Ideal Landing Spots for Walter, Missi, and Bridges in the 2024 NBA Draft

SicEm365 Co-Editor Grayson Grundhoefer gives his ideal realistic landing spots for each of Baylor's NBA prospects ahead of the draft tonight.

Ja’Kobe Walter

Range - 5-16

Ideal Landing Spot - No. 7 Charlotte Hornets

Worst Landing Spot - No. 14 Portland Trail Blazers

Prediction - No. 15 Miami Heat

Some people have been hinting at Walter potentially plummeting down draft boards all the way down into the mid-20’s but I don’t see that happening. The NBA values shooting too much for that to happen in my opinion. I really like the fit in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as he wouldn’t be asked to create a ton early in his career but would be asked to be a heavily relied on shooter and starter immediately which I think he can do. This group wouldn’t provide much rim pressure on offense but could develop into a group with a great mix of shooting, size, and playmaking so while the Hornets organization is bad I think it could work well on the basketbal side of things. The Trail Blazers have been a popular prediction but I don’t like that fit with Scoot, Sharpe, and Simons already there. The Heat is who I am going to go with and from an organization standpoint it would be great. He could fit seamlessly into the Duncan Robinson role immediately on a playoff team or be a key part of their rebuild if they move on from Jimmy Butler.

Yves Missi

Range - 9-25

Ideal Landing Spot - No. 12 Oklahoma City Thunder

Worst Landing Spot - No. 23 Milwaukee Bucks

Prediction - No. 24 New York Knicks

I really like Missi’s fit with the Thunder as a rim roller and role in the dunker spot for OKC especially next to a floor spacing big like Chet Holmgren. It might be too high for Missi but this is a team that needs a big man in this draft and Missi might be the second most valued true center in the draft. I don’t like his fit in Milwaukee next to Giannis even though he would help them get more atheltic on defense. It just feels a little clunky there even though it is great to be next to an all-time type player. I ultimately think he will slide a little but end up in a good situation with the Knicks. New York will likely lose Isaiah Hartenstein  this offseason so it would be just Mitchell Robinson and Missi at center. This is a team trending in a good direction that won’t need him to be a starter day one but will utilize him in a good role off the bench. Keep an eye on the Pelicans at No. 21 as well as there has been a lot of smoke there.

Jalen Bridges

Range - 31-undrafted

Ideal Landing Spot - No. 33 Milwaukee Bucks

Worst Landing Spot - Undrafted

Prediction - No. 41 Philadelphia 76ers

This is the perfect year for a player like Bridges to enter the draft due to the new NBA rules which are really going to restrict teams ability to stretch out cap space. Because of this teams are going to want to trade into the second round in order to take players who can help teams win now while not impact the cap situation very much. Bridges ability to shoot the basketball, experience, size, and ability to play team defense will be highly valued by contenders. He would fit really well with the Bucks as they need more defense, size, shooting, and athleticism at wing while getting a guy who can contribute immediately. Ultimately I think he slides a little further down and ends up with the 76ers which would be a fine land spot as well. I do think it is possible he goes undrafted but as I said earlier I truly think teams are going  to value him and I think he will end up on a playoff contender type in the draft.