Heading into the holidays, the 2024 NBA draft landscape remains uncertain, with no clear favorite for the top pick and no solid order throughout much of the pool of prospects this early in the season the Boston Celtics and rest of the league to consider. The absence of a standout No. 1 overall candidate means that team needs and the lottery order could heavily influence the selection, with a trickle-down effect making this an especially volatile draft class in terms of making predictions.
Given all of that, perhaps as much as any time in recent memory, it is clearly much too early to make any concrete projections about which ball clubs might take which players given more collegiate play will only help solidify such estimations.
But that doesn’t stop draft experts from plying their craft, and we are already seeing the first serious mock drafts coming out.
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Let’s see who Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman sees the Celtics drafting so far out.
29. Adem Bona - UCLA - center
“Bona’s scoring rate is up this year, mostly because he looks more polished and in command playing with his back to the basket,” writes Wasserman.
“Still, NBA teams will only be banking on his athleticism for play-finishing and shot-blocking. The question is whether he can create enough of a defensive impact in rim protection (at 6-foot-10 with fouling issues) to offset his lack of creating, shooting or passing.”
If it were our call, we would pass given the limited play Bona has had to evaluate, and instead would aim for a big man with range like Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile who also protects the rim.
36. (via Bucks): Izan Almansa - G League Ignite - power forward
“The draw to Izan Almansa stems from his instincts and hands for play-finishing off the ball and rebounding. Occasionally, he surprises with some open-floor ball-handling, drives past closeouts and 3s,” writes the B/R draft analyst.
“The fear … is that he doesn’t have any go-to method for scoring … He’s not making jumpers, and a lack of face-up game and athleticism limit him (and) is ultimately the type of big who’ll make plays without needing any called for him … at 18 years old, he has time to improve his shot and slim down to become a bit quicker off the bounce and floor.”
Again, we’d look elsewhere given Boston won’t likely be in the market for developing projects. Instead, we’d take UConn combo forward Alex Karaban, who has a lower ceiling but also shot 40% from deep at volume during the Huskies’ run to the ’23 NCAA title with passing and good defensive instincts.
51. (via Mavs): Zvonimir Ivisic - Kentucky - forward/center
We are “still waiting on the debut of … Ivisic, who’s missed time due to sickness after eligibility issues initially caused a delay.” notes Wasserman. “There has been a buildup of anticipation after he averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 blocks and 1.6 3s for Croatia at the U20 European Championship.”
“At 7-foot-2, his flashes of open-floor ball-handling, drives from the arc and shooting point to enticing upside. Scouts just want a better feel for how realistic it is, and how legitimate his range, defensive mobility and feel for the game are.”
Given how late in the draft this pick would be if Boston hangs onto it, a player with a game and frame similar to Kristaps Porzingis is certainly worth a flier here. While it’s unlikely anyone taken so late will pan out, even a much more limited version of that combination of size and skill would be worth the gamble.
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