INDEPENDENCE — The 2024 NBA draft is finally here.
With a new two-night format, the draft began Wednesday (first round) and ended Thursday (second round). The Cavaliers had one selection: first round (No. 20 overall).
The Beacon Journal is among the news outlets covering Round 1 of the draft from Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, where Cavs General Manager Mike Gansey addressed media after he, president of basketball operations Koby Altman and others made the franchise's first-round choice on the heels of hiring new head coach Kenny Atkinson on Monday.
Here's how the first round unfolded Wednesday:
Boston Celtics draft Baylor Scheierman at No. 30 overall
The Celtics followed up an NBA title win by selecting Scheierman, a Creighton product who is a strong shooter from deep range. He averaged 18.5 points, nine rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. A high school quarterback, Scheierman is a good passer and a good free-throw shooter.
Utah Jazz draft Isaiah Collier at No. 29 overall
After taking Cody Williams with the 10th pick, the Jazz followed it up by taking Collier, the Southern California guard who was once thought of as a lottery pick. The point guard missed time last season with a hand injury, but averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists last season. He was the No. 1 player in the 2023 high school recruiting class by ESPN. Collier likes to drive to the basket and he can make some highlight reel passes.
Denver Nuggets draft Ryan Dunn at No. 28 overall
This pick is being traded to the Phoenix Suns, per ESPN. Jay Bilas referred to Dunn as the best defensive player in this year's draft. With a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Dunn can block shots and steal the ball. He's also a good rebounder. At nearly 6-foot-7, Dunn isn't much of a shooter, but he does everything else well.
Minnesota Timberwolves draft Terrence Shannon Jr. at No. 27 overall
A Texas Tech transfer, Shannon is a regarded for his ability to score, averaging 23 points last season. He's good in transition at getting to the basket with his left hand. Earlier this month Shannon was found not guilty of felony rape and aggravated sexual assault. ESPN's Jay Bilas speculated the legal issues caused Shannon to drop in the draft.
Washington Wizards draft Dillon Jones at No. 26 overall
This pick was traded to the New York Knicks and will be moved along to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jones led the Big Sky Conference in points, assists and rebounds per game last season. Jones can play guard or on the wing, and is a career 32 percent 3-point shooter. He's also an excellent foul shooter.
New York Knicks draft Pacome Dadiet at No. 25 overall
The Knicks helped fill out their roster with the French Dadiet. He played in the German pro league last season and was touted for his versatility, ability to stretch the floor and finish around the basket. Dadiet is now the fourth French player taken in the first round of the draft.
New York Knicks draft Kyshawn George at No. 24 overall
This pick has been traded to the Washington Wizards for the Nos. 26 and 51 picks. George shot 40 percent from 3-point range for the Hurricanes and has good length. He can shoot off the catch and the dribble, but averaged just 7.8 points. For the rebuilding Wizards, this pick is all about potential.
Milwaukee Bucks draft AJ Johnson at No. 23 overall
Something of a surprise, the Bucks took the 6-foot-4 guard who played in Australia last season. There was speculation that Johnson was in play for the Bucks, but not until a much later pick. The combo guard averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.7 minutes over 26 games last season.
Phoenix Suns draft DaRon Holmes II at No. 22 overall
Dayton's star player is headed out West. Kind of. He's not going to the Suns. According to ESPN, Holmes will be traded to the Denver Nuggets. Holmes is known for his defense and ability on the perimeter. The 6-foot-8 center averaged 2.1 blocks and 8.5 rebounds last season to go along with 20.4 points.
New Orleans Pelicans draft Yves Missi at No. 21 overall
New Orleans needs more big men to play with Zion Williamson, and they got one with Missi. He averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for Baylor last season. Missi, 20, plays with a high motor, but he's only played basketball for a few years.
Cleveland Cavaliers draft Jaylon Tyson at No. 20 overall
The Cavs came into the draft on Wednesday rumored to take a wing player. They got one in Tyson, a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 19.6 points and 6.8 rebounds at California last season. He shot 36 percent from 3-point range, which fills a need for the Cavs. Tyson also played collegiately at Texas and Texas Tech. He was an All-Pac-12 first-team pick last season. ESPN's Jay Bilas touted Tyson's ability to score and handle the ball, but criticized his skills on defense.
NBA draft grades:Evaluating Jaylon Tyson to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick
NBA draft:Cavaliers pick Jaylon Tyson at No. 20. Our scouting report
Toronto Raptors draft Ja'Kobe Walter at No. 19 overall
Guard Ja'Kobe Walter, 19, came off the board one pick before the Cavs went on the clock at No. 20 overall. He led Big 12 freshmen and Baylor University in scoring (14.5 points per game) last season. The 6-foot-4, 198-pound Walter has work to do as an on-ball defender.
Orlando Magic draft Tristan da Silva at No. 18 overall
Forward Tristan da Silva, 23, is a dangerous 3-point shooter and a well-rounded player. The 6-foot-8, 213-pound Colorado product fits the length and versatility Orlando covets.
Los Angeles Lakers draft Dalton Knecht at No. 17 overall
Wing Dalton Knecht, 23, apparently ended up this far down the draft board because of his age. But Knecht is a top-notch 3-point shooter, as evidenced by his 39.7 percentage from deep last season as a Tennessee senior. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists en route to the SEC Player of the Year award in 2023-24. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound Knecht will be tested on the defensive end of the floor.
Philadelphia 76ers draft Jared McCain at No. 16 overall
Point guard Jared McCain, 20, is a shooting threat and hard-nosed defender. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound McCain averaged 14.3 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists last season as a Duke freshman. He is not big or an explosive athlete. He is often praised for possessing high character.
Miami Heat draft Kel'el Ware at No. 15 overall
Center Kel'el Ware, 20, can throw down ferocious dunks and block shots. The 7-foot, 230-pound Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots last season as a sophom*ore at Indiana. Strength, motor and shooting are areas in which he'll need to answer questions at the next level.
Washington Wizards draft Bub Carrington at No. 14 overall
Point guard/shooting guard Carlton "Bub" Carrington, 18, was a popular choice for the Cavs in mock drafts. He averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season as a freshman at Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Carrington can create his own shot and has dynamic scoring ability, but many draft analysts expect him to need a season of development in the NBA. Note: The Portland Trail Blazers traded the draft rights of Carrington to the Wizards (see more details later).
Sacramento Kings draft Devin Carter at No. 13 overall
Guard Devin Carter, 22, led the Big East in scoring (19.7 points per game) last season as a junior at Providence. Draft analysts consider the 6-foot-2, 193 pound Carter one of the best athletes in this draft class. His father, Anthony, played 13 NBA seasons and is a Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach. Taking better care of the ball will be a priority for Carter.
Oklahoma City Thunder draft Nikola Topic at No. 12 overall
Guard Nikola Topic, 18, of Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) is a 6-foot-6, 190 point guard with a knack for creativity and passing. Last season, he averaged 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds. He will need to bounce back from knee injuries. His agent recently told ESPN he has a partially torn ACL.
Chicago Bulls draft Matas Buzelis at No. 11 overall
Forward Matas Buzelis, 19, grew up in the Chicago area, and now he's going to his hometown NBA team. Last season, he averaged 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists for G League Ignite. The 6-foot-9, 197-pound Buzelis will need to prove he can be a reliable shooter instead of a streaky one.
Utah Jazz draft Cody Williams at No. 10 overall
Wing Cody Williams, 19, is a high-upside prospect who will need more strength and better rebounding to live up to his top-10 status. The 6-foot-7, 178-pound Williams is a good defender and playmaker who averaged 11.9 points and shot 55.2% from the field last season as a freshman at the University of Colorado. The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted his older brother, Jalen Williams, two years ago at No. 12 overall.
Memphis Grizzlies draft Zach Edey at No. 9 overall
Center Zach Edey, 22, is the reigning two-time college national player of the year. The 7-foot-4, 299-pound Edey was a force as an interior scorer and defender for Purdue University. How he'll adapt to the NBA when he's pulled away from the basket is the main question.
San Antonio Spurs draft Rob Dillingham at No. 8 overall and trade him to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Guard Rob Dillingham, 19, was the pick in the eighth spot, but has been traded from San Antonio to Minnesota, ESPN reported. As a freshman at Kentucky, the 6-foot-1, 164-pound Dillingham demonstrated his prowess as an offensive weapon (15.2 points per game). His defense needs upgraded.
Portland Trail Blazers draft Donovan Clingan at No. 7 overall
Center Donovan Clingan, 20, showed the past two seasons at the University of Connecticut he has what it takes to dominate on defense. The Trail Blazers wanted to draft the 7-foot-2, 282-pound Clingan last year, per ESPN, but he stayed at UConn and won a second consecutive national title. Unlocking his offense will be a work in progress.
Charlotte Hornets draft Tidjane Salaun at No. 6 overall
Forward Tidjane Salaun, 18, of Cholet (France) is considered a project with great upside. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Salaun averaged 9.6 points and 4 rebounds last season, production suggesting he has plenty of growth ahead if the Hornets are right about him.
Detroit Pistons draft Ron Holland at No. 5 overall
Ron Holland, 18, of G League Ignite is a top-notch athlete and finisher around the rim. The 6-foot-7, 197-pound wing averaged 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season, but he had more turnovers (93) than assists (84). Decision-making and shooting are the areas in which he'll need to be better at the next level.
San Antonio Spurs draft Stephon Castle at No. 4 overall
Guard Stephon Castle, 19, showed incredible playmaking ability on both ends of the floor last season as a freshman with national champion University of Connecticut. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Castle could round into a special NBA player if he can boost his consistency as a shooter. He shot just 26.7% on 3-pointers last season.
Houston Rockets draft Reed Sheppard at No. 3 overall
Guard Reed Sheppard, 20, is considered the best shooter in this year's draft class. He shot 52.1% from 3-point range last season with the University of Kentucky. He's a tough defender, too. The biggest knock on him is his size (6 feet, 2 inches and 182 pounds).
Washington Wizards draft Alex Sarr at No. 2 overall
Center Alex Sarr, 19, of the Perth Wildcats (Australia) has the size and skill set to become an elite rim protector early in his career. He'll need to improve his strength and shooting, but the 7-foot, 224-pound Sarr has loads of talent. Sarr's older brother, Olivier, is a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Atlanta Hawks draft Zaccharie Risacher at No. 1 overall
Forward Zaccharie Risacher, 19, of JL Bourg(France) is expected to fill a 3-and-D need for the Atlanta Hawks atop the draft board. Two-way wing is the most coveted position in today's NBA, so the versatility of the 6-foot-9 Risacher is understandably enticing. Risacher's rare combination of size, shooting and defense explains this pick.
Here is some pre-draft information:
Washington Wizards acquire 14th overall pick in trade with the Portland Trail Blazers
About an hour before the draft, ESPN reported the Washington Wizards traded forward Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th overall pick Wednesday night, a 2029 first-round choice and two future Round 2 selections.
Where will Bronny James and Enrique Freeman be picked in NBA draft?
Editor's note: In the second round Thursday night, the Indiana Pacers drafted Enrique Freeman (No. 50 overall) and the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James (No. 55 overall).
Cavs news aside, other storylines of interest for Northeast Ohio hoops enthusiasts will be which team chooses Bronny James, the eldest son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar and Akron native LeBron James, and whether Enrique Freeman will become the first University of Akron player picked in the NBA draft since 1987.
Indiana Pacers draft Enrique Freeman:NBA draft 2024: Akron's Enrique Freeman picked by Indiana Pacers in Round 2
Bronny James, who was born in Cuyahoga Falls, is widely projected by draft analysts to be chosen in Round 2. A Cleveland native, Freeman is considered a second-round possibility.
Barring a surprise, neither James nor Freeman would be selected until Thursday, when Round 2 is held.
NBA draft 2024:Bronny James picked by LeBron's Los Angeles Lakers in Round 2
Mock draft predictions for the Cleveland Cavs
A collection of mock drafts predicting the Cavs will pick the following at No. 20 overall ...
- CBS: Kansas shooting guard Johnny Furphy
- ESPN: Pittsburgh point guard/shooting guard Carlton "Bub" Carrington
- The Ringer: Carrington
- The Sporting News: Furphy
- USA TODAY: Miami guardKyshawn George
When is the 2024 NBA draft?
The first round of the draft is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday and the second round at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Where is the 2024 NBA draft?
The first round will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The second round will be held at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.
What is the 2024 NBA draft order?
Here is the first-round order entering the draft:
- Atlanta
- Washington
- Houston (from Brooklyn)
- San Antonio
- Detroit
- Charlotte
- Portland
- San Antonio (from Toronto)
- Memphis
- Utah
- Chicago
- Oklahoma City (from Houston)
- Sacramento
- Washington (from Portland via Golden State, Boston and Memphis)
- Miami
- Philadelphia
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Orlando
- Toronto (from Indiana)
- Cleveland
- New Orleans (from Milwaukee)
- Phoenix
- Milwaukee (from New Orleans)
- New York (from Dallas)
- New York
- Washington (from LA Clippers via Dallas and Oklahoma City)
- Minnesota
- Denver
- Utah (from Oklahoma City via Toronto and Indiana)
- Boston
Here is the second-round order entering the draft:
- Toronto (from Detroit via New York and LA Clippers)
- Utah (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn)
- Milwaukee (from Portland via Sacramento)
- Portland (from Charlotte via Denver, Oklahoma City and New Orleans)
- San Antonio
- Indiana (from Toronto via Philadephia, LA Clippers and Memphis)
- Minnesota (from Memphis via Los Angeles Lakers, Washington and Oklahoma City)
- New York (from Utah)
- Memphis (from Brooklyn via Houston)
- Portland (from Atlanta)
- Philadelphia (from Chicago via Boston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City)
- Charlotte (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
- Miami
- Houston (from Golden State via Atlanta)
- Sacramento
- LA Clippers (from Indiana via Memphis and Milwaukee)
- Orlando
- San Antonio (from Los Angeles Lakers via Memphis) *Philadelphia (forfeited; see note at bottom)
- Indiana (from Cleveland)
- Indiana (from New Orleans)
- Washington (from Phoenix)
- Golden State (from Milwaukee via Indiana)
- Detroit (from New York via Philadelphia and Charlotte)
- Boston (from Dallas via Sacramento)
- Los Angeles Lakers (from LA Clippers)
- Denver (from Minnesota via Oklahoma City)
- Memphis (from Oklahoma City via Houston and Atlanta) *Phoenix (from Denver via Orlando; forfeited by Phoenix; see note at bottom)
- Dallas (from Boston via Charlotte)
*Note: Philadelphia and Phoenix each lost a second-round pick due to league penalty
Bronny James in the NBA draft:The son of an all-time great wants to make name for himself on a hoops journey with Akron roots
How much time will there be between picks in the 2024 NBA draft?
The first round will have five minutes between draft picks. The second round will have four minutes between selections, an increase from two minutes in previous years.
Based on the first-round time limit but without a guarantee each team uses all five minutes between choices, the Cavs would probably pick at No. 20 overall sometime in the 9:40-10 p.m. range Wednesday. However, remember, in the world of prime-time professional sports, a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. doesn't mean a real start time of 8 p.m.
How can I watch, stream and listen to the 2024 NBA draft?
The first round will be aired on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App. The second round will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN App. National coverage of the draft will also be provided by ESPN Radio.
NBA draft preview:Former Akron Zips forward Enrique Freeman getting second-round attention
Cavs offseason news: Check out our recent Cleveland Cavaliers coverage
- Cavs hire Kenny Atkinson to replace J.B. Bickerstaff
- What to know about new Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson
- Fans react to Cavs hiring coach Kenny Atkinson
- Tracking candidates who interviewed to be Cavs coach
- Do the Cavs need to trade Jarrett Allen or Darius Garland?
- What the Cavs' coaching change means for Donovan Mitchell
- Jarrett Allen had a broken rib in playoffs, Koby Altman says
- Cavs column: Pressure shifts to Koby Altman with J.B. Bickerstaff out
- Cavs fire coach J.B. Bickerstaff after second-round playoff exit
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
