The New Orleans Pelicans will defer the first round pick they are owed from the Los Angeles Lakers from the 2024 draft to the 2025 edition. The Lakers own the 17th overall pick in what is widely considered a down draft, whereas the 2025 draft is expected to be strong. There are also a number of potential scenarios where the Lakers end up sending the Pelicans a higher pick in 2025.

The Lakers traded three future first round picks to the Pelicans in 2019 as part of the Anthony Davis trade.

David Griffin informed Rob Pelinka of his decision on Friday, one day ahead of the deadline.

The Pelicans own the No. 21 pick in the draft.

ESPN has moved Zaccharie Risacher to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 pick in their latest mock draft.

Every team drafting in the top-5 has interest in Risacher, who is not expected to fall out of the top-2.

During the playoffs, Risacher averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 67% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers.

The direction of the Hawks remains unclear as Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are trade candidates and while they will definitively retool their roster, it remains to be seen if their ownership will embrace a rebuild. A further complication of any desire to rebuild stems from their decision to trade away control of their next three drafts to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Murray deal in 2022.

The NCAA's deadline for players to withdraw as Early Entry Candidates for the 2024 NBA Draft was Wednesday, May 29. Several notable players chose to withdraw and to return to playing college basketball.

• Jonas Aidoo - Arkansas (transferring from Tennessee)
• Michael Ajayi -Gonzaga (transferring from Pepperdine)
• Somto Cyril - Overtime Elite (will enroll at Georgia)
• Johnell Davis - Arkansas (transferring from Florida Atlantic)
• Coleman Hawkins - transfer portal
• Arthur Kaluma - transfer portal
• Alex Karaban - UConn
• Xaivian Lee - Princeton
• Caleb Love - Arizona
• Baba Miller - Florida Atlantic (transferring from Florida State)
• Matthew Murrell - Mississippi
• Ugonna Onyenso - transfer portal
• Hunter Sallis - Wake Forest
• Payton Sandfort - Iowa
• Mark Sears - Alabama
• Jarin Stevenson - Alabama
• Jamir Watkins - transfer portal

The deadline for all other players to withdraw as Early Entry Candidate from the 2024 NBA Draft is June 16.

Caleb Love is withdrawing from the 2024 NBA draft to return to Arizona for his final collegiate season.

Love spent his first three seasons at North Carolina before transferring to Arizona last season. Love led Arizona to the Pac-12 regular-season championship in his first season in Tucson, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists en route to Player of the Year honors in the conference and third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press. 

Bronny James will stay in the 2024 NBA Draft as an Early Entry Candidate. The deadline for NCAA players to withdraw from the draft and return to college is Wednesday, May 29. James will not be returning to USC, nor transferring.

James began the pre-draft process as a likely undrafted player. After the draft combine and workouts, James has moved solidly into second-round range. He may climb even higher after NCAA and international players with draw from the draft.

Already regarded as a solid defender, James has shown improvement as a shooter and playmaker in the pre-draft process. He's also filled out his frame and has cleared every medical test. The latter was crucial after he surgery to repair a heart defect last summer.

The Washington Wizards are looking to re-sign Tyus Jones this offseason, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Jones, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is expected to have several suitors.

The Wizards are also deciding between drafting Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 2 pick, according to Scotto. 

The Utah Jazz are expected to explore trading their first-round picks this upcoming draft, including the No. 10 pick.

The Jazz also have the No. 29 and 32 pick in the draft.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith is looking to add more star power to the roster.

The team is also interested in working out Bronny James.

Egor Demin has committed to BYU for the 24-25 season.

Demin is a projected lottery pick in 2025 who is currently playing for Real Madrid.

Demin is a 6'9 guard from Russia. 

Bronny James will work out for the Phoenix Suns ahead of the NBA draft in June.

The Suns own the No. 22 pick in the draft and James is among the players under considerations at that draft slot.

James has received over 10 workout invitations, but is expected to only visit a few teams including the Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

Rich Paul recently went on record that James will not sign a Two-Way deal coming out of the draft.

“Yes, that’s absolutely true,” Paul said when asked about the two-way deal. “Teams know that. I’m not doing that.”

While the top of the 2024 NBA draft remains fluid, there is a growing belief among rival teams that Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher have emerged as the probable top-2 selections in some order by the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

"Many around the league expect the Hawks to select Sarr with the top pick, as there are compelling reasons to consider him the best prospect in this class with his elite physical tools, mobility, defensive versatility, finishing ability and potential as a perimeter shooter," writes Jonathan Givony in his post-combine mock draft.

Sarr could fit alongside Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt as the Hawks are expected to largely remake the rest of their roster. 

The Wizards at No. 2 are expected to select Sarr if he is not selected at No. 1, or Risacher.