Grading the First Round of the NBA Draft

The first 30 picks of the 2024 NBA Draft are in the books! This year's class is unique: with extensive balance replacing the usual batch of projectable all-stars, personal opinions are deviating more than ever. Check out my 2024 Draft Guide for thoughtful evaluations of each prospect!

Written & Illustrated by Jackson Boake

The NBA Draft is a beautiful time. Momentous transactions amend the league’s ever-changing shape while, more importantly, the lives of 58 young phenoms reach a remarkable inflection point—the crux of their varying basketball journeys as lifelong dreams morph into reality. 

The absence of a transcendent star has injected gusts of external negativity into this class. I empathize with Zaccharie Risacher, who was disparaged against the expectations of a top draft pick across every media outlet—though the blink-of-an-eye transformation into a millionaire is a fun consolation. But as a hoops junkie, I loved this class for its flatness. Diversions from consensus viewpoints were plentiful as ever, dilating selection ranges and channeling illimitable power to the eye of the beholder. I get more and more infatuated with the draft every year, but this one has a special spot in my personal lore. 

Now for my two cents. Below, I’ve assigned letter grades to each pick that juxtapose my projections for their return on investment versus other options on the board. This fuses fit-based analysis with my personal opinions on such prospects. Looking to learn more about these guys? Check out my intricate, navigable 2024 Draft Guide!

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1. Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg

I’m not going to rip on this pick, but I firmly believe Risacher was neither the best available prospect nor the perfect remedy for Atlanta’s needs. Ideally, an offense optimized for Risacher would feature pace, player movement, and kickouts off paint pressure—a contrast from past Hawks' offenses that will require more deferral from Trae Young. Young is a savant pick n' roll passer who leverages his floater to spoonfeed catch-and-finish opportunities to big-men, but his heliocentric offensive approach is less conducive to complimentary-style wings who thrive off advantages. I worry that fluctuating levels of involvement within Atlanta's offense will compound Risacher's propensity to phase out of games. DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish, and AJ Griffin have struggled in this environment—let's see if Risacher can be the exception. On a more positive note: I do like the fit next to Jalen Johnson in the frontcourt, whose interior dynamism will make for a nice compliment next to Risacher’s perimeter-oriented game. 

Grade: C

2. Wizards: Alexandre Sarr, C, Perth

Kudos to the Wizards for selecting my top-ranked prospect in the class, but I’m anticipating some growing pains here as Sarr navigates a disorganized offensive structure. All signs point to Washington continuing its downward trajectory in 2024-’25. With Tyus Jones testing the UFA waters and Deni Avdija packing his bags for Portland, expect Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma to soak loads of initiator usage—likely not the quintessential formula for maximizing Sarr’s projected day-one role as a play-finisher. He’ll find success attacking downhill and executing simple kickout reads in the short roll, but these opportunities will be scarce if his work is siloed in Washington’s inconsonance. Hopefully, the Wizards land a virtuosic young point guard in the near-ish future to grow alongside Sarr. Perhaps Dylan Harper or Nolan Traore in next year’s draft?

Grade: A-

3. Rockets: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

Houston nailed this pick. Sheppard diversifies their staunch young nucleus as a combo guard who stretches the floor, sets the table for others, and seamlessly slides on and off the ball. As the predecessor to a savvy veteran in Fred VanVleet, he’ll have the luxury of easing from a more simplified role into widened responsibilities as he adds experience. Financial restraints and positional overlap will eventually force the Rockets to consolidate assets, but expect Sheppard’s coherent theoretical fit to play a major part in their future plans; at least for now.

Grade: A-

4. Spurs: Stephon Castle, G, Connecticut

This is the correct pick in a vacuum. The caveat? It doesn’t necessarily patch up San Antonio’s immediate needs. Castle is an excellent connective playmaker who perpetuates the offensive flow through constant activity and sure-headed floor-reads. This won’t be optimized, however, until the Spurs add another gravitational offensive fulcrum next to Victor Wembanyama. While Castle thrives in motion, he’s not yet suited to incite the motion himself. At UConn, he excelled when working off advantages manufactured by surrounding playmakers and team concepts that drove defenses into rotation. San Antonio currently lacks the ammo to replicate this at the NBA level, which slides Castle into a pseudo-creator role—in which he’ll be overstretched. Until he adds sophistication to his handle and a viable jumpshot to leverage in pick n’ rolls, he won’t be consistently pulling defenses out of shape on his own ...

... which is why I was psyched about his fit next to Rob Dillingham; that is, until San Antonio flipped him to Minnesota after drafting him at 8. Dillingham, a far more polished initiator who dazzles with his shotmaking and pick n’ roll passing, makes for a consummate fit next to supercharged complimentary pieces like Castle; who would then reciprocate the favor on the other end by seizing the more challenging defensive assignments in the backcourt.

I initially found myself less enthused by the Castle addition after learning San Antonio wasn’t pairing him with another playmaker on the perimeter, but I’ve since done another 180. While players of Dillingham’s archetype are a necessity for competing, San Antonio hasn’t yet accumulated the championship equity to where they need to take that swing right now. Those players will always be available in the free agency, the draft, and the trade market, and San Antonio has the assets to cash in on one when they need to. Players of Castle’s mold are just as difficult to acquire, and if that’s who the Spurs had on top of their board, then they nailed this selection.

Grade: A-

5. Pistons: Ron Holland, F, G-League Ignite

I like Holland as a prospect, but not in the context of Detroit’s roster. Unless he makes significant strides as a shooter, he risks compounding preexisting spacing issues—allowing opponents to congest driving lanes with yet another help defender. Constant traffic is generally detrimental to player development: ask Holland himself, who suffered through a miserable basketball ecosystem with G-League Ignite. Conversely, inserting a shooter frees up space for players to thrive. The Pistons were +8.0 points better per 100 possessions with Simone Fontecchio on the floor last season. Opposing ball pressure was alleviated, evidenced by the -2.6% dip in their collective turnover rate in his minutes. Dalton Knecht, a name that circulated draft circles as a potential Piston, could’ve provided a similar boost.

This selection may very well work, but it banks on Holland taking a dramatic leap in a somewhat adverse environment.

Grade: C-

6. CHA: F Tidjane Salaun, Cholet — C

Assessments of this pick ultimately swing on varied perceptions of Salaun. It’s a logical fit: he counterbalances the graceful, skill-based creation methods of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as a play-finishing wrecking ball off cuts and kick outs. Charlotte lacks defensive artillery, but perhaps Salaun, an imposing athlete with multipositional upside, can cover for their weak links. 

Personally, I would’ve gone in another direction here. He’ll need to smoothen the edges of his game as he searches for a niche in high-leverage situations, where the inconsistencies in his touch, shooting, and playmaking are at risk of being exploited. I like Aaron Gordon as a viable high-end outcome here. Like Salaun, Gordon’s raw skills were mired in question marks—but he found his match in Denver next to Nikola Jokic.

7. POR: C Donovan Clingan, Connecticut — A-

Clingan was widely considered a top 3 prospect in this year’s draft for his defensive prowess—a byproduct of his massive frame, flexible hips, impeccable timing, and intricate understanding of the NBA’s rule of verticality. A lucrative draft day netted Deni Avdija, a versatile swingman, alongside Clingan. Together, they can spearhead Portland’s nuanced defensive blueprint with both rim protection and switchability. Let’s be clear: Clingan’s archetype is not obsolete. Effective drop bigs, even in the absence of their aesthetic appeal, still offer massive value in deadbolting opposing rims. 

Clingan’s stellar defense and interior-oriented offense are much of a known commodity, but his fit within Portland’s current frontcourt nucleus remains a question mark. The Blazers are swinging on three-point shooting leaps from one, if not all, of Clingan, DeAndre Ayton, and Robert Williams. Otherwise, they’ll endure the pitfalls of conjoined non-shooters—an antiquated offensive recipe that nullifies the benefits of modern spacing. 

Luckily for the Blazers, there’s no need to expedite the assessment process. Fielding talent is, and should be, priority number one before exhausting transaction capital in ironing out the creases. Clingan was the best player on the board at 7, and Portland did right in taking him.

8. MIN (via SAS, TOR): G Rob Dillingham, Kentucky — A

Woah! Minnesota exchanged a 2030 pick-swap and an unprotected 2031 first-rounder for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham—a gamble on both the readiness and longevity of the foundation surrounding budding megastar Anthony Edwards. This pick zaps Minnesota’s looming long-term uncertainty at point guard. With Mike Conley’s days numbered, the need for a successor was inevitable. Insert Dillingham: a dizzying playmaker who flexed his malleability at Kentucky by thriving under a number of offensive parameters: heading pick n’ rolls, flying through screens off the ball, pouncing on gaps off the catch, orchestrating open looks for teammates, etc. Plus, his discounted rookie contract maximizes financial flexibility for the next four years. Thriving in Minnesota’s title-ready ecosystem will necessitate further evolution, but Dillingham’s track record is a positive indicator. 

In full transparency, I was magnetized by Dillingham’s prospective fit in San Antonio before news of the trade. Victor Wembanyama would’ve made for an uber-dynamic pick n’ roll/pop partner and the ultimate defensive security blanket. With that said, perhaps Minnesota can aggregate the combination of several pieces to optimize Dillingham in a similar way. Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid are bullseye three-point shooters who can lure matchups out to the perimeter with their shooting gravity. Rudy Gobert’s bravura in covering blown defensive assignments is rivaled by only Wembanyama himself. 

San Antonio would’ve been really fun for Dillingham, but Minnesota provides alternative intrigue as a ready-made contender with personnel equipped to nurture his growth. This is cool too—a no-brainer trade and selection.

9. MEM: C Zach Edey, Purdue — B+

Another fun surprise here! My draft board ranked Edey as the 17th-best prospect in a vacuum, but my optimism skyrockets with his harmonious fit in Memphis. Perhaps he can be their souped-up version of Steven Adams: a brick-wall screener and gargantuan lob target for Ja Morant, as well as a rebounding vacuum to alleviate the burden on Jaren Jackson Jr. 

Morant will most certainly want to push the pace in transition. Can Edey keep up? His bruising, methodical, larger-than-life dominance still poses stylistic contrasts to the modern NBA. Meticulous opposing gameplans will force him to guard in space away from the hoop. He must learn how to provide small doses of perimeter resistance with his length, but Jackson Jr.’s lurking backline presence is a pretty good buoy for the inevitable blow-bys. Memphis also has the optionality to go small in a pinch. With Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, and GG Jackson all capable of playing spot minutes at center, Edey is more of a luxury than a necessity.

10. UTA: F Cody Williams, Colorado — B

This one is more straightforward. Utah is in the process of establishing direction and foundation personnel, so it’s safe to assume they went with their best player available here at 10. Williams offers shades of multipositional perimeter defense, shot creation, playmaking, and floor-spacing, but he’ll need to fill out both his body and the roundedness of his skillset in order to make a consistent impact. His ball-handling offers an immediate niche as a DHO threat in Utah’s motion offense. If he hastens his processing speed, he can pair his dexterity as a slasher with surgical inside-out passing.

11. CHI: F Matas Buzelis, G-League Ignite — A-

I thought I was lower on Buzelis than consensus—that is, until he slid all the way to 11 on draft night. Buzelis thrives in transition, where he can weaponize his length, athletic pop, and ball skills to punish scrambled defenses in space. Chicago was one of the slowest offenses in the league last season—hopefully, that evolves with Coby White seizing the baton from DeMar DeRozan as the primary creator (barring a Zach Lavine resurrection).

Shooting is Buzelis's swing skill—its absence will cap his ceiling both on and off the ball. If his shot develops, he can leverage it to create driving lanes in on-ball actions while simultaneously expanding his malleability off the ball by forcing genuine closeouts. He also needs to add weight to fortify his interior scoring and defensive versatility.

Don’t expect Buzelis to blast expectations as a rookie. But if his shades of roundness materialize down the line, his blend of size, fluidity, and refinement boasts a tantalizing two-way ceiling. All things considered, this is strong value at the 11th spot in a limited class.

12. OKC (via HOU): G Nikola Topic, Crvena Zvezda — B

Topic was my second-ranked prospect for most of the cycle, though I ultimately soured on his shooting virtues and the injury chronology that narrowed his sample size as a prospect. Still, his constant rim pressure and innovative pick n’ roll passing are fascinating attributes for a prospect. I ultimately slotted him as my number-10 prospect—the intermediate between his lofty upside and truncated floor. My stance on his fit with OKC diverges into two opposing schools of thought.

Optimist: Topic isn’t a guy you want to rush, and the Thunder have the infrastructure to bring him up slowly. His ACL injury likely sidelines him for a year, but what does his pseudo-rookie season in ‘25-26 look like? Oklahoma City’s slew of high-level guards offers the latitude for patience and proper tutelage. It also forces Topic to shape his game around the constraints of playoff basketball. Staunch defense, tight decision-making, and the willingness to move off the ball will all be necessary if he wants to see the floor in meaningful games.

Pessimist: The Josh Giddey parallels are a little bit eerie—and we just saw him fold in the role Topic is likely to assume in the future. Giddey, a supersized playmaker whose limited off-ball skillset necessitated a large share of touches, struggled to compliment Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and OKC’s offensive framework. Will Topic adapt his game to avoid a similar fate? The Thunder backcourt continues to swell with talent, especially with the addition of Alex Caruso and the projectable development of Cason Wallace. If Topic wants to play, he’ll need to evolve. 

This pick could be an emphatic hit. It could also go in the completely opposite direction.

13. SAC: G Devin Carter, Providence — B+

Carter is essentially Sacramento’s second swing at the Davion Mitchell archetype. Both entered the NBA as seasoned college stars with suffocating defensive chops at the point of attack, but Carter flashes proficiency in pivotal areas that spelled death for Mitchell. DeAaron Fox and Malik Monk are dynamic playmakers who inject indispensable shotmaking and rim pressure into Sacramento’s offense, but their slight frames elicit supporting size and versatility on the other end. As abrasive as Mitchell may be on players of similar stature, he’s just 6-foot with a 6-foot-4 wingspan—inadequate measurements for scaling onto bigger guards. At 6-foot-3 with an extensive 6-foot-8 wingspan, Carter’s physical attributes more closely resemble Keon Ellis—who stuck in Sacramento’s rotation more last year than Mitchell ever did. Like Ellis, Carter’s disruptive length is equipped for various matchups.

Carter can really separate himself from both Mitchell and Ellis on the offensive end. With Fox and Monk commanding touches, Sacramento needs a floor-spacing off-guard who can dissect defenses with quick reads off the catch. This wasn’t Carter’s role at Providence, but his lightning first-step quickness and dramatically improved shot are suited for opportunistic attacks in advantage situations. I think he can eclipse the low-frequency rim-rates of Mitchell and Ellis—both of whom struggle to get two feet in the paint on drives.

14. WAS (via POR, GSW): G Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh — B

A simple look boils Carrington down to your prototypical “pass, dribble, shoot” point guard, but his game complexifies beneath the surface. His shooting profile is both captivating and enigmatic. He cashed 32.2 percent of his 3s at Pitt, but that compounds a chilly 23-game stretch to open the season (28.6 percent) with a steamy 10-game close (40.3 percent). The touch indicators are auspicious: a blazing 51.3 percent from the mid-range and 78.5 percent from the line. Carrington’s mechanics draw likeness to two-part shooters like DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler—a motion that often proves more conducive to intermediate distances than from beyond the arc. The Wizards are gambling on the expansion of his catch-and-shoot range—a sensible bet given his distilled levels of feel and fluidity with the ball. 

He’s also a genius passer. Many young guards are predestined in their maneuvers, but Carrington is reactive. He sniffs out tight windows for kickouts, dump-offs, and crosscourt rifles in traffic. That said, there’s a difference between passing and playmaking, and Carrington is further along in the former than the latter. If someone’s open, he’ll find them—but pressuring the rim is paramount in manufacturing these opportunities. Carrington’s lean frame and mid-range touch yield heavy doses of driving pull-ups, rather than hardened journeys into the teeth of the paint. The lofted, buttery jumpshots are effective in a vacuum, but they don’t collapse the defense. Carrington will need to improve in getting all the way to the rim in order to stamp himself as a multifaceted playmaker—an achievable means if he adds strength and comfort in playing through contact. 

Is he a “combo guard” or a “tweener”? If Carrington rounds out his shooting and playmaking skillsets, his on/off ball versatility will unlock success at either backcourt spot. If some of the question marks extrapolate to a larger sample size, he may struggle to find his niche. 

With the franchise in flux, there’s not much to say about Carrington’s fit with the Wizards. One thing is for sure: his license for experimentation, paired with the nightly acid trip of Jordan Poole, makes for a captivating Wednesday night watch on League Pass.

(Shifting to some more consolidated analysis as we exit the lottery.)

15. MIA: C Kel'el Ware, Indiana — A-

Ware’s length and verticality add new dimensions to Miami’s defensive skeleton. Bam Adebayo, one of the league’s apex defenders, will have the luxury of freelancing on defense with another dynamic rim protector at his side for the first time in his career. Ware’s fluctuating effort and energy levels will put the dark arts of Heat Culture to the test, but my unwavering confidence in Erik Spoelstra trumps most reasonable doubt. This feels like the perfect fit.

16. PHI: G Jared McCain, Duke — A-

McCain shoots a homing missile from beyond the arc—a lethal counterpunch against defensive crowds drawn to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Plus, he knows how to make himself available by relocating into unoccupied space when the defense shifts. The hope is that he avoids a similar fate to Buddy Hield, whose defensive drawbacks outweighed his shooting prowess as a Sixer. McCain is undersized and lacks high level agility, but he’s savvy, sturdy, and anticipatory. 

17. LAL: F Dalton Knecht, Tennessee — A

As the Sixers did in McCain, the Lakers snagged their shooting ace in Knecht. Darvin Ham scraped the bottom of the barrell in search of a fifth shooter for closing lineups last season. If Knecht can stay afloat defensively, that could be his role from day-one. Also, who better to access movement shooting skills than newly aquitted Head Coach JJ Reddick? Weakside pindowns and flares for Knecht will help assuage any off-ball stagnation around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.  

18. ORL: F Tristan Da Silva, Colorado — B+

There’s very little risk attached to Da Silva’s archetype because a) his strengths are employable in any environment and b) the lesser-developed areas of his game don’t exceed the bounds of his projected role. He seizes a defined day-one niche as the Magic’s best catch-and-shooter in the frontcourt and a fun contrast to their ubiquitous defensive gadget in Johnathan Isaac. Last postseason, pick n’ rolls headed by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were self-sabotaged by Orlando’s inadequate spacing. Perhaps Da Silva’s shooting touch can help open up the floor. The next step? Adding the requisite quickness to crossmatch across positions in Orlando’s switch-heavy scheme.

19. TOR: G Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor — B-

…the spitting image of fellow Raptor (for now), Gary Trent Jr.—both long-limbed 6-foot-5 wings who offset limited interior skillsets with laser shooting. Aside from a six-year age gap and negligible difference in wingspan, they’re cut from the same ilk. Trent has cashed at least 2.5 threes per game in each of the past four seasons, but his limited peripheral impact as a passer, finisher, and point-of-attack defender made him an expendable commodity for Toronto. If Walter ascends to Trent’s level as a shooter, he’ll stick in the NBA. But he’ll need to round out the fringes of his game to solidify himself as a long-time starter.

20. CLE: F Jaylon Tyson, California — C

Tyson joins the small forward carousel in Cleveland. The Cavs’ hunt for a connective piece to bridge their dynamic backcourt and supersized big men predicates on two main search parameters: shooting and defense. Isaac Okoro provides the latter in spades, evidenced by his 11th-place finishing in BBall Index’s “matchup difficulty” ranking last season, but his narrow perimeter tool kit is too much of a spacing detriment with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen already dominating real estate on the interior. Max Strus does enough of both, but he’s overstretched as a primary perimeter stopper—his assumed role next to Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Is Tyson the missing piece to the puzzle? The final infinity stone? I’m not so sure. He’ll need to take another step as a shooter while proving he can scale into a lower-usage role.

21. NOP: C Yves Missi, Baylor — A

New Orleans clearly prefers a blend of spacing and versatility at the center spot over the more methodical, skull-bashing approach of Jonas Valanciunas. Even when Valanciunas found success on the interior against Oklahoma City last postseason, Willie Green leaned on small-ball units anchored by Larry Nance Jr. in crucial moments. Like Nance, Missi enhances the Pelicans’ defensive flexibility. His athletic traits—speed, lateral quickness, hip mobility—are conducive to switching onto perimeter players and oscillating between pick n’ roll coverages. His length and explosiveness add a vertical dimension as well—a fresh import for a unit surrendering top-five opposing rim percentages in each of the past four seasons. Missi doesn’t space the floor at all, but perhaps his strides as a faceup creator will evolve into a viable counter when defenses sag off.

22. DEN: F/C DaRon Holmes, Dayton — B

Denver gets a mulligan on the Zeke Nnaji experiment here in their search for a second-unit stabilizer in non-Jokic lineups. If things break right for Holmes, he can fit the bill. His offensive utility swings with his shooting touch. He upped his volume and accuracy dramatically in his final year at Dayton, burying over 38 percent of his 2.5 three-point attempts per night. But it’s not all sun and rainbows. He hit just 7 threes over his first two college seasons and shot under 68 percent from the free-throw line in sum. He’ll need to prove that year three wasn’t an aberration. The auxiliary stuff on both ends could really go either way. On the one hand, he flashes a dynamic handle, shot-stuffing prowess, and elite athletic pop. Contrarily, he’s exploitable when guarding in space, lacks the length of a true rim-protector, and most of his on-ball work comes with his back to the basket. I would’ve liked this pick more at 28 than 22, but it fills an immediate need nonetheless.

23. MIL: G A.J. Johnson, Illawarra — D+

I’m sorry—I can’t get behind this one. Milwaukee has room for reinforcements on their depth chart and immediate impact options (Terrence Shannon Jr., Baylor Scheierman, Tyler Kolek) were still on the board. Johnson’s sales pitch is premised on long-term upside, but if Milwaukee is drafting for the post-Lillard era, what does it say about their confidence in their current product?

24. WAS: F Kyshawn George, Miami — B

George has a nice foundation of length, feel, and a picturesque jumpshot. Channeling his innate basketball IQ into live-ball playmaking will take some time, especially in his absence of high-level athleticism, but he’ll have a blank canvas for experimentation as Washington bottoms out for the next couple of years. Let’s revisit this when George has some NBA experience under his belt.

25. NYK: F Pacome Dadiet, Ulm — B+

Dadiet knows how to put the ball in the hoop, and he can do it in a myriad of ways, both with and without the ball. He’s not just a shot-taker; he’s a shotmaker. Dadiet’s impressive three-level efficiency last season with Ratiopharm Ulm is a positive indicator of his natural touch and scoring versatility. He’s also an effective ball-handler with the ingenuity to develop into a playmaker. Ultimately, it’s all about how his intriguing individual skills coalesce. I doubt Tom Thibodeau throws him into the fire this year. Rather, expect the Knicks to bring him up slowly through their G-League affiliate.

26. OKC: G/F Dillon Jones, Weber St. — C

Jones was universally mocked as a day-two selection before Oklahoma City reached for him at 26. He’s a burling, unorthodox playmaker who leverages his strength and creativity to bulldoze defenders and manufacture unique passing angles—indeed, a fascinating prospect. What on earth is his position? It’s unclear, but perhaps he plugs into a connective, positionless role adjacent to the talented shooters and playmakers in Oklahoma City. I don’t mind this pick in a vacuum, but I would’ve expected Jones to be available at 38.

27. MIN: G Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois — A

This caps a beautiful first round for Minnesota, netting Dillingham and Shannon at picks eight and 27, respectively. Brace yourself: Shannon is primed to incinerate Summer League competition in a couple of weeks. He’s absolutely one of the most dynamic scorers in this draft. When he gains a half-step going left, he warps to the rim and finishes either through or over opposing rim protectors. The next step will be rounding out his toolkit beyond what was needed at the collegiate level. Can he add a reliable floater? Improve his right hand? Refine his decision-making? Regardless, he’ll inject some needed creation juice into Minnesota’s second unit.

28. PHX: F Ryan Dunn, Virginia — B+

Dunn is the needle-in-a-haystack prospect who enters the NBA as the unequivocal best defender on his roster. You can stick him at the point of attack, where he’s rendered utterly untraversable by his length and lateral agility, or you can play him as a roamer, where he processes circumjacent activity like a supercomputer and flashes to the rim to suffocate opposing drivers. The offensive bar is like three inches above the floor: can he merely be playable? When the Suns' offense stagnates, Dunn will be a massive liability as a free outlet for added defensive help on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Dunn becomes a non-detriment in motion, where he can set screens, role, and operate from the dunker’s spot.

29. UTA: G Isaiah Collier, USC — A

This is a slam dunk for Utah. Collier was on the precipice of a freefall into the second round before the Jazz snagged him at 29. Of everyone in this class, you could argue that Collier offers the most consistent source of paint pressure. He mixes size, burst, and craft to torpedo through traffic and blitz the rim with a head of steam. Between Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson, and impending free agents Kris Dunn and Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah’s backcourt is pretty congested. This is an upside swing—expect Collier to effervesce in the G-League this upcoming season as he taps into his long-term potential as a primary playmaker.

30. BOS: G Baylor Scheierman, Creighton — B+

The Celtics are drafting for fit within their current framework, with premiums on spot-up shooting, processing speed, and defensive versatility. Scheierman cashed north of 38 percent of his 8.3 attempts from deep as a senior at Creighton—the perfect complement to the on-ball gravity of Boston’s prolific creators. To combat hard closeouts, he can put the ball on the floor, touch the paint, and execute the appropriate read to perpetuate the advantage. Can he survive defensively? He’ll need to add strength to enhance his suitability in Boston’s switch-heavy scheme. Sam Hauser is a promising case study—if Scheierman follows a similar trajectory, he’ll grow into a valuable depth piece as Boston looks to round out their roster with low-cost options.

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