5 winners from round 2 of 2024 NBA draft ft. Lakers
Day 2 of the 2024 NBA draft gave fans more emotions on Thursday after a busy first round that saw Zaccharie Risacher go as the No. 1 pick to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. More prospects waited one more day to hear their names called, and some landed in positive situations to help their development.
After everything was said and done and the next 28 picks were selected, it's time to take a look at the teams that added the most fitting prospects in the second round of the draft.
Top 5 winners from Round 2 of 2024 NBA Draft
#5, LA Lakers, Bronny James
After several months of rumors and speculation, Bronny James has finally landed in LA (in the middle of a report of super agent Rich Paul manipulating the draft) to share touches with his father, four-time NBA champion LeBron James. The 19-year-old guard will make history next season, but he can also be a key member of the Lakers in the future.
Bronny, who played one year with the USC Trojans, is a solid defender with play-making abilities, which can help the Lakers in the mid- and long-term.
#4, Utah Jazz, Kyle Filipowski
After the Utah Jazz drafted Kyle Filipowski (amid controversy) after a surprising NBA draft Round 1, news about his love relationship surfaced, raising some eyebrows around the league. Nevertheless, the Jazz are getting a decent 7-footer who can fill in a backup role for many years.
#3, Milwaukee Bucks, Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith of the G League Ignite is exactly what the Milwaukee Bucks needed after their early exit from the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Bucks add much-needed defense with Smith, as well as shooting. After Jrue Holiday was traded, their defense struggled to keep up with opponents. Smith can make an impact on that side of the ball but he's still a work in progress.
#2, New York Knicks, Tyler Kolek
Tyler Kolek was considered a potential sleeper for this year's NBA draft given his experience in college and basketball IQ. At 23, he's one of the oldest players in this class, which can be beneficial for the Knicks. They are all-in on winning the championship and Kolek could jump right into a backup role to help the team compete for the title next year.
#1, Miami Heat, Pelle Larsson
Pelle Larsson isn't the most spectacular player on this list or Round 2 of the NBA draft, but he has an upside that matched with the Miami Heat's ability to develop young players can result in a terrific player for the future. The former Arizona forward is a decent 3-point shooter who shot for 39.7% in college, but he'll need to pump up those attempts to find success in the league.
He showed his ability to pass the ball and finish, too, but he needs to polish those parts of his game to fulfill his potential.