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2024 NBA Draft Winners and Losers
By Jeremy Strause
July 10th, 2024
The 2024 NBA Draft has come and gone, leaving fans and analysts alike buzzing with anticipation and speculation. This year's draft was marked with surprise picks, shocking stories and skilled athletes that will make an impact in the league. In this article, we will look at the winners and losers of the 2024 NBA Draft, highlighting the three teams that made great picks and the three that missed the mark.
Winner: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves just made the NBA Western Conference Finals, and they have only gotten stronger with Rob Dillingham. Dillingham is one of the players with the most upside coming into the draft. Out of Kentucky, the 19 year old averaged 15.2 points per game. He has probably the best handle in the draft, is extremely athletic and does a great job creating his shot. He has some of the most upside and will thrive with the mentorship from former star Mike Conley. To get Dillingham, the Timberwolves traded only two first rounders in 2031 and 2032. If he blossoms, I think that might go down as one of the greatest draft trade steals of all time.
Loser: Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks slipped up big time, because why didn’t you draft Alex Sarr? Zaccharie Risacher is not number one pick worthy. Risacher played one year of Euroleague averaging 13.1 points per game on 39.4 percent of his threes. Risacher has a solid defensive game as he is quick laterally and uses his 6’9” wingspan to disturb his opponent. However, he has a really thin frame and is physically not ready for the NBA. In Risacher’s first 30 games, he uncharacteristically shot 48.2% from three point range. In the last 30 games, Risacher only shot 29% of his threes. He has the potential to be a solid three and D guy, but there are too many unknowns with him and as the first pick. You can’t pick a question.
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Winner: Utah Jazz
The Jazz have been a struggling franchise ever since they traded away their key pieces of Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley. However, this draft could be their way off of the struggle bus. With their 10th pick, the Jazz selected Cody Williams. Williams is a lanky forward fresh off his one and done year at Colorado. In a veteran-filled lineup, Cody Williams averaged 11.5 points on 55.2% shooting. Williams showed flashes on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the 6 '7” winger showcased a great handle and guard-like skills, which are rare in a 6' 7” guy. On defense, Williams uses his 7’1” wingspan to his advantage, disrupting his opponents. His defensive game isn’t fully polished, but it has high potential.
With the 29th pick, the Jazz selected Isaiah Collier. Collier was a top-five recruit coming into USC. While USC struggled to a 15-18 record, Collier shined as he averaged 16.3 points on 49 percent shooting, earning him PAC-12 All-Freshman Team. At 6 '3” 205 pounds, Collier uses his stocky frame to bully his opposition and a quick first step and great handle to get to the rim. If that isn’t available, he is able to use his vision to make the kick out pass, which is evident with his five assists per game . Collier’s shooting is still in question, as he only hit 30% of his threes and 67.5% of his free throws. In the right system, Collier could develop into a great, tough, scrappy guard like Eric Bledsoe.
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Loser: Milwaukee Bucks
After a season that was plagued by injuries come playoffs, the Bucks held the 23rd pick, where they selected AJ Johnson out of the NBL. I’m extremely confused about this pick. The Bucks are a team that is filled with stars and have to be in win now mode. With this in mind, I thought the Bucks will draft a player that could contribute immediately. However, they went with a player who averaged 2.9 points per game in Australia. They are playing the long term game but are a team in the hunt for a ring. Johnson will not be able to develop in this system and will be a waste of a selection.
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Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are a star-studded team that feature the likes of Lebron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves. The Lakers are on the edge of being a team that can win a ring. Last year, they won the inaugural in-season tournament but got plagued by injuries by playoff time and lost to the Nuggets 4-1 in the first round. The Lakers brought home hardware but not the NBA Title. With Lebron having two years left in his career, the Lakers are in win now mode.
With the 17th pick, the Lakers selected Dalton Knecht. The 23 year old is one of the most polished players in this draft. After averaging 21.7 points per game on 45 percent from the field, Knecht earned SEC Player of the Year. Knecht has the best current offensive ability in the draft, already having a developed and comfortable handle. Knecht is also one of the best shooters in the draft, equally good off the catch and off the dribble. He also has close to limitless range, which is great for today’s game.
Knecht does have his flaws, lacking some of the quickness and athletic ability needed in the NBA. Although he has his flaws, I think he will shine for the Lakers. Knecht slots into the roster perfectly, and will play much like a JJ Reddick for the team.
Loser: Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are in a tough position. The team is filled with guys with unreached potential like Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. With Cade Cunnigham leading this squad, the Pistons finished dead last in the league, with a record of 14-68. With this rough finish, the Pistons had a high 14 percent chance at receiving the number one pick. However, the luck of the draw had them fall to the fourth pick. That was already a loss in itself, but with the fourth selection, the Pistons went with Ron Holland.
Holland was the number one prospect in the 2023 class who took his talents to the G-League. On the Ignite, Holland averaged 19.5 points and 6.7 rebounds on 33 minutes a night. He is one of the most athletically gifted prospects in this year's draft, not just having vertical explosiveness but his ability to cover ground is crazy.
His defense makes him a high level prospect, but Holland lacks a lot of modern day needs. He is a poor shooter, just shooting 24% from three on the Ignite. Holland also lacks touch around the rim. This is a huge problem for the Pistons because they don’t need another slasher. Detroit was the 28th best shooting team in the league. After drafting slasher Ausar Thompson last year, Holland is a strange choice. The Pistons are going to lack a lot of spacing and scoring, meaning they are in for another rough season.