Brian Bayless 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 16-30

Brian Bayless Last Updated: November 10, 2023.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves: Bobi Klintman, SF, Cairns Taipans
    
    
    Minnesota has a good core of starters, but a small forward is missing. Bobi Klintman makes a lot of sense for Minnesota here.
    
    
    
17. Indiana Pacers: Trevon Brazille, PF, Arkansas
    
    
    Indiana has stability at point guard, shooting guard, and center. Trevon Brazille is the best forward on the board at this point in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
18. Orlando Magic: Thierry Darlan, SG, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    Orlando adds some depth at combo guard. Thierry Darlan can play both shooting guard and small forward.
    
    
    
19. Indiana Pacers: Mackenzie Mgbako, SF, Indiana
    
    
    Indiana gets depth behind Bruce Brown at small forward. MacKenzie Mgako is a player who can play small forward or power forward.
    
    
    
    
    
20. New Orleans Pelicans: Aaron Bradshaw, C, Kentucky
    
    
    The New Orleans Pelicans have the option to swap first round picks with the Milwuakee Bucks if the Bucks first round pick is higher than the Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans can draft a center to groom behind Jonas Valenciunas. Kentucky freshman center Aaron Bradshaw is a player that the New Orleans Pelicans can gamble on here.
    
    
    
    
    
21. San Antonio Spurs: JJ Starling, SG, Syracuse
    
    
    JJ Starling is a combo guard that mainly plays shooting guard, but also has the versatility to play point guard. San Antonio can draft him for depth behind Devin Vassell at shooting guard.
    
    
    
22. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Alexander, SG, Creighton
    
    
    Trey Alexander looks incredible for Creighton so far. He could end up surging up draft boards if he can continue to maintain the momentum he's established after taking Creighton to the Final 4 last year. Trey Alexander is averaging 20 points per game so far in 2023, but he looks like he can score 25 to 30 points a game.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Houston Rockets: Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
    
    
    Houston gets a center for depth behind Alperen Sengun. Kel'el Ware is the best center on the board and makes a lot of sense at this point in the late first round.
    
    
    
24. Atlanta Hawks: Oso Ighodaro, PF, Marquette
    
    
    The 6-9 225 lb Oso Ighodaro averages 13 points per game at Marquette so far in 2023. Ighodaro is a combo forward that can play the 3 at small forward or the 4 at power forward. This combo forward playing under Shaka Smart has potential to be a first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Philadelphia 76ers: Riley Kugel, SG, Florida
    
    
    Riley Kugel has 23 points per game, 6 steals per game, 4 assists per game, 3 rebounds per game, and 1 block per game in 2023. The Florida Gators shooting guard could be the final piece of the puzzle to a lineup that features Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Joel Embiid. Embiid and Maxey are the two stars on this offense with Embiid being the only superstar player. Harris and Oubre Jr. are solid starters, but the shooting guard position needs to be upgraded. Riley Kugel is the difference maker on the Florida Gators basketball team and he could be a difference maker in Philadelphia too.
    
    
    
26. New York Knicks: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
    
    
    The New York Knicks gets a center to round out their starting five. Zach Edey last years James Naismith player of the year is the best player available at this point in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Milwaukee Bucks: Kevin McCullar Jr., SG, Kansas
    
    
    The Milwaukee Bucks have Damian Lillard at point guard, Khris Middleton at small forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. Milwaukee has four high end starters in their starting five, but also have a glaring weakness at shooting guard. If Milwaukee loses the 2024 Eastern Conference to the Boston Celtics, then drafting a shooting guard to put the Milwaukee Bucks over the top becomes the top priority for Milwaukee heading into the 2024 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    The Kansas Jayhawks were the preseason number one team in college basketball. Kevin McCullar Jr. is a big reason why as Kevin McCullar Jr. has 22 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game so far this season. The senior shooting guard on Kansas is the Jayhawks most experienced player.
    
    
    
28. Denver Nuggets: Aden Holloway, PG, Auburn
    
    
    Denver has Jamal Murray at point guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at shooting guard, Michael Porter Jr. at small forward, Aaron Gordon at power forward, and Nikola Jokic at center. Denver has the best starting five in the NBA as well as the luxury to take the best player on their board since I told people Denver would be the favorite to win the 2024 NBA Finals after finding out Denver can keep their starting five together until the end of the 2025 NBA Finals since Kentavious-Caldwell Pope has a player option to opt out of his contract. I don't expect Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to opt out if Denver manages to repeat as NBA Finals Champions.
    
    
    
    Aden Holloway would be a good backup to Jamal Murray at point guard as the former five star recruit really caught my attention against Baylor. He's the one star player that Bruce Pearl is coaching at Auburn.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Portland Trail Blazers: DaRon Holmes II, PF, Dayton
    
    
    The 6-10 221 lb DaRon Holmes II is averaging 19 points per game at Dayton so far in 2023. If Portland wants depth behind Jermai Grant. Bringing in competition for Kris Murray the younger brother of Keegan Murray wouldn't hurt.
    
    
    
30. Boston Celtics: Matthew Cleveland, SG, Miami FL
    
    
    Boston can go with the best player available here. Matthew Cleveland carried the Miami Hurricanes to a Final 4 appearance last year. He's someone who could provide behind Derrick White at shooting guard and potentially take over in 2025 when White is a UFA.