The 2024 NBA Draft is inching closer and closer as the NBA Finals begin to wind down. The Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, and the rest of the NBA need to be ready to spring into action.
This year’s draft class is anything but certain, as a wide variety of prospects could fall into any range. There is no Victor Wembanyama this year. No Zion Williamson. No Anthony Davis.
Instead, there’s a collection of solid prospects, most of whom have a chance to be the best player from this draft class. That’s a scary concept for teams at the top.
Here is version one of Wiz of Awes’ NBA Mock Draft, including a surprise at pick two and a shocking trade in the top 10.
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards shock at pick No. 2, Bulls trade into top 5
1. Alex Sarr, France | Atlanta Hawks
A bunch of different outlets have mocked this pick, and most people believe that Alex Sarr has the highest upside in the draft. His defensive talent alone warrants this selection.
2. Reed Sheppard, Kentucky | Washington Wizards
This is where things get spicy immediately. Most places have Zacharie Risacher in this spot, but Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard has all the tools to be an NBA-caliber starting guard right away and the potential to be much more down the road.
His defensive talent at the position is masked by some gambles and his undersized stature, but in reality, he has the skills to be an impact defender in the league.
But perhaps most notably, his offensive skillset will help a team win right now. He’s an elite three-point shooter, and though he didn’t get many opportunities with the Wildcats, his ability to shoot off the dribble leaves a lot of positivity to be had about his shot creation potential.
Sheppard has been widely mocked to go around the 3-6 range, but he might just be the best player in this draft class.