How big NBA draft mystery could spark chaos as intrigue surrounds ...

The 2024 NBA Draft has almost arrived and there’s plenty of intrigue as to how it will shake out.

Unlike last year with Victor Wembanyama, there isn’t exactly a clear consensus as to who will go first, although two names are firming as the likeliest candidates.

There’s also an Aussie flavour to the draft, with Victorian teenager Johnny Furphy a strong chance to be picked in the first round.

And what about Bronny James, LeBron’s son?

Here is everything you need to know about the draft ahead of Thursday’s first round!

WHO COULD GO FIRST?

Well, it looks like there are two leading candidates at this stage — and maybe a third depending who ends up picking at first overall.

The Atlanta Hawks lucked into the No.1 pick after having just three per cent odds of winning the NBA Draft lottery, having finished 10th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 36-46.

With the Hawks expected to explore potential trades this summer to break up Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, there is an extra level of intrigue as to how they could value the No.1 pick.

French star Zaccharie Risacher is the name generating plenty of buzz at the top of the draft at the moment, although UConn center Donovan Clingan is an outside chance of also being taken by Atlanta.

Zaccharie Risacher is considered a potential number one selection. (Photo by Ian LANGSDON / AFP)Source: AFP

NBL Next Stars big man Alex Sarr was the consensus No.1 pick earlier in the month but is yet to have an in-person workout with the Hawks, casting doubt over his potential to go top of the draft.

There could be a scenario where his name is the first called though, with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting this week that there are “rumbles” San Antonio has interest in jumping out from No.4 to No.1.

Overall, this year’s draft class lacks the clear top-end talent of years’ past, which in some ways makes it more interesting given it is harder to predict who could go where while it also opens the door for more trades and movement depending on how teams value certain prospects.

AUSSIE IN DRAFT

There was the potential three Australians could be taken in this year’s draft before Tyrese Proctor and Alex Toohey committed to Duke and the Sydney Kings respectively.

It leaves Johnny Furphy as the sole Australian who is set to become Australia’s next NBA player, with the 19-year-old rapidly rising up draft boards after a breakout season with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Furphy wasn’t even supposed to be playing college basketball, having initially planned to spend another year developing his game at the Centre of Excellence before a standout showing at the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta in July last year suddenly saw interest in the Australian explode.

Johnny Furphy in action for Kansas.Source: Supplied

Furphy capitalised on the attention, deciding to join the Jayhawks where he initially settled into a rotation role off the bench before seeing regular starting minutes down the stretch as he established himself as a first-round talent.

According to ESPN, Furphy is generating interest as early in the draft as Memphis at ninth overall. He is expected to go in the back half of the first round and has received an invite to the NBA Draft green room, which is generally a good sign of a prospect’s chances of going in the first round.

Furphy’s brother Joe is currently on AFL side Geelong’s rookie list - at 203cm, he is unsurprisingly a ruckman.

BRONNY JAMES

Most mock drafts have Bronny going to the Lakers at 55th overall and some experts even believe the 19-year-old should’ve gone back to college basketball, spending another year to refine his game.

But Bronny has declared for the NBA Draft and, as LeBron’s son, he has quickly become the most talked about second-round prospect in history.

Bronny put up underwhelming numbers in his one season with USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals while shooting 36.6 per cent from the field and 26.7 per cent from deep.

He also shot just 19.6 per cent on catch-and-shoot threes, according to Synergy Sports.

To put those numbers in context, Bronny averaged only 19.3 minutes and started just six games for the Trojans.

He also missed the opening month’s action after suffering a cardiac arrest during a pre-season practice.

Bronny James in action for USC. (Photo by David Becker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP

With that in mind there were concerns Bronny may not be able to return to the court, although he was later medically cleared to play and now, be drafted into the NBA.Bronny has only worked out with the Lakers and Suns, with his agent Rich Paul being incredibly specific when it comes to the teams he wants his client to be involved with.

Again, this is rare for a second-round talent to be that selective, although Paul insists it is nothing unusual, telling ESPN it is “nothing new” for him to “find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there”.

The Lakers are picking at 17th and 55th overall with the Suns at No. 22 while Paul also mentioned Dallas (No.58), Minnesota (No.27 and 37) and Toronto (No.19 and 31) as other teams that have shown interest in Bronny.

The Mavericks and Timberwolves don’t make much sense as potential landing spots for Bronny though given he is so much of a project and won’t produce right away.

Although Paul said Bronny won’t be signing two-way contracts, which allow NBA teams to move developmental players between the NBA and G-League.

WHY NBA MADE DRASTIC CHANGE TO DRAFT NIGHT

Another interesting element of this year’s draft is that for the first time ever, the event spans two days.

Unsurprisingly, the first round will take place on the first day and the second round on the second.

But why did the NBA decide to alter its draft format?

Well, the belief is that by holding the event over two days it allows the respective front offices more time to make decisions and potentially allow for further trades between teams.

In previous years the draft had happened all at once, leaving teams with little time to manouevre when it comes to floating trades with opposition teams or working out who to draft.

Additionally the decision to push the second round back by a day adds more of a spotlight to the talent given they’d typically be buried late in the broadcast.

How could we forget when Nikola Jokic was drafted with the 41st pick in 2014 during a Taco Bell commercial?

Time will tell whether this change does indeed spark more transactions between teams, but at least they have proven themselves willing to change.

WHEN IS THE DRAFT?

The first round of the NBA Draft takes place on Thursday June 27 and the second round will occur on Friday June 28.

WHERE IS THE DRAFT?

This year’s NBA Draft takes place at two different locations.

The first round will occur at the Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets.

ESPN’s Seaport Studios in New York City will play host to the second round.

HOW TO WATCH THE NBA DRAFT IN AUSTRALIA

Aussie basketball fans can catch every moment from the NBA Draft on ESPN via Kayo Sports.

New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

WHAT TIME IS THE NBA DRAFT?

Coverage of the 2024 NBA Draft kicks off at 9:30am AEST, with the first round to commence at 10am on Thursday.

The second round takes place at 6am AEST on Friday.

WHO IS THE BETTING FAVOURITE?

According to Sportsbet, Zaccharie Risacher is a $1.40 favourite to get picked first, while Donovan Clingan is the next-best option at $3.40.

Alexandre Sarr is the third favourite at $7 but from there the prices balloon out with Stephon Castle at $46.

Safe to say, it would be a spectacular shock if Risacher, Clingan or Sarr aren’t picked first.

NBA DRAFT FIRST ROUND ORDER

1. Atlanta

2. Washington

3. Houston (from Brooklyn)

4. San Antonio

5. Detroit

6. Charlotte

7. Portland

8. San Antonio (from Toronto)

9. Memphis

10. Utah

11. Chicago

12. Oklahoma City (from Houston)

13. Sacramento

14. Portland (from Golden State via Boston and Memphis)

15. Miami

16. Philadelphia

17. Los Angeles Lakers

18. Orlando

19. Toronto (from Indiana)

20. Cleveland

21. New Orleans (from Milwaukee)

22. Phoenix

23. Milwaukee (from New Orleans)

24. New York (from Dallas)

25. New York

26. Washington (from LA Clippers via Dallas and Oklahoma City)

27. Minnesota

28. Denver

29. Utah (from Oklahoma City via Toronto and Indiana)

30. Boston

NBA DRAFT SECOND ROUND ORDER

31. Toronto (from Detroit via New York and LA Clippers)

32. Utah (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn)

33. Milwaukee (from Portland via Sacramento)

34. Portland (from Charlotte via Denver, Oklahoma City and New Orleans)

35. San Antonio

36. Indiana (from Toronto via Philadelphia, LA Clippers and Memphis)

37. Minnesota (from Memphis via Los Angeles Lakers, Washington and Oklahoma City)

38. New York (from Utah)

39. Memphis (from Brooklyn via Houston)

40. Portland (from Atlanta)

41. Philadelphia (from Chicago via Boston, San Antonio and New Orleans)

42. Charlotte (from Houston via Oklahoma City)

43. Miami

44. Houston (from Golden State via Atlanta)

45. Sacramento

46. LA Clippers (from Indiana via Memphis and Milwaukee)

47. Orlando

48. San Antonio (from Los Angeles Lakers via Memphis)

— Philadelphia (forfeited)

49. Indiana (from Cleveland)

50. Indiana (from New Orleans)

51. Washington (from Phoenix)

52. Golden State (from Milwaukee via Indiana)

53. Detroit (from New York via Philadelphia and Charlotte)

54. Boston (from Dallas via Sacramento)

55. Los Angeles Lakers (from LA Clippers)

56. Denver (from Minnesota via Oklahoma City)

57. Memphis (from Oklahoma City via Houston and Atlanta)

— Phoenix (from Denver via Orlando; forfeited by Phoenix)

58. Dallas (from Boston via Charlotte)