- What: 2024 NBA Draft
- When: June 26-27
- Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
- How to Watch: ESPN and WatchESPN
While the NBA Finals haven't officially wrapped up just yet, there are still a lot of fans who have already shifted their attention to the 2024 NBA Draft. There's a loaded field of talent for this year's class, and as we all know by now, the Atlanta Hawks hold the No. 1 pick. Which playmaker will the Eastern Conference side end up going with? As things stand, Alex Sarr is the favorite to be taken No. 1 by Atlanta in the NBA Draft.
Sarr is a French big man who has experience playing in Australia. Thanks to his big frame and solid shooting touch, a lot of people think he has the potential to be an All-Star player sooner rather than later. Sarr has also done himself a ton of favors this offseason, impressing both workouts and interviews. Because of this, plenty of people think he'll be the one to hear his name called at the top of the list.
| NBA Draft No. 1 odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Sarr to go No. 1 | -170 | -170 | -170 |
| Zaccharie Risacher to go No. 1 | +200 | +200 | +200 |
| Donovan Clingan to go No. 1 | +1500 | +1500 | +1500 |
| Reed Sheppard to go No. 1 | +3500 | +3500 | +3500 |
"I want to make an impact the first day I get there," Sarr said in a recent interview when asked about playing in the NBA. "Obviously, there are going to be some learning moments. There are going to be some bad games probably. I feel like I kind of already went through it and know how to get through it."
According to the best sports betting sites, including the reliabla Bovada sportsbook review, Sarr holds -170 NBA betting odds to be the first overall selection. It will be interesting to see if this happens and it surely wouldn't be a shock if it were to go down. Having said that, we have a feeling a different international prospect is going to be the one who makes his way to Atlanta later this month.
Alexandre Sarr is # 1 on every 2024 NBA Mock draft for a reason!!!! 🔥🔥🔥
From: France 🇫🇷
Height: 7’1
Age: 18The Wemby / Chet Build just created another player pic.twitter.com/VCLKl6gTIk
— Hoop Fiends 🏀💉 (@hoopfiends) January 7, 2024
Zaccharie Risacher is our pick to be taken No. 1 overall
With how great he is on both ends of the floor, Zaccharie Risacher is our pick to be taken No. 1 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Just like Sarr, Risacher has been quite impressive this offseason and he has certainly raised his stock. He's a star forward and he can shoot from all over the hardwood. Risacher had impressive leaping ability too, which will prove to make a difference around the glass.
From our chair, the Hawks really can't go wrong with either of these picks. Atlanta is in a full rebuild mode and they could certainly use either a stud center or forward to help out the talent already on the roster, with the list of course including Trae Young. A lot of Hawks fans want to see Sarr be the pick, while others are hopeful that Risacher will be the one who makes his way to town. It feels like a bit of a coin flip at this point.
Zaccharie Risacher pre-draft work 👀
Risacher has several workouts this week including the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. #NBADraft // 🎥 : @skweektv pic.twitter.com/z1ioqESGeq
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) June 11, 2024
"Risacher ended his season in France on a high note, playing his best basketball in front of scouts and executives from the Hawks, Wizards and Rockets last month," NBA Draft analyst Krysten Peek wrote on Sarr not long ago. "He is one of the best catch-and-shoot wings in the draft and has extended his game off the bounce and as a facilitator. In a series against Monaco, Risacher averaged 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 30 minutes per game."
Per the top NBA betting sites, Risacher has +200 NBA betting odds to be the No. 1 overall pick. Barring a complete and total shocker, it's going to come down to Sarr and Risacher for Atlanta. This one is really close and again, the Hawks can't go wrong with either pick. In the end, though, we think Risacher will be the selection. It remains to be seen if that happens or not, but he's that great of a prospect.
The Lakers remain the favorites to draft Bronny James
Another major topic of conversation for the draft is that the Lakers remain the favorites to draft Bronny James. There's the obvious connection here, as LeBron James, one of the best players of all time, remains with LA and he's been dreaming of playing with his son for a while now. Should Bronny get drafted by the Lakers, you know it's going to have people from all over the place talking.
However, the Lakers have some other things to focus on ahead of the draft, like finding a new head coach. LA reportedly was close to hiring Dan Hurley, but the two-time UConn National Championship Game winner decided to stay with the Huskies, which was a bit of a surprise. Now, the Lakers are in the process of interviewing J.J. Reddick and he appears to be a top candidate for the position.
Regardless of that, the Lakers are going to be busy during the draft, with Bronny expected to be a second-round pick. LA holds +300 odds to take him in the second round. Another team could stun us all and take him before LA is on the clock, but we think that'd be a big surprise. In terms of our picks, we're going with Bronny to be selected by the Lakers.
