NBA draft lottery outcomes 2024: Prime takeaways and questions

CHICAGO — In a shock twist, the Atlanta Hawks — with only a 3% probability to win — walked away atop Sunday’s NBA draft lottery.

The Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs will choose second, third and fourth, an sudden state of affairs after chaos unfolded within the drawing room. Atlanta, Houston and San Antonio’s picks all jumped into the highest 4, which additionally bumped the Toronto Raptors out of the No. 6 spot, inflicting their choose to convey the Spurs a second lottery choice.

With the whole draft order now recognized, together with ESPN’s mock draft projections, the 22 groups which have concluded their seasons are shifting gears towards the 2024 NBA draft, to be held June 26 and 27 (8 p.m. ET, on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+) on the Barclays Heart in Brooklyn.

NBA followers wish to know what the state of those 12 groups coming into the draft is now. Will touchdown the No. 1 choose push Atlanta to think about roster strikes with its present stars, what sort of participant will San Antonio encompass Victor Wembanyama with and the way will the Wizards method drafting No. 2 total? Our ESPN NBA specialists take a complete take a look at these questions and extra for every of the lottery groups as we patiently await the draft, which is lower than two months away.

Bounce to a group:
ATL | WAS | HOU | SAS | DET | CHA
POR | MEM | UTAH | CHI | OKC | SAC

Is it really good to interrupt up the Dejounte Murray and Trae Younger backcourt?

Getting the No. 1 choose doesn’t dismiss how Atlanta ought to consider the Murray and Younger backcourt. Per Cleansing the Glass, Atlanta was outscored by 6.0 per 100 possessions this season when each gamers have been on the courtroom collectively. The Hawks had a 120.7 defensive effectivity ranking of their shared minutes, fifth worst amongst greater than 225 duos to play 1,000 minutes collectively. Murray is coming into 12 months 1 of a four-year, $120 million extension. His $24.8 million cap hit is $20 million lower than a max participant. Younger has two years left on his contract ($43 million and $46 million) and might change into a free agent in 2026. — Bobby Marks

How ought to the Wizards method their highest draft choose in over a decade?

The Wizards’ regime of group president Michael Winger and normal supervisor Will Dawkins proceed their overhaul of the franchise with their subsequent largest step — the draft. Winger loves constructing and doing so by piecing every part collectively patiently. For a franchise and fanbase that has usually felt cursed, the Wizards bought a win within the lottery by not falling decrease than the highest two after having the second worst document (15-67) final season. With the No. 2 total choose in a draft with no consensus generational expertise, the Wizards can afford to take a mission who has potential, develop him after which wait. This regime’s first draft produced a discover in French taking pictures guard Bilal Coulibaly, who was thought of to be a mission however flashed faster than anticipated final season. Washington can use measurement inside however Winger and Dawkins will proceed to slowly construct the roster with gamers they need. At No. 1 total, Washington has a historical past of draft hits resembling John Wall and misses resembling Kwame Brown. However the final time the franchise picked second total in 1968, it landed Wes Unseld — arguably the best participant in franchise historical past. — Ohm Youngmisuk

After a shock soar to No. 3, how may Houston use this draft to proceed its constructive momentum from the tip of the season?

The Rockets discovered some cohesion final season after the All-Star break and completed as a top-10 protection underneath coach Ime Udoka, a significant turnaround from seasons previous. Houston has a beautiful assortment of current lottery picks on the roster, however the group is about to get far more costly, with Jalen Inexperienced and Alperen Sengun up for extensions. The upcoming offseason want is including extra taking pictures, and determining how you can higher stability a few of the awkward personnel suits on the roster. Houston has historically swung huge on expertise and allowed the components to fall into place, however they could be far sufficient alongside of their rebuilding course of to deal with this draft with optimum roster suits in thoughts. There may not be a transparent greatest reply at No. 3, however gamers resembling Reed Sheppard, Donovan Clingan and Zaccharie Risacher all current intriguing choices. — Jeremy Woo

What sort of participant would match greatest subsequent to Victor Wembanyama to assist propel the Spurs in 2024-25?

Let’s check out the numbers to assist us reply this query. The one two-man lineups that performed greater than 250 minutes with Wembanyama this season and completed with a constructive web ranking included level guard Tre Jones (+4.3 in 1,288 minutes) and taking pictures guard Devin Vassell (+1.3 in 1,222 minutes). There have been fairly a couple of extra lineups that labored with Wembanyama after the All-Star break that confirmed he was getting used to his teammates. However the two gamers who labored greatest with him all through the season have been Jones, a real level guard to assist set him up, and Vassell, who led the group with 166 3-pointers. Placing extra taking pictures round Wembanyama won’t ever be a foul concept. — Andrew Lopez

How will the Pistons deal with including a rookie to an already-young roster core?

For the fourth consecutive yr, the Pistons entered the lottery with the perfect odds of touchdown the No. 1 choose. And for the second yr in a row, they slid within the lottery to No. 5, though final yr that slide resulted in them lacking out on a generational expertise. This yr the highest expertise leans extra towards rotational gamers than star energy, which leaves Detroit with a dilemma on how you can shake up their roster regardless of the place it lands within the lottery. The Pistons’ prime seven gamers by video games performed have been all 23 years previous or youthful this season. What would the addition of a front-court participant imply for Jalen Duren? Would they draft a guard two years after utilizing a top-5 choose on Jaden Ivey? Do they nonetheless consider sufficient of their younger core to take a step ahead that they’d attempt to commerce the choose as an alternative? And the most important unknown for the Pistons: Who will probably be making these roster selections with the group set to rent a brand new president of basketball operations this summer season. — Jamal Collier

How is the way forward for Miles Bridges impacted by a brand new entrance workplace and training workers?

At his introductory information convention, new government vp of basketball Jeff Peterson laid out the imaginative and prescient for the roster. “Our foremost purpose is to have sustained success,” Peterson stated. “We do not wish to make the playoffs one yr after which we’re out for one more three or 4 years. We would like this to be sustainable and switch this group right into a constant winner.” That leads into the query of how Bridges suits into the longer term that already contains LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and now the No. 6 choose. Bridges was arrested for felony home violence in June 2022, missed the 2022-23 season and pleaded no contest to the cost. He averaged a profession excessive 21.0 factors this season however ranked within the forty sixth percentile at his place in efficient discipline purpose proportion and fortieth percentile in 2-point proportion, per Cleansing the Glass. He additionally had career-highs in utilization price, rebounds and steals. There are seven groups with projected cap house to signal Bridges, together with Detroit and Utah. If there is no such thing as a curiosity from these groups and the Hornets’ intention is to not signal Bridges, either side may discover sign-and-trade choices. — Bobby Marks

Scoot Henderson struggled as a rookie and Shaedon Sharpe missed time with an damage. Have the Blazers discovered the centerpiece for his or her rebuild?

That is Portland’s third consecutive yr drafting within the prime seven, and the Blazers have but to seek out the famous person who can succeed Damian Lillard because the face of the franchise. The hope remains to be that 2023 No. 3 choose Henderson will probably be that participant after a powerful end to his rookie marketing campaign. (He averaged 19.4 factors per recreation and 9.7 assists per recreation in April, taking pictures 42% from 3.) Sharpe, the 2022 No. 7 choose, flashed late in his rookie season earlier than lacking 50 video games in 2023-24. Given the complementary expertise available, Portland will draft for upside, maybe one of many G League Ignite duo of Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland II. — Kevin Pelton

Can the Spurs entice a veteran star to get on the Wemby practice? Do they want one?

The time will come when the Spurs get a star to play alongside Wembanyama as a result of he is poised to be an excellent participant for a really very long time. They need to additionally be capable to entice veterans who will take lesser offers to play subsequent to him. However subsequent season may not be the time to make the all-in push. The Western Convention will as soon as once more be stacked. The Houston Rockets went 41-41 and did not even make the play-in. The Memphis Grizzlies ought to be higher when wholesome. Competitors will probably be fierce. The Spurs’ beginning lineup — and the lineup inserting Keldon Johnson for Julian Champagnie — have been web positives after the All-Star break. San Antonio may choose to develop for one more yr earlier than going star-hunting. –Andrew Lopez

Can the Grizzlies discover a huge to enrich Jaren Jackson Jr.?

Grizzlies normal supervisor Zach Kleiman was not shy in his postseason media availability when addressing their roster wants this offseason. “I envision we’ll add a minimum of one huge,” Kleiman stated. “Whether or not that is a beginning huge or a rotation huge, I feel we’ve got some work to do on the roster there.” How the Grizzlies do that won’t come by way of free company however in a commerce or the June draft. Nevertheless, as a result of Memphis moved again within the lottery, facilities Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan will probably not be accessible at No. 9. Memphis could be left with a choice on whether or not to select the perfect accessible participant – maybe guards Stephon Citadel or Nikola Subject – drafting a participant resembling Purdue heart Zach Edey, or transferring the choose for a longtime participant. One factor to control is the Grizzlies’ funds for subsequent yr. Together with the No. 9 choose and guard Luke Kennard, Memphis is over the posh tax threshold for subsequent season. The Grizzlies have till June 28 to train Kennard’s $14.7 million group choice. — Bobby Marks

With cap house and cash, Utah has a bevy of offseason choices. What ranks as their prime precedence?

The Jazz rightfully aren’t in a lot of a rush to speed up their rebuild, with loads of future draft capital on the best way and a group that is probably a number of seasons away from a agency playoff return. The roster is approaching a crossroads, with a mixture of younger gamers in want of minutes and established veterans who aren’t probably long-term suits. If the Jazz can keep affected person with their roster, it’d behoove them to change into sellers, and wait a minimum of one other season earlier than pushing of their chips. With future flexibility in thoughts, an important factor ought to be re-signing prime scorer Lauri Markkanen to an applicable long-term contract, whether or not to maintain him as a part of their core, or to ultimately transfer him for worth if Utah decides to go even youthful. And albeit, this is not the draft to financial institution on touchdown a franchise-transforming participant anyway. — Jeremy Woo

What does Coby White’s breakout season imply for the Bulls’ future?

Regardless of lacking the playoffs for the second consecutive season, White’s breakout was the most important vivid spot for Chicago. Couple White’s ascension with Ayo Dosunmu sliding again and excelling in a job extra suited to him and Patrick Williams’ enchancment earlier than an damage and the Bulls have a couple of attention-grabbing younger gamers. Nevertheless, group vp Arturas Karnisovas took duty after the season, saying that lacking the playoffs wasn’t ok and they might look to enhance. He has been aggressive in buying and selling away picks prior to now — dealing a first-rounder in 2021 and ’23 to Orlando with a ’25 first-rounder nonetheless owed to San Antonio — however what’s going to the Bulls do with a low lottery choose as they attempt to discover methods to enhance the roster? — Jamal Collier

What does the Thunder’s current draft historical past inform us about what they may do with this choose?

Sam Presti, the Thunder’s government vp and normal supervisor, goes to try to maximize the worth of this choose as greatest he can. Final yr, he moved up two picks and nonetheless wound up with Cason Wallace, who has performed a giant function within the Thunder’s playoff run. The unbelievable stash of picks at Presti’s disposal will permit him to go after who he needs if the Thunder wish to transfer up or slide again and purchase additional belongings for the inevitable cash-in of that hoard. — Andrew Lopez

If Malik Monk leaves in free company, how can the group fill the hole and stay aggressive?

One constructive factor about lacking the playoffs is the Kings have a late lottery choose, one thing they could must not solely enhance the roster in a cheap manner however probably to fill a giant gap if Monk departs. Monk is a free agent and was a number one Sixth Man of the 12 months candidate earlier than he missed the ultimate 9 video games of the season and the play-in video games due to damage. Monk had a profession season. He was third on the group in scoring with a career-high 15.4 factors per recreation. However he was a playmaker off the bench, averaging a career-best 5.1 assists. Maybe the Kings can discover some insurance coverage for Monk with the No. 13 total choose. Sacramento has proven the power to seek out gems within the draft, taking Keegan Murray fourth total in 2022 and Tyrese Haliburton at twelfth total in 2020. — Ohm Youngmisuk

What is the best-case state of affairs for Portland drafting at No. 14? The reply is perhaps buying and selling it. The Blazers’ roster is overflowing with younger prospects and so they maintain 4 of the highest 40 picks. With 11 gamers underneath assured contract for 2024-25 and three extra they’re prone to assure (Dalano Banton, Toumani Camara and Jabari Walker), there’s not room to maintain everybody. The Blazers certainly weren’t relying on getting a second lottery choose once they acquired this one from the Boston Celtics as a part of the Jrue Vacation commerce final fall, making this a bonus they may select to spin ahead by way of one other deal. — Kevin Pelton