The air is absolutely buzzing as we get closer to the 2024 NBA Draft, and, you know, it's pretty exciting for basketball fans everywhere. Everyone wants to see who their favorite team might pick, and there's so much talk about the young talents ready to step onto the big stage. This year, the draft picture has really changed a lot, especially after the recent NBA Combine. It feels like, in a way, everything we thought we knew just a few weeks ago has been turned upside down, which is kind of fun for all of us following along.

For the first time in many months, we're actually seeing a new name pop up as the projected number one overall pick. This is a big deal, as it shows just how much things can shift with player workouts and interviews. More new names are also appearing across the draft boards, making the whole thing a bit more unpredictable. So, you know, if you've been keeping up with the predictions, you've probably noticed some significant movement among the top prospects.

This year’s NBA Draft will be held over two days, which is a bit different, with the first round on Wednesday, June 26, and the second round following on Thursday, June 27. As all the speculation comes to an end tonight, we've put together our final 2024 NBA mock draft, bringing you the latest insights and projections. It's really the last chance to get a good look at where these young players might land before the big night.

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Table of Contents

• The Shifting Landscape of the 2024 NBA Draft
  • Alexandre Sarr and Nikola Topic: The No. 1 Contenders
  • Combine Impact: New Faces and Rising Stocks
• Team Needs and Key Picks
  • What Will the Hawks Do with Their Pick?
  • Where Will Edey and Bronny James Land?
• Our Final 2024 NBA Mock Draft Insights
  • Top 10 and Lottery: The Usual Suspects and Beyond
  • Beyond the Lottery: Intriguing Prospects and Team Fits
  • French Talent Making Waves
• Understanding the Draft Process
  • The Two-Day Event: June 26th and 27th
  • How Mock Drafts Are Formed: Compiling the Experts
• People Also Ask

The Shifting Landscape of the 2024 NBA Draft

The journey to the NBA Draft is, you know, pretty much always a dynamic one, but this year, it feels especially active. Boards are changing, players are moving up and down, and the whole picture is constantly getting clearer, or sometimes, actually, a bit more blurry. It's a fascinating time for everyone who follows the game closely.

Alexandre Sarr and Nikola Topic: The No. 1 Contenders

For quite some time, the conversation around the number one overall pick has centered on a couple of very talented international players. Alexandre Sarr and Nikola Topic have been, you know, pretty much the favorites to go first. Sarr, with his impressive length and defensive skills, seems to offer a lot of upside for any team looking to build from the ground up. Topic, on the other hand, brings a different kind of skill set, focusing on playmaking and scoring from the guard position. It's a classic big man versus guard debate at the very top, and both offer something special for a team picking first.

However, as we get closer to the big night, there’s been, you know, some real talk about who truly holds that top spot. The combine, as a matter of fact, really shook things up, and now we have a new projected number one overall pick for the first time in a while. This kind of shift is not entirely unheard of, but it certainly adds a lot of excitement and, you know, a little bit of mystery to the very beginning of the draft. It makes you wonder what kind of behind-the-scenes insights led to this change.

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Combine Impact: New Faces and Rising Stocks

The NBA Draft Combine is, arguably, a very important part of the pre-draft process. It’s where players get to show off their physical abilities, their shooting touch, and their personalities in interviews. This year's combine, as I was saying, really made an impact on how teams and draft experts see the prospects. Some players who might have been a bit under the radar suddenly, you know, shot up the draft boards because of strong showings.

More new names are appearing in the later parts of the first round and even the second round, which is pretty interesting. This shows that teams are, in fact, looking at a wider range of talent than perhaps in previous years. The combine gives these young athletes a chance to prove themselves in a direct way, and sometimes, you know, that direct experience can change a lot of minds. It's not just about what they did in college or overseas; it's also about how they perform in front of scouts and general managers right now.

Team Needs and Key Picks

Every team entering the NBA Draft has its own set of needs, and these needs often dictate, you know, who they might pick. Some teams need scoring, others need defense, and some are just looking for the best talent available, no matter what position. It's a bit of a puzzle, really, trying to match player strengths with team weaknesses.

What Will the Hawks Do with Their Pick?

One of the biggest questions on everyone's mind is, naturally, who will the Atlanta Hawks take with their pick? They find themselves in a pretty interesting spot, and their choice could really shape the top of the draft. The Hawks have a lot to consider, from their current roster makeup to their long-term plans. Will they go for a big man to protect the rim, or perhaps a guard to add more playmaking? It's a decision that, you know, could have a very big impact on their future.

There's been a lot of talk, too, about different scenarios for the Hawks. They could pick a player who fits perfectly with their existing core, or they might, you know, go for the player they see as having the highest potential, even if it means a bit of a roster shuffle. This pick, in some respects, is one of the most talked-about spots in the entire draft, and for good reason. All eyes will be on them when their turn comes up, that's for sure.

Where Will Edey and Bronny James Land?

Beyond the very top picks, there are always, you know, a few players whose draft positions are a bit harder to predict, but who draw a lot of interest. Where will the likes of Zach Edey and Bronny James end up? Zach Edey, with his towering size and college success, presents a unique case. Teams are wondering how his game will translate to the faster, more physical NBA. His sheer presence, you know, is something to behold, and teams will have to figure out how to best use that.

Bronny James, on the other hand, brings a different kind of attention, partly because of his famous father. His draft stock has been, you know, pretty much a topic of constant discussion. Prospects such as Johnny Furphy, Bronny James, and Mark Sears are among those weighing their options, and their decisions about staying in the draft or returning to college have, in fact, been a big part of the pre-draft chatter. It's always fascinating to see where these high-profile, yet somewhat uncertain, players land. Their landing spots could, honestly, be anywhere in the draft, from the middle of the first round to the later parts of the second.

Our Final 2024 NBA Mock Draft Insights

With the draft just hours away, we’re, you know, bringing you our very final 2024 NBA mock draft. This is our extended mock draft “6.0,” which includes player outlooks, potential team fits, and even player comparisons for the top 30 picks. We've tried to capture all the latest shifts and insights after the combine and, you know, all the other pre-draft activities.

Top 10 and Lottery: The Usual Suspects and Beyond

The usual collection of suspects are filling the top 10 and lottery spots, as you might expect. These are the players who have consistently shown, you know, high levels of skill and potential throughout their college or international careers. However, even within this group, there have been some subtle movements. A player who was once seen as a lock at a certain spot might have, you know, slipped a little, or perhaps even climbed a few spots, based on recent evaluations.

Our final list reflects these changes, offering a pretty good picture of how the first part of the draft might unfold. We've looked at what teams truly need and which players might be the best match for those needs. It’s, in a way, like putting together a giant puzzle, where each piece has to fit just right for the whole thing to work. We've tried to account for all the latest information and, you know, all the whispers around the league.

Beyond the Lottery: Intriguing Prospects and Team Fits

The draft doesn't, you know, stop after the lottery, not by a long shot. The picks beyond the top 14 are just as important for teams looking to build depth and find hidden gems. This is where you often find players who might not be immediate stars but could, over time, become very important parts of a team's future. Our mock draft, you know, goes deep into these picks, offering insights into players who could be great value selections.

We've considered, you know, how these prospects might fit into various team systems, looking at their specific skills and how they could contribute. Sometimes, a player's true value comes from how well they complement the existing roster, rather than just their raw talent. It's about finding the right piece for the right puzzle, and, you know, there are many intriguing names in this part of the draft that could really surprise people down the line.

French Talent Making Waves

If the mock drafts are accurate, Frenchmen are going to make a significant impact on this year's draft. There's been a growing trend of international talent, especially from France, making their way into the NBA, and this year is, you know, no different. Players from France have shown a lot of skill and versatility, fitting well into the modern NBA game. Their presence at the top of the draft, and throughout the first round, really highlights the global nature of basketball today.

It's pretty cool to see how the game has grown, bringing in talent from all corners of the world. These French prospects, you know, bring a unique blend of athleticism and basketball IQ, which is highly valued by NBA teams. Their success in various leagues overseas has, apparently, prepared them well for the challenges of the NBA, and many expect them to make an immediate contribution.

Understanding the Draft Process

The NBA Draft is, basically, a very big event, but the process leading up to it is, in fact, quite involved. It’s not just about one night; it’s a culmination of scouting, evaluation, and, you know, a lot of discussion among team personnel. Understanding how it all comes together helps appreciate the final selections.

The Two-Day Event: June 26th and 27th

This year’s NBA Draft will be held over two days, which is a fairly new format, with the first round on Wednesday, June 26, and the second round the following day on Thursday, June 27. This change allows teams more time to consider their second-round picks and, you know, possibly make trades. It also gives fans more time to follow along with all the selections.

Having two days, you know, makes the whole experience a bit more drawn out, but it also adds to the anticipation. The first night is always about the big names and the lottery picks, while the second night is often about finding those hidden gems and, you know, building out the roster with specific role players. It's a pretty interesting shift that could change how teams approach the later parts of the draft.

How Mock Drafts Are Formed: Compiling the Experts

You might wonder, you know, how these mock drafts are put together. Following the NBA Draft Combine, Hoopshype, for example, updated where the top prospects currently stand for the 2024 NBA Draft by compiling 10 mock drafts from various sources, including ESPN. This kind of compilation gives a pretty good average of where experts think players will land. It's not just one person's opinion; it's a consensus built from many different knowledgeable sources.

Rookie Wire also looked at the draft after the lottery and combine, providing their own insights. So, you know, when you see a mock draft, it’s often the result of a lot of cross-referencing and analysis of various expert opinions. It's a bit like taking all the best guesses and, you know, finding the common threads. This helps provide a more reliable picture of the draft landscape, even though, you know, things can still change at the very last minute.

People Also Ask

Here are some common questions folks have about the upcoming NBA Draft:

When is the 2024 NBA Draft?

The 2024 NBA Draft will take place over two days. The first round is on Wednesday, June 26, and the second round is on Thursday, June 27. Both days will, you know, be filled with excitement as teams make their selections.

Who are the top prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft?

Alexandre Sarr and Nikola Topic have been, you know, pretty much the leading names for the number one pick. Other top prospects include a collection of usual suspects who consistently appear in the top 10 and lottery sections of mock drafts. The combine, as a matter of fact, also brought some new names into the discussion for top spots.

How does the NBA Combine affect draft projections?

The NBA Combine can, you know, really shake up draft boards. Strong performances in drills, interviews, and medical evaluations can cause a player's stock to rise, sometimes even leading to a new projected number one overall pick, as we've seen this year. Conversely, a poor showing can cause a player to, you know, slip down the rankings. It’s a very important part of the evaluation process for teams.

All the speculation ends tonight when the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft presented by State Farm begins at 8 PM ET on ESPN and ABC. You can Learn more about the draft process on our site, and for more detailed analysis on specific players, you might want to Explore more draft analysis right here. It's going to be a very exciting couple of days for basketball fans everywhere, and we can't wait to see how it all unfolds.