Tag: draftkings

Bronny James’ agent told teams don’t draft him or he’s going to Australia, per report bronny,james,agent,told,teams,don,t,draft,him,or,he,s,going,to,australia,per,report,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,draftkings

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During Day 2 of the 2024 NBA Draft, ESPN analyst and former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers dropped a bombshell of a rumor surrounding guard Bronny James, via his agent Rich Paul.

James, a guard from USC, is currently projected to be selected at the 55th pick, when the Lakers are on the clock. According to Myers, Paul is telling teams picking before the Lakers not to take James, pulling the strings in order to get James playing with his father LeBron in the NBA.

If Bronny is in fact selected by the Lakers, he and his father would be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time. While this is a big announcement regarding the rest of the NBA Draft, this isn’t unusual. There have been reports and rumors in previous years of players forcing their way onto teams via their agents telling teams not to draft them. Perhaps the most famous example also involves the Lakers, with Austin Reaves telling the Detroit Pistons not to draft him so he could choose the opportunity in Los Angeles on a two-way contract.

Especially in the modern second round, players can force their way onto teams who need roster spots filled, and Bronny is simply going to be the next player who does that.

As polarizing as Bronny is, this more than likely will only fuel the flames of detractors around his draft stock. The media circus surrounding him will only increase as the rumors swirl with more intensity, taking away from what could turn into a pretty solid NBA career. This rumor, while valid reporting, probably won’t smother those flames anytime soon.

Many NBA Draft pundits have James’ stock coming around the late areas of the second round, but the question now is if teams will call Rich Paul’s bluff and pick James. I doubt it, because Paul is the head agent of Klutch Sports, arguably the most powerful agency in the NBA. If they upset Paul, they risk upsetting other major NBA players affiliated with Klutch Sports.

It’ll be interesting to see who picks James, and if he gets picked at all. Will James end up actually playing in Australia? It seems unlikely, but is apparently now on the table.

Adrian Wojnarowski roasting Stephen A. Smith is the highlight of Day 2 of 2024 NBA Draft adrian,wojnarowski,roasting,stephen,a,smith,is,the,highlight,of,day,of,nba,draft,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,draftkings

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For the first time in history, the NBA Draft is taking place over two nights.

Ahead of the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, the gang on ESPN got together to ponder a number of questions. Atop that list? Where might Bronny James come off the board? After falling out of the first round — as was largely expected — James is waiting to hear where his NBA journey begins.

As is his father, LeBron James.

That led Stephen A. Smith to ponder a once-in-a-lifetime scenario: Bronny coming off the board during the second round to the New York Knicks, and LeBron joining the Knicks on a league minimum salary to play with his son, and the rest of the loaded Knicks roster.

However, Adrian Wojnarowski had a rebuttal question.

Who would Stephen A. Smith take such a big paycut for?

That left Smith — who is usually ready with an answer for anything — searching for a response.

You can see the entire exchange in this below clip, with Wojnarowski’s question coming in at the 1:14 mark:

Of course there is some context that is helpful here, as Smith is entering the final year of his current contract at ESPN. Smith has reportedly received an offer in the $18 million range annually, but is reportedly seeking a contract in the neighborhood of $25 million. All of that context makes this clip even better.

We have 28 picks left to go — the first two picks are now in for the second round — but it might be hard to top this moment tonight.

Tom Brady aiming for spot on US Olympic Track and Field team tom,brady,aiming,for,spot,on,us,olympic,track,and,field,team,sbnation,com,front-page,olympics,draftkings

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Tom Brady, from the University of Michigan, is hoping to clinch a spot on the United States Olympic Track and Field this week, competing in the men’s 5000 meters.

Of course, we are not talking about THAT Tom Brady.

No, we are talking about Tom Brady, the member of the Michigan Track and Field Team who is the school’s record-holder in both the indoor 5000 meters, as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters. That Tom Brady gets his Olympic quest underway later today, in the opening heat of the men’s 5000 meters.

However, there are some eerie similarities between the two athletes, beyond the University of Michigan. Consider this: Brady’s personal best in this event, the 5000 meters, came at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational back in February.

That event was held at Boston University.

Brady’s other focus is the 10,000 meters, and as indicated above he holds the Michigan record in that event. Where did he set that record?

Stanford University, in the San Francisco Bay area, near where the other Tom Brady grew up.

One thing the two do not share, however? Their NFL allegiances. Obviously Tom Brady the NFL quarterback has his ties to the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Tom Brady the Olympic hopeful?

He is a Chicago Bears fan, through and through.

“Growing up in Chicago, for some reason there’s some kind of rivalry with Tom Brady there. I don’t know why but I think it’s because he destroys us every time we play him,” Brady said in a profile of him back in 2023. “Except for the last time, that was a good time.”

Included in that profile was this bit: “Brady will never root for the 20-year NFL veteran because of his “unhealthy” Chicago Bears obsession, but he respects Brady’s work ethic, and for that, he admits Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time.”

But that Tom Brady never made an Olympic team, even though his mom once said he was the fastest player in the NFL.

The other Tom Brady might do just that this weekend.

What’s the Bills’ plan at receiver without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis? what,s,the,bills,plan,at,receiver,without,stefon,diggs,and,gabe,davis,sbnation,com,front-page,nfl,draftkings

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The Buffalo Bills will roll into 2024 without their starting wide receiver tandem and team captains from last season, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. As head coach Sean McDermott put it on the Centered on Buffalo Podcast, the Buffalo Bills’ WR room will have a “different vibe for sure”. With superstar QB Josh Allen manning the helm, some new faces are bound to emerge as Buffalo’s top-receiving threats. As training camp approaches, fans and analysts alike are eager to see who will rise to the occasion and become key contributors in their revamped receiving corps.

Let’s set the table with where the receiver corps stands now and how it’s changed since the end of the 2023 season.

Key Departures

Stefon Diggs
Buffalo’s former bona fide number-one receiver leaves behind a massive hole after averaging 111.25 receptions, 1343 receiving yards, and 9.25 TDs during his four seasons in Buffalo. He was traded to the Houston Texans.

Gabe Davis
A former fourth-round draft pick developed into the number-two option in the Bills’ offense but never eclipsed the 1000-yard mark in any season. “Big Game Gabe” was known for his propensity to show up when it mattered most, but now he’s with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Key Additions

Curtis Samuel
The seven-year veteran was signed to a three-year contract via free agency by the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Samuel has electric speed and some big play juice that Buffalo’s offense has been searching for.

Keon Coleman
Coleman was Buffalo’s top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The rookie gives the Bills a new flavor in their WR room and gives Allen a big target to “play above the rim”.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Buffalo swiped a WR away from their nemesis by signing MVS to a one-year contract via free agency. The speedster figures to add depth and a big play threat for Allen to heave the ball to.

Key Returners

Kahlil Shakir
Shakir is the incumbent starting slot WR for the Bills, however, I would expect to see him used on the outside, as well. From Week 8 to the end of the 2023 season, Shakir outpaced Stefon Diggs in receiving yards, and he did it with half of the targets Diggs had. Shakir enters 2024 as one of Allen’s favorite options.

What’s the Bills’ game plan at receiver?

With two big names out and an influx of new faces, the Bills offense will face a significant transition this offseason as they look for solutions to revamp their passing offense. Bills general manager Brandon Beane has certainly brought in a variety of options to find the right fit, but will it be enough? Let’s explore the potential game plans for the Bills’ new-look passing offense in 2024.

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It may be concerning to some that Josh Allen doesn’t have a proven number-one WR to throw the ball to, but Beane doesn’t necessarily feel that way. In a recent interview with Go Long, he said, “Don’t get too caught up in, ‘You don’t have a No. 1 wide receiver.’ Let’s look at it as a whole, and remember that different guys bring different skill sets.”

The downside of not having a true “number one” wide receiver is that Allen won’t have a reliable security blanket to fall back on. However, the upside is equally valuable: Allen will have the freedom to go through his progressions and find the open receiver without worrying about forcing targets for Stefon Diggs.

I’m convinced that the Bills are building a receiving corps with diverse skill sets to exploit mismatches across the field. They’ve acquired special talents at wide receiver, and their pass-catching options at running back and tight end are formidable as well. Here is what some of the specialty skill sets look like when you put it all together:

  • Kahlil Shakir: Rising talent, do-it-all all guy, can be used anywhere on the field
  • Keon Coleman: Jump ball monster, big target, red zone threat
  • Curtis Samuel: Gadget guy for jet sweeps and screens, big-play threat, run after catch
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Deep threat, quality depth, played in big games
  • Dalton Kincaid: Big slot, gets open over the middle, mismatch nightmare
  • Dawson Knox: Good blocker, tough to bring down, great rapport with Allen
  • James Cook: Athletic receiving asset out of the backfield, mismatch against linebackers

Tight ends need love too

“I read the rules, it’s legal to throw it to a tight end”, Beane told Go Long. The Bills boast one of the best tight end duos in the league with veteran Dawson Knox and former first-round pick Dalton Kincaid. With the wide receiver room only featuring one player who has caught a pass from Josh Allen in Shakir, the Bills will rely on their tight end duo for production due to their established chemistry with Allen. Last season, Kincaid was third in receiving yards on the team and had the second-most targets. Head coach Sean McDermott said on the Centered on Buffalo Podcast that Kincaid is, “going to be primed for a great season and that rapport with Josh is going to be critical for us”.

New top dog

With Diggs gone, someone will need to step up and take over the “top dog” wide receiver spot. While that remains to be seen, the Bills’ top draft pick, Keon Coleman, seems like a strong contender. Brandon Beane highlighted Coleman’s potential with Go Long, saying, “He’s got play speed. I saw him live at LSU. He caught a skinny post, made a guy miss, split the safeties, and took it in. And you saw his athletic ability returning punts. You don’t see 6’3, 6’4 guys that are able to track, bend, and adjust.”

The rookie receiver faces an uphill battle to become a prominent force in the Bills’ offense, but the recent success of rookie WRs in the NFL gives the Bills hope that he can contribute sooner rather than later.

While Coleman is a solid candidate to become the Bills’ number one WR, he might not be the most likely. Shakir flourished in the second half of 2023 and is a sneaky candidate for a classic third-year breakout. Plays like his playoff TD against the Steelers should be an exciting sign of things to come. Don’t overlook him when drafting your fantasy team this year, as there’s little holding him back from exploding onto the scene next season.

Wild cards

As previously mentioned, the Bills have brought in a variety of options at wide receiver through free agency and the NFL Draft, but they also have some deep sleeper options to consider. The Bills took a chance on two former second-round receivers, K.J. Hamler and Chase Claypool. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, though their careers have fizzled out.

Additionally, Justin Shorter is still lurking in the weeds. After being drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Shorter had to sit out the entire season on IR. The former 5-star recruit looks like a WR built in a lab, but his potential has yet to translate to the football field.

These three wild cards will have their opportunity to earn a spot on the Bills’ roster, though their chances are slim. Yet, if one of these reclamation projects succeeds and contributes, the Bills’ WR room could unexpectedly surpass its 2023 performance.

The mix of seasoned veterans, a promising rookie, and potential reclamation projects will make for an exciting and unpredictable offensive dynamic. The stage is set for a reconstructed receiving corps that is poised to redefine the Bills’ passing game, ushering in a new era of success.

Zach Edey turning down NBA Draft green room to celebrate with his Purdue teammates is so cool zach,edey,turning,down,nba,draft,green,room,to,celebrate,with,his,purdue,teammates,is,so,cool,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,college-basketball,nba-draft,draftkings

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The decision by the Memphis Grizzlies to take Zach Edey with the No. 9 pick in the NBA Draft was easily the most divisive decision of the top-10. To some, Edey is a prolific college powerhouse, a dominant talent who was a no-brainer, others see a physically-limited, low-upside center who will be eaten alive by the NBA’s athleticism. But no matter which side of the fence you fall on, there’s no debating that Edey is a genuinely great dude.

This shined through on Thursday night, when instead of accepting an invite to The Barclay’s Center to be a part of the pomp and circumstance of the draft, instead Edey spent the evening with his former Purdue teammates and watched it all unfold on TV.

Edey informed the NBA last week that he wouldn’t be attending the draft in person, turning down his green room invite. He told league officials that he was going to stay and watch with his coaches, teammates, family and friends at Purdue — which included Mason Gillis, who transferred to Duke last month, but was still there to celebrate Edey’s big moment.

It’s aspects like this of Edey’s personality which will make him a fan-favorite in Memphis. A true throwback center in an era of stretch players, time will tell whether the experiment will work — but there’s no doubt that this kid has his priorities in the right place. Let’s be honest for a second too: Staying home was exceedingly smart.

Speculation on where Edey might land ranged from the late teens, all the way out of the first round. Obviously the story ended well for the Purdue big man, but by staying away from the green room he dodged the embarrassment of waiting all night to hear his name called only to be met with silence, as Duke center Kyle Filipowski did on Wednesday night when he fell out of the first round.

The new locale also allowed for Edey to get the full “Art but Sports” treatment, something he wouldn’t have likely gotten in NYC.

It’s difficult not to root for this kid, and all the players who got selected on Wednesday night. Memphis got a good one.

Tour de France 2024 favorites, ranked by their chances of winning tour,de,france,favorites,ranked,by,their,chances,of,winning,sbnation,com,front-page,tour-de-france,draftkings

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The biggest event on the cycling calendar, and one of the most noteworthy sporting events in the world, is upon us: the 2024 Tour de France will start this weekend.

The 111th edition of the race will be kicked off in the Italian city of Florence on Saturday, June 29. A total of 21 stages and 2,170 miles will take riders to Nice on the French Riviera.

This year’s Tour projects to be as memorable a Grande Boucle as any in recent history. Look no further than a star-studded start list that includes some of the biggest names in the sport — including the so-called “big four” of Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel going at each other for the first time ever.

So, who will come out on top? That is anybody’s guess at this point in time, but here is our overview of who to keep an eye on over the next three weeks.

The phenomenon

Given what has transpired so far this season, there is one out-and-out favorite for this race. It’s none other than the best rider of his generation.

1. Tadej Pogačar (SLO), UAE Team Emirates: A two-time Tour de France winner already, the 25-year-old wunderkind is in the middle of what could end up being a historic season. His 2024 palmarès so far includes some dominant victories, including at the Giro d’Italia in May. Will he show any signs of fatigue after beating his competition by almost 10 minutes in the first grand tour of the season? Or was it just a three-week appetizer for what lies ahead? For what it’s worth, Pogačar himself — who changed his training regimen and personal coach since the last Tour de France — seems to think his best is yet to come. A scary thought.

The defending champion

One big reason why Pogačar is the favorite is that his main rival of the last three editions of the Tour de France was involved in a devastating crash in early April. Nonetheless, you can never count another two-time champion out either.

2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN), Visma | Lease a Bike: Vingegaard was able to beat Pogačar in back-to-back years, and at a full 100 percent should be able to challenge the Slovenian megastar yet again. The question is: will he be at a 100 percent? The Dane suffered a punctured lung as well as rib and collarbone fractures at the Tour of Basque Country less than three months ago, and hasn’t raced since. His form is a mystery, and something his rivals might want to try to exploit early on in the Tour. If the 27-year-old is able to keep things close heading into the final week, however, his superb climbing abilities might put him right back into the conversation after all.

The uncertain stars

The last three years in particular were the Pogačar and Vingegaard show, and when at their best they are a clear step above the rest of the peloton as far as stage racing is concerned. However, two other riders are actually within striking distance themselves — even though they crashed alongside Vingegaard in April.

3. Primož Roglič (SLO), Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe: Vingegaard’s former teammate still has some unfinished business in France after narrowly losing the 2020 Tour to his compatriot Pogačar and failing to finish the race in both 2021 and 2022. At age 34, however, time is running out for the ex-ski jumper. Despite being on the older side compared to his closest rivals, Roglič is still a world-class rider — something he showed in the lead-up to the Tour de France when he won the Critérium du Dauphiné, despite a serious wobble on the final stage.

4. Remco Evenepoel (BEL), Soudal Quick-Step: Evenepoel was among the riders beaten by Roglič at the Dauphiné, but he appeared to focus more on his own build-up toward the Tour de France rather than the result in that particular race. Considering that he too crashed at Basque Country, this makes sense, but it creates an aura of uncertainty around the Belgian — especially when comparing himself to the Pogačars and Vingegaards of the world in a grand tour setting for the first time. Still, the talented youngster is a realistic podium contender in this race and might even be able to push for the top spot himself due to his time-trialling capabilities.

The outsiders

It would be quite a surprise if the winner wasn’t one of the big four of Pogačar, Vingegaard, Roglič or Evenepoel. That said, anything can happen in a three-week race and teams might be forced to adapt due to crash, crack, or illness. If so, a member of this group might end up on the top step of the podium when all is said and done.

5. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP), Ineos Grenadiers: Rodriguez may lack the star power of the top-ranked riders on this list, but he is no slouch either. He finished second, first, and fourth in his last three stage races this season, and was fifth in the Tour last year. With a strong Ineos Grenadiers team supporting him, he could jump onto the podium in 2024 in case the big four show some weakness.

6. Adam Yates (UK), UAE Team Emirates: Fresh off a win at the Tour de Suisse, Yates will serve as Pogačar’s right-hand man and top lieutenant the next three weeks. He is a quality general classification racer in his own right, however, and finished third behind his captain and Jonas Vingegaard in 2023. Another podium result is not out of the realm of possibility even with a support role as his primary job.

7. Matteo Jorgenson (USA), Visma | Lease a Bike: With Vingegaard’s form best classified as “TBD” and with fellow American Sepp Kuss scratched from the Visma | Lease a Bike start list due to medical reasons, the 24-year-old Jorgenson might be part backup leader, part super domestique starting off the race. Regardless of his role, he is more than capable of a top-three finish considering how his season has been going so far: he won Paris-Nice in March, and finished only 8 seconds down to Roglič at the Dauphiné earlier this month.

8. Juan Ayuso (ESP), UAE Team Emirates: Ayuso would be a leader on most teams, but being on the one headlined by Tadej Pogačar means he too will have to work for the big boss. That doesn’t mean he will not compete for a general classification spot as well, and be kept close to the race lead as a possible break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option.

9. Egan Bernal (COL), Ineos Grenadiers: One of four former Tour de France champions to start this year’s race alongside Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Ineos Grenadiers teammate Geraint Thomas, Bernal is in the middle of a good season. He has yet to win, yes, but for the first time since a career-altering crash in 2022 is competing at a top level again. A podium finish might still be out of reach, especially with Carlos Rodriguez ahead of him in the pecking order, but stranger things have happened.

10. João Almeida (POR), UAE Team Emirates: Almeida has finished in the top-10 in 13 of his 15 career stage races, including as No. 2 at the Tour de Suisse earlier this month. He is still only the fourth favorite among a stacked UAE squad, but similar to his teammate Ayuso might be kept in the running for as long as possible especially after showing some promising form in Switzerland.

11. Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS), Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe: Vlasov was Primož Roglič’s top helper at the Dauphine, and himself riding a good race to finish sixth overall. It was his fourth top-10 result in a stage race this year, and he could end up making some noise at the Tour de France as well if allowed to go for his own result on top of helping protect Roglič.

The best of the rest

Despite a clear hierarchy to the list of favorites, general classification ambitions will not end with the names above. In fact, plenty of riders will consider a top-10 result as a success and could even have their eyes on the podium under the right — or wrong, depending on how you look at it — circumstances.

That being said, the chances of somebody like Felix Gall, Tom Pidcock, Geraint Thomas, Enric Mas, Jai Hindley, Mikel Landa, Simon Yates, or Derek Gee winning or even podiuming this year’s Tour de France are fairly low. That does not mean they won’t play their part in making the race exciting, but they have not shown they can consistently challenge the top dogs.

NBA Draft results 2024: Pick-by-pick tracker for every selection nba,draft,results,pick,by,pick,tracker,for,every,selection,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,draftkings

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The 2023 NBA Draft certainly lacked intrigue, at least when it came to the first-overall selection. For months Victor Wembayama was locked into the top spot on every draft board, and when the San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft lottery it was clear: Wembymania was headed to the Lone Star State, and the draft began in earnest at No. 2.

That is not the case this year.

The 2024 NBA Draft begins later tonight, as the league shifts to a two-day event for this season. And who will go first overall is anyone’s guess. Will it be athletic big man Alex Sarr from France, whose massive wingspan and defensive skills have seen him fly up draft boards? Will it be one of the Kentucky guards? Reed Sheppard might not offer a ton of creativity and upside, but his shooting skills are elite and he showed a knack for creating turnovers on the defensive end for the Wildcats. Rob Dillingham is undersized by NBA standards — perhaps historically so — but pairs elite ball-handling skills with tremendous potential as a shooter.

Two more options for that first-overall selection? Nikola Topic from Serbia and Ron Holland out of the G League. Holland looked like a potential first-overall selection months ago, but a losing season with the Ignite has seen his draft stock fall a bit. Then there is Topic, who got off to a slow start with Mega in the Adriatic League and then suffered a pair of injuries, the second a partially-torn ACL.

But the upside, especially combined with his age (Topic will not turn 19 until August) is immense.

Oh and before we forget, Bronny James is waiting to hear where he lands, along with the rest of us … and his father.

Ahead of the draft check out SB Nation’s Top 60 Big Board, as well as deep dives into Holland, and Zach Edey. You can also check out our most recent NBA mock draft here, as well as this previous installment. In addition, our SB Nation NBA site managers got together for this mock draft which is also worth your time.

If you are looking for pick-by-pick grades, we have you covered here.

Then check back early and often as the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft gets underway Wednesday night. The draft will conclude with the second round starting on Thursday afternoon.

2024 NBA

Pick Team Player From Position Age/Class
Pick Team Player From Position Age/Class
1 Atlanta Hawks Zaccharie Risacher France F Born 2005
2 Washington Wizards Alex Sarr France C/F Born 2005
3 Houston Rockets (via BKN) Reed Sheppard Kentucky G Freshman
4 San Antonio Spurs Stephon Castle UConn G Freshman
5 Detroit Pistons Ron Holland G League Ignite F Born 2005
6 Charlotte Hornets Tidjane Salaun France F Born 2005
7 Portland Trail Blazers Donovan Clingan UConn C Sophomore
8 San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) Rob Dillingham Kentucky G Freshman
9 Memphis Grizzlies Zach Edey Purdue C Senior
10 Utah Jazz Cody Williams Colorado F Freshman
11 Chicago Bulls Matas Buzelis G League Ignite F Born 2004
12 Oklahoma City Thunder Nikola Topic Serbia G Born 2005
13 Sacramento Kings
14 Washington Wizards (via POR and GS)
15 Miami Heat
16 Philadelphia 76ers
17 Los Angeles Lakers
18 Orlando Magic
19 Toronto Raptors (via IND)
20 Cleveland Cavaliers
21 New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
22 Phoenix Suns
23 Milwaukee Bucks (via NO)
24 New York Knicks (via DAL)
25 New York Knicks
26 Washington Wizards (via LAC)
27 Minnesota Timberwolves
28 Denver Nuggets
29 Utah Jazz (via OKC)
30 Boston Celtics

NBA Draft grades 2024: Instant letter grades assigned for every pick nba,draft,grades,instant,letter,grades,assigned,for,every,pick,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,draftkings

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The 2024 NBA Draft is hardly the most anticipated in league history, but it’s important to remember that even weak drafts have plenty of good players. Take 2013, for instance: Anthony Bennett was an all-time bust at No. 1 overall, but there was a future two-time league MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo and four-time Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert taken outside of the lottery.

What makes this draft a fun and challenging evaluation is that there’s no consensus top player available. I’ve seen more than 10 players be listed as No. 1 overall on various boards. We won’t really know how this draft shakes out for at least five years, but that won’t stop us from assigning instant grades for 2024 draft picks as they happen.

These grades will mostly be based on my final top-60 big board for this draft class, but will also consider team fit and value based on consensus mocks. The fireworks have already started in the NBA with the Knicks’ bold trade for Mikal Bridges, the Trail Blazers’ deal for Deni Avdija, and the fascinating pick swap between the Rockets and Nets.

Let’s grade every first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

1. Atlanta Hawks – Zaccharie Risacher, F, France

Grade: B-

Risacher looks nothing like a typical No. 1 overall pick. He doesn’t create much with the ball in his hands, doesn’t have takeover scoring ability, and isn’t an elite athlete. The main appeal of Risacher is his combination of size and shooting. At 6’9, he knocked down 39 percent of his threes while playing a big role at a young age in the top French pro league. His defense looked good, particularly when smothering smaller guards with his length, but he’ll have to bulk up to be a true wing stopper. Risacher is a high floor pick who can fit into team structure, and there’s value in that in a weak draft. I didn’t view him as one of the top talents available because of his lack of creation ability, but he’s still the type of player ever team wants as the wing complementing their stars.

Nets and Knicks kick off 2024 NBA Draft with massive, complicated Mikal Bridges trade nets,and,knicks,kick,off,nba,draft,with,massive,complicated,mikal,bridges,trade,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-trade-rumors,nba-draft,draftkings,dot-com-grid-coverage

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The Nets have regained control of their future heading into the 2024 NBA Draft by making two massive deals on the eve of the big day.

In the first, Brooklyn will send Mikal Bridges to reunite with his Villanova buddies across the city with the New York Knicks in exchange for FIVE first-round picks, a pick swap and a second-rounder, and in another, they will get their own 2026 first-rounder back from the Houston Rockets for a hefty price.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was all over the news:

Our own Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily noted that the Bridges trade is historic not just for the treasure trove Brooklyn got back, but as the first trade since the two franchises started sharing a city:

As Woj noted, the biggest takeaway from all these musical chairs is that Brooklyn has now retaken control of its future to a greater degree. With their 2026 pick back from the Rockets — it was originally sent out in their deal for James Harden, who has since (in)famously been traded two more times — the Nets can freely tank and not have to worry about sending a potentially valuable future pick to the Rockets.

For examples of the possible ramifications of this, one only needs to look at the draft tomorrow: Houston has the No. 3 pick in this draft because the Nets weren’t good enough around Bridges to avoid giving up lottery picks as part of the ongoing Harden deal fallout, so they sold one of the NBA’s most valuable role players for more picks while reclaiming their ability to get the benefits of being bad.

The price they paid to the Rockets for that right was steep — more complicated multi-team pick swaps, and a Suns first-rounder that could be gold if that team continues its expensive implosion, but ultimately likely… nets… out as a win for Brooklyn because it allowed them to get a haul for Bridges from the Knicks without having to worry they would just send a valuable pick to Houston as part of a lengthy rebuild.

For the Knicks, this a steep price that massively cuts into their war chest of assets, but it may be worth it to add Bridges to their core of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo as the final Villanova infinity stone. With Julius Randle’s contract still available to use in deals and OG Anunoby’s future increasingly uncertain — even with Woj noting New York still wants to keep him — it remains to be seen how strong this Knicks foundation can be.

Still, it’s hard not to imagine a devastatingly dangerous team if Bridges — a notorious NBA ironman — can hold up under Thibs’ infamous minutes loads after watching how well they did without that perfect type of 3-and-D wing in the 2024 NBA playoffs while dealing with so many injuries. This could be an NBA Finals team with a bit of luck and some more smart moves.

Or, as Posting and Toasting put it…

For Houston? It seems like the goal is still in flux, and as usual for the Rockets, perpetually chaotic: Trying to get Kevin Durant. Yes, seriously.

The ramifications of this huge, complex deal will surely continue to trickle out, but for now, beyond Brooklyn taking back control of its own destiny, only one thing is clear: If these are the fireworks teams are setting off on the eve of the draft, the next week of draft and free agency madness promises to be explosive.

This breaking news story may be updated as it continues to develop. Follow Nets Daily, The Dream Shake and Posting and Toasting for the latest on the Nets, Rockets and Knicks angles of all this, respectively.

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The Houston Rockets want Kevin Durant or Devin Booker. In an effort to get one of them, Houston made a fascinating trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night to acquire future draft picks originally belonging to the Phoenix Suns. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke a convoluted trade that returns the Nets their own 2026 pick (originally sent to Houston in the James Harden trade) and extinguishes swap rights Houston had on Brooklyn’s 2025 pick in exchange for a package headlined by the Suns’ 2027 pick, which was originally acquired by the Nets in the Kevin Durant trade.

This trade comes on the heels of the Nets trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in a package headlined by five first round draft picks. It’s all happening the night before the 2024 NBA Draft.

Does all of that make sense? Probably not. Here’s how Woj explained it:

Let’s do our best to sum this up:

Nets get: Brooklyn 2026 first round pick, extinguished swap rights on 2025 Brooklyn first round pick

Rockets get: 2027 Suns first round pick, 2025 Suns first round swap rights, 2029 first round pick from Dallas or Phoenix (more favorable), swap rights on 2029 first round pick with Dallas or Phoenix (less favorable)

The Nets’ motivation for doing this deal is obvious: Brooklyn is going all-in on rebuilding, and now has control of its own picks. The Nets are going to tank hard ahead of a loaded 2025 NBA Draft class, and then they’re going to tank again in 2026. Brooklyn is loaded with draft picks.

What’s the Rockets’ motivation for doing this deal? They want Durant or Booker, according to Woj, and believe they can get Phoenix to bite by returning their own draft picks. The Suns are determined to keep Durant and Booker for now and try to win next season, according to Woj. The Rockets are betting they will move off that position eventually. Here are tweets from Woj:

The Rockets also hold the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Is Durant getting traded during the draft on Wednesday night? It seems like a distinct possibility.

This scans as an incredibly bold, borderline reckless trade by Houston. The swap rights for the Nets’ 2025 pick and unprotected ownership of their 2026 pick were incredibly valuable assets. Houston gave those up to fade the Suns. The Rockets are going to be aggressive in trying to trade for an established veteran talent — whether it’s Durant or Booker or someone else.

The NBA is on fire, and the Nets are at the center of it all. Brooklyn’s big swing for Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden blew up into an epic disaster, but the team recovered so well by dealing them all (and the returning assets like Bridges) for future draft picks. The Nets are flushed with draft capital in stronger classes the next few years.

Durant, by the way, turns 36 years old before next season. What a way to start the 24 hours before the draft.