We have talked and written advert nauseum in regards to the prime of the 2024 NBA draft class — Reed Sheppard’s standing as one of the best shooter, Donovan Clingan’s shot-blocking, Alex Sarr’s defensive versatility and Zaccharie Risacher’s 3-and-D prowess.
However what in regards to the much less apparent draft prospects, unheralded late first spherical, second spherical or undrafted gamers who may in the future impression an NBA Finals collection — very similar to Boston Celtics gamers Derrick White (No. 29 decide in 2017) and Sam Hauser (undrafted in 2021) and Dallas Mavericks ahead Derrick Jones Jr. (undrafted in 2016) did this previous season?
What follows shouldn’t be an inventory of one of the best gamers within the 2024 class and even the elite at every place, however reasonably a gaggle of sleepers, by place, who we expect might exceed expectations for the place they is likely to be drafted. We’re ignoring the plain and ruling out any participant who’s at the moment projected to go within the first spherical primarily based on our most up-to-date mock draft.
The six gamers chosen all have first-round grades on my private board, which differs barely from ESPN’s Prime 100 Massive Board as a result of these rankings account for the way prospects are perceived across the NBA.
Spherical 1 begins Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and the ESPN App.
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