The 2024 NBA Draft may be without generational talent, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be without drama.
In the final days leading up to the draft, there has been some rethinking and reshuffling at the top of the board.
While there is no locked-in top pick like Victor Wembanyama was last year, there are a couple of fellow Frenchman duking it out to see who gets the top honor this time around in Brooklyn.
With the first round Wednesday in Barclays Center, and the second a night later in Manhattan, it’s still uncertain who’ll go No. 1.
The Post gets you ready for the festivities:
G/F Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg-en-Bresse (France), 6-9, 215
In most mock drafts, Risacher has leapfrogged countryman and presumed top pick Alex Sarr.
Despite Sarr having actually spent two years in Atlanta with Overtime Elite, he hasn’t worked out for the Hawks yet while Risacher had his last workout Wednesday.
The Hawks vaulted from just the 10th-worst record — and 3 percent odds to win the lottery — to the No. 1 pick, and general manager Landry Fields said last week they’re satisfied with keeping the pick.
If they do, Risacher has a high floor and high ceiling, thanks to a solid two-way game that should fit however the Hawks build their roster.
Their big call is the status of star Trae Young, do they trade Dejounte Murray, go full-on rebuild or slow burn?
F/C Alex Sarr, Perth Wildcats (Australia), 7-0, 224
While Sarr hasn’t worked out for the Hawks, he did for the Wizards last week.
Washington, finally starting a long-overdue rebuild, has no real long-term centerpieces to build around.
Just how much risk is it willing to take, in terms of a high-floor prospect or a high-ceiling one?
Sarr’s defensive prowess should play almost immediately, but a rebuilding team like the Wizards can afford to be patient with his work-in-progress offense over the next several years.
G Reed Sheppard, Kentucky, 6-2, 182
Nets fans watched this pick they owed Houston as part of the James Harden trade jump up all the way up from the ninth-best lottery odds to No. 3.
While it’s unlikely to haunt them as much as the last time they traded a pick that ended up third (Jayson Tatum in 2017), the Rockets can get a solid player if they make this selection. Sheppard is a deadeye shooter who can play off the ball, or even play backup point.
That’s if the Rockets actually make the pick, iffy since they’ve been shopping it around the whole league.
G Stephon Castle, UConn, 6-6, 210
If Risacher doesn’t go No. 1 overall, it’s possible to see him falling to the Spurs, for whom he was slated to work out Friday.
They desperately need to add both playmaking and shooting around Wembanyama, and getting Murray back or dealing for Cleveland’s Darius Garland seem to be goals.
But assuming neither are attainable, landing Castle from the two-time defending NCAA champion Huskies seems like a good alternative.
He plays both ways and his size and defense should both already play well in the NBA, but he’ll need to keep honing his jumper.
F Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite, 6-9, 197
His height has been measured at 6-8, 6-10 and even 6-11.
Buzelis has been viewed as a top-10 pick who could someday possibly be the best player to come out of this weak draft. In other words, there’s not much consensus on him.
What’s clear is Buzelis a big forward with solid athleticism and multi-positional ability.
And his shooting form suggests his struggles with Ignite could’ve been an outlier. If so, whoever takes him could hit big down the line.
G/F Dalton Knecht, Tennessee, 6-5, 212
Behind Brandon Miller and the oft-injured LaMelo Ball, the Hornets could use reliable backcourt help.
They’ve already worked out both Sheppard and Castle, but if they’re already snapped up by this point, Knecht’s offense (21.7 points and 39.7 percent from deep) could be a good fit with Ball and Miller.
Other rival teams say they don’t expect to see Knecht fall past both the Trail Blazers and Spurs at No. 7 and No. 8, per ESPN.
He may not even get that far.
Yes, his age (23) brings up legitimate questions about upside, but his learning curve should also be smoother than most.
C Donovan Clingan, UConn, 7-2, 282
Portland already drafted their point guard of the future in Scoot Henderson and also has youngsters Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe in the backcourt.
Considering Robert Williams III’s injury history, the Trail Blazers would benefit from a rebounding big and rim-protector backing up DeAndre Ayton. Clingan — who anchored consecutive NCAA champions at UConn — fits the bill.
In this poor draft, the center could go as high as second to Washington, but it’s hard to picture him lasting past seventh and Portland.
G Robert Dillingham, Kentucky, 6-1, 164
Measured with a 6-3 wingspan at the combine, he won’t bring size or length.
But Dillingham will definitely bring outside shooting.
He’s a walking bucket, and showed that in Lexington, even if an ankle injury has kept him from showing it in workouts. If he can continue to develop his playmaking, he could be a nice asset for San Antonio and Wembanyama, who’ll need point guard help.
F Ron Holland, G League Ignite, 6-7, 197
All the chaos, drama and injuries in Memphis handed the Grizzlies an opportunity to add more lottery-type talent to a roster that already has Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. Holland could be that.
Yes, his stock took a hit after a so-so G League campaign rife with turnovers and poor shooting.
But he’s an explosive, athletic wing who can get downhill, defend and fit the Grizzlies.
G Nikola Topic, KK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), 6-6, 190
Seen as a potential top-five pick, Topic partially tore his left ACL in January, came back in April and re-injured his knee in the Adriatic League playoff finals.
But even after imaging at the NBA draft combine in Italy confirmed the diagnosis, the fact he was invited to the green room shows his stock hasn’t bottomed out.
According to ESPN he’s visited the Trail Blazers, Spurs, Grizzlies and Jazz.
The latter could be a good landing spot if Utah is comfortable redshirting him.
The 18-year-old excels at shot creation but needs work on shotmaking, hitting just 30 percent from 3-point range.
G Devin Carter, Providence, 6-2, 193
The junior already exhibits NBA-level defense, thanks to a staggering 7-1 wingspan for a combo guard.
Can he develop on the other end enough to fit the 3-and-D archetype?
He’s helped his stock by playing at the combine, has shown well in workouts, and if teams are convinced his scoring will keep developing he could well sneak into the top 10.
But if he doesn’t, the Bulls could use a replacement for defensive guard Alex Caruso, who they shipped to Oklahoma City.
G/F Cody Williams, Colorado, 6-7, 178
Williams’ brother Jalen is already a Thunder prodigy; could OKC become a family affair? The teenager has the skills, defense and body (7-1 wingspan) to be a fit on just about any team. He worked out for almost everybody in the top 10 including Atlanta, and the fact others haven’t managed to get workout commitments shows his confidence of going high.
PF Tidjane Salaun, Cholet (France), 6-9, 207
The Kings have dangled this pick, but presuming they actually hold onto it, could just go for the best athlete available, especially after re-signing scorer Malik Monk.
The fast-rising Salaun, 18, would fall into that category.
He might even sneak into the top 10 if San Antonio opts to pair him with French countryman Wembanyama at No. 8.
His length, shooting and extreme youth make him an attractive prospect, recent ankle sprain and all.
G/F Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor, 6-4, 198
Could easily be a call between Williams and Walter here, depending on who is still on the board. Walter — a green room invite — can defend, which is always key for a rookie.
He’s a movement shooter who is dangerous coming off screens and even draws fouls, too.
He can ease into improving his passing, but his length will be useful right out of the gate for the Blazers.
C Zach Edey, Purdue, 7-4, 299
Coming off a gentleman’s sweep in the first round of the playoffs, Miami needs scoring and youth.
Edey, 22, could step right in with a small learning curve and offer a different look to Bam Adebayo’s rim rolling.
He has a 7-10 ½ wingspan and averaged a gaudy 25.2 points for Purdue.
Yes, Edey’s defense might limit him to being a role player, but when that role is post-up scoring, screening for Jimmy Butler and finishing, Miami could do worse.
PG Jared McCain, Duke, 6-2, 203
Another green room invite, McCain is expected to go somewhere near the tail end of the top 20.
It’s unclear how the Sixers plan to use their cache of cap space, but the diminutive 20-year-old scorer would be a good result from the draft here.
McCain showed a nice jumper at Duke, good intangibles and could be a solid complement playing off Tyrese Maxey.
F Tristan da Silva, Colorado, 6-8, 217
Expect the Lakers to first dangle this pick to get another veteran to play alongside 39-year-old LeBron James.
If that fails, they’ll likely look for the closest thing they can find to a plug-and-play rookie.
Da Silva is the closest thing they can find, a two-way 23-year-old who hit 39.5 percent from deep.
G/F Johnny Furphy, Kansas, 6-8, 189
Despite the early playoff exit, the future is bright in Orlando.
With the Magic’s roster, it might be a while until they have a high pick again.
Expect them to take a shot on a high-upside prospect they can give some time to develop.
Tall and offensively skilled, Furphy is just that.
G/F Kyshawn George, Miami, 6-7, 209
Toronto spent years winning based on a bevy of wings who used their long wingspans to defend.
George — who has sprouted up nine inches in the past five years — fits the mold physically, with his 6-9 wingspan.
Add in the fact he hit 40.8 percent from deep in college, and it’s easy to see how his spacing would help star forward Scottie Barnes and a Raptors team that was fourth-worst in 3-pointers made (11.5) and 3-point percentage (.347).
G/F Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 195
Clearly Cleveland has some things to decide.
It’s desperately trying to hold onto superstar Donovan Mitchell (and Darius Garland).
For a team in flux, they could go for upside.
The 18-year-old Carrington is blessed with that in spades, even if he didn’t play at the combine.
G Isaiah Collier, USC, 6-3, 205
Once considered a top-10 pick — and certainly still capable of going in the lottery — the needs of teams 10 through 20 could result in Collier taking a slight fall through the first round.
Solidly built, Collier has the size and strength to bully his way through the paint — if he can get his turnovers under control and his shooting percentages up (33.8 from deep as a freshman).
F/C Kyle Filipowski, Duke, 6-11, 230
Much has been made about the Suns’ situation, as they’re very much in win-now mode after trades for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal but still got swept out of the first round.
They’ve dealt away control of their first-rounders through 2030, so they have to land a contributor here.
They need point guard help but also size, rebounding and defense.
With the lead guards gone, the skillful Filipowski is a better value.
C Yves Missi, Baylor, 6-11, 229
For a team that finished as high as Milwaukee did, they actually have several needs.
The Bucks will likely go best available rather than pick for need, and Missi would be that.
Despite conditioning questions and being raw after playing organized basketball for just three years, he could provide a 7-10 ¾ wingspan, verticality and rim protection when Brook Lopez, now 36, takes a breather.
F Ryan Dunn, Virginia, 6-6, 214
The 21-year-old is shooting up draft boards and may not be around when the Knicks get to pick.
But if he is, it’s hard to picture a more prototypical Tom Thibodeau player.
He’s guarded one-through-five in workouts with impressive versatility, is well-schooled on that end of the floor and will play hard all the time … and for a long time.
Thibs would be in love. Granted, the defensively challenged Suns could likely use him even more than the Knicks could, but if he gets past Phoenix he likely won’t get past New York.
G/F Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois, 6-6, 219
It’s hard to peg the Knicks, who could trade this pick, deal backup center Mitchell Robinson, do both or do neither.
If they move Robinson, somebody like Indiana 7-footer Kel’el Ware makes sense.
But if they stand pat, Shannon, 23, fits their mold of grit and defense.
He faced charges of felony rape and aggravated sexual assault, but was found not guilty two weeks ago and has worked out for teams in the top 20.
If he slides out of it, the Knicks could snap him up.
C Kel’el Ware, Indiana, 7-0, 230
Ware could very well be gone by this point, especially if the Knicks actually move Robinson.
ESPN has reported that both the Pelicans and Bucks are viable landing spots for Ware, and as a green room invite, he is clearly expected to go fairly high.
But if the Hoosier is still on the board, this could be a good landing spot as an upside pick who has already added a much-needed 20 pounds.
The Wizards, just starting what promises to be a long, arduous rebuild, can afford to wait on that promise.
G Tyler Kolek, Marquette, 6-1, 197
The T-Wolves are to the point where some savvy moves around draft night could bring them a title.
Kolek could be such a pick.
Venerable point guard Mike Conley turns 37 at the start of the season.
But Kolek is a plug-and-play backup who already has a seasoned pick-and-roll game, as evidenced by his 7.7 assists playing a strong Big East slate for Marquette.
At 23, his learning curve should not be particularly steep.
F Daron Holmes II, Dayton, 6-9, 236
There aren’t a ton of big men who can space the floor and protect the rim, but Holmes is one.
At least, he is now.
He averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks this past season at Dayton, but more than his 7-foot wingspan it was his much-improved 38.6 percent from deep and impressive shooting at the combine that lifted him into first round contention.
He’s canceled a host of workouts right after the NCAA withdrawal deadline prompting assumptions throughout the league that he has a promise; ESPN suggested it might be with the Nuggets.
G/F Baylor Scheierman, Creighton, 6-6, 202
A solid showing at the combine — one of the stars during live play — has shot Scheierman up draft boards from the bottom of the second round to the tail end of the first.
Set to be 24 before his rookie campaign starts, the Creighton wing hit 38.1 from deep and looks to be a plug-and-play rotation option for whatever team lands him.
Will he last until Utah, for whom he’s worked out?
G/F Pacome Dadiet, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 6-9, 187
Yet to turn 19, Dadiet has a combination of age, shooting and size that makes him an intriguing gamble at this late stage in the draft.
He’s the highest-rated player known to have worked out for the Nets, and has also visited the Bucks, Heat, Magic, Sixers and Spurs.
But this mock sees Boston as his landing spot.
