The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books, with plenty of twists and turns in one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory since there was no clear-cut top prospect. Here’s a look at some of the winners and losers from the first round of the draft.
Winner: France (and international basketball)
There were four French players taken in the first round, part of a huge international contingent at the draft. Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 pick, making it back-to-back French players going first overall. The NBA has taken notice of the international game, which was long seen as a younger brother of sorts. With the rise of foreign players comes the willingness to take them high in drafts. It’s good to expand horizons when looking for talent and this type of reaction helps the sport grow across the globe. This is a good development to see.
Winner: Spurs
The Spurs obviously did well with Victor Wembanyama, but to be able to pair him with Stephon Castle creates a defensive foundation San Antonio can win with. It feels like the rebuilding sort of stops now for the Spurs, and Castle comes in looking to make his mark as a combo guard. He only has one major weakness, but it’s a weakness San Antonio has fixed for many other stars in the past. San Antonio continues to do well building a roster around Wemby.
Loser: Memphis Grizzlies
I don’t have anything against Zach Edey as a basketball player. He was a dominant force in college and his size makes him worth taking a flier on in the NBA. But a top-10 pick? The Grizzlies have been burned with top-10 picks going for “high upside” wing players but this is too much of an overcorrection. Edey fills a need because the Grizzlies do need frontcourt help but he’s nothing more than a bench body. You don’t take that with a top-10 pick, especially if you’re trying to return to contender status next season.
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have plenty of cap space and roster flexibility, but they got even more good fortune when Jared McCain fell to them in the middle of the first round. The Duke guard can shoot the triple at a great clip and is a solid defender, making him a good complement to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. McCain doesn’t change Philadelphia’s overall plans and he will be a positive player in any setup. Finding cost-controlled rotation players is hard, so landing McCain here is big for Philadelphia.
Loser: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have done this dance many times with “high upside” players and it has not panned out. Tidjane Salaun is an interesting prospect who has risen late in the draft process, but this is an unfavorable situation for him. The Hornets have not been able to get out of this rut thanks to a lot of missed picks, and this is an odd selection given that lack of success. At least Charlotte didn’t take a guard.
Loser: Bronny James (and LeBron’s influence)
There’s obviously a lot of noise around Bronny, who is likely to hear his name called Thursday in the second round. However, that means he doesn’t have a guaranteed contract and more importantly, might not play with his father LeBron James. Bronny not being taken also shows that LeBron’s influence might not be as powerful as we think. There’s always rumors about LeBron wanting to team up with his son and his contract being set up to do that, but no contender took the bait. We’ll see if the Lakers appease their star on Day 2.
Winner: Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards emerged as a superstar in this year’s playoffs. The Timberwolves added explosive offensive talent to continue fleshing out this roster, bringing in Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. Neither player will start but both offer something the Timberwolves could use in a game or two during the postseason. Eventually, Dillingham should contend for the starting role but he’ll learn a lot behind Mike Conley. Minnesota gave up some future picks but that just shows commitment to this core which the players will like.
Loser: Zaccharie Risacher
It sounds insane calling the No. 1 pick a loser, but Risacher is going to have to prove his three-point shooting is real. That seems tough, especially since his overall sample size suggests he isn’t that good from deep. The Hawks have roster questions beyond Risacher and if they do blow it all up, he’ll be expected to take over as the franchise guy. Does he have that level of upside? It’s a tough position to be in, even if it means the paycheck of a No. 1 pick.
Winner: Matas Buzelis
On the flip side, Buzelis gets to return to his hometown (sort of) and play for a Bulls team that could make some major roster moves. Coby White has emerged as a strong perimeter playmaker, giving Buzelis someone to develop with offensively. If he does become a star, he’ll have the support of an entire city longing for winning basketball. If he doesn’t, he won’t be the first one who has failed. The expectations are low, which means exceeding them shouldn’t be hard. For a player who was being talked about as a potential top pick, that’s a dream scenario. And did I mention he’s doing this all in what is effectively his hometown?