The 2024 NBA Draft has come to an end, and this year's top rookies are all famous.
In the draft, the general managers of each team are strategic, and the drama of trading draft picks is frequently staged, and some teams are strengthened by this, while others may fall into deeper confusion.
In this battle for talent, some teams have clearly paved the way for their futures, while others have a draft strategy that makes one sweat and begs the question: Was it a smart move or a mistake?
Here are five losers in the 2024 draft who don't seem to be able to capitalize on their chances.
1. Atlanta Hawks
It's rare for a team to be picked first in the draft to be classified as a draft loser. But the eagles can be classified in this way, partly because of their own choices, and partly because of luck.
Of course, winning the lottery was a rare luck for the Eagles, as if winning the jackpot. But compared to last year's champion Wembanyama and next year's top pick Cooper Flagg, this year's top rookie is not a little bit worse. While it's not the Eagles' fault, their choices are a bit confusing.
Among the many top newcomers, the Eagles unexpectedly chose Zach Charlie Riesak over favorites such as Alex Saar, Stephen Castle, Zach Eddie, and Nikola Topic.
There's no doubt that Riesak is a good player, but by any measure, he's unlikely to be the top player.
Risak is 2.06m tall and has excellent defensive ability, but he has only shot 32% from three-point range in the French league, especially in the last 31 games, and this figure has slipped to 29.8%. In addition, his 70 percent free throw percentage was unsatisfactory.
All things considered, the Eagles' choice of Riesak was a relatively safe decision. Riesak isn't the type of player to make a splash when he enters the league, but he has plenty of room to grow and prove himself. It's not a bad choice, but it's not the safest either, and it makes the Hawks a loser in this draft.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are both winners and losers in the 2024 draft.
First, they picked out UConn's Stephen Castle with the fourth pick, a rising star who can grab rebounds, defend and set up screens, and is seen as an ideal fit for Victor Wembanyama, which is a stroke of genius.
However, the Spurs' operation with the eighth pick caused a lot of controversy. They selected Rob Dillingham, a player who shined in the SEC league in 2023-24 and was the sixth man of the year at the SEC last season. But then, the Spurs traded the promising star to the Timberwolves in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 2031 and a protected first-round pick in 2030.
The logic behind the deal seems clear: the Spurs are betting that the Timberwolves won't be able to reach their peak in the next few years, and at that point, they want to take the opportunity to attract Anthony Edwards, who will become a free agent at the time.
The idea for the Spurs is in 2029, when Edwards and Wembanyama are both in the prime of their careers and can form a dream team. But such a plan is far away and somewhat risky.
After all, Dillingham, who averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game during his season in Kentucky and shot 44.4 percent from three-point range, could have been a steady firepower for the Spurs from the outside. Now, he's a member of the Timberwolves, and the Spurs have lost an instant pick to a future draft pick, which has certainly increased the uncertainty of their rebuild.
3. Detroit Pistons
This season, the Pistons have once again endured a disappointing season, sitting at the bottom of the league with a poor 14-68 record. With the fifth draft pick in hand, the Pistons selected Ron Holland II, but that selection didn't seem to solve the team's priorities.
The problem with this choice does not lie with Ron Holland himself. Holland is a potential wing player with a lot of upside, but he's struggling with shooting, which is exactly the last thing the Pistons want. What the Pistons need is players who can provide immediate firepower, not potential stocks that need to be cultivated for a long time.
Interestingly, the Pistons seem to have been repeating the same mistakes in past drafts. In 2022, they opted for center Jalen Duran, who has a shooting target for improvement. Last year, they drafted Osar Thompson, who didn't shoot well. Now, the Pistons have once again selected Holland, who is shooting less than 25 percent from three-point range, which raises questions about the team's draft strategy.
The Pistons already have offensive talent like Cayde Cunningham, but the team lacks enough support points other than him. That's why the Pistons' rebuilding has been going on for nearly five years, but there's still no end in sight.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Any time a team has Antetokounmpo at its core and hires Doc Rivers as a coach, they're in winning mode.
The Bucks have always had Brother Alphabet at their core, and have built a championship team around him. However, as they enter the peak of their careers, time is especially precious to them. Against this backdrop, the Bucks' strategy in the draft is particularly crucial.
In this year's draft, the Bucks selected 19-year-old AJ Johnson with the 23rd pick, a young player with unlimited potential but clearly still needs time to polish himself. Johnson weighs less than 170 pounds and averaged just 2.9 points per game in the NBL last season, suggesting that he is still a long way from NBA-level level.
The Bucks' choice doesn't seem to fit their current winning pattern. As he approaches, the team needs players who can help immediately, not newcomers who need to be developed for a long time.
With the 23rd pick, there weren't many talented players left, but the Bucks could have chosen a player who was closer to being ready to add to the team's immediate strength.
Maybe the Bucks chose AJ Johnson to plan for the future after his departure. But the reality is that what they need is young blood who can immediately integrate into the team and bring vitality.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Grizzlies' moves in the draft are always eye-catching, and this year was no exception. Although the Grizzlies ultimately chose Zach Eddie, a 7-foot-4" center from Purdue, they seem to have a place in their hearts.
Don't get me wrong, Zach Eddie is a great option for the Memphis Grizzlies. Eddie, who is 7-foot-4, has a huge upside, wide defensive coverage and excellent rebounding ability. But anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Grizzlies' favorite choice is actually Klingen, but unfortunately they didn't get him in the end.
The Grizzlies reportedly came close to striking a deal before the draft in an attempt to move themselves from the No. 9 pick to a position good enough to draft Klingen. However, on draft night, Klingen unexpectedly dropped a few spots, giving the Grizzlies hope. But in the end, they didn't get their way, and Klingen was picked up by the Trail Blazers with the seventh pick.
Klingen averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in his sophomore season, and there is no doubt about his block rate and defensive efficiency values, Klingen is a better fit for the Grizzlies than Eddie, but the draft is like that, and sometimes, you have to choose what you can get.
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