Adelaide’s Trentyn Flowers has soared in Bleacher Report’s 2024 NBA Mock Draft calculations, with the 18-year-old Next Star currently being projected to be taken 44th by the draft expert Jonathan Wasserman.

Flowers’ rise into Wasserman’s projections has followed on from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie ranking him as the 56th pick.

The exciting and versatile Flowers arrived in the NBL projected as a first-round talent, and an increasing role in CJ Bruton’s system has coincided with the rise in interest from NBA teams.

He is currently shooting over 56 per cent from both the field and the three-point line.

Wasserman cited the combination of Flowers’ 6’8” size, shotmaking, and athleticism” as reasons why he believes the emerging star could thrive in an off-ball scoring role in the NBA.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">X-Factor ?<br>noun<br>1. a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.<br><br>Sums up Trentyn Flowers pretty well ?‍? <a href="https://t.co/lpS6pwryMk">pic.twitter.com/lpS6pwryMk</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1725467210620232131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alexandre Sarr has been projected as the first pick in the draft by The Athletic, however Bleacher Report has him ranked fourth in the class – but has compared his skillset to the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

“The optimal outcome pictures the Frenchman morphing into another version of Jaren Jackson Jr,” Wasserman wrote.

“There isn’t much uncertainty or risk ties to Sarr’s defensive projection, given the strong likelihood his 7’1” size, athleticism, movement, aggression and NBL production translates to shot-blocking, pick and roll coverage and switchability.”

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Cairns’ Bobi Klintman has spent recent time on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from a hip injury, but Wasserman has projected the Swede at pick 24 – and he believes Klintman has the potential to become a multi-dimensional offensive prospect.

“Bobi Klintman has looked like more of an NBA prospect in Australia with extra freedom,” Wasserman wrote. 

“With a similar body to De’Andre Hunter, he could eventually serve as another three-an-D combo forward, though the play-finishing and playmaking flashes from this year create some extra layers of offence.”

Illawarra’s AJ Johnson was the only other NBL-based player to feature on Bleacher Report’s mock, at pick 53.

Should he get drafted, Johnson would likely be the youngest player in the NBA next season, and Wasserman cited his “obvious talent” as a reason for NBA teams to select the young Hawk.

Click here for Bleacher Report's full mock draft