2024 NBA Draft: Ranking the top small forwards, led by projected No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher

Yahoo Sports is breaking down the top players in the 2024 NBA Draft by position. Today, we’re ranking the best available small forwards.

Over the last decade, NBA teams have been successful when drafting versatile wings who possess the ability to act as a primary ball handler. There are a lot of young, lengthy wings in this draft who have a ton of upside in that regard but are not polished products yet. All wing players projected in the lottery are 19 years old or younger, with the first pick of the draft projected to be the 6-foot-8 wing out of France, Zaccharie Risacher. Risacher, along with projected lottery pick Tidjane Salaun, had a solid run in the LNB Pro A playoffs, finishing on a high note in front of numerous scouts and executives who made the trip to France in May.

The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away, taking place on June 26-27 in New York. Here’s a breakdown of the potential star wings of this draft and others to keep tabs on in the second round.

Position rankings: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

1. Zaccharie Risacher

Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 204 pounds | Age: 19

Risacher took a page from Victor Wembanyama’s playbook and switched French teams, going from ASVEL, where he wasn’t logging many minutes two years ago, to JL Bourg-en-Bresse this season. His minutes increased, his offensive touches increased and he started every game from March all the way to the playoffs.

Risacher might be one of the most improved players from this time last year to now. His bread and butter is his 3-point shot, but he showed more versatility as a shot creator for JL Bourg as the season went on. In the playoff series against Monaco, Risacher averaged 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He was tasked with guarding the best player on the perimeter all season and has great size as a wing who can contribute right away for Atlanta or whichever team that drafts him.

2. Matas Buzelis

Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 210 pounds | Age: 19

Buzelis had a slow start to the season with the G League Ignite, coming off an ankle injury. But once he hit the court, his impact on offense stood out immediately. He is comfortable handling the…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-14 14:33:45

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