NBA mock draft 2024 roundup: Pistons will have homework to do if they win lottery
The Detroit Pistons’ historic losing season is mercifully over, which means it’s time to check out some NBA mock drafts. It’s a bit complicated right now, as the Pistons will be hiring a president of basketball operations to take over the franchise. We don’t know the person’s assessment of the roster or preferences in the draft.
We do know the new lead executive will have the flexibility of a guaranteed top-five pick in the 2024 NBA draft, which launched a new two-day format on June 26-27.
The Pistons, for the second season in a row, finished with the league’s worst record, giving them a 14% chance to win the May 12 lottery in Chicago. The Washington Wizards also have a 14% chance, and Portland, Charlotte and San Antonio each have at least a 10% chance.
This is deemed a weaker draft at the top, and much more wide open than usual, with no clear No. 1 prospect.
If the Pistons win the top pick for the second time in four seasons, here’s a look at who they might take from numerous expert NBA mock drafts:
USA TODAY: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia)
Vitals: 7 feet 1, 216 pounds; turns 19 on Thursday.
Buzz: This draft lacks a superstar prospect according to the industry, but Sarr, from France, might have the highest ceiling due to his raw talent at his size, and movement skills.
Sarr spent this past season in Australia’s top pro league, where he averaged 9.4 points on 52% shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, one turnover and 1.5 blocks over 17.3 minutes per game in 27 games. He shot 29% on 3s (1.8 attempts per game) and 71% on free throws (2.6 attempts per game) as an 18-year-old.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports’ NBA expert:
“A strong defender and shot-blocker who plays with force on both ends; has good hands, uses his body well and though he doesn’t have the prettiest shot, he gets it to go in.”
ESPN: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg (France)
Vitals: 6-8, 200; turned 19 on April 8. Buzz: Risacher is another French teenager playing professionally overseas; he’s in the LNB Élite, France’s top league. He looks like a prototypical 3-and-D prospect, with movement shooting, long strides in transition and good instincts as an off-ball defender. Averaging 10.9 points and shooting 42.7% on 3s across 43 games this season in EuroCup and league play.
Jonathan Givony, ESPN draft expert: “The Pistons are the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting team while ranking among the league’s worst defenses, meaning they could very well be attracted to the combination of perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and youth Risacher offers. He’s having an extremely
productive season competing at a very high level of competition for Bourg, guarding every position from 1 to 4 while making 39% of his 3-pointers through 60 games, despite being in a late-season slump.”
Bleacher Report: Sarr
Jonathan Wasserman, B/R draft expert: “They’re gonna cast a wide net here at No. 1 because there is no consensus guy. To me, I think they take Sarr because he kinda has the best mix of balance of a high floor, a high upside, a decent fit with everything they have. I think he can play some power forward because of the perimeter skill set that he has flashed in Australia. He’s got a decent looking catch-andshoot 3-ball, he actually shot a really impressive clip on pull-ups, so he’s got some perimeter skills . ... But obviously the draw to Sarr is his defensive upside; can get in his stance around the perimeter, really slide with guards and wings, and then be a rim protector . ... You look at him and see this monster defensive upside, you see this potential offensive versatility as a guy who could play the 4 next to Jalen Duren.”
CBS Sports: Risacher
Kyle Boone, CBS college basketball/NBA expert: “Risacher has struggled of late after starting the season hot, in particular cooling after showing improvement as a shooter. But as we sit here now I’d still project him to be the first pick because of his long-term upside. Wings at 6-9 who can handle and shoot with ease the way he can don’t slip far.”
Sporting News: Sarr
Kyle Irving, S/N NBA expert: “Even though the Pistons already have a bruising young center in Jalen Duren, there isn’t enough talent on the roster to be drafting for fit. Sarr would give Detroit a high-energy rim protector with more length. The 7-foot center is an athletic and powerful shot-blocking big with budding offensive skills who held his own playing professionally in Australia’s NBL overseas.”
Fox Sports: Sarr
Jason McIntyre, Fox co-host of “The Herd” and sports betting analyst: “Sarr is another athletic big man from France with perimeter skills. No, he’s not Wemby. Sarr only played 17 minutes per game in the NBL as an 18-year-old, but he projects as a Jaren Jackson-type talent at both ends.”