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10 mistakes every golfer must avoid during every round mistakes,every,golfer,must,avoid,during,every,round,sbnation,com,golf,golf-opinions

10 mistakes every golfer must avoid during every round mistakeseverygolfermustavoidduringeveryroundsbnationcomgolfgolf opinions
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With summer in full swing across the United States, you can play with anyone, anywhere, anytime. We highlighted the 10 things all golfers should do during a round, but now we want to list 10 mistakes all golfers should avoid every time they play:

10. Never leave your cart in front of green; always towards back or near next tee

You should park your cart at the closest point between the green and the next tee. That point should also be in the back of the green, so you are not walking towards the fairway you just played, further delaying the group behind you. Cart etiquette is important, but so is using common sense.

9. Speaking of carts, keep them 30 feet away from greens and tees

You should never bring your cart close to the green unless you have a medical condition forbidding you from walking a considerable distance.

The same can be said for teeing areas.

8. No need to take more than three practice swings

The pace of play on a course is important. And no, you are not on the PGA Tour. So do not take more than three practice swings and waste everyone’s time, including yours.

I usually take two to get in a rhythm, then swing away.

7. Don’t arrive less than 20 minutes before tee time

Scrambling to the first tee in a dizzying hurry is terrible, but it angers the pro shop staff, too. Be there on time so you can ease into your round and have a proper warmup.

6. Don’t skip out on the putting green beforehand

You will have more strokes on the green than anywhere else. It’s essential to get the speed of the greens down beforehand so you don’t make a mess of things over the first couple of holes.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

5. Missed ball marks damage greens

Fix your ball marks.

Fix your ball marks.

Fix your ball marks.

Nobody wants to play on damaged greens, and nobody wants a good putt disrupted by a bump.

4. Don’t place wedges/clubs in rough

Every golfer has made the mistake of leaving a club behind at some point.

If you bring your wedge or short iron to a green, put it on the green or fringe—somewhere easily visible. I usually place clubs next to the flagstick—a good reminder not to forget them, too.

3. Replace divots, fix ball marks

Treat the golf course like your own home.

Replace divots and use dirt mix if available. And always, always repair your ball marks on the greens. Fix another one, too. A course’s most valuable assets are the greens—take care of them.

2. The five-minute rule

If you need to take more than five minutes looking for a golf ball, it is clearly not in the spot you think it is—or it is buried in the rough where you would struggle to hack it out.

Take a drop and move on.

1. Don’t be too hard on yourself

It’s a frustrating game that even angers Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau. Have fun.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

NBA free agency live grades 2024, updated for every major player changing teams nba,free,agency,live,grades,updated,for,every,major,player,changing,teams,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-free-agency,draftkings

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NBA free agency didn’t start with a bang this year the way it normally does. Maybe teams were worried about tampering penalties. Maybe Paul George was holding up the entire market. Maybe the new CBA is just too complicated for anyone to fully grasp. Either way, things have officially heated up on Monday, and most of the top names on the market are now off the board.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder are loading up for a run at the championship. The Orlando Magic added a solid piece that addresses their biggest weakness and complements their young core. The Mavericks made arguably the best value signing of free agency, but also lost a major contributor from their 2024 NBA Finals team in the process.

The NBA free agent deals are coming in quickly now, and we’re making note of every signing and trade in our live tracker. Now it’s time to grade the biggest deals of free agency.

Mavericks grade for Klay Thompson signing

Klay Thompson, Mavs agree to three-year, $50 million deal

Grade: B+

It’s going to feel so weird to see Thompson away from the Golden State Warriors. The 34-year-old guard has lost a step defensively, but he’s still an elite three-point shooter when he’s set up for an open look. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving attract so much attention offensively that Thompson should be free to run into open shots around the arc. He hit 38.7 percent of his threes on nine attempts per game last year, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see his percentage rise in Dallas with less pressure on him. I’m more worried about the other end of the floor: Thompson isn’t the defender he used to be, and he’s joining two bad perimeter defenders in Doncic and Irving. Still, Dallas got the extra shooting it needed, and the front office deserves praise for their creativity this offseason. The Mavs dealt Tim Hardaway Jr. to grab a flier on Quentin Grimes and open up more cap space. Dallas then signed one of the best bargain free agents in Naji Marshall before striking again with Thompson. Dallas isn’t settling after a surprising run to the NBA Finals, and that’s awesome. Losing Josh Green in this deal hurts a bit, and it feels like a lock that Thompson will pick up his player option in the final year of the contract. This isn’t a slam dunk, but it’s another solid move in a solid offseason for Dallas.

Chris Haynes reports that the deal will be a sign-and-trade, and is not completed yet.

76ers grade for Paul George signing

Paul George, 76ers agree to four-year, $212 million deal

Grade: A

Getting Paul George for nothing but cap space is an incredible piece of business by the 76ers. He’s an ideal fit between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as a wing who can rip three-pointers with volume, play on- or off-the-ball, and take on the toughest defensive assignments. It’s scary giving out a max contract to a 34-year-old with a long injury history, but if George stays healthy, he fits Philly like a glove. This is an immense upgrade over Tobias Harris in the third star department. George will carry bench units when Embiid rests, and he’ll fit seamlessly in the closing unit alongside the other two All-Stars here. The Sixers’ won’t be the favorites in the East, but they are a real threat to win the conference if everything breaks their way.

Thunder grade for Isaiah Hartenstein signing

Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder agree to three-year, $87 million deal

Grade: A+

Hartenstein has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA the last few years. He’s an elite defensive center who is coming into his prime at 26 years old, and can have a huge impact on games without needing the ball. The Thunder badly needed more beef inside and help on the glass, and Hartenstein expertly fills both areas. He’s not a big-time scorer, but his halfcourt playmaking will be an essential fit alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. This seems like a lot of money until you realize the final year of this deal is non-guaranteed. While the Thunder still have Holmgren and Williams on rookie deals, Hartenstein will fill in all the cracks to help make Oklahoma City a legit championship contender.

Magic grade for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agrees to three-year, $66 million deal with Orlando Magic, per Chris Haynes

Grade: B+

The Magic were one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA last year, ranking No. 25 in three-point rate and No. 24 in three-point percentage. KCP will be an immediate solution to their shooting woes. He made 42 percent of his threes with Denver in 2022-23, and 40.6 percent of his triples last season. Caldwell-Pope is also a very good defender who will team with Jalen Suggs to form one of the league’s most ferocious defensive backcourts. This is a lot of money for a 32-year-old, and the Magic could still use some extra shot creation, but it’s a sensible fit all around.

Clippers grade for Nicolas Batum signing

Nic Batum, Clippers agree to two-year, $9.6 million deal, per Woj

Grade: B+

Batum was a revelation for the 76ers last year to the point where his departure legitimately hurts Philly. Batum hit 40 percent of his threes last year, and contributed versatile defense and connective passing around the Sixers’ stars. Batum has been around so long that he played with Greg Oden as a rookie, but he’s somehow only 35 years old. He gives the Clippers another high-level role player who can complement Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, but at this point he probably shouldn’t be asked to play too many minutes.

Warriors grade for De’Anthony Melton signing

Warriors, Melton agree to one-year, $12.8 million deal

Grade: A-

Melton was one of my favorite under-the-radar free agents. Still only 26 years old, Melton is a ferocious defender who can generate steals and deflections that turn into transition opportunities. He can’t really score inside the arc at all, but he’s a solid three-point shooter at 36 percent on nearly six attempts per game. If anything, the Warriors should have tried to get him on a deal longer than one-year. Melton is just a winning player, and if he’s able to stay in the lineup, I think it’s possible he’ll be an upgrade over Klay Thompson.

Mavericks grade for Naji Marshall signing

Naji Marshall, Mavericks agree to three-year, $27 million deal, per Woj

Grade: A

Marshall is a big forward (6’7 with a 7’1 wingspan) who can defend wing scorers, make connective passes, and hit the glass. He made a major leap as an outside shooter with the Pelicans last season by hitting 38 percent of his threes. He’s not as athletic as Derrick Jones Jr., and he won’t be as good at defending speedy guards, but Marshall is arguably a more well-rounded player who fits nicely around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Clippers grade for Derrick Jones Jr. signing

Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers agree to three-year, $30 million deal

Grade: B+

The Clippers are signing Jones at the top of his market value after he played a big role in helping the Mavs get to the NBA Finals this past season. He’s one of the best pure athletes in the NBA as a 6’6 wing who can soar to catch lobs and has enough quickness to defend guards. He’s a good defensive playmaker and offensive play-finisher who should be on the receiving end of plenty of set-ups from James Harden. I like the idea of the Clippers adding a player who can make an impact without the ball. This isn’t much of a Paul George replacement, but it’s still a solid move and a tradable contract long-term.

Pistons grade for Tobias Harris signing

Tobias Harris, Pistons agree to two-year, $52 million deal, per Woj

Grade: C-

Harris is one of the greatest bag-getters in NBA history. The dude has made $300 million in career earnings by age-31 without ever making the All-Star team or being on a team that reached the conference finals. Harris is a good positional fit for the Pistons as a jumbo forward who can take some pressure off Cade Cunningham and the rest of Detroit’s young core, but he’s still not a high enough volume shooter to truly space the floor, and he’s an impactful defender, either. I don’t think this does much for Detroit, but it will be a big expiring contract a year from now.

Chicago Bulls grade for Jalen Smith signing

Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls agree to three-year, $27 million deal, per Woj

Grade: B

The Bulls needed some shooting after cashing in their best trade chip (Alex Caruso) for a non-shooter in Josh Giddey. If Smith can do anything, it’s hit an open three. The 6’10 center had something like a breakout season in the Pacers’ incredibly juiced offensive system by knocking down 42 percent of his three-pointers, mostly on wide open looks created by Tyrese Haliburton. Smith is a poor defender who won’t provide much rim protection, and it’s why he couldn’t really stay on the floor in conference finals against the Celtics. None of that really matters for a rebuilding Bulls team. Smith will provide some badly needed spacing, and still has some upside left at 24 years old. He might not be great, but he fits what the Bulls needed.

Wizards grade for Jonas Valanciunas signing

Jonas Valanciunas agrees to three-year, $30 million deal with Wizards, per Woj.

Grade: B-

The Wizards are nowhere close to competing, which makes signing a veteran center like Valanciunas a head-scratching move. At the same time, Washington badly needed some beef inside, and Valanciunas should help protect No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr from taking a beating in the paint. The 32-year-old center could put up some big numbers for a very bad Washington team and look appealing on the trade market down the road. The fact that he signed for half as much as Nikola Vucevic last year makes this a great value, but it still feels like a strange signing.

Spurs grade for Chris Paul signing

Grade: B+

It’s disappointing that the Spurs seem so content to play the long game when Victor Wembanyama appears ready for a superstar leap entering his second season. Chris Paul isn’t going to help the Spurs win much next year, but he will be someone who can consistently deliver the ball to Wembanyama and get out of the way. San Antonio’s point guard play was so bad last season. Ideally, the Spurs would have added someone who isn’t turning 40 years old this season, but CP3 can still be effective in spurts. I like this move in a vacuum for the Spurs, but their offseason in general has been underwhelming unless a bigger move is still to come.

76ers grade for Andre Drummond signing

Andre Drummond, 76ers agree to two-year, $10 million deal, per Shams

Grade: A

Drummond has quietly become one of the best backup centers in the league the last few years. He’s still an elite offensive rebounder, and his quick hands defensively can help force some turnovers. Drummond was impressive as Joel Embiid’s backup in Philly before being dealt as part of the Ben Simmons-James Harden swap, and this deal returns him to a place where he’s already comfortable. Paying $5 million annually for a quality backup five is a nice piece of business for the Sixers.

Live NBA free agent signings 2024 for every deal and trade this summer live,nba,free,agent,signings,for,every,deal,and,trade,this,summer,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-free-agency,draftkings

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The Boston Celtics are NBA champions, the 2024 draft class has come and gone, and now it’s time for the free agent frenzy. The league has already seen some wild trades in the early days of the 2024 offseason, and it’s only going to get more chaotic when NBA free agency opens on Sunday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

While signings can’t be officially announced until July 6, teams are allowed negotiate with free agents at the start of the moratorium. While this isn’t the strongest free agency class, it feels like there are enough desperate teams right now to facilitate some big moves.

Paul George feels like the biggest star who could change teams. That scenario received a boost on Saturday afternoon when George opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, per Adrian Wojnarowski. George is expected to test the open market, and per Wojnarowski will meet with “cap space teams plus the Clippers” starting on Sunday evening. The Philadelphia 76ers are rumored to make a strong push for George in the open market, and plenty of other teams will be interested.

Isaiah Hartenstein is another major name to watch in free agency. The 26-year-old center is coming off a breakout season with the New York Knicks where he provided elite interior defense, efficient scoring, and a pinch of playmaking. The Knicks would love to retain him, but their payroll is getting high after extending OG Anunoby on a $212 million deal and swinging a trade for Mikal Bridges. Hartenstein could have a wide market, with the Oklahoma City Thunder frequently mentioned as a potential suitor.

There are several future Hall of Fame inductees near the twilight of their careers who are also unrestricted free agents. DeMar DeRozan, who turns 35 years old next month, could leave the Chicago Bulls after three fantastic seasons with the franchise. James Harden is also up for a new deal with the Los Angeles Clippers or anyone else just ahead of his 35th birthday. Klay Thompson is expected to leave the Golden State Warriors for the first time in his career at 34 years old.

Other names to monitor in free agency include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tobias Harris, Jonas Valanciunas, Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre, Tyus Jones, and Isaiah Joe.

We’re keeping track of every free agent signing and trade in 2024 NBA free agency here.

Day 1 NBA free agent agreements

  • Pat Williams agrees to a five-year, $90 million deal to return to the Bulls, per Shams Charania
  • Obi Toppin intends to sign a four-year, $60 million deal to stay with the Indiana Pacers, per Adrian Wojnarowski
  • Alex Len intends to sign a one-year, $3.3 million deal to return to the Sacramento Kings, per Shams
  • Chris Paul waived by Golden State Warriors, per Chris Haynes and Woj
  • James Harden will sign two-year, $70 million deal to stay with Clippers, per Shams
  • Max Christie will sign four-year, $32 million deal to stay with Lakers, per Woj
  • Luke Kornet will re-sign with the Boston Celtics on a one-year deal, per Woj
  • Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors working on a sign-and-trade, per Shams
  • F/C Kevin Love is finalizing a two-year, $8 million-plus deal to return to the Miami Heat, per Shams

Early 2024 NBA free agency moves

NBA Draft 2024 second round grades on every pick, including Bronny James and more nba,draft,second,round,grades,on,every,pick,including,bronny,james,and,more,sbnation,com,front-page,nba,nba-draft,draftkings

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The 2024 NBA Draft marks the first time the league has split its draft over two days. After the full round was full of surprises on Wednesday night, the second round follows on Thursday afternoon with some talented players still on the board.

Check out our list of the 30 best players still available after the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. There are three players still on the board who were mocked as top-20 picks at various points in this cycle in Tyler Smith, Kyle Filipowski, and Johnny Furphy. Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek is another big name expected to come off the board early in round two, and there’s also some fun sleepers with San Francisco wrecking ball Jonathan Mogbo, UCLA big man Adem Bona, and Serbian wing Nikola Djurisic.

Bronny James is also still available. Why isn’t anyone talking about this? Just kidding.

We already graded every pick of the first round. Now let’s grade every pick of round two.

31. Toronto Raptors: Jonathan Mogbo, F, San Francisco: Mogbo is a super long forward (6’6 with a 7’2 wingspan) who plays with great energy and can impact the game as a rebounder and passer. He can’t shoot, but he finds a way to get in on the play in a bunch of different ways. Grade: A

32. Utah Jazz: Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke: How did Filipowski not go in the first round? Flip lacks ideal length and athleticism for an NBA center, but he’s still a 7-footer who can make plays as a passing hub, stretch the floor as a shooter, and even put the ball on the floor as a handler. This is a great value: Grade: A

33. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite: I had Smith ranked as a lottery-caliber prospect, so this is obviously an amazing value in my mind. Smith is a 6’10 forward who can rip three-pointers and is athletic enough to hammer dunks on the inside. A tall shooter with good athleticism who was productive against G League competition is always a good bet, especially in the second round of a weak draft. This makes up for the Bucks’ bizarre first round pick. Grade: A

34. New York Knicks: Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette: Kolek is a tough four-year college point guard who can space the floor and run the pick-and-roll effectively. He was one of the best playmakers in college hoops and made 38.8 percent of his threes this past year. Grade: A

35. Indiana Pacers: Johnny Furphy, F, Kansas: Furphy is a 6’9 wing who can space the floor and make plays in transition. He was an efficient scorer once he got a chance at real minutes for Kansas in the second half of the year. Grade: A

36. San Antonio Spurs: Juan Nunez, G, Spain: Nunez is a 6’5 Spanish point guard who lacks athleticism but has tremendous passing vision and creativity. He doesn’t get to the rim and isn’t yet a reliable shooter, but it’s hard to find players with his size and passing combination still available in the second round. Grade: B+

37. Detroit Pistons: Bobi Klintman, F, Sweden: Klintman is a 6’10 forward who shows a projectable spot-up three-point shot and some rebounding ability. The Pistons need all the shooters they can get, and Klintman is a nice value at this point in the draft after getting first round hype for much of the last year. Grade: A-

38. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ajay Mitchell, G, UC Santa Barbara: Mitchell is a crafty 6’4 guard out of Belgium who can mix scoring and playmaking. He averaged 20 points per game on his way to Big West Player of the Year honors after making a big leap as a shooter this past season. Grade: A-

39. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells, F, Washington State: Wells was playing D2 ball before transferring to Washington State and hitting better than 41 percent of his threes. He’s one of the better front court shooters in this class. Grade: A-

40. Phoenix Suns: Oso Ighodaro, C, Marquette: Oghodaro is a gifted playmaking center with plenty of athleticism to finish dunks around the rim. He’s weird little push shot became a deadly weapon at Marquette. He’s a little small for an NBA player, but his IQ and leaping is appealing. Grade: B+

41. Philadelphia 76ers: Adem Bona, C, UCLA: Bona was one of my favorite second round bets as a long, strong, and explosive center. Bona crushed the glass and hammered dunks throughout his sophomore year at UCLA, and showed off his physical gifts by jumping 40-inches at the combine. He’s short for a center and doesn’t have much perimeter skill, but Bona is a freak athlete and that’s worth betting on. Grade: A

42. Charlotte Hornets: KJ Simpson, G, Colorado: Simpson was one of the best guards in college basketball this past year. He’s a high volume three-point shooter who can score from all three levels and make plays for his teammates. His just very small and will struggle to defend at the NBA level. Grade: A-

43. Atlanta Hawks: Nikola Durisic, F, Serbia: Durisic is a tall wing out of Serbia with a nice scoring package who has been productive in multiple settings. Grade: B+

44. Miami Heat: Pelle Larsson, G, Arizona: Larsson is a 6’5 off-ball guard who can rip three-pointers. He hit 39.7 percent of his threes across four years of college hoops, as well as better than 81 percent of his free throws. Grade: B

45. Toronto Raptors: Jamal Shead, G, Houston: Shead is the best guard defender in this class. He plays with a wildly high motor on every possession, making multiple efforts and showing tremendous toughness despite his lack of size. His offense is a work in progress, but his defense will endear him to coaches. Grade: A-

46. Los Angeles Clippers: Cam Christie, G, Minnesota: The younger brother of Lakers wing Max Christie, Cam has a little bit more of a scoring bag than his brother and made 39 percent of his threes on high volume as a freshman with the Golphers. He can rip shots off the catch or pull-ups. Grade: B+

47. Orlando Magic: Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky: Reeves was an awesome scoring guard at Kentucky after transferring in from Illinois State. He has a quick trigger and NBA range on his jump shot, but he’ll have to work to defend at the NBA level. Grade: B

48. San Antonio Spurs: Harrison Ingram, F, North Carolina: Ingram is a big forward with shooting ability. He hit 38.5 percent of his threes on 169 attempts this year. He also showed impressive rebounding ability this past year at UNC. He doesn’t create much and he’s not an elite athlete, but he has the strength and shooting to have a chance in the NBA. Grade: B

49. Indiana Pacers: Tristen Newton, G, UConn: Newton will go down as one of the best transfers ever after leaving East Carolina for UConn and helping the Huskies win back-to-back national titles. He’s a 6’5 guard who reads the game at a high level and has some fascinating passing flashes. He’s also a pretty good shooter. After being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Newton gets his NBA shot. Grade: B+

50. Indiana Pacers: Enrique Freeman, F/C, Akron: Freeman made Akron’s basketball team as a walk-on and eventually became MAC Player of the Year. He shined in multiple pre-draft settings and got an invite to the NBA Draft Combine, where he again impressed scouts with his energy, toughness, and developing jump shot. What a cool story. Grade: B+

51. New York Knicks: Melvin Ajinca, F, France: Ajinca is a 6’6 Frenchman who can really shoot it from the perimeter. He’s been productive in different settings and shows some ability to make some plays off the bounce. Grade: B+

52. Golden State Warriors: Quinten Post, C, Boston College: Post is a stretch center who can really shoot it. He hit better than 40 percent of his threes in each of the last two years, and shows decent rebounding and playmaking ability. Grade: B+

53. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Spencer, G, UConn: Spencer is a crazy competitive guard as the younger brother of lacrosse legend and Warriors G League guard Pat Spencer. He was an incredible addition for UConn this past year as a transfer from Rutgers, adding movement shooting and a little more playmaking than expected. Grade: B

54. Boston Celtics: Anton Watson, C/F, Gonzaga: A versatile big man out of Gonzaga who can hit the glass, set hard screens, and show solid defensive versatility. Grade: B

55. Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James, G, USC: James’ freshman year at USC started with a terrifying heart episode early in the offseason, and he never really found his footing after that. James is short for a guard at 6’1.5 barefoot, but he has long arms, a strong chest, and a good mentality for a role player. James isn’t a big scorer, but he fights for loose balls, defends bigger players, and spaces the floor as a three-point shooter. He needs to shoot it at a high level to stick in the NBA, but he’s shown enough at the high school level at Sierra Canyon to have a chance to stick. Grade: B

56. New York Knicks: Kevin McCullar Jr., F, Kansasa: McCullar is a really well rounded role player who finally made strides as a shooter this past year at Kansas. He was getting first round hype before a late season injury ended his campaign. McCullar is a tough defender, a good passer, and does all the little things that help teams win. This is a nice value at No. 56. Grade: A

57. Toronto Raptors: Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Academy Africa: Chomche has a 7’4 wingspan, moves well, and plays with tons of energy. He’s the youngest player in the draft and first player to ever be drafted out of the NBA Africa Academy. He has great tools but has a long way to go in terms of his skill and feel for the game. Grade: B

58. New York Knicks: Ariel Hukporti, C, German: A big German center who plays with power, Hukporti is a rim roller who once won MVP at Basketball Without Borders. His stock has seemingly dropped over the last year, but he has great size and he’s been on the radar for a long time. Grade: B

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.

Gardner Minshew’s chaotic Raiders photoshoot keeps getting better with every picture gardner,minshew,s,chaotic,raiders,photoshoot,keeps,getting,better,with,every,picture,sbnation,com,front-page,nfl,draftkings

Gardner Minshews chaotic Raiders photoshoot keeps getting better with every
On: By: admin


It’s been a long, long time since the Raiders had swagger at their quarterback position — but no fans expected this kind of swag from Gardner Minshew. It’s photo week around the NFL, and when the studio lights came on the QB didn’t disappoint.

This shoot had a little of everything. Well, it’s more like it had a lot of one, specific, dirtbag (but in a charming way) kind of thing.

Superhero Gardner Minshew ready to save the Las Vegas Raiders from mediocrity

Uncle Rico Gardner Minshew, who I’m pretty sure can throw a football over a mountain if he wanted to

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Pro Wrestler Garnder Minshew who is ready to go one-on-one with The Undertaker in a steel cage

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The Gardner Minshew who got called to school for a conference with the principal because you and your friends got caught smoking cigarettes under the bleachers during fourth period

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Is it just me or does the entire NFL just feel more fun this year? Around the league teams are letting players be themselves more, and throwing aside the stuffy, boring sanitized normality and letting players be their brilliant, weird selves.