Everyone said the 2024 class was a total bust. Before these kids even put on a jersey, the "weak draft" label was glued to them. Honestly, it was a bit unfair. You've got scouts calling it a "role player draft" and fans checking out before the first pick was even announced. But now that we’re deep into the 2025-26 season, things look... different.
If we were redrafting 2024 NBA draft today, the board wouldn't just be shuffled; it would be flipped on its head. Some of the guys who "slipped" are looking like franchise cornerstones, while the top of the lottery remains a fascinating, albeit inconsistent, experiment in raw potential.
Let's be real: Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr are still the "ceiling" plays. But if you’re a GM trying to keep your job, would you really pass on the immediate production we've seen from the middle of the pack? Probably not.
The Big Shakeup at the Top
If we're doing this for real, the number one pick conversation gets spicy. Zaccharie Risacher went first to Atlanta, and while he’s shown flashes—dropping 38 earlier in his career and staying around 12 points per game—he isn't the clear-cut alpha yet. He’s useful. He’s a "connector." But is he the guy you build a whole statue for?
Then there’s Alex Sarr. Washington is a mess, let's be honest. But Sarr is starting to look like a defensive alien. He’s averaging nearly 17 points and over 2 blocks. In a redraft, his defensive floor alone might keep him at number two, or even bump him to one if you value a 7-footer who can actually move his feet on a switch.
But the real "what were we thinking" moment involves the guys who fell.
Take Dalton Knecht. The Lakers got him at 17. Seventeen! LeBron was literally on record saying the other 16 teams "f***ed it up," and he wasn't exactly lying. When Knecht starts, he’s basically a flamethrower. He’s had games with 9 triples, tying rookie records, and he's proved that "old" college players (he was 23 when drafted) are often just "ready" NBA players. In a redraft, he’s a top-five lock. No question.
The Rise of the "Specialists"
Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs): The fit with Victor Wembanyama is basically a dream. Castle isn't a lights-out shooter yet—the Spurs are still "staying aggressive" despite some team-wide shooting slumps—but his perimeter defense is terrifying. He’s a winner. You can’t teach that. He moves up from number four to a strong contender for the top three.
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies): People called him a "relic." They said he was too slow. Then he went out and started putting up 30-point, 15-rebound games like it was a casual Sunday at the park. Yeah, the ankle injuries have been a huge bummer lately, with a stress reaction keeping him out of the lineup in early 2026, but the impact is undeniable. When he's on the floor, Memphis is a different beast.
Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards): Carrington was the 14th pick, but he plays like a veteran floor general. He’s been so good that people are wondering if Washington even needs to trade for a superstar point guard. He's shooting 45% from deep this season. That’s elite for a sophomore.
Why the "Weak Draft" Narrative Was Lazy
The problem with the redrafting 2024 NBA draft conversation is that we always compare classes to the 2023 Wemby year or the 2003 LeBron year. That's a trap.
This class was about depth and fit.
Look at Jared McCain in Philly. He was tearing it up before his knee injury. Or Reed Sheppard in Houston. Reed didn't set the world on fire immediately, but he's settled into a very respectable 40% three-point shooter. He's a "winning player" in every sense of the word.
And don't even get me started on the second round. Jamal Shead, taken 45th, is arguably one of the best backup guards in the entire league right now. He’s a defensive pest who just doesn't turn the ball over. If you're a contender like OKC or Denver, you’d trade a late first-round pick for a guy like Shead in a heartbeat.
Redrafting 2024 NBA Draft: The New Top 10 (Hypothetically)
Honestly, if I'm a GM today, here is how my board looks based on everything we’ve seen through January 2026:
- 1. Alex Sarr: The defensive upside is just too rare to pass up.
- 2. Stephon Castle: The perfect modern guard for a winning culture.
- 3. Dalton Knecht: Instant offense. You can't find 20 PPG scorers this easily.
- 4. Zaccharie Risacher: Still a believer in the 3-and-D wing archetype.
- 5. Zach Edey: Absolute interior dominance, health permitting.
- 6. Bub Carrington: A future All-Star level playmaker.
- 7. Reed Sheppard: The shooting is real and the IQ is off the charts.
- 8. Matas Buzelis: Showing much more "dog" in Chicago than people expected.
- 9. Donovan Clingan: A defensive anchor who will play 12 years in this league.
- 10. Jared McCain: Too much gravity and scoring punch to fall further.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That a "weak draft" means there are no stars.
The 2024 class might not have a "face of the league" type player, but it's filled with guys who make your team 10% better the moment they step on the court. It’s a "winning" draft.
Teams like the Spurs and Wizards actually did really well for themselves by ignoring the noise. They took guys who fit their timeline and their systems.
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When you look at guys like Ajay Mitchell (OKC) or Kyshawn George (Washington), you see players who would have been mid-lottery picks in other years but were overlooked because of the "bad draft" aura. George, in particular, has exploded recently, proving that the Wizards might have actually had the best draft of anyone.
The "Aged" Prospect Advantage
One thing this redraft proves is that we need to stop hating on seniors. Dalton Knecht and Zach Edey were "old." Tristan da Silva was "old."
Guess what? They all play. They all contribute.
In a league where coaches are under constant pressure to win, having a 22-year-old who knows how to set a screen or rotate on defense is worth way more than an 18-year-old who might be good in four years. If we did the 2024 draft over again, the "ready-now" players would almost certainly jump the "project" players.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the league and trying to gauge where these guys go from here, keep an eye on these specific metrics:
- Check the "On/Off" numbers for Alex Sarr. The Wizards' defense falls off a cliff when he sits. That’s the true measure of his value, not just his PPG.
- Watch Dalton Knecht’s volume. If he continues to get 15+ shots a game, he will be an All-Star. The efficiency is there; the opportunity is the only variable.
- Don't give up on the injured guys. Zach Edey and Jared McCain have had a rough 2025-26 with health, but their per-minute production is still elite.
Stop looking at the 2024 class through the lens of what it isn't. Start looking at it for what it is: a collection of incredibly high-IQ basketball players who are finally finding their rhythm.
To track the progress of these sophomores, you can follow real-time updates on NBA.com or check out the advanced breakdowns on Basketball-Reference.
Next Steps for You: Take a look at your own team's roster. Is there a 2024 pick that you originally hated? Go back and watch their last five games of film. Odds are, they're doing a lot more "little things" than the box score suggests.