The 2024 NBA draft has come and gone, and now we are left wondering what to make of a draft that had very low expectations coming in. Expectations were similar to the infamous 2000 draft, which was historically bad. Now we ask the 3 biggest questions to be answered this NBA season.
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Will anyone in the top 5 become an NBA star?
Most drafts have a few surefire stars ready to instantly make a name for themselves in the NBA. However, this time around, there was nobody that stood out among the crowd. Atlanta selected Zaccharie Risacher out of France, but he seems to be more like a second or third option rather than a franchise cornerstone.
Alex Sarr also has high upside, perhaps even the most out of any draftee, but he’s a highly developmental guy. Going to the Washington Wizards is not a good situation for Sarr. How about Reed Shepard out of Kentucky? He looks solid, but not groundbreaking. However, Houston has an intriguing core and Shepard can help push that core into the playoffs.
Stephon Castle is a guard that knows how to win. Pairing him with Victor Wembanyama might be the best move in the top 5, but Castle isn’t a top 5 pick most years. Ron Holland is a developmental piece for the awful Detroit Pistons. Rather than trading the pick, Detroit took another guy who could turn into a good piece later on. Tell me you’ve heard that one before.
Overall, I’m not impressed with the top 5. These guys will have to work to prove they’re worth their weight as a top pick, because fans and scouts alike were both nervous about this draft and the lack of high end talent. This season, at least one of these guys will prove themselves, and one of them will be an embarrassment to their team.
Which NCAA Star will be the better pick: Zach Edey or Rob Dillingham?
The NCAA provided a lot of high octane excitement, but their biggest names in the tournament fell to the end of the top 10. Which player between Purdue’s Zach Edey and Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham will translate to the league?
Zach Edey has dominated during his time in college, no doubt helped out by his incredible size turning him into a monster in the paint. Edey also won the Naismith College Player of the Year award twice in a row. However, there are lingering questions about his game. Edey is not a terribly physical player, and his main advantage is his size. When it comes to the NBA, Edey won’t be as much of as much of a unique player. His turnovers and lack of shooting are also weaknesses.
Rob Dillingham is a small guard out of Kentucky who looked like the best overall player in college during his NCAA career. However, an early loss in this year’s tournament might have harmed his draft stock, even by the slightest of margins. His raw athleticism and shooting should translate well to the NBA.
While Edey was picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies, Dillingham was grabbed the the Spurs and instantly traded to Minnesota. Comparing the situations, I think Dillingham will be the better player in the pros.
Was Bronny James a wasted pick?
Most late second round picks in the NBA aren’t talked about or hyped up this much, but most late second round picks don’t have LeBron James as their father. Bronny did not look ready to make the NBA when he declared for the draft, especially after only a single college season where he averaged a paltry 4.8 points per game.
Bronny certainly has a knack for the game, but he’s more of a bargaining chip pick to try and keep LeBron with the Lakers. You have to wonder if this will actually pan out for Los Angeles, especially since they aren’t getting a player with a ton of upside.
Sometimes, keeping LeBron is worth the second round pick, especially pick 55. That’s hardly any draft capital given up to select Bronny and keep an aging LeBron, at least for now. The real question is if keeping old man LeBron is worth it. He’s clearly not carrying a mediocre team to the Finals by himself anytime soon, and he’s being surpassed by the younger generation of stars.
However, seeing him play with Bronny on the court will be undeniably cool.
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