2024 NBA Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 16-30

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 26, 2024.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor
    
    
    The Philadelphia 76ers have Tyrese Maxey their 2020 first round pick at point guard whose an RFA and Joel Embiid their 2014 first round pick. Philadelphia has nobody else under contract. Ja'Kobe Walter is the best player still on the board.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 195 lb Ja'Kobe Walter had 28 points in his debut with Baylor. Ja'Kobe Walter finished his freshman year with 14.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, a 37.6% field goal percentage, a 34.1% three point percentage, and a 79.2% free throw percentage in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Ja'Kobe Walter has the short range, medium range, long range, and passing that you covet from both a shooter as well as a passer. Ja'Kobe Walter can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, or the 4 at power forward. I can see Ja'Kobe Walter being a day 1 starter in Philadelphia if he falls to Philadelphia and the 76ers end up drafting him at 16.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Pelle Larsson, SG, Arizona
    
    
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Devin Carter, PG, Providence
    
    
    The New Orleans Pelicans have the option to receive the Los Angeles Lakers a first round pick in either the 2024 or the 2025 NBA Draft. New Orleans allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to keep their first round pick making the smart call since next years draft is much stronger.
    
    
    
    The Los Angeles Lakers have DeAngelo Russell at point guard, Austin Reaves at shooting guard, LeBron James at small forward, Rui Hachimura at power forward, and Anthony Davis at center. Los Angeles has all five starters back next season if DeAngelo Russell and LeBron James do not opt out of their player options.
    
    
    
    Los Angeles can go with the best player on the board at 17. Devin Carter is a combo guard who played shooting guard at South Carolina as a backup in limited action in 7 starts before switching to point guard becoming a full-time starter upon transferring to Providence.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 195 lb Devin Carter gives the Los Angeles Lakers depth at point guard and it also allows you to move last years first round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino to the 2 at shooting guard or the 3 at small forward depending on what you want to do.
    
    
    
    Devin Carter has the short range making 65% of his shots in the paint, the medium range making 3 out of every 4 free throws, and long range you covet as he made 11 three pointers on 100 shot attempts. He's also got the passing and rebounding you want from a point guard. His mid range game does need refinement only making 29 percent of his shots from medium range in Providence despite a strong free throw game, but you can't put too much stock into this since Devin Carter only took 12% of his shots from medium range at Providence. He's playmaking is a question mark and needs to be more consistent, but it's not a liability. He's a better decision maker than Jared McCann who I also considered here. Devin Carter can defend against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center.
    
    
    
    Devin Carter had 19.7 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, a 47.3% field goal percentage, a 37.7% three point percentage, and a 74.9% free throw percentage during his junior season at Providence in 2023-2024. Devin Carter finally broke out as a three point shooter this season which is the biggest reason he's catapulted into the first round. His floor is a bench player, but his ceiling is a High end starter that could potentially makes an 1st or 2nd team All Defense team at the end of the year once he reaches his peak if you remain patient with him for the duration of his rookie contract.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Donovan Clingan, C, Connecticut
    
    
    
    
18. Orlando Magic: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
    
    
    Orlando has Cole Anthony their 2020 first round at point guard, Jalen Suggs a 2021 first round pick at shooting guard, Franz Wagner a 2021 first round pick at small forward, Paolo Banchero, the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft at power forward, and Wendell Carter Jr. at center. Orlando has a good starting five with everyone averaging over 10 points per game, so they can take the best player on the board rather than draft for need. At the same time, Cole Anthony didn't start a single game with Orlando rotating Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Anthony Black, and Caleb Houstan in that point guard spot next to Jalen Suggs.
    
    
    
    Fultz and Harris will be gone which means Cole Anthony will probably start again. Anthony Black and Jett Howard are both shooting guards more so than point guards. Caleb Houstan is a backup small forward despite starting some games at point guard. Drafting another point guard is necessary for this reason. Moritz Wagner is a backup big that can play both power forward and center. This leaves taking the best player available at point guard to compete with Cole Anthony and Anthony Black to be the most viable option for the Orlando Magic at 18. Duke point guard Jared McCain is the best player available at this point in the 2024 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 197 lb Jared McCain has the short range, medium range, and long range you want. Jared McCain played shooting guard in High School, but switched to point guard once arriving at Duke giving him the versatility to play both the 1 at point guard and the 2 at shooting guard. He can defend the 1 at point guard or the 2 at shooting guard, but his decision making as a playmaker is inconsistent and woefuly bad at times when he makes the wrong decisions.
    
    
    
    Jared McCain had 14.3 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, a 46.2% field goal percentage, a 41.4% three point percentage, and a 88.5% free throw percentage after taking the starting point guard job from three year veteran Jeremy Roach as a true freshman while guiding Duke to the Elite 8 in the 2024 Men's Basketball Tournament where Duke lost to ACC Champion North Carolina State after knocking off top seed Houston in 2023-2024. The fact that Jared McCain was able to unseat a three year starter entering his senior season as a true freshman after being a shooting guard in High School converting to point guard tells me that Jared McCain is a first round talent. He was the tenth best recruit in the country coming out of High School with my best Duke insider Wes ranking him as high as third overall back in November. Even with Jared McCain's weaknesses there's too much skill for him to fall out of the top 20 even if he ends up falling out of the lottery range.
    
    
    
19. Toronto Raptors: Kyle Filipkowski, C, Duke
    
    
    Toronto traded Pascal Siakam to Indiana for a 2024 first round pick since San Antonio owned Toronto's 2024 first round pick. Toronto has Immanuel Quickley whose an RFA at point guard, R.J. Barrett who they got in a trade with the New York Knicks at shooting guard, Scottie Barnes their 2021 first round pick and former rookie of the year starts at small forward, Kelly Olynyk plays power forward, and Jakob Poetl starts at center. Toronto can draft Duke center Kyle Filipowski for depth at both center and power forward as Filipowski could take over at power forward by 2026 when Olynyk becomes a UFA or by 2027 when Poetl becomes a UFA. My guess is Filipowski develops on the bench for two years and takes over for Poetl in 2026 at center.
    
    
    
    The 7-0 248 lb Kyle Filipkowski is versatile enough to play the 4 at power forward or the 5 at center giving the Toronto Raptors a future starting center. He can hit shots from short range, medium range, and long range. He's a great rebounder and managed to improve as a passer this past season. You'd like to see him continue to improve defensively in terms of consistency, but he's more of an asset as a defender than a liability even though you'd like to see Filipkowski showcase quicker foot speed and reaction time when defending.
    
    
    
    Kyle Filipkowski had 15.1 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, 0.7 blocks per game, a 44.1% field goal percentage, a 28.2% three point percentage, a 76.5% free throw percentage, and helped Duke get to the Round of 32 in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament where Duke lost to Tennessee as a true freshman in 2022-2023. Kyle Filipkowski had 16.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, 1.5 blocks per game, a 50.5% field goal percentage, a 34.8% three point percentage, a 67.1% free throw percentage, and helped Duke get to the Elite 8 in the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament where Duke lost to North Carolina State as a sophomore in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Kyle Filipowski defends well against guys who play the 4 at power forward, but he struggles to defend against the 5. Jon Scheyer had him defend inside the paint while putting his forwards against other wings and his guards against other guards. Kyle Filipowski also doesn't have the ideal shooting motion you want from a 4 at power forward despite having a terrific floor along with the ability to make any shot from any range. Kyle Filipowski struggled against Baycot an excellent center defending on North Carolina too.
    
    
    
    Kyle Filipowski could start right away on a team like the New York Knicks or the Washington Wizards. If Toronto gambles on Filipowski at 19, he can develop off the bench for his first two seasons and then would be able to replace Jakob Poetl if you trade him away before his contract expires in 2026.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Baylor Scheierman, SF, Creighton
    
    
20. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana
    
    
    Cleveland has Darius Garland their fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft at point guard, Donovan Mitchell at shooting guard, Max Struss at small forward, Evan Mobley, their third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft at power forward even though he can play center when Jarrett Allen is injured, and Jarrett Allen at center with all five starters averaging over 10 points a game. Mitchell is getting an extension this summer, and while Darius Garland's agent has told him to request a trade, Cleveland is happy with their core four of Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. With Garland locked up until 2028. The other thing I'm taking into consideration is that it's going to be hard to find a buyer for Garland's contract who wants to pay a premium such as a starting point guard, a 2025 first round pick, and potentially another first or multiple second round picks, so I can see the Cavaliers keeping Garland for that reason alone since this year in the 2024 NBA Playoffs was Garland's first season where he underachieved since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers following the 2019 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    Garland has one strike, he hasn't done enough to play his way out of Cleveland yet, but if he does worse next year his value could decrease more, yet it could also go up if he rebounds next season given the status of his lengthy contract. Cleveland will go with the best player on their board if their hell bent on keeping their core four and Max Straus at small forward. The only first round player that had a private workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers is Indiana center Kel'el Ware. I'm mocking Kel'el Ware to Cleveland at 20 for two reasons, one he had a perfect score of 100/100 at the 2024 NBA Combine and two he's the highest ranked prospect to have a private workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
    
    
    
    I mocked Evan Mobley to Cleveland at 3 in 2021, and Ochai Agbaji, the Kansas shooting guard citing Collin Sexton's salary as a big reason for him to be a sign and trade candidate. Sexton was a sign and trade piece in the trade that sent Sexton to Utah for Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland could draft a point guard here, but if the Cavs want to keep their core four, drafting a center for depth so you have a big when Mobley or Allen gets injured makes the most sense since Allen missed game 7 against the Orlando Magic with Evan Mobley stepping up at center.
    
    
    
    Cleveland would have th flexibility to play Evan Mobley at center and Kel'el Ware at power forward when Jarrett Allen is injured. You can also develop Allen from a physicality and defensive standpoint so he's ready to start in two years when Allen becomes a UFA. Ware is the only first round pick to have a private workout with the Cavaliers, and frankly he makes a lot of sense at 20 since he can develop into a replacement for Allen in two years if you improve his physicality and defense since the shooting you want from an NBA big is already there. The same can be said with Ware's rebounding.
    
    
    
    The 7-0 242 lb Kel'el Ware had 15.9 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 1.9 blocks per game, 0.6 steals per game, a 58.6% field goal percentage, a 42.5% three point percentage, and a 63.4% free throw percentage as a sophomore after transferring from Oregon to Indiana in 2023-2024. Kel'el Ware has the short range, medium range, and long range you want as a shooter. He is great at defending, high pointing the basketball, and using his athleticism to wow NBA scouts.
    
    
    
    The big knock on Kel'el Ware is he's not physically imposing as a defender. Going to Cleveland as a big for depth behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for two years until Allen becomes a 2026 UFA allows Ware to develop that physicality and improve his defense when guarding players. Ware also has the versatility to play both the 4 at power forward and 5 at center. Evan Mobley was more of a center than a power forward coming out of USC despite having the skill set to play both positions. Allen was more of a power forward than a center coming out of Texas, but Donovan Mitchell wants the Cavaliers to keep Jarrett Allen after rumors about Allen being moved, so Allen will probably play out his contract. Even if Mitchel and Allen are cool right now, they might not be cool by 2026 if the Cleveland Cavaliers don't reach at least one Eastern Conference Finals in the next two years despite stiff competition in the Eastern Conference. You can develop Kel'el Ware in the meantime so he's ready to start with Mobley by 2026 since Ware is three inches taller than Mobley.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Matas Buzelis, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    
    
21. New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, C, Baylor
    
    
    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 have C.J. McCollum at point guard, Herbert Jones can play shooting guard or small forward, Brandon Ingram can play shooting guard or small forward small forward, and Zion Williamson at power forward. New Orleans needs to draft a center with Jonas Valenciunas set to be a Free Agent. Baylor center Yves Missi is a day 1 starter that you can plug into your starting five at center. His ceiling is limited, but he's got enough of a floor to start out in the New Orleans Pelicans lineup and develop into something.
    
    
    
    The 6-11 235 lb Yves Missi had 10.7 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 1.5 blocks per game, 0.6 steals per game, 0.4 assists per game, a 61.4 field goal percentage, a 0% three point percentage, and a 61.6% field goal percentage in 2023-2024. Yves Missi had the short range and medium range you want and he's going to command double teams in the paint on short range shots. He's great at dunking and imposing his will.
    
    
    
22. Phoenix Suns: Ajay Mitchell, PG, UC Santa Barbara
    
    
    The Phoenix Suns have Devin Booker at point guard after Booker transitioned from shooting guard to point guard last year, Bradley Beal is the shooting guard, Grayson Allen is a wing that can play shooting guard or small forward, but moved to small forward, Kevin Durant plays power forward, and Jusuf Nurkic is the starting center. Phoenix has a good starting five, but depth is needed here.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Ajay Mitchell had 20 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game, a 50.4% field goal percentage, a 39.3% three point percentage, and a 85.8% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Ajay Mitchell has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, and rebounding to be a point guard in the NBA with better shooting than someone like Nikola Topic. Ajay Mitchell does need to improve defensively when contesting guards, but he could go as high as 20 and as low as 38.
    
    
    
    One of my friends told me about him, but he's much better than advertised. Also Phoenix did bring in Ajay Mitchell for a private workout.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Kyle Filipkowski, PF, Duke
    
    
    
    
23. Milwaukee Bucks: Jaylon Tyson, SG, California
    
    
    The Milwaukee Bucks have Damian Lillard at point guard, Khris Middleton at small forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. Getting a shooting guard that is better than Malik Beasley. Jaylon Tyson a wing that played both the 2 at shooting guard and the 3 at small forward whose already worked out with Milwaukee could be an option here at 23.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 215 lb Jaylon Tyson can play the 2 at shooting guard or the 3 at small forward. He can play 10-15 minutes a game off the 3 behind Khris Middleton, but he could also end up starting right away at shooting guard since the Milwaukee Bucks need an upgrade there in the starting five. He's got the floor of a NBA G-League player, but he's also got the ceiling of a day 1 starter making him a tricky evaluation depending on how he develops in training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks.
    
    
    
    Jaylon Tyson had 19.6 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, a 46.5% field goal percenage, a 36% three point percentage, and a 79.6% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Jaylon Tyson has the short range, medium range, and long range you want in a shooter. He has the shooting you want, but the rest of his game is a project.
    
    
    
    Jaylon Tyson had a private workout with the Milwaukee Bucks and most I've heard said the Milwaukee Bucks are the best fit for Jaylon Tyson. Milwaukee drafts Jaylon Tyson here at 23.
    
    
    
24. New York Knicks: Aday Mara, C, UCLA
    
    
    The New York Knicks have Jalen Brunson at point guard, Donte Divincenzo at shooting guard, Mikal Bridges at small forward, and Julius Randle at power forward. I've been saying for five years that the New York Knicks need to get a center to round out their starting five. Aday Mara is still the guy I have penciled in to the New York Knicks here at 24 with the Dallas Mavericks 2024 first round pick. New York has this pick and their own pick at 25 in this years 2024 NBA Draft, but the New York Knicks traded a 2025 first round pick, a 2027 first round pick, a 2029 first round pick, a 2031 first round pick, a 2025 protected first round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks, and a 2026 second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.
    
    
    
    The 7-3 245 lb Aday Mara can shoot short range, mid range, and long range shots. He can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center.
    
    
    
    Aday Mara has NBA traits that you covet despite playing limited minutes on Basket Zargoza in Spain. Aday Mara will play at UCLA this Fall too as he was cleared to play for UCLA just hours ago.
    
    
    
    Aday Mara only played 9 minutes a game at UCLA. I was blown away by his shooting and defense on film and with the New York Knicks needing a center to round out their starting five, Aday Mara might be the guy. I believe Aday Mara will score 10 points per game in the NBA based on what I've seen on tape despite such a low volume from him.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Kevin McCullar Jr., SG, Kansas
    
    
    
    
25. New York Knicks: Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
    
    
    New York goes for value over need here at 25. Isaiah Collier is not a player that impressed me on tape, but he's too good for the New York Knicks to pass on especially if they enter another game 7 where Jalen Brunson gets injured as Collier could be a viable backup behind Brunson.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 205 lb Isaiah Collier passes well, defends well against other point guards that play the 1. His only limitation is that seems dependent on making short range shots. Collier didn't really improve his medium range or long range shots in High School. His defense felt suspect and passing looked worst at USC compared to where he was in High School.
    
    
    
    Isaiah Collier had 16.3 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, a 49% field goal percentage, a 33.8% three point percentage, and a 67.3% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. New York is a good place for Isaiah Collier to learn under a veteran and get his feet wet in the NBA.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Aday Mara, C, UCLA
    
    
26. Washington Wizards: N'Faly Dante, C, Oregon
    
    
    Washington uses this first round pick from Indiana to draft a center hoping he rounds out the starting five. N'Faly Dante is a pretty one dimensional player that makes short range shots, defends, rebounds, and block shots. He doesn't do much outside of that, but the Wizards need a center to round out the starting five which causes Dante to get pushed up the boards.
    
    
    
    The 6-10 220 lb N'Faly Dante had 17 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, 16 assists per game, 1.9 blocks per game, 1.7 steals per game, a 69.5% field goal percentage, and a 61.3% free throw percentage as a senior redshirt in 2023-2024. N'Faly Dante gives Washington a center that may round out their starting five.
    
    
27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Bobi Klintman, SF, Cairns Taipans
    
    
    Minnesota has Mike Conley Jr. at point guard, Anthony Edwards their number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft at shooting guard, Jaden McDaniels at small forward, Karl-Anthony Towns their number one pick in the 2015 NBA Draft at power forward, and Rudy Gobert at center. I mocked Bobi Klintman to Minnesota back in November, and the crazy part is he played well enough to maintain this spot.
    
    
    
    The 6-10 220 lb Bobi Klintman has the versatility to play both the 3 at small forward and the 4 at power forward. He could take over for Jaden McDaniels at small forward down the road once he develops more.
    
    
    
28. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Shannon Jr., SG, Illinois
    
    
    Denver has Jamal Murray at point guard, Michael Porter Jr. at small forward, Aaron Gordon at power forward, and Nikola Jokic at center. Denver brings someone in to compete with Justin Strawther last years first round pick drafted twenty ninth overall to compete for the starting shooting guard job.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 225 lb Terrence Shannon Jr. had 23 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 1 steal per game, a 47.5% field goal percentage, a 36.2% three point percentage, and a 80.1% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Terrence Shannon Jr. took Illinois to the Elite 8 before losing to eventual NCAA Champion Connecticut. He was falsely accused of rape charges, but found not guilty.
    
    
    
    Terrence Shannon Jr. has the short rage, medium range, and long range you want. Terrence Shannon Jr. also is a good passer. Terrence Shannon Jr. can defend against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. He can start regularly and be the fourth or fifth scoring option on the NBA team that drafts him. The Denver Nuggets are a perfect fit for Terrence Shannon Jr. with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope opting out since Terrence Shannon Jr. is a far better defender than Justin Strawther.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Utah Jazz: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
    
    
    Outside of Daron Holmes II, the only other NBA Prospect I saw in an interview was Tyler Kolek. Kolek blew me away in the interview process and he is a point guard that the Utah Jazz can draft here at 29 to develop behind Jordan Clarkson for a few years.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 195 lb Tyler Kolek averaged 15.3 points per game, 7.7 assists per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, posted a 49.6% field goal percentage, posted a 38.8% three point percentage, and posted a 85.1% free throw percentage during his final season at Marquette in 2023-2024. Tyler Kolek has the short range, medium range, long range, and passing you covet. When NBA teams questioned his defense he went into detail about how he had a +4 rating defending an opponents best player from medium range shots. I believe Kolek can defend the 1 at point guard or the 2 at shooting guard in the NBA. He's also quite the playmaker.
    
    
    
    Tyler Kolek can develop into a viable replacement for Jordan Clarkson down the road when Clarkson becomes a UFA in 2026. It is also possible that Kolek starts by the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline midway through his sophomore season if Jordan Clarkson gets dealt before then or by then.
    
    
    
30. Boston Celtics: Carlton Carrington, PG, Pittsburgh
    
    
    Boston has Jrue Holliday at point guard, Derrick White at shooting guard, Jaylen Brown at small forward, Jayson Tatum at power forward, and Kristaps Porzingis at center. Boston's starting five helped them win the 2024 NBA Finals. Boston goes for the best available player here since I think the best player on the board has a higher upside at point guard than Payton Pritchard.
    
    
    
    Boston can go with the best player available here. Carlton Carrington also nicknamed "Bub" Carrington was a point guard that displayed the short range, medium range, long range, passing, ability to defend the 1 at point guard and the ability to defend the 2 at shooting guard. He's got refine his decision making and defense to a degree, but learning under a veteran like Jrue Holliday puts Carlton Carrington in the perfect position to be the Boston Celtics point guard of the future down the road.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 190 lb Carlton Carrington had 13.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game. a 41.2% field goal percentage, a 32.2% three point percentage, and a 78.5% free throw percentage as a true freshman at Pittsburgh in 2023-2024. Carlton Carrington's floor is a bench player, but his ceiling is a high end starter. Honestly Carlton Carrington reminds me of D'Angelo Russell, but he also shows flashes of Marcus Smart with a lower floor and higher ceiling. If he can learn under Jrue Holliday for a few years he has a much greater chance of reaching his ceiling than his floor becoming an high end starter in Boston.