2024 NBA Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Round 2

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

31. Toronto Raptors: Jonathan Mogbo, PF, San Francisco
    
    
    Toronto gets a power forward to replace Kelly Olynyk. Jonathan Mogbo has the versatility to play the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center on the San Francisco Dons. He's one of the more versatile players in transition in this draft. He was also a winner at the 2024 NBA Combine, so he may come off the board very early in the second round. He played both the 1 at point guard and the 2 at shooting guard on his prep Basketball teams as a kid in addition to both forward and center spots at San Francisco.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 217 lb Jonathan Mogbo models differents parts of his game around different players. He models his passing after Draymond Green. He also models his game after Toronto Raptors small forward Scottie Barnes and Dallas Mavericks combo forward P.J. Washington. I would say Mogbo's floor is P.J. Washington and his ceiling is Draymond Green with a Scottie Barnes type player that takes the NBA by storm winning rookie of the year as a second round pick.
    
    
    
    Jonathan Mogbo has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, court vision, basketball IQ, motor, rebounding, can defend the 1 point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center you want from a combo forward. Jonathan Mogbo had 15 double doubles this past season. He also had 5 additional games with either 10 points and 9 rebounds or 9 points and 10 rebounds. Your looking at a player who had at least 9 or 10 rebounds along with 9 or 10 points in 20 of his 34 games with the San Francisco Dons while also recording 15 double doubles in those 34 games. There's consistency and then there's consistency in spades. I believe Jonathan Mogbo is consistency in spades, but I understand if people feel like I'm overhyping him.
    
    
    
    Mogbo talked about his motor. He also talked about how he doesn't want to be like everyone else he wants to be great as a basketball player. Jonathan Mogbo was another player who stood out in the Interview process as he was looking at the ball handlers eyes when defending. Jonathan Mogbo talked about how he likes to time his shots when shot blocking. Jonathan Mogbo also emphasized the importance of foot speed and using fast feet when defending against a player that's much bigger in size such as Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers or Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. He described himself as an energy guy how teams need energy guys. He can play multiple positions on the court. Off the ball, on the ball, in the corner. He can catch and shoot while also making quick reads as a passer.
    
    
    
    Jonathan Mogbo began his College Basketball career at Missouri State. He transferred to San Francisco this past season where he really took off in his draft year.
    
    
    
    Jonathan Mogbo had 14.2 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, a 63.6% field goal percentage, a 0% three point percentage, and a 69.2% free throw percentage on San Francisco in 2023-2024. Jonathan Mogbo has made three point shots in warm ups and during the 2024 NBA Combine, so do not let that three point percentage fool you from an analytics standpoint.
    
    
    
    There have been only a handful of gems in the second round since I began covering the NBA Draft on Draft Utopia since 2012. Those second round gems include Draymond Green Golden State's 2012 second round pick whose been both the starting power forward mainly has also started at center though, Khris Middleton who was a 2012 second round pick before signing with Milwaukee to play with Giannis after getting cut from the team that drafted him, Nikola Jokic who was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial before becoming the face of the current Denver Nuggets roster, Norman Powell from the 2015 NBA Draft isn't the star those three were, but he did win an NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors and is the shooting guard on the Los Angeles Clippers with his former Raptors teammate Kahwi Leonard, Malcolm Brogdon was a second round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and he started for three different teams Indiana, Boston, as well as Portland even though he's more of a backup PG at this point in his career, Dillon Brooks a small forward out of Oregon that I had a first round grade on fell to the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft drafted by Houston with his rights traded to Memphis before re-joining the Houston Rockets as the Rockets currently starting on Houston, Jalen Brunson, the Dallas Mavericks 2018 second round pick was a player I had a first round grade on, Mitchell Robinson starts at center on the New York Knicks as a 2018 second round pick even though I think he's upgradeable, Tre Jones, the San Antonio Spurs 2020 second round pick out of Duke, and Andrew Newmhard, the Indiana Pacers 2022 second round pick who started in relief of Bennedict Mathurin, and GG Jackson, the Memphis Grizzlies 2023 second round pick showed promise last year.
    
    
    
    The NBA has produced 10 starters that were second round picks, 5 NBA All Stars that were second round picks, 4 NBA Champions that were second round picks, and 1 NBA Finals MVP that was a second round pick since I began covering the NBA Draft on Draft Utopia in 2012. This is a big reason the 2024 NBA Draft is now going to be a two day event.
    
    
    
    There's a 3 percent probability of finding a future starter in the second round of the NBA Draft if you take the 9 starters since 2012 and divide that by 360 over the past twelve years with 0.025 rounding up to 3 percent. I do believe Jonathan Mogbo has a shot to break into that top 3 percent of second round picks if he falls to the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. I also believe you can make an argument for Mogbo in the first round with his floor being pick 31 to start the second round and his ceiling being pick 25 to the New York Knicks. I can see the New York Knicks at 25, the Minnesota Timberwolves at 27, and the Boston Celltics at 30 taking this young man for depth. Toronto needs to pull the trigger and get Jonathan Mogbo here at 31 because this is a guy I can see starting with Kyle Filipowski in two years if Toronto wants to move on from both Kelly Olynyk and Jakob Poetl.
    
    
    
32. Utah Jazz: Kevin McCullar Jr., SG, Kansas
    
    
    Utah gets a shooting guard for depth behind Collin Sexton in the second round. Kevin McCullar Jr. was the best player on the Kansas Jayhawks this past season and he's coming off the board very early in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 212 lb Kevin McCullar Jr. had 18.3 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a 45.4% field goal percentage, a 33.3% three point percentage, and a 80.5% field goal percentage as a super senior before getting injured against Houston in the 2024 Big 12 Tournament in 2023-2024. Kansas couldn't get past Gonzaga in the round of 64 without Kevin McCullar Jr.
    
    
    
    I had a preseason first round grade on Kevin McCullar Jr. as the former Texas Tech shooting guard transferred to Kansas in 2022-2023 after Kansas won another National Title. Kevin McCullar Jr. can play the 2 at shooting guard or the 3 at small forward with his versatility. He was considered a top 25 pick and the alpha of the Kansas Jayhawks Basketball team this past season with everything running through him. Outside of Jonathan Mogbo who I mocked at 31, the only other player that I can see having an instant impact in the NBA if they fall to the second round is Kevin McCullar Jr.
    
    
    
    Kevin McCullar Jr. has the short range, medium range, and long range you want from a shooter. He also has the playmaking and court vision you want from a passer. Kevin McCullar Jr. can defend the 1 at point guard, can defend the 2 at shooting guard, can defend the 3 at small forward. His shooting form is not consistent and sometimes his elbow twitches when shooting. He's well rounded everywhere, but he doesn't excel in anything. Kevin McCullar Jr. is a slasher and he will make an instant impact off the bench.
    
    
    
    I can see Kevin McCullar Jr. developing into a starter by the time Collin Sexton's contract is up in 2026 if the Utah Jazz take him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. At the same time, I don't see Kevin McCullar becoming an NBA starter unless he fixes his shooting form by not having the elbows twich on his shooting motion. I also haven't seen him play or workout since his injury against Houston. The shooting form with the elbow twich and medicals could drop Kevin McCullar Jr. to the second round despite once being a top 25 pick. His floor is a backup at shooting guard or power forward. His ceiling is an above average starter, but not a high end starter if he refines his shot upon arriving in the NBA.
    
    
    
    
    
33. Milwaukee Bucks: Dillon Jones, SF, Weber State
    
    
    Milwaukee gets another small forward. Reports are that Khris Middleton was unhappy with being the number three scorer behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. There's not a center worth drafting to develop behind Brook Lopez. I like Bobby Portis, but Middleton had opportunities as the number two scorer again to beat Indiana without Giannis and things didn't materialize even with Lillard as the number one scorer. Drafting a bench player to develop behind Khris Middleton in the second round isn't the worst idea.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 235 lb Dillon Jones played small forward at Weber State. Dillon Jones had 20.8 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, a 48.9% field goal percentage, a 32.4% three point percentage, and a 86.7% free throw percentage as a senior on Weber State in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Dillon Jones has the short range, medium range, and long range to shoot at the NBA level. He does need to become more consistent in this area. His specialty is playmaking and passing the basketball as he passes the basketball like a quarterback in football.
    
    
    
    Dillon Jones is another one of these players that interviewed really well. Jones talked about switching the play whenever you can if the bigs are defending mid range you want to go in for the layup and switch things up use misdirection on the front court in the paint to get the points whenever you can. Jones talked about just needing an angle to get to the basket when going in for a layup when facing a power forward defending him in medium range. Dillon Jones weakness heading into this season was his defense, but he fixed that on Weber State this season showing the ability to defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, and the 3 at small forward. He's an ideal player for Milwaukee to draft as a successor to Khris Middleton in the second round.
    
    
    
34. Portland Trail Blazers: Cam Christie, SG, Minnesota
    
    
    Portland drafts a shooting guard to compete with Matias Thybulle for the backup shooting guard job behind Anfernee Simmons in Portland. His floor is his older brother Max Christie, the backup shooting guard on the Los Angeles Lakers and his ceiling is Devin Booker a long-time starting shooting guard on the Phoenix Suns who moved to point guard this past season.
    
    
    
    Cam Christie has the short range, medium range, long range, the ability to defend the 1 at point guard, and the ability to defend the 2 at shooting guard. He's very inconsistent as both a shooter and a defender. The crazy thing is most scouts for this years NBA Draft believe he's got a better chance to be a ceiling player than a floor player. I can see Portland drafting someone like Cam Christie for depth at shooting guard and if he gets an opportunity like Aaron Nembhard got, maybe he reaches his massive ceiling and becomes an NBA starter on another team.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 190 lb Cam Christie had 11.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, a 40.3% field goal percentage, a 39.1% three point percentage, and a 79.1% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Cam Christie is seen as having a better ceiling than his older brother Max, but I also feel like he's got a lower floor too since I wasn't blown away by him on film. I do think he will get drafted in the second round by a team with a chance to compete for a backup spot on the bench. Maybe he becomes a serviceable starter if he gets an opportunity to play like Andrew Nembhard in Indiana, but I'm not hedging my bets on that.
    
    
    
    
    
35. San Antonio Spurs: Trey Alexander, SG, Creighton
    
    
    San Antonio gets a shooting guard for depth behind Devin Vassell. Trey Alexander took Creighton the 2023 Men's Basketball Final 4 a season ago as a sophomore. The 6-4 190 lb Trey Alexander had 17.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 44.6% field goal percentage, a 33.9% three point percentage, and a 82.4% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. I had a first on Trey Alexander in November, but now he falls to the second round.
    
    
    
36. Indiana Pacers: Tyler Smith, PF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    The Indiana Pacers have Tyrese Halliburton at point guard, Bennedict Mathurin at shooting guard, Aaron Nesmith at small forward, Pascal Siakam at power forward, and Myles Turner at center. Indiana will also have Andrew Nembhard as their backup shooting guard along with Jarace Walker last years first round pick as the backup power forward.
    
    
    
    The 6-11 224 lb Tyler Smith has the versatility to play the 3 at small forward and the 4 at power forward. Tyler Smith had 13.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game. Tyler Smith has a consensus first round grade, but I see a second round prospect that will have to fight for a backup spot. He may end up being a reserve or a G-League starter on the Indiana Mat Ants since he's super raw.
    
    
    
    
    
37. Minnesota Timberwolves: KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado
    
    
    Minnesota gets a point guard for depth to groom behind Mike Conley Jr. KJ Simpson has the short range, medium range, and long range to develop into a nice shooting point guard in the NBA as well as the passing you want. He's just too inconsistent for my liking and feels like a floor player more than a ceiling player. In his defense, KJ Simpson did do well at the 2024 NBA Combine.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 189 lb KJ Simpson had 19.7 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, a 47.5% field goal percentage, a 43.4% three point percentage, and a 87.6% free throw percentage as a junior at Colorado in 2023-2024. KJ Simpson is the one guy left on the board who could become a successor to Mike Conley Jr. in the second round and the Minnesota Timbewolves are reportedly interested in drafting him, so I think he comes off the board at 37.
    
    
    
38. New York Knicks: Baylor Scheierman, SF, Creighton
    
    
    Baylor Scheierman could be a nice Max Struss type of bench player that develops into a starter over time. Baylor Scheierman played both the 2 at shooting guard and the 3 at small forward. Scheierman played small forward at Creighton, but many NBA draft analysts believe he plays the 2 at shooting guard.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 205 lb Baylor Scheierman had 18.5 points per game and 9 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, a 44.8% field goal percentage, a 38.1% three point percentage, and a 87.6% free throw percentage as a senior with Creighton in 2023-2024. Baylor Scheierman was the other catalyst along with Trey Alexander on Creighton's 2023 Final 4 Team.
    
    
    
    Baylor Scheierman has the long range you covet along with experience. He struggles on contested shots, struggles as a passer, struggles to defend against strong forwards, and struggles to defend in pick and roll. All of this screams backup because he does have the three pointer you want from a starter, but nothing else is there.
    
    
    
    
    
39. Memphis Grizzlies: Johnny Furphy, SG, Kansas
    
    
    Memphis goes with the best available player as a backup to Desmond Bane. The 6-8 202 lb Johnny Furphy is versatile enough to play both the 2 at shooting guard and the 3 at small forward and his draft range is all over the place. He could go as early as the lottery, but could fall to the late first round after only averaging 9 points a game at Kansas. I got him falling to Memphis at 39.
    
    
    
40. Portland Trail Blazers: Oso Ighodaro, PF, Marquette
    
    
    The Portland Trial Blazers get a power forward for depth behind Jerami Grant and Kris Murray the younger brother of Keegan Murray with Portland's second 2023 first round pick currently listed as a backup power forward. Oso Ighodaro would be a third string power forward on Portland if he made the NBA, but he probably goes to the Rip City Remix.
    
    
    
    The 6-10 235 lb Oso Ighodaro played both the 4 at power forward and the 5 at center when he was on Marquette. Oso Ighodaro had 13.4 points per gmae, 6.9 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game, a 57.6% field goal percentage, a 0% three point percentage, and a 62.3% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. As much as I want to root for this guy, he's gonna be the number three power forward on Portland behind Grant and Murray as good as he is. Maybe he ends up on Portland as a backup center to DeAndre Ayton who knows.
    
    
    
    
    
41. Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Djurisic, SF, Mega Bemax
    
    
    Philadelphia might actually land another starter with this second round pick given that Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are the only two returning starters. One high upside player still on the board in the second round is Nikola Djurisic.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 220 lb Nikola Djurisic was teammates with Nikola Topic on Mega Bemax. He's got the floor of a backup NBA small forward and the ceiling of a starter, but he's very raw.
    
    
    
    Nikola Djurisic had 14.4 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 1 steal per game on Mega Bemax in 2023-2024. He had ups and downs at the 2024 NBA Combine and have mixed feelings about him as a prospect. If he goes to a team like Philadelphia that loses a lot of players to Free Agency he may have to start right away as a rookie even if the results are a disaster. He also might have an opportunity to develop into a starter though.
    
    
    
42. Charlotte Hornets: Antonio Reeves, SG, Kentucky
    
    
    Charlotte does need a starting shooting guard. Kentucky's third guard Antonio Reeves is a senior and he shows flashes of Norman Powell, so Charlotte could end up getting a starter in the second round if they go with the best available player at 6 assuming Stephon Castle is gone.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 195 lb Antonio Reeves does one thing at a high level and that is shoot the basketball whether it is from short range, medium range, or long range. That's the one thing he excels at. He may have to develop as a passer and defender, but he's got a chance to start right away in the NBA if the team that drafts him doesn't have a starter at shooting guard by the second round.
    
    
    
    Antonio Reeves had 20.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, a 51.2% field goal percentage, a 44.7% three point percentage, and a 86.3% free throw percentage as as senior in 2023-2024. Antonio Reeves could end up being a steal for the right team in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
43. Miami Heat: Harrison Ingram, SF, North Carolina
    
    
    The Miami Heat draft a small forward to push Caleb Martin for the backup small forward role. The small forward they draft here can be someone that Miami tries to develop into a successor to Jimmy Butler. North Carolina small forward Harrison Ingram may be a fit here.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 235 lb Harrison Ingram played his first two seasons at Stanford. He transferred to North Carolina for his junior season leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    Harrison Ingram had 12.2 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, a 43% field goal percentage, a 38.5% three point percentage, and a 61.2% free throw percentage at North Carolina in 2023-2024. Harrison Ingram impressed me as a shooter with his short range, medium range, and long range. The rest of his game as a passer and defender feels somewhat raw despite him being an effective rebounder. Learning under Jimmy Butler in Miami would do wonders for Harrison Ingram.
    
    
    
44. Houston Rockets: Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
    
    
    Houston gets another point guard that they can stash in the G-League for a year. The player I gave them is hometown Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead is a combo guard. He played shooting guard next to Marcus Sasser last year and moved to point guard this year after Sasser got drafted by the Detroit Pistons as a backup point guard to Cade Cunningham. With Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, who I mocked to Houston competing to be Freddy VanVleet's replacement down the road, there's really no room for Jamal Shead on the Houston Rockets as a starter, but he could be a backup on the Rockets down the road.
    
    
    
    Jamal Shead's floor is a backup point guard in the NBA. His ceiling is an above average starter like Mike Conley Jr.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 200 lb Jamal Shead had 12.9 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, a 40.9% field goal percentage, a 30.9% three point percentage, and a 77.9% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Houston was a number one seed each of the last two years in College Basketball.
    
    
    
    Jamal Shead played football growing up as a safety before committing to Basketball. Jamal Shead 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. His biggest strength is his defense not his offense despite averaging over 10 points per game at Houston. He can refine his passing and shooting in the NBA G-League for a year and then come up to the Houston Rockets as a number four guard on this depth chart behind Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard or Amen Thompson at point guard, and whoever loses that point guard competiton as the number four guard on Houston down the road.
    
    
    
    Jamal Shead interviewed well when seeing his interview. He didn't stand out on tape like the other players that broke down their tape leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft when going on Youtube podcasts to interview with people.
    
    
    
    
    
45. Sacramento Kings: Keshad Johnson, PF, Arizona
    
    
    The Sacramento Kings get the best player on the board as well as a backup to Keegan Murray at power forward. Keshad Johnson started on the San Diego State team that lost the 2023 Men's Basketball Championship to Connecticut before transferring to Arizona this past season.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 225 lb Keshad Johnson is a combo forward with the versatility to play both the 3 at small forward and the 4 at power forward Keshad Johnson had 11.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, a 53% field goal percentage, a 38.7% three point percentage, and a 71% free throw percentage at Arizona as a senior in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Keshad Johnson has the short range, long range, passing, rebounding, and shot blocking you want. He's got to do a better job with medium range shots and guarding defenders.
    
    
    
    
    
46. Los Angeles Clippers: Melvin Ajinca, SG, Saint-Quentin
    
    
    The Los Angeles Clippers have Russell Westbrook at point guard, Norman Powell at shooting guard, Kawhi Leonard at small forward, Paul George at power forward, and Ivica Zubac at center. Los Angeles can draft a shooting guard for depth behind Norman Powell since Powell played a majority of games off of the bench this year even though Powell is capable of starting.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 210 lb Melvin Ajinca had 15.5 points per game. He can score, but is probably a backup to Norman Powell if he makes the Los Angeles Clippers roster as a rookie.
    
    
    
47. Orlando Magic: PJ Hall, PF, Clemson
    
    
    Orlando gets a backup to Paolo Banchero here. PJ Hall the power forward on Clemson could be a backup power forward to Paolo Banchero.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 238 lb PJ Hall has the versatility to play the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. PJ Hall will provide a nice depth piece for Orlando regardless of where he's positioned.
    
    
    
    PJ Hall had 18.3 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game 1.4 asssists per game, a 48.8% field goal percentage, a 31.5% three point percentage, and a 77.9% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. PJ Hall will slide in nicely somewhere as a backup.
    
    
    
    
    
48. San Antonio Spurs: Enrique Freeman, PF, Akron
    
    
    The San Antonio Spurs draft a power forward that can start out in the G-League and develop into a backup to Jeremy Sochan once Zach Collins contract expires. Akron power forward Enrique Freeman might be a good fit here.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 206 lb Enrique Freeman had 18.6 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, a 58.4% field goal percentage, a 37% three point percentage, and a 72.8% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. He's got more of a small forwards body than a power forwards body.
    
    
    
49. Indiana Pacers: Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
    
    
    Indiana drafts a small forward for depth here. I had a first round grade on Justin Edwards back in the Fall and he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft despite averaging under 10 points per game.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 203 lb Justin Edwards can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, or the 3 at small forward. He would be a great player to bring off the bench for Indiana.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Indiana Pacers: Kyshawn George, SG, Miami FL
    
    
    Indiana stashes a guard in the NBA G-League. Kyshawn George could be a viable backup if Indiana moves on from Bennedict Mathurin or Andrew Nembhard down the road.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 206 lb Kyshawn George gives Indiana a shooting guard to develop for the future. Some have a first round grade on George even though he averaged under 10 points per game. Indiana can roll the dice on George at this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Washington Wizards: Tristen Newton, PG, Connecticut
    
    
    The Washington Wizards get a point guard for depth. Tristen Newton played three years at East Carolina before entering the transfer portal and spending the last two years at Connecticut. Tristen Newton was the starting point guard on Connecticut's last two National Championship teams. Tristen Newton has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, and defending. He can pretty much do it all and is a great backup point guard to Tyus Jones. Tristen Newton can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, and the 3 at small forward.
    
    
    
    Most second round picks only have a 3 percent probability of becoming an NBA starter. I'd say Tristen Newton has a 25 percent probability of becoming an NBA starter. I'd say there is an 82 percent chance he is a backup point guard on the NBA team that drafts him, so I will take those odds all day in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 195 lb Tristen Newton had 10.1 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game, a 37.4% field goal percentage, a 36.6% three point percentage, and a 81.6% free throw percentage as a junior redshirt on Connecticut's 2023 National Championship team as their starting point guard in 2022-2023. Tristen Newton had 15.1 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, a 41.5% field goal percentage, a 32.1% field goal percentage, and a 80.1% free throw percentage as a senior redshirt on Connecticut's 2024 National Championship Team as their starting point guard in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
52. Golden State Warriors: Cam Spencer, SG, Connecticut
    
    
    The Golden State Warriors have Steph Curry at point guard, Moses Moodey at shooting guard, Andrew Wiggins at small forward, Jonathan Kuminga at power forward, and Draymond Green at center. Golden State will probably either get a shooting guard or center for depth if Klay Thompson leaves as a backup to Moody or a center for depth. Kevon Looney is still under contract which leads me to believe a backup shooting guard is more likely.
    
    
    
    I mocked Connecticut shooting guard Cam Spencer here. He's the younger brother of Golden State Warriors Pat Spencer whose also on a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors.
    
    
    
    Cam Spencer discussed the importance of maintaining balance in his interview. He interviewed well, but I also didn't see someone who exuded a lot of confidence and energy like I saw with the first few players that I watched during interviews leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft. Cam Spencer has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, and rebounding that you want in a shooting guard. He can come in off the bench for Moses Moodey and contribute offensively and there's a chance him and his older brother are both bench players on Golden State down the road. He's solid, but not spectacular defensively. I like how Spencer talked about getting his shoulder into a players chest when defending. It is certainly possible that I'm underestimating how formidable Spencer is defensively. Spencer knows how to exploit defenders who are closing in on foul trouble since he's got such poise on the court.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 205 lb Cam Spencer had 14.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, a 48.4% field goal percentage, a 44% three point percentage, and a 91.1% free throw percentage in his lone season at Connecticut in 2023-2024. Cam Spencer is the only player in the past thirteen years covering the NBA Draft on Draft Utopia to make over 91 percent of his free throws making him an exceptional free throw shooter. His free throw shooting alone will get him drafted by a team in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Detroit Pistons: Judah Mintz, PG, Syracuse
    
    
    Detroit drafts another point guard. Detroit already has Cade Cunningham whose set to get a 5 year $226-million dollar contract paying him $45.2-million per year which is more than Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen for the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Detroit also has Killian Hayes and Marcus Sasser as their two backup point guards with both guys getting significant minutes when Cunningham was injured. Hayes is a RFA, but Sasser remains under contract. Judah Mintz will start in the NBA G-League if Detroit drafts him because I like Judah Mintz, but I feel like he would be the fourth point guard on this team if he made the Detroit Pistons final roster. Most NBA teams only carry 2 or 3 point guards rather than 4.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 185 lb Judah Mintz had 18.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, a 43.8% field goal percentage, 28.2% three point percentage, and a 76.5% free throw percentage as a sophomore in 2023-2024. Judah Mintz has hardly any floor, but he's got the ceiling to be a serviceable backup point guard once he develops in the G-League.
    
    
    
54. Boston Celtics: Ryan Dunn, SF, Virginia
    
    
    Boston goes for value here in the second round. Some have a first round grade on Ryan Dunn making him an ideal backup forward for Boston here in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 208 lb Ryan Dunn can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, and the 4 at power forward. He's great at rebounding, shot blocking, and stealing. He's raw offensively and needs to develop there despite having the skill set to be a strong defensive presence off the bench.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James, SG, USC
    The 6-3 180 lb Bronny James is a combo guard that can play the 1 at point guard and the 2 at shooting guard. He's also the son of NBA legend LeBron James.
    
    
    
    Bronny James had an underwhleming year at USC. He showcased the short range, medium range, long range, and passing at the 2024 NBA Combine to warrant a flyer in the second round.
    
    
56. Denver Nuggets: Reece Beekman, PG, Virginia
    
    
    Denver gets a backup point guard to Jamal Murray that's a true point guard. Reece Beekman could be a fit here.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 193 lb Reece Beekman had 14.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, 2 steals per game, a 44.3% field goal percentage, a a 31% three point percentage, and a 75.4% free throw percentage in 2023-2024. Reece Beekman is floor player that projects as a backup point guard since he struggled from two at times and looked overwhelmed despite exceeding over 10 points a game for the first time in his career as a senior at Virginia this past season. He was supposed to weigh 6-5, but ended up weighing 6-1 without shoes at the 2024 NBA Combine. There was no flow or synergy in Virginia's offense, but the star power the Denver Nuggets have will mask this.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Memphis Grizzlies: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne United
    
    
    Memphis needs a starting center. They settle for the 7-0 245 lb Ariel Hukporti whose the only draftable center left on the board to round out their starting five.
    
    
    
58. Dallas Mavericks: Jaylen Bridges, SF, Baylor
    
    
    The Dallas Mavericks have Luka Doncic at point guard, Kyrie Irving at shooting guard, Daniel Gafford at power forward, and Dereck Lively II at center. Dallas can draft a small forward with the final pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to compete with Tim Hardaway Jr. and P.J. Washington for that starting small forward spot in the starting five. Until that area gets fixed for Dallas, they won't be able to win an NBA Finals even if the rest of the starting lineup does well as they did this past season.
    
    
    
    The 6-9 225 lb Jalen Bridges had 12.2 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, a 46.6% field goal percentage, a 41.2% three point percentage, and a 82.3% field goal percentage in 2023-2024. Jalen Bridges has the short range, medium range, and long range you want from a shooter, but he doesn't bring anything else to the table outside of shooting. Since the Mavericks don't have a small forward averaging over 10 points per game, Jalen Bridges has the best chance to win a starting job among the rookies left in the 2024 NBA Draft.