3 unexpected picks in 2024 NBA Draft ft. AJ Johnson
The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft ended when the Boston Celtics picked Baylor Scheierman from Creighton. After the 30th name was called in the said event, the league took a break and will resume on Thursday. The newly crowned champs’ decision to get Scheierman wasn’t a surprise as the shooting guard is only expected to contribute in the future.
The draft, though, had a handful of eye-opening moments that made the event even more entertaining. There were draft day moves that had fans fiercely reacting on social media. Some were thrilled while others were aghast by some of their respective teams’ decisions.
3 unanticipated picks in the 2024 NBA Draft
#3 The Charlotte Hornets picked Tidjane Salaun No. 6
The Charlotte Hornets could have added a plug-and-play big man in the 2024 NBA Draft. Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey were still on the board when they were on the clock for the No. 6 pick. Both would have been an upgrade over what the Hornets have at the center position.
Instead, they chose Tidjane Salaun, a player who will need more time to develop. The Frenchman is a late-bloomer with tantalizing upside due to his length, mobility, versatility and defense. He could see limited minutes in his rookie year due to his already elite play on the defensive end.
Besides his defense, Salaun needs more seasoning to maximize his impact on the NBA. He will have to improve his 3-point shooting after averaging 31.6% from deep last season for Cholet. If he can’t make strides in that area, Hornets fans will be salty at the team’s front office for picking the 18-year-old forward.
Last year, Charlotte Hornets fans were disgruntled that the team took Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson. Miller proved the fans wrong and the team front office right.
The Hornets are convinced they got the right player but many will keep monitoring the team’s latest NBA “project.”
#2 The San Antonio Spurs trading Rob Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves
The San Antonio Spurs were armed with two lottery picks (No. 4 and No. 8) heading into the 2024 NBA Draft. Although there were reports that they were using that draft capital to trade up, the Spurs stood pat and addressed a big need.
Getting Stephon Castle was a no-brainer, considering the UConn guard’s already elite defense and flashes of playmaking chops. The Spurs are convinced they can help him improve his shooting after one season with the Huskies.
The Spurs, though, weren’t done and added former Kentucky star Rob Dillingham to the fold. San Antonio’s fans were shocked a few minutes later when the team sent him to Minnesota for future picks. The Timberwolves gave up an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round swap for the electric point guard.
Scouts raved about Dillingham’s ball handling and shot creation while cautioning teams about his suspect defense. Spurs fans were convinced the team could mitigate his weakness because of Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan in the backline.
The San Antonio Spurs stunned their fans with the head-scratching trade. Perhaps a trade down the line is being worked, giving them more ammunition to land a more established help.
#1 The Milwaukee Bucks picked AJ Johnson with the No. 23 pick
Most mock drafts had AJ Johnson in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The Milwaukee Bucks stole the show when they picked AJ Johnson out of the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL.
In his only season with the NBL’s Hawks, he played 26 games and averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds. The Bucks are gambling big-time on an undeniably raw player. Perhaps Milwaukee’s front office sees a lot of Giannis Antetokounmpo in him, prompting them to take him over other options.
The Bucks have an aging core surrounding “The Greek Freak.” They had the option of getting somebody who could bolster the bench immediately but decided to get a “project.”
Bucks fans on social media are still complaining about how the front office couldn’t get its act together. The team is supposed to be in win-now mode but grabbed somebody that needs more seasoning.