2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0
Ping pong balls = drawn. Draft order = set. Wemby = Spur. Let’s take a look at how the rest of the top 30 may shake out before trades.
1. San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama, Big, Metropolitans 9
Lottery night was huge for those that theorize about the ‘NBA script,’ because this one felt like it was written in stone. This will be the Spurs’ third #1 overall selection, after landing David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan in 1997. The big man lineage in San Antonio continues with Victor Wembanyama. It also feels like a match made in heaven with the French connection. The love for the Spurs in that community is rich because of Tony Parker, and Victor has an existing relationship with Parker after playing for his club, ASVEL in 2021-22.
On the court, this Spurs squad that consists of some interesting pieces gets their cornerstone. I’ll be super interested to see how the defensive trio of Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, and Devin Vassell progress through their young careers alongside Keldon Johnson. The Spurs just went up a few spots on the League Pass rankings.
2. Charlotte Hornets
Scoot Henderson, Guard, G-League Ignite
It’s decision time in Charlotte. This will be a pivotal offseason for the Hornets, as the team faces an array of directions they can take the franchise. The way I see it, the Hornets have four options here, and they all have to do with star guard LaMelo Ball.
A. Draft Scoot Henderson and try to make the backcourt of he and LaMelo work, If it doesn’t, trade one and cash in on their value.
B. Draft Scoot and test the LaMelo trade market immediately.
C. Draft Brandon Miller and give LaMelo the size and spacing on the wing that would be a smoother compliment to his game than another guard.
D. Trade the #2 pick for a package to maximize their window with LaMelo.
If they keep the pick, I think it would be wise to bring in the best player available this high in the draft, and for me that is Scoot Henderson.
3. Portland Trailblazers
Brandon Miller, Wing/Forward, Alabama
The Blazers are another team that faces some tough decisions after missing out on Wemby. Damian Lillard has been wildly patient with Portland, hoping to eventually hold up the Larry O’Brien trophy on the streets of that city. Landing Wembanyama would’ve been his best chance at that in my opinion, and now they face a similar question as Charlotte: do you draft another young face to pair with the franchise cornerstone, do you move on from him, or do you trade the pick to keep that guy around longer? I expect them to move out of #3, but in the event that they keep the pick they have the easy choice of whomever Charlotte passes on.
4. Houston Rockets
Amen Thompson, Guard, Overtime Elite
The Houston Rockets have needed a point guard ever since trading James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Kevin Porter Jr. point guard experiment is simply not a long term option. There’s a good chance we see James Harden manning the point again for the Rockets next season, but I think Amen Thompson is the best fit for the roster as presently constructed. The Rockets were my favorite potential Scoot Henderson destination because I loved that fit for him, but I also like Thompson here for similar reasons. His and playmaking alongside Alperen Sengün can spread the floor open with the shooting ability of Jabari Smith and Jalen Green. Thompson and Green would make for an electric backcourt with their combined vertical athleticism. New Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is the perfect defensive-minded coach to unlock Amen Thompson’s potential on that end of the floor.
5. Detroit Pistons
Cameron Whitmore, Forward, Villanova
I hope the city of Detroit is holding up well after the league-worst Pistons were one of the top 3 teams with a 14% chance at Victor Wembanyama, and fell as far as they possibly could to #5. However, there will be a few intriguing prospects that could fit in Detroit here if they keep the pick. After building their backcourt of the future at the top of the last two drafts, this year they could get themselves an athletic play finisher in Cam Whitmore. He’s one of the most powerful and explosive players in the class, and if his jump shot can develop further then he’ll be an even better fit with this core. It will be interesting to see who the Pistons’ coaching search ultimately lands on, and how that coach will pair with Whitmore or whoever else they draft at #5.
6. Orlando Magic
Ausar Thompson, Guard/Wing, Overtime Elite
The Magic have two established key pieces in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, and here they add a high level connective piece with star upside to run with them. Ausar Thompson is the highest player left on my personal board, and I think his defense, playmaking and athleticism are a good fit with the Magic’s existing young core. He doesn’t help a ton with the shooting they need in Orlando, but they’ll have an opportunity to address that need with their second lottery pick from the Bulls.
7. Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker, Forward, Houston
The Pacers end up with fantastic value in Jarace Walker, a popular #4 on big boards behind Wemby, Scoot and Miller. Walker is a two-way monster and one of the best defensive prospects in the draft. He would really make a difference for a team that ranked 26th in defensive rating and 27th in opponent points in the paint. He also offers good short roll playmaking, a smooth handle for a player his size, and a pretty smooth shooting stroke.
8. Washington Wizards
Taylor Hendricks, Forward, UCF
When I saw the Wizards land the #8 pick, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. This franchise is the pinnacle of “stuck in the middle.” This is somehow going to be their highest draft pick since selecting Otto Porter in 2013. Despite always being below average, they’re always stuck picking at 8, 9, 10 etc. It’s not all that bad though, Wizards fans. You might be in position to select one of the best 3&D prospects in the 2023 Draft in Taylor Hendricks. If I’m the Wizards, I’m not too worried about appeasing my star in Bradley Beal, and I look at this current situation as a blank slate. So they could in theory go with a guard like Cason Wallace or Anthony Black, but Hendricks is the best player left on my board and he’s a guy I could definitely see being a part of a new culture in the Capital City.
9. Utah Jazz
Anthony Black, Guard, Arkansas
I was truly stuck between Black, Cason Wallace and Keyonte George, but ultimately decided to give them the jumbo initiator to put at the head of the offense. Anthony Black is one of the best pure passers and playmakers of the draft class, and that would pair really well with the floor spacing that Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton provide. Utah has multiple first rounders, and if they keep them, they can use a later pick on more of a homerun swing. With this pick, they get a floor general and connective piece.
10. Dallas Mavericks
Cason Wallace, Guard, Kentucky
After taking heavy criticism and a fine from the NBA for tanking the last few games of the season to bypass the play-in tournament and avoid their pick conveying to the Knicks, all the nonsense paid off for Dallas, who just wanted to preserve as many assets as they could while Luka Dončić is still in town. This pick may seem redundant by adding another ball handler to pair with Luka and Kyrie Irving, but there’s no guarantee that Irving is long for Dallas, and this is a team in desperate need of a defensive identity. Cason Wallace is the fiercest point of attack defender in the class, and he surely can be a culture setter for a franchise lost and afraid.
11. Orlando Magic (from Chicago)
Jordan Hawkins, Guard/Wing, UConn
This might be a little high for Jordan Hawkins, but I think he and Gradey Dick are going to be popular picks here on mocks for shooting reasons. The Magic know they want the ball in Paolo and Franz’s hands, they have some progressing guards in Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs, and they just added a high level connective piece in Ausar Thompson. What they should target at #11, assuming they keep the pick, is shooting. I leaned toward Hawkins, a guy that doesn’t need the ball in his hands — in fact he gives defenders headaches off the ball. Hawkins can come off screens and hit a ton of tough shots on the move. He’d be a great compliment to the two blossoming stars in Orlando.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Keyonte George, Guard, Baylor
Sam Presti and the Thunder have built a reputation of marching to the beat of their own drum on draft night. They don’t care if you didn’t have Josh Giddey in your top ten, they’ll draft him at #6. Last year they traded up to get Ousmane Dieng, a player that’s very much still a project. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the team that bites on Leonard Miller or Bilal Coulibaly, but the value of Keyonte George here for another team that needs a shooter is too good to pass up.
13. Toronto Raptors
Bilal Coulibaly, Wing, Metropolitans 92
Times are changing for the Toronto Raptors; head coach Nick Nurse is out, OG Anunoby is back on the trade block, and it feels like impending free agent Fred VanVleet is likely to move on. I’m sure they’d love to land Cason Wallace or Anthony Black to replace FVV at point guard, but I think an upside swing is likely if both those players are off the board. Bilal Coulibaly is one of the youngest players in the class, moves like a gazelle, and has a ton of intriguing defensive tools — including but not limited to his 7’3” wingspan. Some team is going to swing on Coulibaly early, and I can totally see Masai Ujiri and the Raptors being that team. Scottie Barnes and Bilal Coulibaly could make for a gruesome and grisly defensive duo in the future.
14. New Orleans Pelicans
Gradey Dick, Wing/Forward, Kansas
The Pelicans are a team that wants to compete right now, and they have the pieces to do so if Zion Williamson can stay on the court. I think they’re more likely to trade out of this spot than add another lottery selection to the mix, but if they stay put then Gradey Dick would be good value here. It’s ideal to surround Williamson and Brandon Ingram with high level shot makers that can move off the ball, and Gradey Dick could fill that role pretty easily.
15. Atlanta Hawks
Jett Howard, Wing/Forward, Michigan
This would be back to back years drafting the son of a former NBA player for Atlanta after landing A.J. Griffin in last year’s draft. The Hawks are a tough team to project at this spot; not only is it hard to tell who will be available but it’s also a mystery as to what direction they would want to go in. This team has a new GM, new coach, new group of decision makers all around, and it really feels like anything is on the table and any player can be had — including Trae Young. Jett Howard is the highest ranked player on my board and can provide value to most teams as a 6’8” shot maker with a good frame.
16. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota)
Leonard Miller, Forward, G-League Ignite
Utah goes for upside with their second pick. Leonard Miller has been getting a lot of buzz lately and could go even higher than this. I’m not sure how thrilled I’d for a team drafting Miller in the teens based on my own evaluation, but there’s no doubt he has heaps of potential. These are the type of selections I expect Danny Ainge to make with many of the picks he’s stockpiling. That is, the picks he actually uses and doesn’t trade for a bigger piece, which remains to be seen.
17. Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bufkin, Guard, Michigan
The guard play for the Lakers has been a bit erratic at times during LeBron’s tenure there — D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schröder, Patrick Beverley — the list goes on and on and gets weirder and weirder. Kobe Bufkin could be the steady hand they’ve been missing at guard. Bufkin made massive strides during his sophomore year, carving out a role as one of Michigan’s most important players. He has a really safe floor with his ability to shoot, pass, handle and defend; what more could you want out of a guard to pair with LeBron and Anthony Davis?
18. Miami Heat
Brice Sensabaugh, Wing/Forward, Ohio State
First Bufkin to the Lakers and now Brice Sensabaugh to the Heat? As a Celtics fan, I’m cringing at my own mock draft. I can imagine Sensabaugh finding minutes for this Eastern Conference Finals Heat team; coming off the bench, attacking size mismatches, finding cutters, hitting contested shots. I’m getting angry just thinking about it, and that’s exactly why Miami would accept Sensabaugh into the Heat Culture with open arms.
19. Golden State Warriors
Maxwell Lewis, Guard/Wing, Pepperdine
The Warriors want to maximize the window of their core group, and they’ve already taken their lumps with the young timeline they kept in their back pocket, so this is another spot that I could see a team trading out of. However if they keep the pick, Max Lewis is a pretty nice fit and someone that I’ve mocked to the Warriors before. If you look at what went wrong for the Dubs in the playoffs, a large part of it was because Jordan Poole wasn’t a reliable enough secondary creator and ball handler. That’s a role that I can see Lewis fitting into, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Poole traded in the offseason to boot.
20. Houston Rockets (from LA Clippers)
Dereck Lively II, Big, Duke
I think there’s a real chance Dereck Lively is the highest Duke player drafted this year given the medicals behind Dariq Whitehead, although I’m still a big time Whitehead believer. Lively proved himself to be super valuable defensively, and there just might be a glimmer of the offensive potential he showed in high school somewhere deep down. A lot of teams need rim protection in a weak big man class, and some might not be willing to reach too high on Lively. Teams could trade back to get him, but with the order as presently constructed I’d expect Houston to grab him here. Amen Thompson and Dereck Lively is a pretty impressive draft haul for the Rockets.
21. Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix)
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Guard, Indiana
The Nets got a hell of a package in return for Kevin Durant. Aside from this pick and many others, they got the building block of Mikal Bridges, a complimentary piece in Cam Johnson, and they already have their defensive big in Nic Claxton, and scoring guards in Spencer Dinwiddie and Cam Thomas. The role that this team is missing is the ‘straw that stirs the drink,’ so to speak. Jalen Hood-Schifino is one of the most underrated playmakers and pure floor generals in the class, while also offering good positional size and a developing jumper off the dribble. JHS could also be another potential target for Houston at #20 if they decide to go in another direction than guard at #4.
22. Brooklyn Nets
GG Jackson II, Forward, South Carolina
Upside play here for the Nets. GG Jackson has potential to be an elite shot creator in his strong frame. I really wish that he would’ve entered the transfer portal and gone to a more suitable situation for a sophomore breakout year; there’s a lot that needs to be ironed out in his game and there’s no doubt he has some maturing to do. But I still expect a team in the 20’s or late teens to bet on the talent. If Jackson hits his high end potential then he’s easily the steal of the draft.
23. Portland Trailblazers (from New York)
Rayan Rupert, Wing, New Zealand Breakers
The Blazers get great value to pair with their #3 pick (who am I kidding, both these picks will probably be made by other teams.) Rupert offers value to any team though, in my opinion. He’s a defensive ace with a freakish 7’3” wingspan and he moves very fluidly. He’s very raw on offense but I think there’s enough there to work with and turn him into a successful two-way player. I have a lottery grade on Rupert so whoever picks at #23, whether it’s the Blazers or someone else, I probably like his fit either way at this value.
24. Sacramento Kings
Sidy Cissoko, Wing, G-League Ignite
This might be my favorite pick of this entire mock draft. If I saw Sidy Cissoko lighting the beam on NBA League Pass I would shed a tear. The Kings are coming off of a resurgence, and one of the most fun seasons in franchise history. Adding one of the most fun players to watch in the draft seems like a cool idea. Sidy impacts the game in a ton of different ways at a young age, plays hard defense and makes magic happen in transition. He’s the perfect role player to fit into an established core in Sacramento.
25. Memphis Grizzlies
Brandin Podziemski, Guard, Santa Clara
After being buried on the Illinois bench as a freshman, Podziemski transferred to Santa Clara and really showed his worth. He may have already punched his ticket in the first round after making a killing at the Draft Combine. If Podz is still available here, I would fully expect the Grizzlies to jump on it. Ja Morant is likely facing a substantial suspension from the NBA after another video of him flaunting a handgun leaked, and the Grizzlies could use a smooth control-the-pace type of guard to split minutes with Tyus Jones during that time.
26. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland)
Colby Jones, Wing, Xavier
Colby Jones is really underappreciated as a solid first round prospect that could go even higher than this. He’s a trustworthy player that makes the right decisions more often than not, and rebounds at a high rate for his position. The Pacers are starting to rack up players that like to touch the ball in Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, so a player like Jones is a perfect type of Swiss Army knife role player to fit in with that core.
27. Charlotte Hornets (from Denver)
Kris Murray, Forward, Iowa
Kris Murray has real potential to be the steal of the draft. Being the twin brother of a top 5 pick and All-Rookie first teamer, the question naturally arises of, “Why is he projected to go so much lower than Keegan went? What does Kris Murray do differently from Keegan Murray?” The simple answer is Keegan played with much more on-ball creativity at Iowa, was more of a defensive playmaker, and played right-handed as opposed to Kris’ left. Aside from that, they have similar playstyles. We just watched Keegan Murray translate well to the NBA and play key playoff minutes, and I can envision Kris playing a similar role on a less talented roster.
28. Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia)
Nick Smith Jr, Guard, Arkansas
While Danny Ainge was in Boston, he had a tendency to draft players that were highly touted out of high school yet saw a fall on draft boards. Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger come to mind. Nick Smith could be an Ainge pick of the same ilk. I could see the Jazz targeting him or Dariq Whitehead with this pick if either were to be available as another upside play.
29. Indiana Pacers (from Boston)
Dariq Whitehead, Guard/Wing, Duke
It’s really hard to tell where Dariq Whitehead ends up on draft night after news emerged of a second surgical procedure required on the foot that gave him issues this season. I’m confident in his ability to stick in the league if he stays healthy, I would draft him higher than this, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted as high as 17 to the Lakers. I had trouble finding a spot for him, but he seems like a worthy gamble for a team with multiple firsts like Indiana.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Milwaukee)
James Nnaji, Big, FC Barcelona
As I mentioned with the Rockets’ pick of Dereck Lively II, there are plenty of teams needy of rim protection and general big man defense, and this class doesn’t offer a many guys that fit that archetype. As James Nnaji’s name becomes more and more prevalent in draft circles, I fully expect the Nigerian big man to go first round with what he offers on defense. His defensive IQ is advanced beyond his years and he moves so fluidly. His hip movement and footwork are absolutely off the charts, and he’s built like an NFL edge rusher. The Clippers big man rotation isn’t blowing anyone away, and I think they’d be the perfect landing spot for Nnaji, should he last this long.