With the first pick of the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher, proving that the French Revolution is in full force in the NBA. Heading into the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, there is still a ton of talent on the board.
The best NCAA and international basketball prospects gathered at Barclays Center Wednesday night, hoping to see their professional basketball dreams come true. Zach Edey, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan and many others posed for photos with Adam Silver.
Some will wait another night. Whether it's because they don't match a team's current needs or an organization sees something in a different prospect, some big names remain available.
Johnny Furphy, a borderline lottery pick, is still there for the second round. USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt had the Kansas standout as No. 18 on the board prior to the first round.
Zillgitt wrote on Furphy in his mock draft, "Runs the court well, finishes in transition and can knock down spot-up 3s. He was one of 21 players to receive an invite to the green room for the first round."
Here are the best players that remain for Thursday's second round.
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Best Players Available
- Johnny Furphy, Kansas
- Kyle Filipowski, Duke
- Tyler Kolek, Marquette
NBA draft: TV, streaming and how to watch
- Where:Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (first round); ESPN Manhattan studio, New York (second round)
- TV:ESPN, ABC
- Stream:ESPN+, YouTube TV,fuboTV
Stream the draft:Watch the 2024 NBA Draft with a fubo TV subscription
2024 NBA draft: Top Prospects entering First Round
*Rankings via Jeff Zillgitt's latest mock draft
- Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg (France)
- Alex Sarr, Perth (Australia) Wildcats
- Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
- Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite
- Cody Williams, Colorado
- Donovan Clingan, UConn
- Stephon Castle, UConn
- Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
- Ron Holland, G League Ignite
- Devin Carter, Providence
- Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
- Tidjane Salaun, Cholet (France)
- Nikola Topic, KK Crvena Zvezda
- Zach Edey, Purdue
- Jared McCain, Duke
- Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor
- Tristan da Silva, Colorado
- Johnny Furphy, Kansas
- Kyshawn George, Miami
- Isaiah Collier, Southern Cal
- Yves Missi, Baylor
- Kyle Filipowski, Duke
- Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh
- Kel'el Ware, Indiana
- Ryan Dunn, Virginia
- Tyler Kolek, Marquette
- Terrence Shannon, Illinois
- DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
- Pacome Dadiet, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
- Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
NBA Draft Rumors
Could Kevin Durant be traded on draft night?
After the Mikal Bridges trade news broke, news of a secondary deal between the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets also went down. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that this deal involved draft pick swaps between the two teams. This would give the Brooklyn Nets control of their next two first-round draft picks in exchange for as many as four possible draft picks from the Phoenix Suns. If the Rockets select Donovan Clingan with the No. 3 overall pick, they could offer Alperen Sengun and the Phoenix picks they recently acquired from Brooklyn to the Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant.
Zach Edey could go as early as No. 7
Although many considered Zach Edey, the two-time college basketball Player of the Year, a late first-round talent leading up to the draft, it seems that the Portland Trail Blazers may be willing to take a shot on the NCAA's most dominant player.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor notes that the Trail Blazers recently worked Edey out and that the team is "extremely high on him." Word around the water cooler is that the Blazers are looking for a center to pair alongside Scoot Henderson, and the team believes Edey's tools will translate well to the NBA. Portland held both the 7th and 14th picks coming into today, but traded the 14th pick to Washington earlier.
Will Bronny James be drafted Day 1?
Anything can happen, but as it seems right now, probably not. Bronny James, son of LeBron James, is not expected to be selected in the first 30 picks of the NBA Draft. Some people believe he'll go undrafted.
Still, with the Lakers holding the 55th pick, it seems much more likely that Los Angeles will use that pick, if any, to select Bronny James. Of course, there's always a chance that another team takes Bronny before then in order to entice LeBron to join them in free agency. That is considered very unlikely though.
Outside of the Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors have expressed interest in drafting Bronny James.
Could Atlanta trade the first overall pick?
It doesn't seem likely.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the organization has made it clear that the Hawks are resolute in their decision not to entertain any trade offers for the No. 1 overall pick.
While the Hawks have given no indication who they will select with the first overall pick, French forward Zaccharie Risacher appears to be the frontrunner. UConn's Donovan Clingan has seen a sharp increase in draft odds in recent days as well. If Clingan does not go first overall, he could very easily fall outside the top-5.
Odds for first overall pick
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French forward Zaccharie Risacher is expected to be the first overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, according to theBetMGM basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out thebest mobile sports betting appsofferingsports betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of Wednesday afternoon.
- Zaccharie Risacher (-450)
- Donovan Clingan (+450)
- Alexandre Sarr (+1000)
- Stephon Castle (+1400)
- Reed Sheppard (+1800)
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