Wes Langley's 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 1-15

My first 2024 NBA Mock Draft is up. Find out who goes where in my very first 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

Wes Langley follow @DraftUtopiaWes Last Updated: November 10, 2023.

1. Memphis Grizzlies: Ron Holland, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
   
   
   Dallas, Texas native Ron Holland led Duncanville High School to three consecutive state championships from 2020 to 2022. He also compiled over 1,500 points and 900 rebounds during his four years at Duncanville High School before turning down college to go to the Ignite in the NBA-G League.
   
   
   
   At 6'8 200, Ron Holland is a special player who can be utilized as a combo forward at both small forward as well as power forward. He can also hit any shot from short, medium, or long range. He posted 36 points on film against the Perth Wildcats in a loss which was more than my number two player in my 2024 NBA Mock Draft on the Perth Wildcats who won head-to-head against Ron Holland.
   
   
   
2. Washington Wizards: Alexandre, Sarr, C, Perth Wildcats
   
   
   Washington gets my number two overall player. Alexandre Sarr is the best potential replacement to Kristaps Porzingis.
   
   
   
   Sarr is a big man at 7'1 205. He's versatile enough to play both power forward and center much like Porzingis. He's from France like Wembanyama, with Toulouse, France as his hometown. The Perth Wildcats big and future Overtime Elite prospect feels like such a natural replacement to Porzingis for the Washington Wizards as Sarr is my top player not named Ron Holland.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Charlotte Hornets: Tyrese Proctor, PG, Duke
   
   
   The Charlotte Hornets get depth at point guard in case Lamelo Ball cannot stay healthy. Tyrese Proctor didn't score a lot during his freshman season at Duke. Proctor will improve as a scorer and facilitator as a sophomore and with a signature season at Duke, he could move into the top 3.
   
   
   
   Tyrese Proctor is 6'5 185 with ideal size for a point. Proctor's hometown is Sydney, Australia. Tyrese Proctor played at NBA Global Academy in 2021 before enrolling into Duke as a freshman in 2022. Look for Proctor to make a leap under Head Coach Jon Scheyer in year two.
   
   
   
4. Houston Rockets: Matas Buzelis, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
   
   
   Houston has a good starting five, but with an offense that ranks twenty first in points scored and twenty second in points allowed, bodies are still needed. Especially when you got a young team and your core guys are getting into foul trouble.
   
   
   
   Matas Buzelis at 6'11 190, entered the preseason as the consensus number one player, but I've been less impressed with him than the consensus. He's still a top five talent and the Chicago, Illinois resident would head to Houston after playing at Sunrise Christian Academy and Ignite with the NBA G-League.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Detroit Pistons: Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
   
   
   Justin Edwards at 6'8 190 is a good defender. I'll put him at five for now as a depth player to Ausar Thompson on the Pistons. He could emerge as a top prospect if he can improve his ability to hit long range shots since the short range and medium range shots are there. Edwards hometown is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He played at Imhotep Institute last year before enrolling into Kentucky this year.
   
   
   
6. Chicago Bulls: Aaron Bradshaw, C, Kentucky
   
   
   Aaron Bradshaw is quite the big at 7'0 210. Going from a hometown like Roselle, New Jersey to Camden High School, to Lexington, Kentucky is quite the journey. Chicago can draft Aaron Bradshaw to groom behind Vucevic at center. Vucevic is 33 and his backup Andre Drummond turns 30 after the season. Bradshaw is young enough to where you can groom him into a replacement for Vucevic if you stay patient.
   
   
   
   
   
7. New York Knicks: Stephon Castle, SG, Connecticut
   
   
   New York gets a shooting guard upgrade. Stephon Castle from Covington, Georgia played against Isaiah Collier from Atlanta, Georgia. Those two guards aren't just the top two guards in High School Basketball, both played in the state of Georgia. Newton and Wheeler High School went to overtime against each other due to Castle and Collier, but Castle is the better of the two guards in the 2024 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
8. San Antonio Spurs: D.J. Wagner, PG, Kentucky
   
   
   The Spurs need more shooters. D.J. Wagner is a dog. He's got that fire and competitve nature that shines in the biggest moments on the biggest stage. He was also MVP of 2023 McDonalds All American Game and would compliment Victor Wembanyama the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft quite well with Toronto's 2024 first round pick which is only protected if the Raptors finish in the top 6. Wagner shoots like Maxey, but also reminds me of Denver Nuggets shooting guard Jamal Murray who transitioned to point guard. I think Wagner could be a shooting guard as well, but he's more suited to play the point.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
   
   
   Utah could use a point guard upgrade. I had Isaiah Collier at 8 on my initial big board, but D.J. Wagner was a better fit for the San Antonio Spurs. Isaiah Collier falls to the Utah Jazz at 9 as a result.
   
   
   
10. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ja'Kobe Walker, SG, Baylor
    
    
    The 6'5 180 Ja'Kobe Walker can play shooting guard or small forward with his versatility. He's a nice winger that the Cleveland Cavaliers could stash in a depth role, or potentially start at small forward.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Phoenix Suns: Donovan Clingler, C, Connecticut
    
    
    Sacramento could use a center upgrade. The 7'2 280 Donovan Clingler came off of the bench during Connecticut's team that won the Men's Basketball Championship in 2022-2023. The Bristol, Connecticut native, went to Central high School. Donovan Clingler is back and will have a much bigger role as a starter in 2023. I had Donovan Clingler at 9 in my rankings.
    
    
    
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Filipkowski, PF, Duke
    
    
    Kyle Filipkowski a sophomore center at Duke from Westtown, New York who also played at Wilbraham and Monson Academy before enrolling into Duke would have been a top 20 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft if he left after his freshman season. The 7-0 250 center could improve his draft stock with a big year and might even sneak into the top 10. He's versatile enough to play the 4 at power forward as well as the 5 at center. In Oklahoma City, Kyle Filipkowski would play power forward next to Chet Holmgren even though he has the body and size to play center.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Sacramento Kings: Aday Mara, C, UCLA
    
    
    Sacramento gets a second big for depth behind Chet Holmgren. Aday Mara is 7-3 240, he's from Zaragoza Spain. He enrolled into UCLA afterplaying at IES El Picarral High School.
    
    
    
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Izan Almansa, PF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    Portland adds some youth at power forward. Izan Almansa is a 6-9 210, forward from Murcia, Spain. He will play for Ignite in the NBA G-League leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft this fall.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Miami Heat: Bobi Klintman, PF, Cairns Taipans
    
    
    Bobi Klintman from Sweden is versatile enough to play the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, or the 5 at center. He's the only player in the top 15 versatile enough to play three different positions. Bobi Klintman was born in Sweden with Malmo, Sweden being his hometown. He played for Sunrise Christian Academy in High School before joining the Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League in Austrailia this year.