The 2023 NBA Draft will go down as one of the vital 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 prime 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 Path Blazers will choose third, and the Houston Rockets will choose fourth. The second choose is anticipated to be a race between G League Ignite level guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama freshman wing Brandon Miller. This could possibly be the uncommon draft to function three gamers who didn’t play faculty basketball going with the primary picks if Time beyond regulation 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 among 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 everywhere in the flooring on each ends, however thrives dominating on the rim. He has in some way exceeded the lofty hype that adopted him into this season by establishing himself because the seemingly 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. Learn our full scouting report on Wembanyama right here. That is one other franchise-altering celebrity for the Spurs.
2. Charlotte Hornets – Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite
Henderson is a brilliant athletic level guard prospect who can break opposing defenses together with his pace and rim stress. 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 must be an incredible finisher across the rim as he refines his craft: he can get off the bottom shortly 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 how you can mix his personal scoring with playmaking. Henderson will not be an incredible three-point shooter (27.5 p.c on 2.7 makes an attempt per sport this season), and might want to determine how you can threaten defenses when he doesn’t have the ball.
3. Portland Path Blazers – Amen Thompson, G, Time beyond regulation Elite Metropolis 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 Time beyond regulation 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 unimaginable pace within the open flooring and a blazing first step to attract two defenders to the ball, and at occasions he’ll have some really artistic passing flashes. Thompson can also be a exceptional 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 offers him sky-high upside, however he’s a tough exterior shooter who will primarily be ranging from scratch together with his three-point shot. He’d be a chance 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 very best flooring 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 sport, whereas making 86 p.c of his free throws. Miller is lethal on spot-ups and might bend opposing defenses by operating off screens to hit photographs. His ceiling will relaxation on his improvement with the ball in his fingers. Miller doesn’t have a ton of burst as a driver to create separation in opposition to his man, and whereas his ending bought higher within the second half of the season, it stays a little bit of a query mark. Miller can even need to 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 by means of contact. He dunks all the pieces 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 simple baskets. Whitmore made 34.3 p.c of his threes on 4.3 makes an attempt per sport this 12 months, and might get sizzling as a shooter when he’s in a rhythm. His playmaking is his greatest space of development, and scouts can even marvel what place he greatest defends within the league.
6. Orlando Magic – Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
Nobody 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 activities. Quick ahead six months, and Hendricks is all of a sudden one of many hottest names on this draft with actual potential to go within the top-10. The 6’9 ahead checks lots of bins groups are in search of in a contemporary 4: he can shield the rim a bit (his 6.2 p.c block fee 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 may area the ground on offense, which is one thing each workforce is in search of.
7. Indiana Pacers – Ausar Thompson, G/F, Time beyond regulation Elite Reapers
The opposite 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 sport. Ausar is extra of a wing whereas Amen initiatives as a degree guard, and isn’t as dynamic off the dribble. As an alternative, 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 absolutely comes round.
8. Washington Wizards – Jarace Walker, F, Houston
Walker is among the greatest defensive prospects on this draft class, and there’s purpose 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 presents immense defensive versatility with stable consciousness on assist rotations, supplemental rim safety abilities, and the power 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. Earlier than he performed a profitable position on a No. 1 seed on the faculty degree, Walker was an incredible one-on-one scorer at IMG Academy, and will have extra upside there. Walker lacks nice pace to chase shooters round screens, however he gives virtually all the pieces else on protection whereas having some bankable abilities 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 powerful 195-pound body, Wallace not solely blankets opposing guards however may slide up and defend greater forwards. He performs with a surprising 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 sport) and acts greatest as a connective passer on the perimeter.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
Anthony Black is a big guard who ought to make a major affect on the defensive finish as he figures out his position offensively. At 6’7, 200 kilos, Black is a decided on-ball defender with sharp rotational instincts who may be capable to swap throughout 4 positions on the NBA degree. Black has a powerful decrease physique and fast fingers that helps him maintain up in opposition to greater 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 stress 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 ‘greatest shooter within 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 type of shooter opposing defenses have to remain glued to, and that opens issues up for everybody else. Whereas he’s not tremendous quick sprinting round screens, Dick does have motion shooter potential as a result of he’s in a position to shortly 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 an enormous query mark early in his profession. Nonetheless, it’s laborious to seek out 6’8 guys who can shoot in addition to he can, and that ought to make him a lotto choose.
12. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – Keyonte George, G, Baylor
George has a case as one of the vital expert offensive guards within the class even when the numbers from his freshman 12 months at Baylor don’t essentially verify 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 complicated ball handler who typically hunts pull-up jumpers, however may throw some actually spectacular passes. Off the ball, he has legit motion taking pictures potential as a knockdown menace operating 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 could have been good to see George get some simpler buckets in opposition to faculty 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 fame as an enormous guard who may put stress 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 sport on a Blue Devils workforce that already had a stud shot creator in Jeremy Roach. As an alternative, Whitehead grew to become one thing of a delegated shooter — thought of a weak point in his sport coming into faculty — by hitting 42.4 p.c of his three-pointers on 99 makes an attempt. Add in stable protection with the potential to change throughout two or three positions, and there’s quite a bit 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 among the really nice scoring prospects on this draft class. A robust 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 prime choose on this draft? Effectively, Sensabaugh doesn’t move a lot and doesn’t defend a lot, both. He’s already such a very good 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 could possibly be one of many greater worth performs on this draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks – Jett Howard, F, Michigan
Howard is an enormous 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 complicated deal with for somebody his measurement and might shake defenders one-on-one to get into his pull-up. Whereas he’s not tremendous quick or an incredible leaper, he is an effective 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 wager as an off-ball shooter, and simply would possibly flip into a greater on-ball creator than most notice.
16. Utah Jazz – Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
Smith was imagined to be the very best NBA prospect in faculty basketball this 12 months. As an alternative, he battled a knee damage and gave professional scouts extra questions than solutions about his sport throughout his one 12 months at Arkansas. At his greatest, Smith is an unimaginable 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 position within the league is perhaps as a microwave bench scorer, however you don’t need to squint too laborious 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 workforce 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 must be a secure wager to stay across the league for some time when each workforce wants massive wings who can hit photographs.
18. Miami Warmth – Terquavion Smith, G, NC State
Smith was a borderline first rounder final 12 months, however determined to return again for his sophomore season at NC State. The entire nation bought to see his microwave scoring means on show in March Insanity, when he popped off for 32 factors in an in depth 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, enhancing 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 an enormous 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 presents 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 stepping into his Eurostep, and was in a position to hit photographs with each fingers across the basket. Miller’s greatest problem 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 sport, and he is smart for many groups after the lotto.
20. Houston Rockets – GG Jackson, F, South Carolina
Jackson is a big ahead with shot-creation potential who continues to be rising into his sport 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 robust shot-making abilities. At 6’9, 215 kilos, Jackson is a fluid if not tremendous explosive athlete who could possibly be a mismatch downside on the subsequent degree as he continues to learn to leverage his bodily items. The problem with Jackson proper now’s 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 affect the sport with cuts, offensive rebounds, and hustle performs. There’s some actual upside right here, but it surely’s going to take a affected person workforce who can get him to embrace a profitable position.
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 street. 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 enjoying in Australia’s NBL. His halfcourt offense is usually 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 complicated bundle 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 fireplace 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. Whereas 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 serious weapon with extra seasoning. There are questions on his playmaking and defensive affect, however there could possibly be some hidden upside in a tall wing prospect with any such shot creation means.
23. Portland Path Blazers – Emoni Bates, F, Japanese Michigan
Bates will go down as one of the vital notorious prospects of his era no matter his NBA profession seems. At 15 years previous, Bates was being referred to as “the subsequent 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 in the end pushed him out of the rotation. He landed together with his hometown Japanese Michigan program and put up massive scoring numbers on a horrible workforce, however there are nonetheless severe questions on how his sport will translate to the subsequent degree. Bates does have a couple of issues going for him, specifically: measurement (6’10), taking pictures, and youth. The guess right here is a few workforce 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 lots 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 complicated ending bundle 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 Full of life II, C, Duke
Full of life is a brilliant lengthy rim-protecting middle who confirmed extra defensive versatility because the season went on. A 7’2 massive man with a reported 7’7 wingspan, Full of life was a prime recruit who struggled to reside up the hype early in his freshman 12 months for Duke. Whereas his offense by no means actually developed — he averaged 5.2 factors per sport on the season — his protection was glorious. Full of life completed third within the nation in block fee (12.7 p.c), proved he may hit the offensive glass laborious, and confirmed extra protection versatility past simply enjoying drop late within the season. If the taking pictures upside scouts thought he had popping out of highschool ever develops, he could possibly 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 enjoying off the ball. His footwork coming off pindowns is pristine, and the way in which he gathers himself to get off a shot so shortly is spectacular. Scouts will marvel about his decision-making after he completed with extra turnovers than assists on the 12 months, however the workforce that drafts will probably be doing so for his taking pictures.
27. Charlotte Hornets – Noah Clowney, C, Alabama
Clowney is a uncooked massive man with the upside to area the ground on offense and shield the rim on protection has he continues to develop into his sport. A 6’10 massive man with a 7’2 wingspan, the Alabama freshman confirmed the power to battle on the glass and supply supplemental shot-blocking defensively. He took a ton of threes (120) for somebody so younger and so massive, and whereas he solely made 28.3 p.c of them, the quantity is encouraging and the shot look clear. He was additionally a formidable finisher on the rim. It is going to most likely take him a pair years to make an affect within the league, however a affected person workforce may discover a gem within the late first with the proper improvement.
28. Utah Jazz – Sidy Cissoko, G, G League Ignite
Cissoko is an extended and robust French wing who initiatives as an affect defender. At 6’7 with a 6’10 wingspan, Cissoko has a powerful chest and fast toes that permits him to defend a number of positions on switches. He was glorious 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 need to see if he can stress 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. Whereas he solely averaged 5.3 factors per sport as a freshman at Wake Forest, Klintman confirmed off a formidable catch-and-shoot stroke (36.8 p.c from three) and strikes nicely in area. 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 leap shot to remain within the league. At 6’7 with a 7’2 wingspan, the Arkansas ahead is a decided defender who can swap ball screens and guard quite a lot of assignments. He can deal with and move the ball in transition a bit, however wants to determine methods to attain within the halfcourt. Nonetheless, there aren’t many wings this massive and this expert defensively if a workforce thinks it will possibly enhance his scoring in opposition to a set protection.