2024 NBA Draft FAQ: Top prospects, trade chips, Bronny James

With the 2023-24 NBA season officially behind us, attention turns to the NBA Draft, which will be held on June 26 and 27. In preparation for the two-day event, here are the answers to some of the biggest questions regarding the 2024 NBA Draft. 

What venue will the draft be held at, and who will televise the event?

As mentioned, the 2024 NBA Draft will take place on June 26 and 27, marking the first time since 1973 that the event has been held on multiple nights.

The first round will be hosted at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 26, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, with ABC and ESPN providing live coverage. The second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, live from ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in lower Manhattan, begins on June 27 at 4 p.m. ET. You can watch the second round live on ESPN or the ESPN app. 

What’s the draft order?

The Atlanta Hawks secured the No. 1 overall pick after winning the NBA Draft Lottery for the first time in franchise history. Below is the current order of the lottery selections. The full 2024 NBA Draft order, courtesy of Tankathon, can be found here. 

1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Washington Wizards
3. Houston Rockets (via BKN)
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR)
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Utah Jazz
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU)
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GS)

Who’s going No. 1 overall?

Unlike last year with Victor Wembanyama, who went on to win Rookie of the Year this season, there’s no clear-cut top prospect in this draft. As things stand, FanDuel Sportsbook lists French-born forward Alexandre Sarr of the NBL’s Perth Wildcats as the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick (-135). 

Sarr, a 7-foot-1, 224-pound forward with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 27 games for Perth this past season while shooting 52% from the field. Although those numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, Sarr is a multi-dimensional defender with impressive ball handling, playmaking and shooting capabilities, giving him true star potential. 

Who are some other top international prospects?

Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg (France): Another player who is in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick, the 6-foot-10 forward is the prototypical 3-and-D wing NBA teams covet. In 32 games for JL Bourg this past season, Risacher averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. Despite his length, Risacher’s 6-foot-9.5 wingspan and inconsistent shooting numbers make him arguably one of the riskiest players in this year’s draft. 

Nikola Topic, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia): The 6-foot-7 point guard is an impressive playmaker and ball handler, but it’s possible he could fall on draft day due to his shooting ability, coupled with a partially torn ACL. Even so, across all teams he played for this season, Topic averaged 14.4 points and 5.5 assists per game on 49.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.6 percent from three-point range. 

Tidjane Salaun, Cholet Basket (France): One of the biggest risers of the pre-draft process, Salaun is the No. 9 overall prospect in ESPN’s top-100 rankings. Salaun, who won’t turn 19 until August, is perhaps the most intriguing prospect in this year’s class projected to land outside the top five. After playing just 17 minutes for Cholet in 2022-23, Salaun averaged 9.6 points and four rebounds in 23 minutes per game across the French league and the FIBA Champions League. 

Who are the top American prospects?

Donovan Clingan, UConn: Undoubtedly the top rim protector in the draft, Clingan — a two-time national champion — was instrumental in helping the Huskies defend their 2023 title. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 13 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 35 games for UConn last season while shooting an efficient 63.9 percent from the field. Thanks to the high floor he boasts, Clingan is another contender to be selected first overall later this month, a move that would be far from a reach if Atlanta decides to take him. 

Reed Sheppard, Kentucky: Sheppard, the best shooter in the class, mainly came off the bench for the Wildcats last season, though that doesn’t mean he’s not an NBA-ready talent. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season while shooting a staggering 52.1 percent from downtown on 4.4 three-point attempts per game. Even though he’s an undersized prospect, Sheppard is far from a liability on the defensive end and is one of the 2024 draft’s better perimeter defenders. 

Stephon Castle, UConn: The former five-star high school recruit was another integral member of UConn’s national championship-winning team last season. Castle averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Huskies, earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors in the process. Castle’s 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame makes him a fit to be a shooting guard or undersized wing in the NBA, but he’s reportedly set on being a full-time point guard. 

Which lottery teams could trade their pick(s)?

Houston Rockets: After posting a 22-60 record in 2022-23, Houston made massive strides this past season to finish as the 11th seed in the Western Conference. With the team potentially knocking on the door at a play-in tournament berth, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports that the Rockets “are open to” trading the third overall pick for a player who can help them win now. Houston reportedly pursued Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges during the 2023-24 regular season, so perhaps the sides will reopen negotiations before the draft. 

San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs, armed with two top-eight picks, will be one of the most fascinating teams to monitor during the draft, as they’re searching for Wembanyama’s running mate of the future. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, several teams consider San Antonio “as a potential trade-up option for Risacher, whom they scouted extensively last season.” If the Spurs don’t move up in the draft, don’t be surprised if they try to flip their first-round picks for an established star. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Last month, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that Memphis was “expected to explore the potential return for the No. 9 pick.” While it’s unclear whether the Grizzlies will ultimately strike a deal, it would make sense for them to move the pick. Memphis was decimated by injuries this past season to finish as the 13th seed in the West, but if it can flip its pick for a quality veteran, the team should return to being championship contenders. 

Will Bronny James get drafted, and which team(s) could select him?

James, the son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leading scorer LeBron James, will undoubtedly dominate the headlines of the draft, particularly the night of the second round. The 6-foot-1 guard only averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists at USC, but it’s worth noting he suffered a cardiac arrest last summer, which likely played a part in his performance.

While there’s no guarantee he’ll be drafted, James will likely be selected in the second round, considering he opted against returning to college. In all likelihood, James will join either his father’s Lakers or the Phoenix Suns, considering those are the only two teams he conducted pre-draft workouts with.