Analyzing every first-round pick from the 2024 NBA Draft

The first round of the NBA draft has come and gone, and one thing is for certain - the French Revolution is alive and well in the NBA.

One year after the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick, the league saw two French players selected back-to-back to start the draft. Zaccharie Risacher went No. 1 to the Atlanta Hawks and Alex Sarr went No. 2 to the Washington Wizards. Tidjane Saluan was selected No. 6 by the Charlotte Hornets, making three French players selected in the top 10.

There were 26 other picks to discuss on top of those four, so here is a recap of round one of the 2024 NBA Draft.

1-Atlanta Hawks: F Zaccharie Risacher, France

The rumors were down to three potential players- Risacher, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard. The Hawks go with Risacher, who they expect to stretch the floor and should be a long-term starter on the wing for the Hawks.

2- Washington Wizards: F Alex Sarr, France

The Wizards get the player with the highest ceiling in the draft. Sarr will be a rim protector and a freak athlete. He will need some time to develop, but the Wizards are stripping down and doing a full rebuild, so he has time to grow with the team. He will join fellow Frenchman, Bilal Coulibaly, who was selected in the top 10 of last year’s draft.

3- Houston Rockets: G Reed Sheppard, Kentucky

The Rockets had several teams interested in this pick, but eventually stood pat and selected the draft’s best shooter in Reed Sheppard. The Rockets backcourt of Sheppard, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green should flourish together.

4- San Antonio Spurs: G Stephon Castle, UConn

Stephon Castle is a San Antonio Spurs type player. He has a non-stop motor that has defensive versatility that the team covets. He will be a solid building block to add to Victor Wembanyama, as the Spurs build out their roster.

5- Detroit Pistons: G Ron Holland II, G League Ignite

This was the first “stretch” of the night. Although Holland was considered a No. 1 pick candidate before the season, he was very inconsistent this year in the G-League and saw his stock drop. There were safer picks but the Pistons go for the potential upside.

6- Charlotte Hornets: F Tidjane Salaun, France

The Hornets had several trade offers for this pick, as team’s were looking to select UConn center Donovan Clingan. The Hornets go with a guy who has long-term upside, but may be a year or two away from contributing with teammates LeMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

7- Portland Trail Blazers: C Donovan Clingan, UConn

The Trail Blazers are thrilled that the most dominant rim protector fell to them at No. 7. The Blazers have DeAndre Ayton and Robert Williams under contract, but Clingan should step right in and play big minutes in Portland.

8- Minnesota Timberwolves: G Rob Dillingham, Kentucky

Minnesota acquired this pick from San Antonio in exchange for future assets (Minnesota’s 2031 unprotected first, and a top-one protected 2030 pick swap). With the pick, the Timberwolves get a creative point guard who will team up with Anthony Edwards for many years to come. With Mike Conley on the back-nine of his career, this is a solid pick.

9- Memphis Grizzlies: C Zach Edey, Purdue

Draft Nation was a bit shocked that Edey went this high in the draft and thought he would go in the 20-25th pick range. Once the Grizzlies missed out on Donovan Clingan, they went with the 7-foot-4 center from Purdue to match up with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the front court.

10- Utah Jazz: G Cody Williams, Colorado

Cody Williams is the first Colorado freshman to be selected in round one. The brother of Thunder guard, Jalen Williams, is still on the raw side and may take a year or two to develop before you see him excel on the court. The Jazz go with the younger Williams over older prospects who were more NBA ready.

11- Chicago Bulls: F Matas Buzelis, G-League Ignite

The Bulls grab a player with some huge upside that many thought was going to be selected in the top-five. He is a versatile player with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. However, he will need some time to develop his skills.

12- Oklahoma City Thunder: G Nikola Topic, Serbia

Topic more than likely goes higher if not for an ACL injury that will keep him out of the 2024 season. He is an excellent ballhandler who could replace the loss of Josh Giddey. Though they need to wait a year, this is a solid draft pick for the future of the Thunder.

13- Sacramento Kings: G Devin Carter, Providence

Devin Carter is exactly what the Sacramento Kings need. He is a tough, defensive guard who should step right in and play for a playoff caliber Kings team. The Kings have a ton of depth at point guard now, and will probably look to move one.

14- Washington Wizards: G Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh

The Wizards obtained this pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Deni Avdija trade. Carrington is one of the youngest players in the first round, and will be a nice addition to a Wizards team who is starting over. Adding Carrington with Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly is a nice young base for an organization.  

15- Miami Heat: C Kel’el Ware, Indiana

There have been concerns about his consistency and his intensity, but when he puts it all together he is one of the best rebounders and rim protectors in the class. 

16- Philadelphia 76ers: G Jared McCain, Duke

The 76ers are in a unique position this offseason. They have a ton of salary cap room and are looking to add players around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. McCain should step into the 76ers rotation and add some quality minutes. 

17- Los Angeles Lakers: F Dalton Knecht, Tennessee

The Los Angeles Lakers have luck on their side, as one the classes best shooters fall to them at pick 17. If not for being 23-years-old, he should have been a top-10 selection. Knecht will step right in and be a quality wing scorer for Los Angeles.

18- Orlando Magic: F Tristan da Silva, Colorado

The Magic select a versatile forward who will add nicely to the rotation. He is experienced and does an excellent job of finding the open man on offense. 

19- Toronto Raptors: G Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor

Walter is another player who many thought would go in the lottery. He is a smooth shooting wing who should compliment Scottie Barnes.

20- Cleveland Cavaliers: G Jaylon Tyson, California

The Cavaliers grab an experienced shooting guard in Jaylon Tyson. He uses his size to post up smaller guards and should step right into the rotation in 2024.

21- New Orleans Pelicans: C Yves Missi, Baylor

The Pelicans were rumored to be linked to Miss early on. They add the rim protector who has fluid movement for a 6-foot-11 player. He will slide in nicely with Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas.

22- Denver Nuggets: F DaRon Holmes II, Dayton

The Nuggets traded their pick at No 28 and No 56 to move up to the No 22 pick. Holmes is an excellent depth pick for the Nuggets. He can be an interior scorer and add some quality minutes either next to Nikola Jokic or behind him. 

23- Milwaukee Bucks: G AJ Johnson, USA

Johnson is a player who struggled last season in Australia but shined at the combine. He is not going to be NBA ready for several seasons but his speed and electric upside is what the Bucks are going to wait for.

24- Washington Wizards: G Kyshawn George, Miami, Fla

The Wizards traded the No. 26 and No. 51 picks to New York to move up two spots. The rebuild continues now with Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and George. George adds a shooter from the wing who has three-point range.

25- New York Knicks: G Pacome Dadiet, France

The Knicks, who have already made several moves this off-season to improve their roster, go for a long-term prospect with some upside. Dadiet is the fourth Frenchmen to go in round one and has some potential for the Knicks to look forward to.

26- Oklahoma City Thunder: F Dillon Jones, Weber State

The No. 26 pick started in Washington and then got moved to New York who then dealt it to the Thunder. Jones has extremely long arms for a 6-foot-4 player and is a versatile playmaker who was a do-it-all player at Weber State.

27- Minnesota Timberwolves: G Terrance Shannon Jr., Illinois

This is an excellent pick at this point in the first round. Shannon has a ton of experience and some considered him the best collegiate player late in the season. He is explosive off the dribble and should step right into a rotational position with Minnesota.

28- Phoenix Suns: F Ryan Dunn, Virginia

Phoenix obtained this pick from the Denver Nuggets. The Suns draft by far the most talented defensive player in the class. His offense is going to be a work in progress, but his defense should allow him to play some big minutes for a Suns team that lacks depth.

29- Utah Jazz: G Isaiah Collier, USC

Draft Nation is shocked that Collier lasted this long and should be the long term answer at point guard for Utah. He is a strong point guard who needs to work on his outside game.

30- Boston Celtics: G Baylor Scheierman, Creighton

The champion Boston Celtics do what they do best, they add a player who will eventually be a rotational player and add quality minutes. Scheierman is an excellent shooter with long range and could see some playing time as early as this season.