Three biggest surprise picks from first round of 2024 NBA draft

NEW YORK — The first round of the 2024 NBA draft produced expected results − a pair of French players in Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, for example, were selected in the first two picks.

But the first round also yielded picks that were total surprises, ones that drew audible reactions from the crowd in attendance here at the Barclays Center after Commissioner Adam Silver read off their names.

Whether it was teams in win-now mode drafting prospects who are projects, or players seemingly taken too high, here are the three biggest surprise picks from the first round of the 2024 NBA draft.

Zach Edey, No. 9 to the Memphis Grizzlies

Before Purdue's run to a national championship appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the consensus was that Edey, a 7-foot-4 center, was at best a late first-round prospect. But a string of double-doubles late in the tournament, including a 37-point, 10-rebound game against UConn, gave him momentum headed into the NBA draft combine. And while Edey did rise late during the pre-draft process, most mock drafts did not have him projected as a Top-10 pick, given that he'll have to refine and quicken his footwork and improve his offensive game in the NBA.

Carlton 'Bub' Carrington, No. 14 to the Washington Wizards (via Portland)

It's not that Carrington isn't deserving of a first-round draft pick, it's that − as a late bloomer − he's something of an unknown commodity. He's 18 and was one of the youngest draft-eligible prospects. In fact, he wasn't really on the NBA draft radar coming out of his freshman year at Pittsburgh before he declared and became a one-and-done. He plays point guard and flashed tremendous vision, but he hit a late growth spurt and will need to continue to figure out how to use his added size. He's a candidate for at least one season in the G League.

AJ Johnson, No. 23 to the Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks, though they suffered untimely injuries late during their playoff run, needed to add pieces to capitalize on their win-now window. Damian Lillard turns 34 in July. Adding Johnson, a player who has tons of upside but is simply too raw, is dissonant with where Milwaukee sits as a contender. Johnson played just 7.7 minutes per game last year in Australia's NBL, through the league's Next Stars program. It's not just his offensive game he needs to work on; Johnson is just 167 pounds in a 6-foot-4 frame and not suited for NBA play, at least currently.