The Celtics had been far and away the delight of the Jap Convention, bulldozing their option to the franchise’s 18th NBA championship with a gifted roster constructed round perimeter scoring and lockdown protection.
The race to stop Boston from changing into the primary workforce because the 2018 Golden State Warriors to repeat as champs started with the draft Wednesday night time. Whereas it was simply the beginning of what figures to be an lively offseason across the league, Day 1 made it clear that a few of the Celtics’ high chasers subsequent season might come from their very own division.
Two of these groups — the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers — each made picks with a watch towards competing sooner moderately than later.
LIST: 2024 NBA Rookie Draft first spherical picks
Philadelphia entered the offseason with principally a clean slate and plenty of wage cap room to construct out a roster round stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers started that course of by selecting up a shooter in former Duke guard Jared McCain.
Even earlier than draft night time opened, the Knicks had been one of many NBA’s most lively groups, buying Mikal Bridges in a commerce with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. They adopted that up Wednesday by signing OG Anunoby to a brand new contract price greater than $210 million, setting them up with two of the league’s high wing defenders to play alongside star Jalen Brunson.
Becoming a member of that blend will likely be a France’s Pacome Dadiet, a 3-and-D wing out of France.
The Nets had been the one one in all Boston’s Atlantic Division-mates with none first spherical picks.
Boston Celtics
Crew wants: Depth. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made it clear earlier within the week that any participant chosen in the course of the draft would have a troublesome time cracking their present rotation. It’s an important place to be in for a workforce anticipated to spend the steadiness of the offseason merely tweaking the underside of its roster
Who did the Celtics draft: Creighton G Baylor Scheierman. A lefty with nice vary from the surface, he scored greater than 2,000 factors in school. He received’t wow you along with his athleticism and his capacity to enhance defensively will dictate how nicely he interprets to the following stage.
Participant comparability: Orlando Magic F Joe Ingles.
New York Knicks
Pacome Dadiet, proper, poses for a photograph with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being chosen twenty fifth by the New York Knicks in the course of the first spherical of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Julia Nikhinson)
Crew wants: Not a lot from the draft, after agreeing to a deal to accumulate Bridges from the Nets and getting Anunoby to agree on his long-term pact to remain in New York within the 24 hours beforehand.
READ: NBA: Knicks to accumulate Mikal Bridges in commerce from Nets
Who did the Knicks draft: France F Pacome Dadiet. The ultimate of 4 French gamers chosen in a historic night time for the nation, Dadiet is simply 18 years outdated with numerous room to develop. He’s good with the ball in his fingers and has a mess of the way to assault defenses.
Participant comparability: Possibly sometime Anunoby or Bridges, with a capability to protect a number of wing positions. However the Knicks have the actual issues now so might not even deliver him over from France this season.
Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain poses for a photograph with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being chosen sixteenth by the Philadelphia 76ers in the course of the first spherical of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Julia Nikhinson)
Crew wants: Nearly every part. Nearly the complete workforce — gamers akin to Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry and Nic Batum — ended the season with an expired contract. Crew president Daryl Morey has about $65 million in wage cap area, a max contract topping $200 million to supply Maxey and loads of questions to unravel on learn how to lastly, actually construct an NBA championship contender round Embiid.
Who did the 76ers draft: McCain. One-and-done participant who quickly grew to become the Blue Devils’ hardest competitor. Made 41% of 3s and 89% of free throws. Had two 30-point showings within the NCAA Event. He had two 30-point video games within the NCAA Event to guide Duke to the Elite Eight.
Participant comparability: Knicks G Jalen Brunson. McCain is roughly the identical measurement and the Knicks All-Star and enters the league about two years youthful than the previous Villanova star when he was drafted.
Toronto Raptors
Crew wants: Any promising participant to line up alongside newly-extended All-Star ahead Scottie Barnes on a talent-starved squad that traded away Anunoby and Pascal Siakam final season earlier than slumping to a 25-57 end and lacking the play-in event.
Who did the Raptors draft: With the first-round decide it acquired within the Siakam commerce, Toronto drafted 6-foot-4 Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter. Baylor’s high scorer in his lone season with the Bears, the 19-year-old Walter was additionally named Massive 12 Freshman of the 12 months after averaging 14.5 factors and 4.4 rebounds.
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Participant comparability: A promising shooter, decided driver and aggressive rebounder, Walter can be thought-about a flexible defender. With that blend of qualities, he’s corresponding to Clippers guard Terance Mann.
