With the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft in the books, we’re off to a second day for the first time.
Following the first round on Wednesday, league sources were quite pleased that they could stop after 30 picks, regroup, and not be up late until the wee hours of the evening trying to lock in Summer League spots and Exhibit 10 deals.
Instead, they’re now fielding calls that end a bit earlier in the evening than in previous years regarding potential trades for when each team gets on the clock. League sources have indicated that the Raptors, who will have the first pick on Thursday, have a high degree of leverage here. With expected first-round picks such as Johnny Furphy, Kyle Filipowski and Tyler Kolek slipping into the second round, there’s a real chance Toronto will get offers from a team that has a player still rated in the lottery on their board. Indeed, several picks in the top 10 of the second round were thought to be available overnight.
In that vein, whereas the first round featured a few deals here and there, expect many of them in the second as teams wheel and deal to maneuver around their board and accomplish their goals. Sometimes, that’s going to be to get out of the draft entirely. Other times, it’s to go up and acquire a player that you want once you know that he’s available at that selection.
With that said, he’s where we stand heading into Day 2 of the 2024 NBA Draft! My top five picks of Round 2:
31. Toronto Raptors: Johnny Furphy, Kansas wing
32. Utah Jazz: Kyle Filipowski, Duke big
33. Milwaukee Bucks: Oso Ighodaro, Marquette big
34. Portland Trail Blazers: Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara guard
35. San Antonio Spurs: Tyler Kolek, Marquette guard
GO FURTHER
2024 NBA second-round mock draft: What to look for on Day 2, including Bronny James
Source: nytimes.com