Nothing exciting happened for the Chicago Bulls at the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, as they didn’t move up and received the 11th pick.
The Bulls have a number of needs they could address, including point guard, center and shooting on the wing.
It’s hard to guess given the uncertainty around the roster, as the Bulls have decisions to make on DeMar DeRozan’s free agency and whether to try and swing trades of Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic and/or Alex Caruso.
Along with DeRozan, the Bulls have to decide what to do with Patrick Williams and Andre Drummond, who are both eligible to become free agents.
We could see the Bulls do little or see a ton of action if they decide to finally rebuild, but I’d lean towards the former which is reflected in this 2024 NBA Mock Draft, when the Chicago Bulls take a player that can help them win now.
#1: Atlanta Hawks select Alex Sarr
The Hawks, like the Bulls, have a lot of tough decisions to make this summer, including what to do with their backcourt.
They could package this pick with Dejounte Murry or Trae Young and potentially get a haul to rebuild whichever one was left.
But if the Hawks don’t trade the pick, Sarr makes sense, as it would allow them to get a more dynamic big around their guard(s) and potentially move on from Clint Capela, who is on an expiring contract coming into next season.
#2: Washington Wizards select Donovan Clingan
This may be a reach here, but the Wizards desperately need a center and to improve their awful defense.
Clingan is more of a sure thing than many of the wing prospects in this draft and would immediately be able to step in, protect the rim and improve the Wizards defense.
This isn’t the sexiest pick for a team desperate to have something to be excited about, but Clingan fills a need and brings a winning background to a team that needs it.
#3: Houston Rockets select Rob Dillingham
The Rockets were one of the big winners of the draft lottery, as they moved up six spots to the third pick.
They already have a lot of young talent on the wing, so go for their point guard of the future with Rob Dillingham from Kentucky. He could play behind Fred VanVleet and give them a dynamic weapon off the bench and eventually take over the full-time point guard duties.
The Rockets are another team that could trade from this spot, as they could use another proven veteran to go with all of their young talent.
#4: San Antonio Spurs select Nikola Topic
The Spurs need a point guard and Topic is a big 6-foot-6 playmaker who can get to his spots, so San Antonio goes with size in their first draft post Wembanyama.
Topic’s long-range shot is a question mark, but he is a high IQ passer and playmaker who can draw defenders, which will work well alongside a guy who can catch lobs from anywhere on the court.
#5: Detroit Pistons select Matas Buzelis
The doomed Pistons fell to 5th for the second straight year after having the league’s worst record. Ouch.
The Pistons are desperate to improve, so could package this pick for a proven player, but they are still without a front office, so it’s anyone’s guess what will happen in Detroit.
Buzelis makes sense for them, as they need scoring and playmaking on the wing, and he has shown in the past that he can shoot, though he didn’t shoot well in his lone season in the G-League.
I’d bet on the Pistons trading this pick, but if not, Buzelis has the highest ceiling left on the wing and they need help there.
#6: Charlotte Hornets select Reed Sheppard
The Hornets could go a lot of ways here, but Sheppard makes sense as a fit next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
He can play alongside the two but also offer some insurance against LaMelo Ball injuries and a guy who can take on tougher defensive assignments.
His ability to spread the floor would benefit both Ball and Miller and Sheppard could potentially step right into the starting lineup.
#7: Portland Trail Blazers select Zaccharie Risacher
The Trail Blazers continue their weird pseudo rebuild by taking two-way wing Zaccharie Risacher, who is one of the big mysteries of the draft.
He’s often been mocked in the top three, but his shooting numbers did fall off as the season wore on, which has raised some concerns.
The Blazers will likely trade some of their veterans this year (I’m looking at you, Brogdon and Grant) and if that happens, Risacher is a nice fit with Scoot Henderson on the wing as a guy who can make plays, potentially shoot the 3-ball and is a willing defender.
#8: San Antonio Spurs select Cody Williams
A young trio of Topic, Williams and Wembanyama would be a nice start for the Spurs rebuild, as Williams has a chance to be the best player from this draft.
He’s got great size for the position, and like his brother, can slither to the rim and finish in dynamic ways, which is something the Spurs lack.
He has defensive upside, so is a nice fit with Wembanyama on the wing and would give the Spurs a jumbo team that was very difficult to match up with.
#9: Memphis Grizzlies select Stephon Castle
The Grizzlies hope to get right back into contention next season when all of their injured players return.
Castle gives them a very good defender to go along with Morant and Bane, lessening their defensive load. He’s a versatile player who could fit into a lot of different lineups and would give them another potentially elite perimeter defender to go along with JJJ down low.
He’s also an upside play for Memphis, as Castle has a lot of tools, and if his 3-point shot develops, could end up being a two-way star in the future and the perfect fit with Ja Morant.
#10: Utah Jazz select Ron Holland
The Jazz need help on defense and Holland has a chance to be a good defender right away.
The Jazz have scoring at the guard spot and Lauri Markkanen at forward, so could use a long defender who doesn’t have to be a high-volume shooter to make an impact.
Holland is another upside play, as he was once considered the top prospect in this draft but dipped because of an up and down season on a terrible G-League Ignite team.
#11: Chicago Bulls select Dalton Knecht
The Bulls were just 26th in the NBA in 3-pointers made last season, so Knecht would give them an immediate boost in that department, as he knocked down just under 40 percent in his final year of college on high volume.
He can get buckets all over the floor and should at the very least give the Bulls a floor spacer, which will help their guards. Chicago could certainly go for a point guard here, but instead go for a player who can help them win now and be a potential replacement for DeMar DeRozan if they decide not to bring him back.
Even if they did, Knecht’s shooting would play in a lot of lineups for the Bulls whether they blow it up or not.
#12: OKC Thunder select Ja’Kobe Walter
Oh, to be the Thunder. Not only are they competing for a title right now with one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Not only do they have an MVP candidate in his prime, but they also have a stockpile of draft picks to do with as they please.
Walter is a good two-way wing who can shoot and plays with some toughness, which OKC will like. They could certainly just swing for upside here, as they already have plenty of young talent, but Walter fits their team ethos.
#13: Sacamento Kings select Devin Carter
Carter is a two-way guard who can shoot and is a tenacious defender, so he can play right away for the Kings, who need both of those qualities.
With Malik Monk likely walking in free agency, the Kings need more depth at guard, and will look for a player who can step in and take minutes right away, which Carter potentially can.
The Kings started to turn their defense around this season and could make another leap with a player like Carter.
#14: Portland Trail Blazers select Tidjane Salaun
The Trail Blazers add another dynamic talent on the wing with big-time upside in Tidjane Salaun.
If Portland decides to trade away their wing veterans, then taking a swing on a raw player with big upside makes sense here, and Salaun fits the profile.
He’s got size and is an energetic defender on the wing who showed potential to develop a 3-point shot at the NBA level.
#15: Miami Heat select Zach Edey
Edey could work well with a rim protector like Bam Adebayo and would give Miami a dynamic weapon in the post.
Edey also showed some potential as a stretch at the NBA Draft Combine, where he was reportedly launching 3-point shots in front of scouts.
Whether that ever happens is anyone’s guess, but Edey should be able to get buckets around the rim, grab rebounds and help the Heat’s interior defense right away.
#16: Philadelphia 76ers select Tristan da Silva
Even though Philly only has two players definitely coming back from their current roster in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they will still look to win next season.
They aren’t going to rebuild so much as reload, as they have a ton of cap space to throw around, so will be star hunting this summer and will want role players who can step in and play right away next season.
Da Silva should be one, as he is a good shooter who can do a little of everything, so Philly hopes to find this year’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.
#17: Los Angeles Lakers select Jared McCain
The Lakers may or not have this pick depending on whether the Pelicans choose to defer it, but they probably will given that next year’s draft is expected to be deeper.
McCain would be a plug-and-play shooter for the Lakers who can play both guard spots and hit pull up jumpers.
He’s a fit with LeBron and should be able to play right away.
#18: Orlando Magic select Carlton Carrington
The Magic need 3-point shooting, and though Carrington wasn’t great from long range, he is a bucket getter who would give them a dynamic shot creator on the wing who can pull up from the mid-range.
He should eventually develop a 3-point shot, as he was asked to play a much larger role in college as the primary offensive option.
#19: Toronto Raptors select Isaiah Collier
Collier takes a dive after being projected in the top-10 before the season started. He’s an up and down playmaker who many like for the Chicago Bulls.
Regardless of what the Raptors do with Immanuel Quickley and Gary Trent Jr., they could use a big playmaker who can get shots around the rim and set up his teammates.
The Raptors have a lot of decisions to make, but getting Scottie Barnes someone who can get him the ball should be a priority and Collier’s upside is too high for him to fall much further.
#20: Cleveland Cavaliers select Tyler Smith
The Cavaliers will take a chance on a raw player with upside, as they don’t have any glaring needs, even if they trade Donovan Mitchell.
Smith projects as a stretch four, which the Cavaliers don’t have at the moment, and could eventually move into that spot alongside Evan Mobley depending on what the Cavaliers do with Jarett Allen.
#21: New Orleans Pelicans select Kyle Filipowski
The Pelicans would love if this happened, as they need a center and Filipowski would be a perfect one to put next to Zion Williamson.
Filipowski shot 35 percent from long range in college, so could potentially replace Jonas Valanciunas right away as a floor spacer next to Zion.
He can rebound, is a smart player and would be difficult to stop in a pick and pop with a giant point guard who can get into the lane at will and needs space to do it.
#22: Phoenix Suns select Yves Missi
The Suns are likely to run it back with their big three unless Kevin Durant asks out or they can find a taker for Bradley Beal and his horrible contract, which he would have to approve because he has a no-trade clause. Good luck!
They need an upgrade of athleticism and shot blocking at the center position and Missi fits the bill as a seven-foot lob threat who can dunk and doesn’t need the ball.
#23: Milwaukee Bucks select Johnny Furphy
The Bucks are always going to be looking for shooting but are also a team that could package this pick in search of someone who can help them right away.
If not, Furphy is a good shooter for his size and has upside after only playing one season at Kansas, so he’s a player who might be able to help them now, but also in the future as the Bucks continue to age around Giannis.
#24: New York Knicks select Bobi Klintman
The Knicks don’t have any glaring needs, so don’t have to worry about finding a player who can help them right away.
Klintman has upside as a defender and shot blocker, which Tom Thibodeau would like, and would eventually give them another two-way player on the wing with size who can play and defend a couple of positions.
#25: New York Knicks select Kevin McCullar
McCullar is coming off an injury but fits with what the Knicks are building as a very good defender who moves the ball well.
He’s often been compared to Josh Hart, so the Knicks’ fans would love him right away and they have the time to ensure that he is fully healthy before needing him for big minutes.
Another guy Thibodeau would love.
#26: Washington Wizards select Justin Edwards
The Wizards go for a wing in Edwards out of Kentucky, hoping that his shooting eventually translates to the NBA.
Edwards needs more range on his jumper, but was efficient from two-point range, hitting 56.4 percent of his shots from inside the arc. If his range develops, he has the size to be a good scorer on the wing.
#27: Minnesota Timberwolves select Daron Holmes II
The Timberwolves add another big rim protector who can also spread the floor. Holmes hit over 38 percent of his 3-point shots in his junior year of college at 6-foot-9, but his real strength is that he can switch all over defensively.
He’s also a lob threat who plays strong around the rim on both ends, which Minnesota will love given their current defensive ethos.
#28: Denver Nuggets select Kel’el Ware
The Nuggets could use an upgrade at backup center, but Ware is also a guy who could potentially play with another big because of his ability to spread the floor.
He shot over 42 percent from long range on a low number of attempts, but if he develops that skill, his size and shot blocking would be a nice fit with Jokic, or as an upgrade to their current backup centers.
#29: Utah Jazz select Kyshawn George
Kyshawn George is a raw prospect as a former point guard who shot up to 6-foot-8 and still has those kind of playmaking skills.
Wings who can make plays and create shots will always be valued and the Jazz have enough depth there to allow George to develop at his own speed.
#30: Boston Celtics select Ulrich Chomche
The Celtics need to start developing another big man behind Porzingis and Horford and Chomche could be a very good rim protector who catches lobs and dunks everything.
The Celtics don’t have any glaring needs as the league’s best team this season, but they could use more rim protection and Chomche should eventually be able to provide it even if he doesn’t play for Boston right away.