Best Day 1 Contributors in the NBA Draft
Which 2024 NBA Draft Prospects will most likely be in a playoff rotation come next April?
With the way the NBA Draft is trending, more and more teams at the back half of the first round are looking for players to fill out their championship-contending rotations. College upperclassmen often fit the bill for what these teams are looking for, providing instant shooting, defense, and toughness.
Recent examples of this have been Christian Braun and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Both left school as accomplished collegiate players with little holes in their game, indicating they could contribute to winning basketball from Day 1. In Braun’s case, the Nuggets continued this strategy, drafting Julian Strawther and Jalen Pickett last year, and are rumored to have given promise to Dayton big man DaRon Holmes II this cycle.
That being said, which prospects this year will be playing minutes in the playoffs next season?
Tyler Kolek - Guard - Marquette
After flirting with coming out for good last year, Tyler Kolek returned for a phenomenal Senior year under Shaka Smart, leading Marquette to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to the Cinderella story that was NC State. Kolek’s value at the next level lies as a second-unit playmaker similar to that of a TJ McConnell, who constantly impacts big games at the NBA level. Look for Kolek to be drafted anywhere in the 20s to a team looking for a backup Point Guard.
This past year, Kolek averaged 15.3/7.7/4.9 on 49.6/38.8/85.1 shooting splits. His 3-point shooting should also help maintain the offensive flow of the second unit in the half-court while bringing his trademark stability.
DaRon Holmes II - Big - Dayton
At 6’10, 235 lbs, DaRon Holmes II has all the makings of a positive contributor at the next level. From his ability to efficiently knock down the three ball to his defensive versatility, potentially being able to guard up and down a position, Holmes brings all that NBA decision-makers are looking for from an instant contributing perspective. To me, there are flashes of Naz Reid in Holmes’ game in addition to his hallmark defense.
Holmes averaged 20.3/8.5/2.6 on 54.4/38.6/71.3 shooting splits this past year. Holmes’ should be able to provide bits of instant offense off the bench through his pick-and-pop ability while simultaneously bringing solid individual and team defense. Look for Holmes to be picked in the back half of the first round to the early second round.
Terrence Shannon Jr - Guard - Illinois
After an eventful past few weeks, Terrence Shannon Jr. is officially an innocent man, allowing NBA teams to confidently select him come June 26th. At 6’6”, 225 lbs, Shannon has an NBA-ready frame that will allow him to hang physically from Day 1. Taking his game to a new level this year, it feels like Shannon has cemented himself as a late first-rounder with the court’s decision because the finishing, playmaking, and shooting acumen are all there for the 5th year Senior who was long touted as an NBA guy. Additionally, Shannon is defensively solid, allowing him to potentially stay on the floor early on in his career for extended minutes.
Shannon averaged 23.0/4.0/2.3 on 47.5/36.2/80.1 shooting splits this past year. Some mocks have Shannon headed to Minnesota at 27, but look for Shannon to be selected generally in that range.
Wrap-Up
As the NBA Draft continues to trend towards immediate contributors for championship-contending teams, players like Tyler Kolek, DaRon Holmes II, and Terrence Shannon Jr. are poised to make an impact from Day 1. These upperclassmen bring a mix of shooting, defense, and toughness that playoff teams crave, making them valuable assets in the back half of the first round. With their polished skill sets and proven collegiate success, expect these guys to play significant minutes in the playoffs next season, providing that crucial spark off the bench while solidifying their roles in the NBA.