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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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For the first time in league history, an NBA draft will happen over the course of two days.
The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft will be broadcast on Wednesday, June 26 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, while the second round will be broadcast the next day, June 27, at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
This decision speaks to the league's desire to maximize the moment. The NBA under Adam Silver is taking a page out of the NFL's book, which feels like the right move at this juncture, given that the NFL is the biggest sports league in the country. The NFL broadcasts its draft over the course of three days: the first round is shown on a Thursday, the second and third rounds are televised on a Friday, and the fourth through seventh rounds can be witnessed on Saturday.
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This year's draft crop is generally not well-regarded. Bourg small forward Zaccharie Risacher, who averaged 15.1 points on 67 percent shooting and 7.4 rebounds during the French club's semifinal loss to Monaco, is expected to be a top-two pick. Perth Wildcats power forward/center Alex Sarr, a defense-first big man with solid offensive upside, is the other prospect generally anticipated to be one of the first two selections off the board.
Combo guards Reed Sheppard and Stephon Castle, G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis, Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, and reigning champion Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan are the other projected top picks, according to the latest mock draft from Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
The Atlanta Hawks possess the top pick, and have a lot of decisions to make about their ill-fitting backcourt of star guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Given that both are under team control next season, it seems quite possible at least one of the duo's contracts will be offloaded this summer in a trade package, which could net the Hawks even more lottery picks (albeit probably in future drafts).
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The lowly Washington Wizards, who are badly in need of blue chip assets (and don't seem to have any on their current roster), possess the No. 2 pick, while the Houston Rockets have the No. 3 pick by way of a prior trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Both the San Antonio Spurs (pick Nos. 4 and 8) and Portland Trail Blazers (pick Nos. 7 and 14) have a pair of selections in this year's draft lottery. And both could use all the young help their rosters can get after dismal runs in 2023-24.
It will be intriguing to see how many fans tune in to Day 2 of this season's NBA draft broadcast action, and how ESPN handles that broadcast. There are usually a litany of trades during the draft, so one wonders if those will happen during Day 1, Day 2, or perhaps both.
The biggest draw on Day 2 could end up being Bronny James, assuming he isn't surprisingly selected in the first round.
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The former USC Trojan has been climbing into the second round of some of the latest mock drafts, and could hear his name called on Thursday. The potential of James being drafted could single-handedly carry the viewership on Day 2.
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