The 2023 NBA Draft will go down as one of the anticipated in league historical past. It’s a deep class wealthy with expertise at a number of positions, however there will probably be no suspense over the No. 1 total choose.
Victor Wembanyama is the large prize ready on the high of the draft, and the 7’5 French tremendous prospect has the potential to go down as an all-time nice due to his unprecedented mixture of measurement and talent. Now we lastly know the place Wembanyama will begin his NBA profession.
The San Antonio Spurs are the fortunate winners of the draft lottery, giving Wembanyama his first NBA house. The Charlotte Hornets will choose second, the Portland Trail Blazers will choose third, and the Houston Rockets will choose fourth. The second choose is predicted to be a race between G League Ignite level guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama freshman wing Brandon Miller. This may very well be the uncommon draft to function three gamers who didn’t play school basketball going with the primary picks if Overtime Elite level guard Amen Thompson sneaks forward of Miller.
With the lottery order now decided, right here is our prompt 2023 NBA mock draft.
1. San Antonio Spurs – Victor Wembanyama, C, Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92
Wembanyama is without doubt one of the greatest prospects to ever enter the NBA draft, up there with icons like LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The league has by no means seen a participant together with his bodily instruments earlier than: standing 7’5 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama is a fluid athlete who can play all around the ground on each ends, however thrives dominating on the rim. He has by some means exceeded the lofty hype that adopted him into this season by establishing himself because the probably MVP of the highest French professional league at simply 19 years previous. He’s main the league in scoring, rebounds, blocks, and is close to the league-lead in minutes performed. Read our full scouting report on Wembanyama right here. This is one other franchise-altering celebrity for the Spurs.
2. Charlotte Hornets – Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite
Henderson is an excellent athletic level guard prospect who can break opposing defenses together with his pace and rim strain. The 6’2 guard is extremely quick with the ball in his fingers, burning defenders to the cup each in transition with a head of steam, and within the halfcourt with a depraved first step. Henderson needs to be an ideal finisher across the rim as he refines his craft: he can get off the bottom rapidly as an explosive one-foot leaper, he’s sturdy sufficient to soak up contact, and he’s agile sufficient to keep away from defenders mid-air when he has to. He’s additionally a talented operator within the pick-and-roll, however nonetheless has some studying to do in methods to mix his personal scoring with playmaking. Henderson is just not an ideal three-point shooter (27.5 p.c on 2.7 makes an attempt per recreation this season), and might want to determine methods to threaten defenses when he doesn’t have the ball.
3. Portland Trail Blazers – Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite City Reapers
Twins Amen and Ausar Thompson really feel like the most important wildcards of the 2023 NBA Draft after they bypassed extra conventional routes for the upstart Overtime Elite league — however passing on them within the top-five is perhaps even riskier than taking them. We’ll give Amen the slight edge over his brother due to his playmaking potential as a lead guard. At 6’7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Thompson has the scale of a wing and the talent of a guard, and will probably be one of many 5 most athletic gamers within the league subsequent season. He has unbelievable pace within the open ground and a blazing first step to attract two defenders to the ball, and at occasions he’ll have some actually inventive passing flashes. Thompson can also be a outstanding leaper across the basket, however he nonetheless wants to enhance as a finisher when he’s not dunking it. His intersection of measurement, pace, leaping, passing, and defensive versatility provides him sky-high upside, however he’s a tough exterior shooter who will basically be ranging from scratch together with his three-point shot. He’d be a big gamble at No. 3, however he has extra upside than any participant left on the board.
4. Houston Rockets – Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
There’s a case to be made that Miller has the best ground of any participant on this draft after Wembanyama due to his mixture of measurement and taking pictures. At 6’9, Miller confirmed knockdown taking pictures potential throughout his freshman season at Alabama by hitting 38.4 p.c of his threes on 7.5 makes an attempt per recreation, whereas making 86 p.c of his free throws. Miller is lethal on spot-ups and might bend opposing defenses by working off screens to hit photographs. His ceiling will relaxation on his growth with the ball in his fingers. Miller doesn’t have a ton of burst as a driver to create separation towards his man, and whereas his ending received higher within the second half of the season, it stays a little bit of a query mark. Miller can even should reply questions on his presence on the homicide of 23-year-old Jamea Harris in January regardless of not being charged.
5. Detroit Pistons – Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova
Whitmore has main upside as a scorer due to his mixture of energy and athleticism whereas exhibiting flashes of shot-making potential. At 6’6 and 230+ kilos, Whitmore thrives by attacking the basket and ending via contact. He dunks every little thing across the rim and might out-muscle smaller or weaker defenders in shut. He can rating within the restricted space each on and off the ball: his ball dealing with is fairly tight for a participant together with his measurement, and he’s additionally nice at slicing into open areas for straightforward baskets. Whitmore made 34.3 p.c of his threes on 4.3 makes an attempt per recreation this 12 months, and might get scorching as a shooter when he’s in a rhythm. His playmaking is his largest space of development, and scouts can even marvel what place he greatest defends within the league.
6. Orlando Magic – Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
No one anticipated Taylor Hendricks to be a one-and-done when he arrived at UFC because the No. 84 recruit in his class, per 247 Sports. Fast ahead six months, and Hendricks is abruptly one of many hottest names on this draft with actual potential to go within the top-10. The 6’9 ahead checks a number of packing containers groups are searching for in a contemporary 4: he can shield the rim a bit (his 6.2 p.c block price ranked No. 94 within the nation), he can hit a spot-up three (39 p.c from deep this 12 months), and he can end performs above the rim as a dunker. Hendricks doesn’t have a ton of juice off the dribble which limits his upside, however he’s spectacular defensively and will house the ground on offense, which is one thing each group is searching for.
7. Indiana Pacers – Ausar Thompson, G/F, Overtime Elite Reapers
The different Thompson twin is an amazing prospect in his personal proper. Like his brother, Ausar is an elite athlete at 6’7 with a 7-foot wingspan who wrecks havoc defensively and thrives when the sport is in transition. He’s a greater shooter than his brother, although his jumper isn’t precisely a energy but after hitting 29.8 p.c of his threes on 3.8 makes an attempt per recreation. Ausar is extra of a wing whereas Amen initiatives as a degree guard, and isn’t as dynamic off the dribble. Instead, Ausar initiatives as extra of a connective off-ball perimeter participant, which may give him a cleaner projection to the league than his brother if his jumper totally comes round.
8. Washington Wizards – Jarace Walker, F, Houston
Walker is without doubt one of the greatest defensive prospects on this draft class, and there’s motive to imagine that he has extra offensive talent than he confirmed throughout his one 12 months at Houston. A 6’8, 240-pound ahead with a 7’2 wingspan, Walker provides immense defensive versatility with stable consciousness on assist rotations, supplemental rim safety expertise, and the flexibility to stay with smaller gamers for a couple of seconds on the perimeter. On offense, he ought to be capable to knock down open spot-ups (34.7 p.c from three on 101 makes an attempt) whereas including worth as a passer. Before he performed a successful function on a No. 1 seed on the school stage, Walker was an ideal one-on-one scorer at IMG Academy, and will have extra upside there. Walker lacks nice pace to chase shooters round screens, however he supplies virtually every little thing else on protection whereas having some bankable expertise offensively.
9. Utah Jazz – Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky
There isn’t any higher perimeter defender on this draft class than Wallace. A 6’3 guard with a 6’6 wingspan and a robust 195-pound body, Wallace not solely blankets opposing guards however also can slide up and defend larger forwards. He performs with a shocking mixture of effort and intelligence on the defensive finish, by no means giving up on performs — as evident by a deep assortment of chasedown blocks — whereas mastering opponents’ tendencies. Wallace’s offense is rather less refined, however he can hit a spot-up jumper (34.6 p.c from three on 4 makes an attempt per recreation) and acts greatest as a connective passer on the perimeter.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
Anthony Black is a large guard who ought to make a major influence on the defensive finish as he figures out his function offensively. At 6’7, 200 kilos, Black is a decided on-ball defender with sharp rotational instincts who may be capable to change throughout 4 positions on the NBA stage. Black has a robust decrease physique and fast fingers that helps him maintain up towards larger matchups, and he’s nonetheless fast sufficient to hold with speedy guards more often than not. The query for Black is how a lot scoring punch he can present. He’s a shaky exterior shooter (30 p.c from three on 98 makes an attempt), and doesn’t generate a lot rim strain as a driver. He’s extra of a connective passer than a real lead guard, but when the shot comes round that is precisely the kind of participant groups need within the rotation through the playoffs.
11. Orlando Magic – Gradey Dick, G/F, Kansas
Dick is the favourite to earn the ‘best shooter in the class’ label. The 6’8 freshman made 40.3 p.c of 206 makes an attempt on three-pointers this 12 months, totally on photographs his teammates created for him. With deep vary and a fast launch, Dick is the form of shooter opposing defenses have to remain glued to, and that opens issues up for everybody else. While he’s not tremendous quick sprinting round screens, Dick does have motion shooter potential as a result of he’s capable of rapidly sq. himself to the basket to fireplace a shot. He additionally confirmed that he can assault a closeout and get right into a one dribble mid-range pull-up when he must. Dick shouldn’t be counted on to assault off the bounce a lot, and his protection will probably be a giant query mark early in his profession. Still, it’s exhausting to search out 6’8 guys who can shoot in addition to he can, and that ought to make him a lotto choose.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Keyonte George, G, Baylor
George has a case as one of the expert offensive guards within the class even when the numbers from his freshman 12 months at Baylor don’t essentially affirm it. The 6’4 guard can play on- or off the ball, flashed scoring means from all three ranges, and has already mastered the artwork of getting simple factors from the free throw line. On the ball, George is a sophisticated ball handler who typically hunts pull-up jumpers, however also can throw some actually spectacular passes. Off the ball, he has legit motion taking pictures potential as a knockdown risk working round screens. So why did George solely shoot 33.8 p.c from three (on 228 makes an attempt) and 42.4 p.c on two-pointers? He lacks top-end pace and leaping, and tends to accept troublesome photographs he could make however aren’t environment friendly seems to be. It would have been good to see George get some simpler buckets towards school competitors, however his offensive versatility and technically sound perimeter protection ought to nonetheless make him a lotto choose.
13. Toronto Raptors – Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke
Whitehead had a repute as a giant guard who may put strain on the rim with great pace and leaping means when he entered his freshman 12 months at Duke. Then he fractured his proper foot, missed the beginning of the season, and needed to reimagine his recreation on a Blue Devils group that already had a stud shot creator in Jeremy Roach. Instead, Whitehead grew to become one thing of a delegated shooter — thought of a weak spot in his recreation getting into school — by hitting 42.4 p.c of his three-pointers on 99 makes an attempt. Add in stable protection with the potential to modify throughout two or three positions, and there’s so much to love about Whitehead if he can regain the burst as a driver he confirmed earlier in his profession.
14. New Orleans Pelicans – Brice Sensabaugh, G, Ohio State
Sensabaugh is without doubt one of the actually nice scoring prospects on this draft class. A powerful 6’6, 230-pound wing, the Ohio State freshman is the grasp of the midrange whereas additionally being a superb three-point shooter. Sensabaugh has drawn comparisons to modern-day DeMar DeRozan for his means to get to his spots and hit pull-up jumpers from the elbows. He’s additionally an superior three-point shooter, making 40.5 p.c of his triples on 148 makes an attempt. So why isn’t he thought of a high choose on this draft? Well, Sensabaugh doesn’t cross a lot and doesn’t defend a lot, both. He’s already such scorer that he ought to have a job within the league for a very long time both means, but when he can enhance in these areas, he may very well be one of many larger worth performs on this draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks – Jett Howard, F, Michigan
Howard is a giant wing with spectacular taking pictures means who can nonetheless create his personal shot regardless of underwhelming athleticism. At 6’8, 215 kilos, Howard is a quantity three-point shooter who can knockdown spot-ups and supply some motion taking pictures means. He made 36.8 p.c of his threes on 212 makes an attempt this season. Howard additionally has a sophisticated deal with for somebody his measurement and might shake defenders one-on-one to get into his pull-up. While he’s not tremendous quick or an ideal leaper, he is an efficient finisher when he can get to the rim, The largest questions will probably be on the defensive finish, however Howard’s measurement permits him to carry up a bit inside. He looks like a secure guess as an off-ball shooter, and simply would possibly flip into a greater on-ball creator than most understand.
16. Utah Jazz – Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
Smith was imagined to be the most effective NBA prospect in school basketball this 12 months. Instead, he battled a knee harm and gave professional scouts extra questions than solutions about his recreation throughout his one 12 months at Arkansas. At his greatest, Smith is an unbelievable half-court scorer who can beat defenses with floaters, pull-up jumpers, and spot-up threes. He didn’t get to and end on the rim as typically as NBA groups wished, and his skinny body goes to face main questions defensively. Smith’s greatest function within the league is perhaps as a microwave bench scorer, however you don’t should squint too exhausting to nonetheless discuss your self into star upside right here.
17. Los Angeles Lakers – Kris Murray, F, Iowa
Murray is the dual brother of Kings rookie Keegan Murray, and he loved an identical breakout season at Iowa as his bro grew to become a key starter on a playoff group in Sacramento. A 6’8, 220-pound ahead, Murray can shoot threes with quantity and defend slower wings. He appears a tad much less athletic than his brother, and his taking pictures numbers dipped because the season went on, however he needs to be a secure guess to stay across the league for some time when each group wants huge wings who can hit photographs.
18. Miami Heat – Terquavion Smith, G, NC State
Smith was a borderline first rounder final 12 months, however determined to come back again for his sophomore season at NC State. The complete nation received to see his microwave scoring means on show in March Madness, when he popped off for 32 factors in a detailed first-round loss to Creighton. A skinny 6’4 guard, Smith has a fast set off and deep vary as a pull-up shooter that permits him to stockpile factors in a rush. He developed properly as a playmaker as a sophomore, bettering his help proportion from 14.2 p.c to 22.9 p.c. It’s troublesome to see how he positively impacts the sport defensively, however he ought to present worth as a bench gunner.
19. Golden State Warriors – Leonard Miller, F, G League Ignite
Miller is a giant 6’10 ahead with a 7’2 wingspan who can deal with the ball out on the perimeter, has good contact across the basket, and provides defensive versatility when he’s locked in. The Canadian was the prep faculty thriller man ultimately 12 months’s NBA Draft mix, however determined to affix the G League Ignite after a poor exhibiting in scrimmages. He impressed attacking closeouts and moving into his Eurostep, and was capable of hit photographs with each fingers across the basket. Miller’s largest difficulty is his three-point shot: he has a gradual, lengthy launch, and his contact across the basket doesn’t appear to increase to the perimeter. He’s additionally a little bit of an erratic decision-maker with the ball in his fingers. There’s nonetheless loads of upside right here even with extra tape on his recreation, and he is sensible for many groups after the lotto.
20. Houston Rockets – GG Jackson, F, South Carolina
Jackson is a large ahead with shot-creation potential who remains to be rising into his recreation because the youngest prospect within the draft. The No. 1 highschool junior within the nation earlier than reclassifying late, Jackson spent his freshman 12 months initiating the Gamecocks’ offense and flashing powerful shot-making expertise. At 6’9, 215 kilos, Jackson is a fluid if not tremendous explosive athlete who may very well be a mismatch downside on the subsequent stage as he continues to learn to leverage his bodily items. The difficulty with Jackson proper now could be he doesn’t learn the sport very nicely — he completed the season with 86 turnovers to 27 assists — and nonetheless must show himself as an off-ball participant by way of his catch-and-shoot effectivity and skill to influence the sport with cuts, offensive rebounds, and hustle performs. There’s some actual upside right here, however it’s going to take a affected person group who can get him to embrace a successful function.
21. Brooklyn Nets – Rayan Rupert, G, New Zealand Breakers
Rupert is a younger French wing with ridiculous size who may profile as a high-impact defensive stopper down the highway. At 6’6 with a 7’3 wingspan, Rupert impressed scouts together with his on-ball protection and skill to get into the passing lanes whereas taking part in in Australia’s NBL. His halfcourt offense is generally restricted to catch-and-shoot alternatives at this level, the place he’s proven respectable contact however nonetheless has progress to make after hitting 31.3 p.c of his threes and 74 p.c of his free throws. Rupert can deal with the ball in transition and reportedly confirmed good really feel offensively, however there’s little question protection will probably be his calling card to make it within the league.
22. Brooklyn Nets – Maxwell Lewis, F, Pepperdine
Lewis is a spindly wing who can create his personal shot with a sophisticated package deal of offensive strikes, and nonetheless looks like he’s rising into each his physique and his talent set. At 6’7 with a 6’10 wingspan, Lewis is a gifted one-on-one scoring prospect who can hearth pull-up jumpers from mid-range and three-point territory. The Pepperdine sophomore has lengthy strides and actual flexibility across the basket when he breaks down the protection, and made pro-level photographs all through his breakdown marketing campaign. While his deep taking pictures numbers aren’t nice — 32.5 p.c from three on 120 makes an attempt — the stepback Lewis typically goes to seems to be the half and will develop into a significant weapon with extra seasoning. There are questions on his playmaking and defensive influence, however there may very well be some hidden upside in a tall wing prospect with this sort of shot creation means.
23. Portland Trail Blazers – Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan
Bates will go down as one of the notorious prospects of his era no matter his NBA profession seems. At 15 years previous, Bates was being known as “the next Kevin Durant” for his mixture of measurement and taking pictures. His winding highschool path led him to enroll at Memphis as a 17-year-old, the place his turnovers, inefficient scoring, and accidents finally pushed him out of the rotation. He landed together with his hometown Eastern Michigan program and put up huge scoring numbers on a horrible group, however there are nonetheless severe questions on how his recreation will translate to the subsequent stage. Bates does have a couple of issues going for him, particularly: measurement (6’10), taking pictures, and youth. The guess right here is a few group will discover him intriguing sufficient to soak up the primary spherical.
24. Sacramento Kings – Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan
Bufkin closed the season on a tear for Michigan to win himself new followers amongst NBA evaluators as a sophomore who’s youthful than a number of the highest freshmen on this draft. The 6’4 guard is slippery with the ball in his fingers, combining spectacular change of tempo with a sophisticated ending package deal across the basket. He’s a stable shooter — 35.5 p.c from three, 85 p.c from the foul line — and has actually fast fingers defensively regardless of a skinny body. He looks like one of many extra well-rounded guard prospects on this class if he can proceed to develop off-the-ball whereas including energy.
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
Lively is an excellent lengthy rim-protecting middle who confirmed extra defensive versatility because the season went on. A 7’2 huge man with a reported 7’7 wingspan, Lively was a high recruit who struggled to reside up the hype early in his freshman 12 months for Duke. While his offense by no means actually developed — he averaged 5.2 factors per recreation on the season — his protection was wonderful. Lively completed third within the nation in block price (12.7 p.c), proved he may hit the offensive glass exhausting, and confirmed extra protection versatility past simply taking part in drop late within the season. If the taking pictures upside scouts thought he had popping out of highschool ever develops, he may very well be one of many extra high-upside picks on this vary.
26. Indiana Pacers – Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn
Hawkins was the perimeter star of UConn’s run to the nationwide championship, and his motion taking pictures means makes him an attractive match within the NBA. The 6’5 guard doesn’t create a lot with the ball in his fingers, however he can zip round screens and hit threes taking part in off the ball. His footwork coming off pindowns is pristine, and the best way he gathers himself to get off a shot so rapidly is spectacular. Scouts will marvel about his decision-making after he completed with extra turnovers than assists on the 12 months, however the group that drafts will probably be doing so for his taking pictures.
27. Charlotte Hornets – Noah Clowney, C, Alabama
Clowney is a uncooked huge man with the upside to house the ground on offense and shield the rim on protection has he continues to develop into his recreation. A 6’10 huge man with a 7’2 wingspan, the Alabama freshman confirmed the flexibility to combat on the glass and supply supplemental shot-blocking defensively. He took a ton of threes (120) for somebody so younger and so huge, and whereas he solely made 28.3 p.c of them, the amount is encouraging and the shot look clear. He was additionally a powerful finisher on the rim. It will in all probability take him a pair years to make an influence within the league, however a affected person group may discover a gem within the late first with the best growth.
28. Utah Jazz – Sidy Cissoko, G, G League Ignite
Cissoko is a protracted and powerful French wing who initiatives as an influence defender. At 6’7 with a 6’10 wingspan, Cissoko has a robust chest and fast ft that permits him to defend a number of positions on switches. He was wonderful at coming over to get blocks and steals as a assist defender throughout his 12 months with the Ignite. His offense is much less developed at this level however he has a good taking pictures stroke on spot-ups and might throw some fascinating passes as a ball handler. Scouts will wish to see if he can strain the opposing protection as a scorer with the ball in his fingers.
29. Indiana Pacers – Bobi Klintman, F, Wake Forest
Klintman is a 6’10 Swede with a projectable 3-and-D talent set as a contemporary energy ahead. While he solely averaged 5.3 factors per recreation as a freshman at Wake Forest, Klintman confirmed off a powerful catch-and-shoot stroke (36.8 p.c from three) and strikes nicely in house. He’s extraordinarily uncooked, however the gross sales pitch is intriguing sufficient to get him seems to be on the finish of the primary.
30. Los Angeles Clippers – Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas
Walsh is a defensive stopper on the wing who might want to enhance his bounce shot to remain within the league. At 6’7 with a 7’2 wingspan, the Arkansas ahead is a decided defender who can change ball screens and guard a wide range of assignments. He can deal with and cross the ball in transition a bit, however wants to determine methods to attain within the halfcourt. Still, there aren’t many wings this huge and this expert defensively if a group thinks it might enhance his scoring towards a set protection.