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NBA mock draft: Projecting the top 14 post-lottery

Sun May 12 4:49pm ET
Field Level Media

The NBA draft lottery is complete, the order of the top 14 picks is cemented and the Atlanta Hawks are on the clock.

With about six weeks left before the draft begins June 27, Field Level Media takes a crack at projecting the lottery picks. There is no can't-miss star like Victor Wembanyama atop this year's draft board, but we may see a French big man go first overall for the second year running.

1. Atlanta Hawks: Alexandre Sarr, F/C, Perth Wildcats

The Hawks, who had just a 3 percent chance to win the No. 1 pick, now have every option in front of them. The answer, though, should be Sarr as a successor to Clint Capela. Tall, lean, mobile and talented as a ball-handler and passer, Sarr's most pressing task will be to bolster one of the league's worst defenses.


2. Washington Wizards: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

Clingan isn't just any old college center. He's a 7-foot-2 monster in the interior with a 7-foot-7 wingspan who played a crucial role helping the Huskies win back-to-back national championships. His rim protection will make the Wizards' ghastly defense better and he'll be a persistent dunk threat teamed with Kyle Kuzma in the frontcourt.

3. Houston Rockets: Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg

This Frenchman's most notable trait is his 3-point shot, which he's connected on at ridiculous levels playing in his home nation's top league. Doing the same for Houston is another matter, but Risacher has the right build to fit in on the wing for a Rockets team that can take its time with him as it completes its rebuild.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

Rob, meet Victor. Gregg Popovich will make sure you get along splendidly. Perhaps the best point guard in a class with several near the top, Dillingham offers the complete package on offense (15.2 points, 3.9 assists per game, 44.4 percent shooting from deep at Kentucky).

5. Detroit Pistons: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

Sheppard went from being the fifth-most hyped freshman in Kentucky's class to the consensus National Freshman of the Year. It helps to make more than half your 3-pointers and grab 2.5 steals a game. The Pistons tied for the fewest made 3-pointers per game and need a catch-and-shoot threat like Sheppard.

6. Charlotte Hornets: Nikola Topic, G, Red Star Belgrade

Topic's size (6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7, depending on your source), scoring and playmaking ability have powered his rise up draft boards this season. After dominating the Adriatic League, the 18-year-old projects as a major backcourt addition for any NBA team, but especially the Hornets, who need more playmaking guards especially considering LaMelo Ball's injury history.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite

The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian-American offers a lot to Scoot Henderson and the Blazers. He averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game in the G League regular season and comes from multiple generations of basketball pros, highlighted by his IQ.

8. San Antonio Spurs: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee

Knecht took the Southeastern Conference by storm as an offensive machine for the Vols and won league Player of the Year honors. He's already 23 years old, but the Spurs ranked 28th in 3-point percentage last year and Knecht offers a jolt in that department from Day One.

9. Memphis Grizzlies: Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

Memphis may be getting a steal in Holland, once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick before an up-and-down G League season. At his best, Holland scores at will attacking the basket and is a threat as a passer and defender. The Grizzlies owned the worst scoring offense in the NBA, but they get Ja Morant back and Holland can give him another option.

10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, F, Colorado

Williams scored 11.9 points per game in his lone year at Colorado and shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range -- though he attempted fewer than two per game. The brother of Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams will bring great size on the wing (6-foot-8, 7-foot-1 wingspan) to the worst perimeter defending team of 2023-24.

11. Chicago Bulls: Stephon Castle, G, UConn

Part of the reason UConn managed to win another national title was that Castle so ably stepped into the point guard role as a freshman, but he can play either guard role. He facilitates, defends, hustles and drives to the rim, making him a great backcourt complement to Coby White -- especially if the Bulls bid farewell to Zach LaVine.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Devin Carter, G, Providence

The Thunder own this pick via the Rockets, yet they have no pressing needs. Why not help themselves to a guard prospect who can do a little of everything? Carter's stock soared as he averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals this season.

13. Sacramento Kings: Zach Edey, C, Purdue

He's a controversial prospect for complex reasons, but don't overthink it: Edey is 7-foot-4, scores and rebounds everything he sees and -- most importantly for Sacramento -- protects the rim in a way Domantas Sabonis doesn't. The Kings aren't hard-pressed for an immediate starter, but someone of Edey's caliber spelling Sabonis should get coach Mike Brown's wheels turning.

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ja'Kobe Walter, G, Baylor

For Portland's second pick in the lottery, Walter can provide something the Blazers desperately need: shot-making. Portland ranked dead-last in 3-point shooting (34.5 percent) and second-to-last in overall field-goal percentage (43.9 percent) last season.

Player Notes
Aaron Nesmith Sun May 12 3:20pm

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (shoulder) will be good to go for Sunday's Game 4 against the Knicks. He hurt his right shoulder in the previous contest, which gave Nesmith a questionable tag ahead of Game 4. But the team has upgraded Nesmith to available ahead of tip-off. The 24-year-old typically provides a little bit of everything, averaging 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals for the 2024 playoffs.

Tyrese Haliburton Sun May 12 3:10pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back, ankle) will play in Game 4 against the Knicks on Sunday. The talented playmaker has suffered multiple injuries during the team's playoff run but will continue to battle on. Haliburton has a chance to post a third consecutive 30-point game on Sunday. He's averaging 25.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 3.0 steals against the Knicks with 5.0 made triples.

Tyrese Haliburton Sun May 12 12:40am

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (back, ankle) is questionable for Sunday's postseason battle with the Knicks. The back spasms aren't new, but he tweaked his ankle in Friday's win, so most had assumed he'd be back on the injury report for Game 4. Haliburton has been on a roll despite the ailments, amassing 69 points, 16 assists, and five steals in his last two appearances. With that type of production, he'll see plenty of attention from DFS managers for Game 4, assuming he's available.

OG Anunoby Sun May 12 12:30am

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) won't play in Sunday's playoff matchup with the Pacers. The former Raptor injured his left hamstring in Game 2 and wasn't available for the loss of Friday night. While he is with the team in Indiana and receiving multiple treatment sessions daily, there's a chance he could miss more games moving ahead. Nonetheless, until Anunoby is back on the floor, Precious Achiuwa and Alec Burks should continue to see more minutes. However, Burks scored 14 points in Game 3, so he'll be the preferred DFS option over Achiuwa.

Bam Adebayo Sat May 11 12:40pm

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the Heat are expected to offer center Bam Adebayo an extension that will keep him in South Beach for "years to come." Adebayo has two years remaining on his current deal. But the 26-year-old is coming off another potent season, averaging 19.3 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds, so the latest update is a no-brainer. He also developed a shot from deep, ending the 2023-24 campaign by shooting 35.7% from behind the arc. Miami could go in several different directions over the summer. However, the roster will be constructed around Adebayo moving ahead, meaning the chances of Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler being moved are higher than ever. At any rate, no matter who is on the roster come training camp, Adebayo will go early in fantasy drafts heading toward the regular season.

Josh Hart Fri May 10 10:50pm

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart had a double-double in Friday's playoff matchup with Indiana. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, with the Knicks dropping their first game of the series. Jalen Brunson (foot) wasn't himself after tweaking his foot in Game 2. While Donte DiVincenzo had a team-high 35 points, Hart still scored 10 points while adding 18 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The 29-year-old has been on a roll during the postseason, and he should continue to see heavy minutes in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, especially if OG Anunoby (hamstring) remains out.

Donte DiVincenzo Fri May 10 10:50pm

New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo had a team-high 35 points in Friday's loss to the Pacers. He added three boards, two assists, one steal, and one block. Jalen Brunson (foot) isn't fully healthy after tweaking his foot in Game 2. However, DiVincenzo picked up the slack, going 12-for-26 from the floor and an efficient 7-for-11 from behind the three-point line. The 27-year-old has played well of late, averaging 29.3 points and shooting 56.3% from deep during this series. With numbers like that, DiVincenzo will see plenty of interest from DFS managers for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.

Jalen Brunson Fri May 10 10:50pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (foot) finished with a team-high 26 points in Friday's loss to Indiana. The former Maverick injured his right foot in Game 2 and carried a questionable tag heading into this contest. While he managed to suit up, he reinjured his foot in the first quarter, taking him off the floor for a few minutes. Brunson also had five turnovers in Game 3, so the ailment appears to be impacting his play. However, he should remain on the DFS radar for Game 4 on Sunday despite his recent decline in production.

Myles Turner Fri May 10 10:40pm

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner looked good in Friday's playoff victory over the New York Knicks. The 28-year-old had only six points in Game 2 on Wednesday. Yet, he scored 21 points in Game 3 to help his squad win their first game of the Conference semifinals. The Knicks were without OG Anunoby (hamstring), which was a crushing blow for the defense. However, New York will likely adjust heading into Game 4 on Sunday, so Turner could have trouble replicating his performance from Friday night.

Pascal Siakam Fri May 10 10:30pm

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam helped lead the Pacers to a win over the Knicks on Friday evening. The former Raptor scored 26 points, adding seven rebounds and one block. He also shot an efficient 9-for-14 from the field while draining his only try from behind the arc. Siakam had his best offensive outing of the Conference semifinals in Game 3. While he's had issues staying out of foul trouble, he deserves DFS attention for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.

Tyrese Haliburton Fri May 10 10:30pm

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton scored a game-high 35 points in Friday's win over the Knicks. He added seven assists, two steals, and a block. As expected, the 24-year-old was on the floor after making another appearance on the injury report because of back spasms. However, it appears Haliburton feels just fine, considering he's combined for 69 points in the previous two games. He did tweak his ankle during the contest, which is concerning. As a result, DFS managers will likely see him hold a questionable tag heading into Game 4 on Sunday. But barring a major setback, Haliburton should be good to go.

Dean Wade Fri May 10 7:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics. He's been out for two months with a sprained right knee, but it now looks like Wade could be ready to return to the lineup. The 27-year-old averaged over 20 minutes per game during the regular season. Wade could play a significant role in the playoffs, with the Cavaliers frontcourt weakened by the absence of Jarrett Allen (rib). However, it's unclear how many minutes he will be ready to play following the two-month injury layoff.

Jarrett Allen Fri May 10 7:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) is in danger of missing a sixth consecutive game on Saturday against Boston. He's on the injury report with a questionable tag once again. Cleveland has listed Allen as questionable ahead of each game since he got hurt in the middle of the first-round series against Orlando. Allen's continued absence would mean another start for Isaac Okoro, who has scored double-digit points in back-to-back games.

Luka Doncic Fri May 10 7:10pm

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against Oklahoma City. He's recently played through a right knee sprain and now hurt his left ankle in Thursday's Game 2 win in a collision with Thunder guard Cason Wallace. Despite battling health issues, the Mavericks superstar enjoyed one of his best performances of the 2024 postseason on Thursday, netting 29 points with five treys and 11-for-21 shooting. He will likely remain in the lineup on Saturday as Dallas tries to grab a 2-1 series lead.

Precious Achiuwa Fri May 10 7:00pm

New York Knicks forward/center Precious Achiuwa will replace OG Anunoby (hamstring) in the starting lineup on Friday against Indiana. The 24-year-old played only four minutes in the series opener but now finds himself in a big role, as the Knicks have also lost Mitchell Robinson (ankle). During the regular season, Achiuwa posted 12.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals as a starter.

Tyrese Haliburton Fri May 10 7:00pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) has been cleared for action on Friday against the Knicks. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. The Pacers star has produced mixed performances through the first two games of the series but will enter Friday's contest off the back of his highest-scoring playoff game of the year. Haliburton led all scorers with 34 points as Indiana lost Game 2 on Wednesday 130-121. With the Pacers in desperate mode, we should see Haliburton carry a heavy load on Friday.

Jalen Brunson Fri May 10 6:50pm

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (foot) is officially available for Friday's Game 3 against Indiana. He's been upgraded from questionable to available despite battling right foot soreness. Brunson was hurt in Game 2 of the series, but the injury didn't appear to affect him too much, as he finished with 29 points and 11-for-18 shooting. The Knicks star has looked sensational in the playoffs, becoming the second player in NBA history to record 285-plus points and 65-plus assists through the first eight games of a postseason.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Fri May 10 10:00am

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't pull out a win over the other candidate who was up for the NBA MVP award this year. He did, however, put up the most points out of anyone who played in Game 2. He ended with 33 points on 13-for-24 shooting from the floor and 1-for-3 from three. On top of that, Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 12 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, two blocks, and two turnovers. In the midst of the third playoff run in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has seen increases in almost every stat across the board except for three-point shooting.

Luka Doncic Fri May 10 9:40am

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was close to another triple-double while leading the team to a win on the road in Game 2 which tied the series up 1-to-1. While he may have missed out on his first MVP, he didn't let that get in the way of a big road performance. Doncic posted 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, one block, and one turnover. He also shot 11-for-21 from the floor and 5-for-8 from deep. With the series shifting back to Dallas for the next two games, Doncic will look to build on this momentum against an inexperienced Thunder squad.

PJ Washington Fri May 10 9:30am

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington was tied for the team lead in points during their Game 2 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The former Hornet registered 29 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block while shooting 11-for-18 from the floor and a red-hot 7-for-11 from downtown. This is why the Mavericks made the move to bring in his services, they've needed a third scorer who can also provide defense in the frontcourt. Washington has given them spurts of brilliance while staying solid most of the way through his Dallas tenure. Through the first playoff run of his career so far, Washington is averaging 13.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.