek’s high motor, knockdown shooting and poise is the ideal fit for a Phoenix team in a do or die year. 

 #23 Milwaukee Bucks - Jakobe Walter

G/F - Baylor 

Big Board Ranking: #20 

Jakobe Walter would be an interesting swing for the Bucks, who badly need wing depth. He can get hot shooting the three in a way reminiscent of prime Dion Waiters, and would provide a spark off their bench. Both sides of the ball come with significant question marks, but at this point in the draft, Walter’s tools make him hard to pass up. 

#24 New York Knicks - Tyler Smith

F - G-League Ignite 

Big Board Ranking: #24

With back-to-back picks, the Knicks can afford to take an upside swing like Tyler Smith, the freaky athletic forward from the Ignite. He can defend across multiple positions while potentially being able to space the floor. They’re going to have to be patient, as Smith is very raw and desperately needs to improve on defense. Maybe Tom Thibodeau is the perfect coach for him. 

#25 New York Knicks - Kyle Filipowski

F/C - Duke 

Big Board Ranking: #27

Unlike Smith, who may need a little refinement, Kyle Filipowski can make an impact right away for the Knicks. His negative wingspan limits his shot blocking ability, but Flip could play a Kelly Olynyk-like role for the win-now Knicks. Filipowski’s safety might appeal to teams picking higher than this, especially those in need of a finesse big. 

#26 Washington Wizards - Pacome Dadiet

F - Ratiopharm 

Big Board Ranking: #25

The Wizards have the luxury of taking the best talent available, and with the 26th pick, they can pair Zaccharie Risacher with his countryman, Pacome Dadiet. Dadiet is raw, and needs time to develop, but could be a three level scorer with time. Dadiet is 6’8, shot well from three, and will be 18 on draft night… Could be a big steal for the Wizards. 

#27 Minnesota Timberwolves - Nikola Djurisic

F - Mega Basket

Big Board Ranking: #26 

Nikola Djurisic’s upside as a 6 '8 shot creator is worth a swing at the 27th pick. Djurisic has great IQ and feel, and would be an ideal addition to Minnesota’s bench unit. Both his parents are professional athletes, and in his own words “I’m athletic, not just some ordinary European player” 

#28 Denver Nuggets - Johnny Furphy

G/F - Kansas 

Big Board Ranking: #30 

Johnny Furphy isn’t much on the defensive side of the floor, but could add shooting to a bench unit that struggled to make threes in big spots. His sneaky athleticism, hustle and willingness to make the extra pass reminds me of Christian Braun, his potential future teammate. 

#29 Utah Jazz - Johnathan Mogbo

F/C - USF 

Big Board Ranking: #28

Johnathan Mogbo is a fascinating prospect who overcame all odds to end up here. Mogbo played at Independence Community College in Kansas and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, then upgraded to Missouri State, and finally USF, where he blossomed. I got the chance to watch him live at USF, and his ability to be a defensive anchor, ball handler and facilitator blew me away. It’s hard to not see shades of Draymond Green in his game. Mogbo is a non-shooter, and likely will stay that way, which puts a massive damper on his potential. Regardless, a worthy swing this late in the draft, especially for a team with time like the Jazz. 

#30 Boston Celtics - Zach Edey

C - Purdue 

Big Board Ranking: #31

Zach Edey can’t fall forever, and Joe Mazzula might be a creative enough coach to figure out how to use Edey’s enormous size to bolster the shallow big man reserves in Boston. Edey has undeniable skill, but plays an archaic style of basketball that makes you question it's translatability. Edey is too big for the perimeter, and lopes around the court with his low foot speed. Will his soft touch and size survive the skill gap between college and the pros? Boston can figure that out at little risk.

#31 Toronto Raptors - Dillon Jones

F - Weber St. 

Big Board Ranking: #29

Dillon Jones is a big facilitating wing in the mold of Kyle Anderson. He could be a solid connector with Scottie Barnes and the new backcourt of McCain and Dick. 

#32 Utah Jazz - Baylor Schierman

F - Creighton

Big Board ranking: #33

The Jazz lucked into Keyonte George, and drafting the lefty Baylor Schierman should open up the floor for him to be more explosive. Schierman hit almost 300 threes for Creighton last season, and is sure to be a fan favorite in Utah. 

#33 Milwaukee Bucks - Bobi Klintman

F - Cairns Taipans 

Big Board Ranking: #34

Bobi Klintmann is somewhat of a mystery, but would be an interesting addition to Milwaukee’s frontcourt. Klintmann is a massive slashing wing with outside shooting potential, but needs to get stronger and work on an offensive game that isn’t just threes and dunks. 

#34 Portland Trail Blazers - Ulrich Chomche

C - NBA Academy

Big Board Ranking: #32

Ulrich Chomche is the youngest player in this draft, and a freak athlete. Trouble is, he’s still learning how to play basketball, and it shows. There’s a faint whisper of an electric shot blocker with a well-rounded offensive game, but for now, Chomche is a raw prospect who’s going to need time. 

#35 San Antonio Spurs - Melvin Ajinca

G - Saint Quintin

Big Board Ranking: #43

The Spurs are going to want 3&D contributors around their new young core, and Wembanyama’s countryman Melvin Ajinca would be a fascinating choice. Melvin shoots a fluid ball from the left side, and standing at 6’7,  he could be a multiple-position defender at some point. 

#36 Indiana Pacers - Ryan Dunn

F - Virginia

Big Board Ranking: #36

Ryan Dunn is one of the best defenders in this entire draft, and certainly could go much higher due to that tool, but is a non-factor on offense, which limits his real ceiling. Dunn is a freaky defender with a jaw-dropping block rate, but is also a coin flip (about 50%) from the free throw line. 

#37 Minnesota Timberwolves - Jalon Tyson

F - California

Big Board Ranking: #35

Jalon Tyson is an experienced shot creator and knockdown shooter with size, perfect for the win-now Timberwolves. Standing at 6’7 and able to hold his own on defense, he’s an ideal fit for the Wolves. 

#38 New York Knicks - Harrison Ingram

F - UNC

Big Board Ranking: #37 

Harrison Ingram is a physical, plug and play shooter who excels at screening and rebounding. In short, Tom Thibodeau’s perfect player. 

#39 Memphis Grizzlies - Adem Bona

C - UCLA

Big Board Ranking: #38

Adem Bona is a big, physical rebounder that could spell Clingan if he can be impactful enough to overcome his total lack of a perimeter game. 

#40 Portland Trail Blazers - Terrence Shannon Jr.

F - Illinois

Big Board Ranking: #UNR (controversy)

Terrence Shannon Jr. has slipped down draft boards due to off-court issues, but has the potential to be a massive steal at pick forty. Shannon is a three-level scorer with enough explosiveness to overcome his lack of size at the wing. 

#41 Philadelphia 76ers - Kevin McCullar Jr.

F - Kansas

Big Board Ranking: #39

Kevin McCullar Jr. is an older prospect with some injury history, but has a relatively high floor as a capable scoring wing. Philadelphia will be in need of value scoring, and in the second round, McCullar is just that. 

#42 Charlotte Hornets - Justin Edwards

F - Kentucky

Big Board Ranking: #43

Justin Edwards is a 3&D wing, but the D stands for dunks and the 3 stands for defense. Edwards is a solid scorer inside, but struggled to improve as an outside shooter.

#43 Miami Heat - Cameron Christie

G - Minnesota

Big Board Ranking: #48

Cam Christie, the brother of Max Christie, is a fantastic shooter with a 6’8 wingspan. Despite the defensive chops, Christie struggles to score outside of shooting the ball. 

#44 Houston Rockets - Oso Ighodaro

C/F - Marquette

Big Board Ranking: #49

Oso Ighodaro is an intriguing choice as a long term fit with the Rockets. He’s one of the better defensive big men in this draft, and has the athleticism to switch across positions, but is essentially a non-shooter. 

#45 Sacramento Kings - Jaylen Wells

G - Washington St.

Big Board Rankings: #41 

The Kings worked out Sacramento native Jaylen Wells, and with the 45th pick, he’d be a great find. He’s a knockdown shooter off the catch and on the move with the tools to develop playmaking down the line. I’d love to see him develop under Lindsay Harding in Stockton. 

#46 Los Angeles Clippers - Ajay Mitchell

G - UCSB

Big Board Ranking: #45

Ajay Mitchell is an ideal choice for a Clippers team looking to be competitive. He’s incredibly creative around the rim, and gets there with a lightning fast first step that puzzles defenders. His shooting improved a lot, and if it translates, Mitchell could be a instant contributor on a very good team. 

#47 Orlando Magic - Pelle Larsson

G/F - Arizona

Big Board Ranking: #42

Pelle Larsson is an experienced college sniper, and for a team with spacing needs like Orlando, a worthwhile swing despite the fact he’s not much of an athlete. 

#48 San Antonio Spurs - Jamal Shead

G - Houston

Big Board Ranking: #47

Jamal Shead is a hard-nosed small defensive guard in the mold of Davion Micthell. Shead struggles as a three-point shooter, but is enough of a defender and playmaker to bank on his shooting eventually coming around. 

#49 Indiana Pacers - Trentyn Flowers

G - Adelaide

Big Board Ranking: #50

Trentyn Flowers has been a big riser during the draft process, with his size and quick twitch scoring tempting NBA franchises. He will need serious time and development, but is worth a late pick. 

#50 Indiana Pacers - Keshad Johnson

F - Arizona

Big Board Ranking: #51

Keshad Johnson is a defensive first forward, but has shown some offensive flashes, especially in his final season at Arizona. He’s got the athleticism to jump out of the gym, but might just be a wing/big tweener. 

#51 Washington Wizards - PJ Hall F/C - Clemson

Big Board Ranking: #56

Is screening a valuable enough tool to get someone drafted? PJ Hall isn’t much on the perimeter, and will struggle outside the paint due to his foot speed. He’s a smart, physical big with soft offensive touch. 

#52 Golden State Warriors - Judah Mintz

G - Syracuse

Big Board Ranking: #59

Judah Mintz is a creative scorer who has the potential to be an energy shifter. He has active hands on defense, and is a solid playmaker but Mintz struggles to shoot the ball. Hopefully he can learn a thing or two under Stephen Curry in Golden State. 

#53 Detroit Pistons - Antonio Reeves

G - Kentucky 

Big Board Ranking: #57

Antonio Reeves is a “pro ready” shooter, and a perfect fit for the shooting strapped Pistons. He’s 24, but has steadily improved as an all around scorer through his time at Kentucky.  

#54 Boston Celtics - Juan Nunez

G - Ratiopharm

Big Board Ranking: #53

Juan Nunez may end up being a draft and stash, but he should be able to contribute as a playmaker on day one. He manages to finish through contact with consistency, despite his size. besides maybe Kolek, Nunez may have the best court vision in the draft. 

#55 Los Angeles Lakers - Bronny James

G - USC

Big Board Ranking: #79

As hilarious as it would be for LA to take Bronny James at 17, this is vastly more realistic. 

#56 Denver Nuggets - AJ Johnson

G - Illawarra

Big Board Ranking: #52

AJ Johnson is a theoretical hooper who balled out at the combine, but has career line averages of 2/1/0.. It’s the 56th overall pick, so a swing is a swing. 

#57 Memphis Grizzlies - Tristen Newton

G - UConn

Big Board Ranking: #54

Tristen Newton is a winner who can bring poise and solid playmaking while guarding 1-thru-3. 

#58 Dallas Mavericks - Isaiah Crawford

F - Louisiana Tech

Big Board Ranking: #50

The bespectacled Isaiah Crawford is a talented two-way wing with three point shooting potential. Landing with the Western conference champs would be an ideal place for him to develop.