Why did Isaiah Collier drop to No. 29 in 2024 NBA Draft? Exploring reason behind late pick

Early on in the college basketball season, Isaiah Collier was believed to be the possible No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. However, following an injury-filled up-and-down season at USC, he saw his stock drop dramatically.

Collier was still selected in the first round but nowhere near where his early projections were. He ended up sliding to the back of the first round, with the Utah Jazz selecting him at No. 29.

There are multiple reasons why Isaiah Collier fell on draft night. Among the biggest reasons was teams allegedly heavily questioning his decision-making. As a lead guard, he'll be called upon to run the offense while also scoring. During his season at USC, his assist-to-turnover ratio was 1.3. Because of this, no front officeused a high draft pick on him.

Another reason Collier landed at No. 29 is because of his shooting. Standing at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he got to the rim at will for USC. However, his game struggled when it came to beyond the arc. Collier was a somewhat willing shooter but only converted 33.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

At the NBA level, teams are going to be able to cut off a player like Collier more. Because of his inconsistent shooting, defends likely won't chase him on the perimeter. This will make life difficult for him as he tries to get downhill and attack the basket.

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NBA Draft Combine measurement also played a role in Isaiah Collier dropping on draft night

Aside from his shooting and decision-making concerns, another probable factor in Isaiah Collier's draft night drop was his measurements. At the NBA Draft Combine, he was listed slightly smaller than what USC listed him all season.

In a story for Andscape, NBA insider Marc Spears touched on Collier's measurements at the combine. He said his numbers in Chicago caused his stock to drop.

"The Trojans listed Collier at 6-feet-5 and 210 pounds on their roster, but at the NBA pre-draft camp, he measured 6-2.5 without shoes, 204 pounds, had a 6-4.75-foot wingspan and a maximum vertical jump of 34 inches.

"One NBA scout told Andscape that those measurements and shooting questions affected Collier’s draft status. He worked out for eight NBA teams and also turned down several workouts, a source said."

It's clear Isaiah Collier has areas of his game that he needs to improve. That said, he landed in a good place in terms of his development. The Utah Jazz are going through a rebuild, and have opportunities for playing time at the guard position.

In his situation, Collier might have a chance to work through his weaknesses on the court. If he can figure it out and show the potential of a top pick, he could end up being a massive steal for Utah at pick 29.