The 2024 NBA Draft has officially concluded. In the first ever two-day draft, headlines were made when the Atlanta Hawks selected French standout wing Zaccharie Risacher first overall. A handful of trades were made during the first round, and a point of emphasis was put on young, athletic talents near the end of the first round. As a result, talented players such as Kyle Filipowski, Tyler Kolek, Bobi Klintman, and others ended up falling in the second round of the draft.
Just because a player is drafted in the second round doesn't necessarily mean they aren't talented. There are a ton of factors that come into play during the draft, and a player's fit with certain teams ultimately trumps how talented they are sometimes. In regards to the 2024 NBA Draft, which was deemed a lot weaker than previous years, a player's fit was the first attribute many organizations examined.
Trade grades are fun, and there are a lot of things that can be discussed in detail regarding the first round of the draft. However, the second round of the NBA Draft is all about making trades to find value in players who stood out during individual and group pre-draft workouts.
After falling to the Utah Jazz in the second round, Filipowski headlines some of the best picks made on Thursday around the NBA.
Kyle Filipowski, 32nd Pick – Utah Jazz
Aside from the drama surrounding Kyle Filipowski on social media, the Duke big man enters the league as a very undervalued player who can fit a role at the power forward or center position. Not only can he score on the interior with great footwork in the low post, but Filipowski is a very underrated passer when he has the ball behind the three-point line.
A team like the Jazz was in need of more frontcourt help after losing Kelly Olynyk last season. Walker Kessler was their only contributing big man on the team, which is why Filipowski can come in and provide immediate minutes as an early second-round pick. As he gains reps at the NBA level, the 20-year-old will only grow into a weapon on both sides of the court for the Jazz.
Jonathan Mogbo, 31st Pick – Toronto Raptors
The first pick of the second round belonged to the Toronto Raptors, and they selected Jonathan Mogbo from San Francisco. Many people may not know much about Mogbo because he was not displayed at a prominent college basketball conference. What makes Mogbo such a special talent is that he is a skilled forward who can initiate his team's offense while also being a focal point on defense.
Never doubt Masai Ujiri and the Raptors when it comes to creating storybook-like headlines in the NBA Draft. The reason why drafting Mogbo is so special is because he has a strong friendship with Raptors star Scottie Barnes. It is hard to find this type of chemistry and synergy before even playing with one another, which is why Ujiri has struck gold yet again in a versatile draft prospect that fits his team's mold perfectly.
Tyler Kolek, 34th Pick – New York Knicks
This may have been the biggest steal of the draft — not just the first round, but the entire 2024 NBA Draft for the New York Knicks. Tyler Kolek is a winner. He helped turn Marquette into one of the best programs in the country over the last couple of seasons, and Kolek established himself as the best facilitating guard in this draft class after leading the NCAA in assists this past year.
“Winning is in my blood. Whatever team drafts me, they know they will be getting a player that brings winning qualities that they need to win in the playoffs. Leadership, competitiveness, toughness, a chip on your shoulder – that’s me,” Kolek told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview before the draft. “Not everyone can say they compete every possession, which is why that is one of my calling cards entering the league.”
The Knicks fell in love with Kolek during the pre-draft process as a guard with a lot of upside behind Jalen Brunson on their depth chart. While they did not believe he would be around in the second round, the Knicks rapidly locked in their selection when Kolek was available with the 34th pick. Much like how the Indiana Pacers have TJ McConnell as a do-it-all type of guard on their bench, the Knicks now have a similar weapon in Kolek, who will earn minutes early on in his NBA career.
Adem Bona, 41st Pick – Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers were lurking with the 41st overall pick and attempting to find value that they could stash on their bench at a low cost. Adam Bona was one of the top performers at the NBA Draft Combine in May, and he was expected to be off the board within the first few picks of the second round.
Due to teams not targeting frontcourt players, Bona fell to the 76ers. In addition to being a strong rebounder, Bona simply plays hard. The energy he creates resonates with his team, and Bona will fill a void that the Sixers have in their frontcourt alongside and behind MVP Joel Embiid.
Between his length and aggressiveness, Bona is exactly the kind of player Philadelphia fans will fall in love with.
Kevin McCullar Jr., 56th Pick – New York Knicks
We might as well just say that the New York Knicks won the 2024 NBA Draft.
Everything for the Knicks started before the draft when they traded a slew of future draft picks to land Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. Then, during the first round of the draft, the Knicks got creative with their 24th and 25th overall selections. After trading the 24th pick to the Washington Wizards for the No. 26 and 51 picks, New York then drafted Pacome Dadiet, a high-upside guard with a lot of potential as an offensive weapon from France.
In the second round of the draft, the Knicks ended up making moves left and right, turning second-round picks into cash considerations and future assets that were previously lost. At the end of the second round, the Knicks landed on Kevin McCullar Jr. from Kansas, a prospect that had fallen on a lot of teams' draft boards due to concerns over a knee injury he suffered at the end of his collegiate career.
McCullar was a prospect the Knicks took a long look at in last year's pre-draft process before he ultimately decided to return to school for one more year. When it comes to two-way play and being able to impact the game right away, McCullar is right up there with Kolek in terms of being NBA-ready. While he will likely be on a two-way contract to begin his career, McCullar is the exact type of player the Knicks have been adding on the wing. The best part is that New York actually moved down in the draft, gathered more assets, and still got the guy they wanted.
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