The lack of top-end talent in this year’s draft class meant there was plenty of uncertainty as to who goes where, although the first two picks weren’t much of a surprise.

The Atlanta Hawks were first on the board and selected Zaccharie Risacher, a 3-and-D wing out of JL Bourg in the Betclic Elite League in France.

Fellow Frenchman and NBL Next Star Alex Sarr, who played for the Perth Wildcats, was then taken second by the Washington Wizards having declined a pre-draft workout with the Hawks.

The Rockets had the third overall pick and while there was talk they could trade back, instead they took Kentucky guard Reed Shepphard, who is the best shooter in this year’s class.

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San Antonio was next up and took UConn guard Stephon Castle, who will be able to immediately produce in the NBA due to his defensive ability but also has upside as a playmaker, having declared at the combine that he views himself as a point guard.

Detroit then took G League Ignite’s Ron Holland, who was once in the conversation for the No.1 pick but slipped down mock drafts and was routinely expected to go at the end of the lottery.

Instead, the Pistons took a swing on the 6-foot-7 wing, who offers plenty of upside and is only 18 years old.

Elsewhere, the Grizzlies, who are picking at ninth overall, shaped as the most likely trade-up candidate given they have a glaring need at centre after trading away Steven Adams to Houston last season and Donovan Clingan, the UConn big man, was not expected to be on the board.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Memphis was in talks with Charlotte as the Grizzlies looked to move up, but in the end the Hornets stayed put and selected Frenchman Tidjane Salaun.

It marked the first time in modern draft history that three players from a country outside of the United States had been taken in the top-10, per ESPN.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies ended missing out on their man as Portland landed the draft’s top rim protector, drafting Clingan at seventh overall.

While Holland went earlier than some people were expecting, the first real big twist of the draft came at eighth overall as San Antonio took Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham with its second pick in the first round.

But it was later revealed that Minnesota had traded with the Spurs to land Dillingham, with the Timberwolves trading a 2031 unprotected first and a protected 2030 pick swap to San Antonio, according to ESPN.

Dillingham, who shot 47.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3, will be part of a lethal Timberwolves backcourt alongside the ascending Anthony Edwards.

Having missed out on Clingan, Memphis went big as expected and took Purdue center Zach Edey, who is one of the more polarising prospects in this year’s draft with questions on how his game will translate to the NBA.

Utah then rounded out the top-10 by taking Colorado freshman Cody Williams, brother of Oklahoma City star Jalen.

Up next on the board were the Chicago Bulls, who got a steal at 11th overall, taking Chicago born Matas Buzelis, who was in the top-five conversation before Thursday’s draft.

The G League Ignite wing/forward has an alluring combination of athleticism and size at 6-foot-9, although there are some question marks over his shooting after going just 45.5 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from 3.

“Thank you to everyone who doubted me, I wouldn’t be here without you, I used it as fuel,” Buzelis said.

Elsewhere, Oklahoma City drafted Josh Giddey’s replacement next as it selected Serbian guard Nikola Topic, who suffered an ACL tear at the combine.

While Topic is not likely to see the court next season he is a high-upside pick who fits into the Thunder’s timeline.

Oklahoma City also traded up later in the round to take Weber State guard Dillon Jones, sending the Knicks five second-round picks according to Shams Charania.

The guards kept coming off the board as Sacramento and Washington then took Devin Carter and Bub Carrington to round out the lottery picks.

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht was quickly emerging as the biggest slider of the first round, with other names continuing to come off the board for ESPN’s No.7 ranked player.

“I’m shocked he is still on the board,” Jonathan Givony said, adding sources had told him the slide for 23-year-old Knecht is strictly because of age.

Knecht didn’t have to wait too much longer though, with new Lakers coach J.J Redick landing a steal as Los Angeles drafted the sharpshooter.

Earlier, the first big trade of draft day dropped, with the Washington Wizards sending ascending forward Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers.

That is according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported that the Wizards are receiving Malcolm Brogdon, the No.14 pick in this year’s draft, the most favourable of Portland’s 2029 first-round picks and two second-round picks in the deal.

For the Blazers, they get a rising star in Avdija who put himself in Most Improved Player conversations last season after averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Avdija, who can play at small and power forward, also shot a career-high 37.4 per cent from deep and is on a very team-friendly contract, set to earn $15 million, $14 million, $13 million and $11 million over the next four seasons.

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