Every NBA team will attack the 2024 draft differently.
From teams at the top trying to identify the best player available, championship contenders looking for win-now help, franchises looking to trade their pick for vets or teams attempting to move up or down the draft boards, strategies will vary.
Identifying positional and skill needs matter too, of course, as will the salary ranges where certain players are selected.
This is every NBA team’s top priority (and where they’ll be picking) heading into the June 26-27 draft.
Draft Pick Owned: 1 overall
The Atlanta Hawks aren’t your typical No. 1 overall pick team coming off a season in which they won 36 games, made the play-in tournament and have a few All-Stars already on the roster.
Drafting for fit is tempting, but the Hawks should take whoever they deem to be the best player available.
Most mock drafts have either tabbed Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher in this spot, giving Atlanta a defensive-minded big or two-way wing to place alongside Trae Young, Dejounte Murray or both depending on how the rest of the offseason goes.
The Hawks should also be entertaining trade offers for the No. 1 overall pick if another star become available.
Draft Picks Owned: 30 and 54 overall
The championship window is wide open for the Boston Celtics and should continue to be for the foreseeable future. This isn’t a franchise in prospect-development mode.
For a team that is almost certainly going to be over the second apron next season, getting a player who can earn a rotation spot at a $2.5 million projected salary is incredibly important with the last pick in the first round.
Assuming Payton Pritchard and Al Horford are brought back, Boston should be eyeing older wings in the draft who can step in and play immediately.
This could include players such as Dayton junior Daron Holmes II, UNC junior Harrison Ingram or Creighton senior Baylor Scheierman.
Draft Picks Owned: None
The only NBA team without a first- or second-round pick, the Brooklyn Nets should explore ways to get back into the 2024 draft.
This is a franchise that can’t even capitalize in the draft on its own poor play following the James Harden trade, as the Houston Rockets will now be selecting No. 3 overall with its pick. The Nets still owe an unprotected first-rounder to Houston in 2026, and the Rockets possess swap rights in 2025 and 2027.
Brooklyn could get back into the middle or late first round by putting Dorian Finney-Smith on the table. Making Mikal Bridges available would likely draw a lot of interest from Houston (No. 3), the Charlotte Hornets (No. 6) and Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9) as well.
With no first-round picks under its control until 2028, Brooklyn should check the cost of getting back into the draft now.
Draft Picks Owned: 6 and 42 overall
The Charlotte Hornets could approach the draft in a number of ways.
Trading the No. 6 overall pick in a package for a star to play between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller should be taken into consideration.
If the Hornets stay put, though, they should be looking at wings who can defend and be able to take over playmaking duties if Ball suffers further ankle injuries.
Charlotte finished 29th overall in team defense last season (119.2 rating) and could use a point-of-attack defender in the backcourt to help take pressure off of the 22-year-old.
Stephon Castle looks like a strong candidate with his 6’6″ frame and strong defensive skills. His outside shot needs work, but at age 19, the UConn alum has plenty of time to work on it.
Draft Pick Owned: 11 overall
It’s tough to pinpoint what the Chicago Bulls will need.
DeMar DeRozan can leave if he wants to, Zach LaVine is being shopped, and Patrick Williams will be a restricted free agent.
With Coby White and Nikola Vučević looking safe (for now) at point guard and center, the Bulls should target a forward in case DeRozan signs elsewhere in free agency.
Chicago also needs shooting after ranking just 27th overall in made threes per game this season (11.5).
Colorado’s Cody Williams would be a dream target if he falls this far after making 41.5 percent of his threes in college.
Draft Pick Owned: 20 overall
Cleveland should be drafting for fit around its core four players, as Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports noted that the team is expected to retain Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen:
“Despite a wealth of interest in both Garland and Allen on the trade market, Cleveland is not expected to entertain trade offers for any member of its core four at this time, sources said, while a league-wide expectation only grows that Mitchell will sign a contract extension with the club that acquired him from Utah back in September 2022.”
Assuming this holds true, Cleveland could use some help on the wing or another big who can shoot and share the floor with either Mobley or Allen.
Colorado’s Tristan da Silva could play immediately on the wing at age 23 and contribute in a number of areas. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski can stretch the floor, pass and protect the rim.
Finding a way to get back into the second round to draft Cleveland native Bronny James would be a fun storyline as well.
Draft Pick Owned: 58 overall
Owners of the last overall selection in the draft (thanks to two forfeited picks by the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns), the Mavs likely aren’t going to find anyone who’s going to make a contribution anytime soon.
Looking over the past decade-plus of last-overall picks, only Isaiah Thomas (2011) has made any sort of an impact. Sam Merrill broke into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rotation this season, yet he is already 28.
Dallas should be looking at older college wings, especially with Derrick Jones Jr. going into free agency and Tim Hardaway Jr. entering the final year of his deal.
Still, expecting any sort of player to be selected here and make an impact in 2024-25 seems unreasonable.
Draft Picks Owned: 28 and 56 overall
It’s become clear that Zeke Nnaji isn’t the answer as a backup to Nikola Jokić. Finding someone who can play 15 minutes a night and not have the team fall apart remains the goal for the Denver Nuggets.
Duke’s Kyle Filipowski would be a dream target for the Nuggets if he falls, as the 20-year-old center was an improved passer this year who can step out and knock down threes.
If he’s gone, Denver should still be happy with a player such as Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II, Indiana’s Kel’el Ware or Baylor’s Yves Missi.
The Nuggets should explore trading up slightly, as many (or all) of these bigs could be gone by 28. From there, the center class drops off significantly.
Draft Picks Owned: 5 and 53 overall
With some core pieces already in place thanks to years of drafting near the top, the Detroit Pistons can now select for fit instead of taking the best available player.
Whoever they choose needs to be able to shoot, though.
Detroit was tied for dead-last with the Orlando Magic for made threes per game (11.0) and ranked 26th overall in accuracy (34.8 percent). Jalen Duren is a non-shooting big, Ausar Thompson made 18.6 percent of his attempts, and even Jaden Ivey (33.6 percent) struggled from deep.
Reed Sheppard made 52.1 percent of his outside looks (75 of 144) as a freshman at Kentucky and is just what this roster needs.
Draft Pick Owned: 52 overall
It’s probably safe to assume the Golden State Warriors will waive Chris Paul and his non-guaranteed $30 million contract for next season.
If this is the case, Golden State will need another ball-handler off the bench to help get Stephen Curry some rest.
Even if the Warriors choose to address this spot in free agency, taking a young floor general at 52 and letting him learn behind the greatest shooter in NBA history seems like a smart strategy.
USC’s Bronny James would be an interesting flier here, although seniors such as UConn’s Tristen Newton or Houston’s Jamal Shead would be more ready to step in and play.
On a team with an older core, the Warriors should keep the pick and inject some youth into the back end of their rotation.
Draft Picks Owned: 3 and 44 overall
The Houston Rockets already have a ton of young talent to develop and want to win now. A trade remains the best option here.
As Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote:
“Rival teams say No. 3 is for sale. There isn’t much room on the Houston Rockets’ roster for another young project, and the team plans to exit the rebuilding stage for a run up the standings. Adding another veteran or even a future pick in a perceived better draft may sound more appealing to Houston than No. 3 in 2024.”
Houston should use the No. 3 overall pick and some of its existing young talent to chase players like Mikal Bridges, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler and others should they become available.
With high-upside prospects at every position already, the Rockets should be open for business with this pick.
Draft Picks Owned: 36, 49 and 50 overall
Even with their own first-round selection shipped off to the Toronto Raptors in the Pascal Siakam trade, the Indiana Pacers should be plenty busy during Day 2 of the draft with three second-round picks.
After a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, though, adding three rookies to a roster ready to win now behind Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t appear to be the best strategy.
The Pacers should explore packaging two or all three picks together to try to get back into the end of the first round.
Getting Andrew Nembhard at No. 31 overall in 2022 was a steal and proves that this front office can identify talent outside of the lottery. Indiana should try to bring in one more rotation player through the draft, yet it won’t have room for three.
Draft Pick Owned: 46 overall
The Los Angeles Clippers probably aren’t going to get a rotation-ready player at this point in the draft, but they should be looking at a floor general to develop behind their aging backcourt.
Russell Westbrook is 35 and James Harden will celebrate his own 35th birthday in August. Both are, or can become, free agents this offseason.
Having two future Hall of Famers to learn from would be an incredible opportunity for any young guard, and the Clippers should have their pick of a few in the middle of the second round.
Colorado’s KJ Simpson, Houston’s Jamal Shead and Juan Nuñez of Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany could all be options around this area and serve as future replacements for Harden and Westbrook.
Draft Picks Owned: 17 and 55 overall
The Los Angeles Lakers made the surprising decision to keep their first-round pick last year instead of trading it for veteran help, selecting Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino at No. 17 overall.
The 20-year-old ended up averaging just 5.2 minutes in his 21 games, a non-factor in the Lakers season. L.A. shouldn’t make this mistake again.
Assuming LeBron James is back, this franchise can’t be in prospect-development mode. Trading the No. 17 pick for win-now help is the right play.
If Bronny James is available at No. 55, he’s the obvious choice as well. While taking him at No. 17 would be a tremendous reach, there’s no harm in taking the younger James toward the end of the second round if he’s still there.
Draft Picks Owned: 9, 39 and 57 overall
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote that “there is interest from teams in trading up for Donovan Clingan. The question is how early and at what cost.”
He projects the UConn product to go No. 7 overall to the Portland Trail Blazers in his latest mock.
The Grizzlies should be extremely interested in getting a potential franchise center next to Jaren Jackson Jr. after trading Steven Adams this past season.
Clingan has elite defensive skills, using his 7’2″ frame and 7’7″ wingspan to serve as an intimidating rim protector.
Memphis should see if it can move up a few spots and secure a new starting center.
Draft Picks Owned: 15 and 43 overall
The Miami Heat nailed the draft a year ago, getting UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. with the 18th overall pick.
Some thought Miami should have opted for a younger prospect with more upside, as Jaquez spent four seasons in college. Instead, the 23-year-old was an immediate contributor on a team that just went to the NBA Finals, averaging 11.9 points and finishing on the All-Rookie first team.
Assuming Jimmy Butler isn’t traded, this is a team still poised to make another Finals run and should target a similar prospect now.
This could be Colorado’s Tristan da Silva, Providence’s Devin Carter or Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht if he slides this far.
Draft Picks Owned: 23 and 33 overall
The Milwaukee Bucks have precious few draft picks moving forward thanks to trades for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Picking at 23rd may be their best selection for years to come.
The Bucks shouldn’t overthink this. They can use additional depth at nearly every position and should take the best player on the board at both 23 and 33, assuming the picks aren’t moved for veteran help.
Wasserman has Milwaukee taking USC point guard Isaiah Collier and Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr. at these spots, giving the Bucks some additional depth behind Lillard and Khris Middleton.
With Brook Lopez now 36, the Bucks should be thrilled if Zach Edey fell all the way to them as well.
Draft Picks Owned: 27 and 37 overall
Mike Conley Jr. will turn 37 in October, and Kyle Anderson and Monte Morris are about to be unrestricted free agents. It’s safe to say the Minnesota Timberwolves could use more playmaking help in the draft.
Finding someone who can eventually take over the starting point guard role for Conley should be the goal. Minnesota should be open to older prospects who can join the rotation right away and more raw options since the veteran is still playing at a strong level.
This would be a good landing spot for USC’s Isaiah Collier, Marquette’s Tyler Kolek or Pitt’s Carlton Carrington, with the Wolves looking for an additional depth piece at 37.
Given how expensive the roster is getting in Minnesota, the Wolves need to hold onto these picks to keep some cost-controlled talent around.
Draft Picks Owned: 21 overall
The New Orleans Pelicans may have a huge hole at center if Jonas Valančiūnas leaves in free agency and have to be cautious about their spending, as the team projects to be just $13.6 million away from the luxury tax.
Spacing is an issue with Zion Williamson nearly abandoning his outside shot (six total made threes in 70 games), meaning the Pels should be targeting centers who can stretch the floor.
There could be a few possible solutions around this range, as both Indiana’s Kel’el Ware and Duke’s Kyle Filipowski showed the ability to knock down threes last season while also demonstrating some rim-protecting prowess as well.
Neither may be able to start in the NBA right away, but they give New Orleans a potential long-term solution at the position.
Draft Picks Owned: 24, 25 and 38 overall
The New York Knicks look like a prime candidate to try to trade up in the draft, as this team won’t want to bring three rookies onto a roster with championship aspirations.
The Knicks are already one of the deeper teams in the league, especially if OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein re-sign as free agents.
Given that New York is limited to what it can pay Hartenstein as an Early Bird free agent ($72.5 million over four years), drafting another center at some point would be a smart insurance play.
Packing some or all of these picks in a trade for a veteran remains an option, as does seeing if a team would trade a future first to get back into the opening round now.
Everything appears to be on the table for New York, except actually keeping all three selections.
Draft Pick Owned: 12 overall
The Oklahoma City Thunder have drafted extremely well in recent years, possessing enough picks that even their misses (Aleksej Pokuševski, Ousmane Dieng) haven’t hurt them.
Trying to reunite Cody Williams with brother Jalen would be a dream scenario, as the 19-year-old younger sibling can play either forward position and hit 41.5 percent of his threes last season at Colorado.
If Williams is off the board (Wasserman has him all the way up at No. 5 to the Detroit Pistons), OKC’s only real weakness is size and rebounding.
This could be a Zach Edey landing spot or a new home for Indiana’s Kel-el Ware.
Draft Picks Owned: 18 and 47 overall
The Orlando Magic need to inject this offense with far more shooting overall, as the team ranked dead-last in made threes per game (11.0) and 24th in accuracy (35.2 percent).
Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham was one of men’s college basketball’s best shooters last season (44.4 percent from three) who The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has projected to go 15th overall.
If he’s gone by 18, the Magic could target fellow guards such as Duke’s Jared McCain or Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, with the latter possessing some strong playmaking skills as well.
With Jonathan Isaac entering the final year of his deal (one that’s non-guaranteed) and given his injury history, Orlando could target some additional size with their second-round pick.
This may be the Magic’s last chance at picking in the teens for a while given the trajectory this young and talented group is on.
Draft Picks Owned: 16 and 41 overall
Given their current cap sheets, the 16th overall pick in this draft is projected to be the Philadelphia 76ers’ fourth-highest paid player next season.
Having gutted their roster for cap space, they could use this selection in a package to bring in a star from another team. Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram would all fit into this salary range, although we don’t know the true availability of any yet.
If the Sixers keep the pick, they have needs everywhere bar point guard and center, and even these spots will need depth.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht would be the perfect wing spacer between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter brings two-way ability to the shooting guard position as well.
Draft Pick Owned: 22 overall
The Phoenix Suns need more young talent on the roster, as this team doesn’t control its first-round pick again until 2031.
Drew Eubanks was a disappointment as the backup to Jusuf Nurkić last season, and this team needs more playmaking help in the backcourt.
Centers like Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, Indiana’s Kel’el Ware and Baylor’s Yves Missi could all be available around this spot. The Suns could see point guards such as Marquette’s Tyler Kolek or USC’s Isaiah Collier fall to No. 22 overall as well.
With Kevin Durant set to turn 36 in September, older prospects ready to play now would be the preference in Phoenix.
Draft Picks Owned: 7, 14, 34 and 40 overall
The only NBA team with four or more draft picks in 2024, the Portland Trail Blazers have a clear positional need on their roster.
After taking guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe in the top-seven picks the last two years and with Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III at center, the Blazers need to fill out the roster with wings around these two groups.
Matas Buzelis of the G League Ignite probably has the highest ceiling of any player who could reasonably fall to No. 7. Portland could also try to move up a few spots using its extra picks if there’s a prospect it truly likes.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht would be an excellent floor-spacer for this group, as would Colorado’s Cody Williams.
Draft Picks Owned: 13, 45 and 48
Malik Monk can only re-sign with the Sacramento Kings for $78 million over four seasons due to “Early Bird” restrictions.
If a team like the Orlando Magic or Detroit Pistons comes in with a substantially higher offer, the Kings may need to find a replacement for their Sixth Man of the Year runner-up.
There should be plenty of good options to choose from at No. 13 overall.
Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, Providence’s Devin Carter and Duke’s Jared McCain all look like strong fits to play behind De’Aaron Fox, offering a combination of outside shooting, defense and playmaking.
Not making the playoffs was a huge disappointment for the Kings, yet getting one more lottery pick (such as Dereck Lively II with the Dallas Mavericks last year) could be what’s best for the overall future of the franchise.
Draft Picks Owned: 4, 8 and 35 overall
The San Antonio Spurs could control the top part of the draft, given their pair of top-10 selections and future picks that could help them move up the board.
Moving up to No. 1 or No. 2 to select another French prospect in Zaccharie Risacher should be under consideration. San Antonio could always move back in the first round if there’s a team wanting to move up and have a polished point guard for the Spurs to pair with Victor Wembanyama as well.
This is also a prime landing spot for Nikola Topić at No. 8, as the Spurs could take an impact prospect with their first selection and then be patient with the 18-year-old Serb and his upside as he recovers from a partially torn ACL.
The 2024 draft won’t carry the same excitement as the 2023 version for San Antonio, but the franchise is still in really good shape and can go in a number of different directions.
Draft Picks Owned: 19 and 31 overall
The Toronto Raptors finished 26th or worse in both three-point accuracy and made threes per game last season and should continue to want to add floor-spacers around Scottie Barnes.
Given the team’s recent youth movement, the Raptors should be exploring trade-up opportunities. Offering Jakob Poeltl to a center-needy team like the Memphis Grizzlies along with the No. 19 overall pick may be enough to get the No. 9 selection.
This kind of jump could put Toronto in contention for players such as Colorado’s Cody Williams, Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, all guys who will likely be gone by 19.
With Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley (restricted free agent) and others, this core is off to a good start. Adding more shooting will help.
Draft Picks Owned: 10, 29 and 32 overall
The Utah Jazz had the worst defensive rating in NBA history last season, a combination of a young roster, injuries and an ever-growing shift to offensive power in the modern league.
Still, there’s not a lot of plus defenders on this roster, especially in the backcourt.
Ron Holland of the G League Ignite showed strong defensive potential, is nearly 6’7″ and won’t even be 19 on draft night. If the Jazz can be patient, he could turn into a two-way star.
Providence’s Devin Carter has drawn comparisons to Derrick White and Bruce Brown, and Colorado’s Cody Williams is long and athletic enough to defend multiple positions.
Draft Picks Owned: 2, 26 and 51 overall
The Washington Wizards’ primary needs are at point guard and center, although this should matter little when prepping for the draft.
This roster is craving a star, and the Wizards should select who they believe has the best chance to be one someday.
Whether this be Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Topić or some surprise prospect we didn’t see coming, Washington should be casting a large net overall.
There are precious few building blocks currently on the roster, especially if Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole are eventually traded. Tyus Jones is an unrestricted free agent and Johnny Davis looks like a bust.
This is very much a best-player-available situation for Washington.