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With the second round of the draft concluded, let’s grade each pick. These grades are based on my evaluation of prospects along with the team fit and overall value.
31. Toronto Raptors - Jonathan Mogbo, C/F, San Francisco
Masai Ujiri started day two off hot, selecting a prospect many thought would hear his name called on Wednesday night. Mogbo fits Toronto’s usual type as a monster athlete and an imposing physical talent with the ball skills and passing feel to act as a post-hub and secondary playmaking option.
Grade: A
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32. Utah Jazz - Kyle Filipowski, C/F, Duke
Utah scooped up the most shocking fall of the first round, with Filipowski projected as high as the top 20 by some analysts. From a purely basketball perspective, this slide was odd. He’s a true seven-footer with dribble-pass-shoot upside whose creative driving unlocks so much good offense. A creative offensive coach like Will Hardy will extract the most from Flip’s gifts.
Grade: A+
33. Milwaukee Bucks - Tyler Smith, F, Ignite
Smith was one of the draft’s best shooters who many expected to land in the first round because of how much the league values tall snipers. Milwaukee will accept this fall, as Smith has the ceiling to make a positive offensive impact. He’s probably a few years away from contributing, especially on the defensive end, which was puzzling for a Bucks team desperate for defensive rotation pieces today.
Grade: B+
34. New York Knicks - Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
Kolek is one of the draft’s better pick-and-roll orchestrators, winning with his excellent handle, pacing and manipulative playmaking. I’m lower on Kolek than Consensus due to the low hit rate for older, small-point guards who don’t bring lots of defensive value. Kolek may stick as a backup point guard in the league, though there were many better prospects on the board.
Grade: D
35. Indiana Pacers - Johnny Furphy, F, Kansas
Many analysts expected Furphy to fall much higher than this and his fit in Indiana is smooth. Indy loves to push the pace in transition and Furphy excels shooting off of the catch and leaking out in the open floor. The Pacers’ great depth will let Furphy develop patiently without expectations to contribute to winning immediately. This was an excellent pick for both value and team fit both short and long-term.
Grade: A-
36. San Antonio Spurs - Juan Nunez, PG, Ulm
The Spurs continued to stack passing talent after drafting Stephon Castle, adding one of the best passers in the entire class. Nunez is a pick-and-roll maestro who needs time to improve his scoring at the rim, shooting consistency and defensive impact. San Antonio may stash him in Europe until they feel Nunez is ready to help win games.
Grade: C
37. Detroit Pistons - Bobi Klintman, F, Cairns
Detroit swings on a raw, high-potential wing in Bobi Klintman in the top 40. They’ll bet on Fred Vinson to help Klintman learn to space the floor consistently while his movement skills and athleticism help him add value. He’s far away from helping on the defensive end and the feel is limited, making this a somewhat questionable pick for a Pistons team with plenty of prospects they must develop.
Grade: D-
38. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ajay Mitchell, G, Santa Barbara
Oklahoma City adds another elite driver in Ajay Mitchell, who lives at the rim, scores with elite touch and passes to the perimeter. Though the Thunder are stacked on guards at this point, Mitchell’s playmaking and rim pressure fill needs for their offense, especially for improved playmaking. The Thunder clearly desire a certain kind of player and want as many swings there as possible.
Grade: B+
39. Memphis Grizzlies - Jaylen Wells, F, Washington State
After surprising some by drafting Zach Edey in the top 10, they add a young, tall shooter in the second round here. Wells won’t blow anyone away with his athletic tools or defensive game, but he’s a dynamic shooter off of the catch, sprinting off of movement and pulling up. Drafting wing shooters in the second round on cost-controlled deals is always good process.
Grade: B
40. Phoenix Suns - Oso Ighodaro, C, Marquette
Ighodaro’s connective offensive skillset makes sense for a Suns team devoid of talent at center. He excels at reading the floor and passing the ball while hitting soft touch floaters on the short roll. He’s not an excellent defender or finisher given his lack of height for a center, but he plausibly could replace Jusuf Nurkic with his playmaking skillset.
Grade: B-
41. Philadelphia 76ers - Adem Bona, C, UCLA
The 76ers add big man depth in drafting Bona, whose defensive versatility, especially pertaining to pick and roll coverage, could be valuable in certain matchups. He makes sense as a Paul Reed replacement as Joel Embiid’s backup if they don’t retain their current backup.
Grade: B
42. Charlotte Hornets - KJ Simpson, G, Colorado
Simpson is one of the draft’s most dynamic guards, tearing through defenses with his explosive scoring in the paint, playmaking and off-dribble shooting while remaining stout on defense. He’s a steal this deep into the second round.
Grade: A
43. Atlanta Hawks - Nikola Djurisic, G/F, Mega Bemax
Djurisic’s potential is high due to his 6’8 frame paired with electric driving, creative passing and shotmaking flashes. Quin Snyder’s motion offense paired with Trae Young form a favorable situation for Djurisic to showcase his talents.
Grade: A
44. Miami Heat - Pelle Larsson, F, Arizona
It’s hard to dislike drafting a do-it-all wing like Larsson in the second round, especially given his advanced handle for his size. Miami is the place to turn skilled wings into true contributors and Larsson has the versatile toolkit on both ends to feasibly impact winning on both ends of the floor.
Grade: B
45. Toronto Raptors - Jamal Shead, G, Houston
Toronto pairs the newly acquired Davion Mitchell with another defensive menace in Shead, who hounds opposing handlers on the ball. His size and scoring limitations are some cause for concern, but the Raptors clearly value stacking high level defenders who play with an excellent motor.
Grade: C
46. Los Angeles Clippers - Cam Christie, F, Minnesota
The Clippers bet on a young, tall shooter, which is a strong bet midway through the second round. Christie is a dynamic on and off-ball shooter with some secondary playmaking and point-of-attack defense upside, making him a potential future valuable role player.
Grade: A
47. New Orleans Pelicans - Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky
New Orleans needed guards who put up lots of threes and Reeves is an excellent off-ball shooter from three and in the mid-range. Though he isn’t a positive defender or advantage creator, Reeves could slot into a bench guard role as an offensive specialist.
Grade: C+
48. San Antonio Spurs - Harrison Ingram, F, North Carolina
Ingram adds a versatile, two-way wing to a Spurs team in need of that archetype. If his one year of shooting production sustains, his secondary playmaking and off-ball defense will help him find a role in San Antonio’s wing rotation.
Grade: B+
49. Indiana Pacers - Tristen Newton, G, UConn
Newton was one of the draft’s most well-rounded guards, captaining the Huskies’ offense with his outside shooting, elite playmaking and improved slashing. His defense fits what Indy needs given his screen navigation and point-of-attack defense strengths. It’s easy to imagine Newton developing into an NBA-level combo guard in the mold of Andrew Nembhard.
Grade: A
50. Indiana Pacers - Enrique Freeman, F, Akron
Freeman reminds me of the Alize Johnson pick in 2018, with the Pacers drafting an undersized rebounding phenom with limited offensive utility. There’s not much of a ceiling here, but Freeman could contribute on defense and on the glass if his outside shot improves in a bench role.
Grade: D+
51. Dallas Mavericks - Melvin Ajinca, F, Saint Quentin
Ajinca’s shotmaling and size on the wing alone make him an incredible value in the 50s. Aside from elite movement shooting, Ajinca’s team defense and rotational instincts are excellent. Ajinca could develop into a high level role player if his frame fills out.
Grade: A
52. Golden State Warriors - Quinten Post, C, Boston College
Post’s seven foot frame and three-point shooting prowess make for a rare and valuable combination. Despite his struggles playing on the interior, the Warriors will bet on Post’s size and spacing to turn him into a rotation piece.
Grade: C+
53. Memphis Grizzlies - Cam Spencer, G, UConn
Memphis continued to draft analytically successful players, as Spencer’s shooting numbers are truly elite and indicate a smooth offensive translation to the NBA, despite his size and age. He makes sense as a bench shooter with a chance to help on offense right away.
Grade: B
54. Boston Celtics - Anton Watson, F, Gonzaga
Watson’s ball skills make him an ideal fit in Boston’s smooth-flowing offense and he’s a smart, well-positioned defender. His size, lack of shooting and injury history are cause for concern, but Watson is a worthwhile bet late in the second.
Grade: B
55. Los Angeles Lakers - Bronny James, G, USC
LeBron James will fulfill his wishes to play with his son, who is a deserving second-round pick on his own merit. Bronny has a long way to go to develop into a useful complementary guard. This Lakers pick puts them in pole position to re-sign LeBron James.
Grade: A-
56. New York Knicks - Kevin McCullar, F, Kansas
It’s rare to find contributors late in the second but McCullar could be that for the Knicks. McCullar’’s defense off of the ball is stellar and he improved as a shooter and handler on drives over the past few seasons.
Grade: A-
57. Toronto Raptors - Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Global Academy
As many expected, the Raptors drafted Chomche, who might be the best athlete in the draft given his insane explosion and movement skills. He’s an underrated passer despite how raw he is on both ends, pointing to impressive upside offensively and defensively.
Grade: A+
58. New York Knicks - Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne
Hukporti adds more depth to the center room, as his shot-blocking, rebounding and off-ball finishing could help him contribute in a depth role one day.
Grade: C
Final grades for Round 2 of 2024 NBA Draft
