The 2024 NBA Draft first round is now in the books, and as with any selection night, there were winners and there were losers. While the winners in this draft will make waves in the coming season, on draft night, it's more fun to talk about the losers. These 2024 NBA Draft biggest first-round losers include two teams, an incoming rookie, and a young superstar's social life.
Houston Rockets making the No. 3 pick puts them among NBA draft losers
Just about 24 hours before the 2024 NBA Draft, it looked like the Houston Rockets were loading up to make a huge move with the No. 3 pick. They got a bunch of Phoenix Suns picks from the Nets and looked poised to make a run at Kevin Durant.
If not Durant, the Rockets still had the ammo to go get Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans or even Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. And then, right before the draft news broke that Butler would not be signing an extension with the Heat, clearing the way for a deal.
The Rockets looked like they were sitting pretty, and then they took that third overall pick and… took Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with it. Wah-Wahhhhh.
Look, Sheppard is a good pick, and the Rockets could use an elite shooter, if that is, in fact, what the former Wildcats sharpshooter will be in the NBA. That said, he just turned 20, and with Jalen Green, Apleren Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. all 22 and under, Houston could have used some star veteran help.
Victor Wembanyama’s social life
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs may be on the 2024 NBA Draft biggest 1st-round winners list after filling a big need at guard with UConn’s Stephon Castle at No. 3 and then trading Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, the big loser (off the court at least) is the big second-year superstar.
In a draft packed with fellow Frenchman, the Spurs didn’t get a single one in the first round. Zaccharie Risacher was the top overall pick — as Wemby was the season before — of the Atlanta Hawks. Alex Sarr, who played all over the world (Spain, USA, Australia) but was born in Bordeaux, France, went second to the Washington Wizards
And while many of the mock drafts ahead of Wednesday night has San Antonio taking Tidjane Salaun, the 6-foot-9 Parisian ended up coming off the board at No. 6 to the Charlotte Hornets.
As the most hyped rookie since LeBron James, chances are Wembanyama isn’t hurting for friends down in Texas. That said, Wemby surely would have liked a French-speaking buddy to stroll down the River Walk with.
Miami Heat make a head-scratcher
In the hours before the 2024 NBA Draft news broke that three-time All-Star and All-Defensive player Bam Adebayo will be signing a max extension with the Heat for three years and $166 million.
With their big man in place, it stood to reason that the Heat would look to put some shooting or maybe some perimeter defense around their big man. Maybe Duke guard Jared McCain or the falling Dalton Knecht.
Nope. Instead, they took a player who basically plays the same position as Adebayo in Baylor center Kel’el Ware.
Ware is a solid player but this was a bit of a reach as well as being positionally redundant. He can be a rim protector and maybe eventually stretch the floor, but for now, he seems like a Bam backup at best, and that seems like a waste here.
Dalton Knecht loses a lot of money and joins NBA draft losers
Several reputable 2024 NBA mock drafts had Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht as high as sixth to the Charlotte Hornets. ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Seigel had him seventh to the Portland Trail Blazers in his final mock.
However, whether it was due to his “old” age (23) or the questions about if his athleticism and defense are good enough to compliment his three-point shooting, Knecht took the biggest tumble down draft boards Wednesday night.
In the end, he may have found himself in the perfect location with JJ Redick and the Lakers, but he lost around $15 million in his first four seasons slipping 10 or so spots down the draft board.
What are the Wizards make desperate gambles for franchise player
No team in the NBA needs a franchise player more than the Wizards. They definitely don't have one now, and arguably haven't since Gilbert Arenas, at best, and Wes Unseld if we're being honest.
The problem is, the Wiz had the No. 2 pick in a draft without a clear-cut franchise guy. Taking Alex Sarr at No. 2 is a huge risk. He does have a ton of upside but he also has a weird career that's taken him from Real Madrid to Overtime Elite to the Australian NBL. And in none of these places did he step up and dominate.
Some players need to get to The Show in order for their talents to come to fruition. Maybe that's who Sarr is. And if he is, he may have the highest upside in the entire 2024 NBA Draft. All that said, sometimes players are what they are and there are some serious Andrew Wiggins or even Ben Simmons vibes with Sarr, and if that;s the case Washington is in trouble.
The team also traded the No. 14 pick to the Blazers, so if Bub Carrington comes good, that could be another headache.
Finally, Washington took another gamble and reached for the ball-dominant guard from Weber State, Dillon Jones. In most mocks, Jones wasn't even a first-round pick, which isn't always the kiss of death but it does show you how much the Wizards are grasping at straws for high-upside guys.
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