| # | Team | Player | Pos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
Victor Wembanyama | C | |||
 No appearance at the Combine for Wembanyama -- he is still playing out his season with Mets 92 -- but no problem. He remains No. 1 with a bullet atop a loaded class. |
||||||
| 2 |
 |
Brandon Miller Alabama, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
This isn't who I would take, but this is believed to be the way Charlotte is leaning. A 6-foot-9 scoring forward who shoots 38.4% from 3 -point range would pair nicely next to LaMelo Ball. |
||||||
| 3 |
 |
Scoot Henderson | PG | |||
|
Portland has all but deployed billboards to let the rest of the NBA know this pick is up for sale as it looks to upgrade its roster around Damian Lillard. Henderson would be the pick here if Wembanyama and Miller go No. 1 and No. 2, but whether he'll be playing for the Trail Blazers or someone else is up in the air. |
||||||
| 4 |
 |
Amen Thompson | SF | |||
|
Thompson is an elite playmaker who possesses the ability to make advanced reads as a potential lead guard. He profiles as someone who could be the initiator for an NBA offense, potentially setting up Houston -- which has already met with him after securing the No. 4 pick -- to maximize its investments in Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. |
||||||
| 5 |
 |
Jarace Walker Houston, Fr
|
PF | |||
|
There's a number of directions Detroit could go here at wing, but the addition of Jarace Walker makes a ton of sense both from a value perspective and from a fit standpoint. He's a ready-made NBA power forward who can hit shots and provide toughness for a young core centered around Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham. |
||||||
| 6 |
 |
Ausar Thompson | SF | |||
|
There's lots of steam around Ausar -- the twin brother of Amen -- indicating he may not only be on the rise but in the mix to supplant Amen as the first Thompson taken in this year's draft. Getting him at No. 6 here would be robbery for the Magic, giving them a combo wing who has incredible athleticism, selfless playmaking ability and an improving shot. |
||||||
| 7 |
 |
Cam Whitmore Villanova, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Whitmore is not a playmaker but what he does provide as a shooting wing with above-the-rim hops he does at a high level. Indiana surrounding Tyrese Haliburton with a player of Whitmore's ilk who can score should be priority No. 1 in this draft. |
||||||
| 8 |
 |
Keyonte George Baylor, Fr
|
SG | |||
|
If you squint a bit at George's game you'll see some shades of Bradley Beal in terms of what he can do as a scorer and combo guard. George impressed NBA teams at his pro day in Chicago during the NBA Draft Combine and appears to be on the rise as a potential top-10 pick. |
||||||
| 9 |
 |
Taylor Hendricks UCF, Fr
|
PF | |||
 The meteoric rise last season of Santa Clara star Jalen Williams -- and his subsequent stellar season as a rookie with OKC -- has taught us not to overlook mid-major stars. Hendricks is perhaps the latest example of that, as he starred for UCF last season as a sharpshooting forward who can protect the rim and be a havoc-wreaker on defense. |
||||||
| 10 |
 |
Gradey Dick Kansas, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Tall wings who have the ability to shoot it -- and do so successfully in the multitude of ways Dick can shoot it -- don't come around every draft. His game is tailor-made for an NBA role player with room to grow into more alongside a superstar in Luka Doncic. |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Cason Wallace Kentucky, Fr
|
PG | |||
 Perhaps Orlando looks elsewhere here after going guard with its first pick in this mock, but Wallace's skill set is so different and complementary to Thompson that the two could coexist successfully. One of the best playmaking defenders in this class. |
||||||
| 12 |
 |
Anthony Black Arkansas, Fr
|
PG | |||
 Black had the highest assist rate on a loaded Arkansas team last season operating as a connective tissue and heartbeat for one of the most talented teams in the SEC. OKC is stacked with selfless guards of Black's archetype and checks a ton of boxes for what this team likes. |
||||||
| 13 |
 |
Kobe Bufkin Michigan, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
If Bufkin gets past OKC at No. 12, it's unlikely he is on the board much longer. The second-year player for Michigan blossomed into a bona fide first-round talent this past season. He has a nice combination of scoring and creation that might make him an appealing two-way guard in the league. |
||||||
| 14 |
 |
Kris Murray Iowa, Jr
|
PF | |||
|
NBA teams are always on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends at Indiana to push for a potential lottery spot in this year's draft. Great frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent but the tools here are undeniable. |
||||||
| 15 |
 |
Jalen Hood-Schifino Indiana, Fr
|
PG | |||
 NBA teams are always on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends at Indiana to push for a potential lottery spot in this year's draft. Great frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent but the tools here are undeniable. |
||||||
| 16 |
|
Leonard Miller | SF | |||
|
NBA teams are always on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends at Indiana to push for a potential lottery spot in this year's draft. Great frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent but the tools here are undeniable. |
||||||
| 17 |
 |
Amari Bailey UCLA, Fr
|
SG | |||
|
Few players boosted their draft stock at the combine than did Bailey, who acquitted himself nicely as expected as a scoring guard but flashed some unexpected playmaking and passing to boot in front of NBA teams. The former five-star recruit has played his way into the lottery mix and seems unlikely to slip out of the first round. |
||||||
| 18 |
 |
Jordan Hawkins UConn, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
No player in this class is more skilled as a spot-up shooter than Hawkins, whose ability to be his own offensive hub because of his space-creation is underrated and under-appreciated. He profiles as a Duncan Robinson-like talent with better defense. |
||||||
| 19 |
 |
Trey Alexander Creighton, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
Alexander's development the last two years from an athletic wing into a legitimate playmaking guard who can shoot is among the more impressive arcs for a player in this class. He did well for himself at the combine, getting to the rim at will and showcasing his length as a potential two-way player in the NBA. |
||||||
| 20 |
|
Nick Smith Jr. Arkansas, Fr
|
SG | |||
|
As a four-star prospect ranked 85th in his class, Sensabaugh wasn't even on the one-and-done radar entering the season. But his production with Ohio State is tough to ignore. Uses his big frame well and smashed in his role as a rotation piece hitting 40.5% of his 3-pointers on the year. |
||||||
| 21 |
 |
Brice Sensabaugh Ohio St., Fr
|
SF | |||
 As a four-star prospect ranked 85th in his class, Sensabaugh wasn't even on the one-and-done radar entering the season. But his production with Ohio State is tough to ignore. Uses his big frame well and smashed in his role as a rotation piece hitting 40.5% of his 3-pointers on the year. |
||||||
| 22 |
|
Dereck Lively II Duke, Fr
|
C | |||
 Best player available here is Lively, the one-and-done Duke big man who was among the most effective rim-protecting players in all of college hoops last season. He's still got some growing to do as an offensive weapon, but his defensive impact is a foundational piece of his game that will translate. |
||||||
| 23 |
|
Dariq Whitehead Duke, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Whitehead had a topsy-turvy season at Duke and didn't quite live up to expectations as a five-star, consensus top-five recruit, in part because of injuries and inconsistencies that resulted from that. ESPN reported that his preseason right foot injury did not heal properly and requires a follow-up procedure, so teams will want to make sure his medicals check out. |
||||||
| 24 |
 |
Trayce Jackson-Davis Indiana, Jr
|
PF | |||
|
Big men who don't shoot 3-pointers don't pop off the page as definite first-rounders, and yet Jackson-Davis by most measures appears to be an anomaly. He's a dominant interior scorer and rebounder who shows great touch and makes great plays as a passer, and there is optimism in NBA circles that he will in time develop into a floor-spacer. |
||||||
| 25 |
 |
Brandin Podziemski Santa Clara, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
One of my favorite prospects in this class. Jones is one of those players who can fade in and out of games, then you look up and he has 10 points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Impacts winning in a variety of ways. |
||||||
| 26 |
|
Colby Jones Xavier, Jr
|
SG | |||
|
One of my favorite prospects in this class. Jones is one of those players who can fade in and out of games, then you look up and he has 10 points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Impacts winning in a variety of ways. |
||||||
| 27 |
|
Bilal Coulibaly | SF | |||
|
This is probably the floor for Coulibaly, a late-riser in the 2023 class who could go as high as mid lottery to somewhere in the 20s. Playing next to Victor Wembanyama for Mets 92 has given him a huge spotlight to shine as a long wing with great athleticism who has shown improvement as a shooter. |
||||||
| 28 |
|
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Marquette, Soph
|
SF | |||
|
Prosper played so well on the first day of scrimmages at the combine that he pulled out of the second day, showing so much as an energetic combo forward that he likely solidified himself as a top-30 pick in this class. A really athletic, long forward who can shoot and impact winning with effort. |
||||||
| 29 |
|
Gregory Jackson South Carolina, Fr
|
PF | |||
|
Not the most appealing profile coming off a disappointing season at South Carolina, but Jackson, the youngest prospect in the class and a former No. 1 recruit, has plenty of believers in NBA circles and feels like a lock to hear his name called in the first round. |
||||||
| 30 |
 |
Andre Jackson Jr. UConn, Jr
|
SG | |||
|
No team is going to trip over themselves just glancing at Jackson Jr.'s stat line, but no team that watched UConn in its run to national champion this past season will be able to resist what he brings to the table as a playmaking guard who brings energy and an infectious attitude to the table. |
||||||
| # | Team | Player | Pos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Victor Wembanyama | C | |||
|
Wembanyama has been described as the most unique, and arguably best, teenage basketball prospect the world has ever seen. If things break the right way, the French sensation could eventually become the best offensive and the best defensive player in the NBA. |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Brandon Miller Alabama, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Reasonable minds can disagree on whether Miller or Scoot Henderson is the second-best prospect in this draft because most believe it's very debatable. What's less debatable is that Miller is a better fit with franchise point guard LaMelo Ball, and that's among the reasons Charlotte should probably go that direction. |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Scoot Henderson | PG | |||
|
There's a lot of speculation that Portland will move this pick for an experienced piece who is better equipped to help Damian Lillard win now. Either way, Henderson, a super-athletic lead guard who skipped college for the G-League Ignite, should be the third player selected in this draft by the Blazers or somebody else. |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Cam Whitmore Villanova, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Whitmore reportedly had a super-impressive pro day in California that very much has him under consideration to be a top-four pick. The wing is a great athlete with a top-shelf body and in possession of most of the attributes that are usually necessary to star in the NBA. |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Amen Thompson | SF | |||
|
The Pistons already have young guards like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey on the roster — but it would still be difficult to pass on a talent like Amen Thompson at this point in the draft. It's not a perfect fit, but Detroit's new coach, Monty Williams, would have a fun time figuring out how to make it work. |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Ausar Thompson | SF | |||
|
Ausar Thompson is Amen's twin brother and a comparable talent whom some believe is actually the superior talent. He would be a nice building block in Orlando next to frontcourt standouts Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Jarace Walker Houston, Fr
|
PF | |||
|
Walker will enter the NBA with incredible physical attributes and should be more capable of making an impact defensively than offensively. In time, he'll be able to play the four and some small-ball five, and stardom is possible if his offensive game develops as he grows older. |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Jalen Hood-Schifino Indiana, Fr
|
PG | |||
|
Hood-Schifino is, in my opinion, the best prospect available at this point in this mock draft. He's a super-talented combo guard who has a more-dependable 3-point shot than what he showed in his one season at Indiana. |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Anthony Black Arkansas, Fr
|
PG | |||
|
Black has great size for his position and the ability to make plays out of pick-and-rolls. Those attributes combined with a high basketball IQ make him a sensible option for a Utah franchise rebuilding. |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Gradey Dick Kansas, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
It's hard to know what the Mavericks' roster will look like next season given the uncertainty surrounding the Kyrie Irving situation. But every franchise needs more shooting, and Dick is arguably the best shooter in this draft. |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Keyonte George Baylor, Fr
|
SG | |||
|
I have the Magic taking a big guard with their first pick in this draft, so this is a decent spot to grab a backcourt partner. George wasn't the most consistent freshman in the country in his one season at Baylor, but his ability to navigate pick-and-rolls, put pressure on defenses and score is undeniable. |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Taylor Hendricks UCF, Fr
|
PF | |||
|
Hendricks is an out-of-nowhere prospect who is the type of tall, athletic and a proven shooter Oklahoma City prioritizes. He made 39.4% of the 4.6 3-pointers he attempted in his one season at UCF while becoming a one-and-done lottery pick despite being ranked outside of the top 80 in the Class of 2022. |
||||||
| 13 |
|
Jett Howard Michigan, Fr
|
SG | |||
 The Raptors ranked 28th this season in 3-point percentage, which is among the reasons Howard makes sense for them. He can play multiple positions, reliably make shots from the perimeter and is just, broadly speaking, a good-sized player with a well-rounded skillset, in part because he's the son of a former NBA player and high-major college coach. |
||||||
| 14 |
|
Jordan Hawkins UConn, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
Assuming Zion Williamson is ever healthy enough to play consistently, the Pelicans will need to surround him with shooting. Hawkins made more than 38% of the 7.6 3-pointers he attempted per game this season while helping UConn win the national championship. |
||||||
| 15 |
|
Dereck Lively II Duke, Fr
|
C | |||
|
Having a real and young rim-protector to grow with Trae Young would be a move in the right direction for an Atlanta franchise that's stalled. Lively's one season at Duke got off to a rough start and was statistically unimpressive, but he showed enough down the stretch as an impactful defender to solidify himself as a top-20 pick. |
||||||
| 16 |
|
Nick Smith Jr. Arkansas, Fr
|
SG | |||
|
Smith dealt with a less-than-perfect knee all season that limited him to just 17 games, most of which he struggled in relative to expectations that accompanied him to Arkansas. That's among the reasons he won't be selected where most projected he'd go a year ago, but he should still go somewhere inside the top 20 based on the ability to score he showed when he was healthy in high school. |
||||||
| 17 |
|
Brice Sensabaugh Ohio St., Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Sensabaugh, like Hendricks, was a sub-80 prospect in the Class of 2022 who was surprisingly great in his one year at Ohio State. If he improves as a perimeter defender, the 6-6 wing could develop into the type of 3-and-D player who could help LeBron James keep the Lakers as legitimate contenders in the West. |
||||||
| 18 |
|
Cason Wallace Kentucky, Fr
|
PG | |||
|
The Heat could stand to add a young point guard to the roster as Kyle Lowry enters the final season of a three-year contract. Wallace is a nice option considering he's a playmaker who has a chance to be above average on both ends of the court given the way he enthusiastically takes on the role as an on-ball defender. |
||||||
| 19 |
|
Kobe Bufkin Michigan, Soph
|
SG | |||
|
There's some thought that the Warriors might try to move off of Jordan Poole's contract this summer. If so, Bufkin could be a long-term replacement as an interesting two-way player who made 35.5% of the 3.7 3-pointers he attempted per game this season at Michigan. |
||||||
| 20 |
|
Bilal Coulibaly | SF | |||
|
The Rockets should still very much be in a take-the-best-prospect-available mode — and there are a lot of people who believe that person, at this point in this mock draft, would be Coulibaly. He's Wembanyama's less-famous teammate who has solidified himself as a first-round option during this postseason run in France. |
||||||
| 21 |
|
Jaime Jaquez Jr. UCLA, Sr
|
SG | |||
|
Jaquez should enter the NBA at the age of 22 ready to contribute immediately. I've been a big believer in him for a while and assume he'll be, at worst, an impactful role player on a winning team for many years to come. |
||||||
| 22 |
|
Noah Clowney Alabama, Fr
|
PF | |||
 Defensive versatility is a desired skillset these days, and it also happens to be Noah Clowney's strongest attribute. The 6-10 forward has a 7-2 wingspan and the necessary enthusiasm to guard different types of players all over the court. |
||||||
| 23 |
|
Kris Murray Iowa, Jr
|
PF | |||
|
Much like his brother who plays for the Kings, Murray projects as a combo forward who can stretch the floor on offense and guard multiple positions on defense. The Iowa alum won't be a top-five pick like his twin was last year, but he should comfortably go somewhere in the first round. |
||||||
| 24 |
|
Leonard Miller | SF | |||
|
Miller had a nice season with the G-League Ignite, averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds as a 19 year-old playing against professionals. There's still a lot of development that needs to be done, but the physical tools to make it are all in place. |
||||||
| 25 |
|
Dariq Whitehead Duke, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Grizzlies are in the market for a wing considering they're uninterested in bringing Dillon Brooks back into the franchise. Whitehead would be a nice option if he falls this far considering he has good positional size and shot 42.4% from 3-point range in his one season at Duke. |
||||||
| 26 |
|
Rayan Rupert | SF | |||
|
Rupert remains unreliable offensively and very much a project. But he's a 6-6 wing with a 7-3 wingspan who has all the prerequisites to be a great perimeter defender if his shooting comes around enough to make him playable at the NBA level. |
||||||
| 27 |
|
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Marquette, Soph
|
SF | |||
|
Prosper emerged as a real first-round option thanks to a wonderful performance at the combine. He has a 7-1 wingspan and can be a versatile defender thanks to a motor that runs full-speed. |
||||||
| 28 |
|
Jalen Wilson Kansas, Jr
|
SF | |||
|
Wilson is the latest Kansas alum to develop into a legitimate NBA player after spending multiple years under Bill Self. He made a huge leap from his third season to his fourth season with the Jayhawks while earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors. |
||||||
| 29 |
|
Marcus Sasser Houston, Sr
|
SG | |||
|
Sasser is a combo guard who played a big role in helping Houston secure a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. His ability to make plays and reliably hit jumpers will give him a chance to stick in the NBA even if he is a little on the small side. |
||||||
| 30 |
|
Maxwell Lewis Pepperdine, Soph
|
SF | |||
|
Lewis is the rare non-Gonzaga WCC player with realistic first-round aspirations. He's a 6-7 wing with a 6-10 wingspan who can shot-create and punish teams from the 3-point line, both of which are qualities NBA franchises value immensely. |
||||||
| # | Team | Player | Pos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Victor Wembanyama | C | |||
|
There will be no surprise with the No. 1 pick this year. Victor Wembanyama is not only the consensus top pick, but he’s already being billed as a generational prospect. He’s 7-foot-4 with a nearly 8-foot wingspan, a high skill-level that extends out to the three-point line and extreme shot-blocking ability. His presence made this pick one of the most coveted in recent draft history and the San Antonio Spurs were the big winner. Make no mistake about it, if everything goes right for Wembanyama, this could be the night that completely changed the course of the Spurs franchise. We just haven't seen a prospect with Wemby's combination of size, length, mobility, defensive dominance and offensive skill. The Spurs have some solid young pieces in Keldon Johnson (23-years-old), Devin Vassell (22-years-old), Malik Branham (20-years-old) and Jeremy Sochan (19-years-old). What they don't have is anyone currently tracking as a potential star. Wemby is going to change that. |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Brandon Miller Alabama, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Brandon Miller is a highly skilled, big wing who exceeded all expectations in his freshman season at Alabama. Not only does he provide a big shot-maker on the wing, but he also has more playmaking ability and rebounding skills than we anticipated coming out of high school. Miller may even have some defensive versatility. He'll need to build up his body and continue to make strides with his ability to put pressure on the rim as a scorer, but if he keep keep developing at a similar rate to what we've seen in the last year his upside is significant. Miller will give the Hornets a much-needed shooting touch as well as provide a transition partner for LaMelo Ball. It's going to be a tough decision as Hornets fans might fall in love with the idea of pairing Ball with another playmaking guard in Scoot Henderson, but I came around on Miller in the early spring as the better player and he will still fit in great as Charlotte starts to build a nice young core. |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Scoot Henderson | PG | |||
|
Scoot Henderson is a dynamic athlete in the lead guard spot. He's strong, athletic, and able to attack the rim perhaps like no one else in the draft. He's made some strides with his shooting, but most continue to do so, and simultaneously become a more committed defender. While all the talk in this year's draft is about Wembanyama, and rightfully so at this point, Henderson has the potential to be one of the best guards in the NBA down the road. Dame Lillard wants to win now. If they honor that, this pick could be on the market. If they want to tear it down, Lillard could go on the market. This will force the Blazers to rebuild mode around the young core of Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons with Scoot projecting to be the star. |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Ausar Thompson | SF | |||
|
Amen and Ausar Thompson are twin brothers who have starred for Overtime Elite for the last two years. Amen is portrayed as the superior of the two prospects in the media, but Ausar has actually been the better player. In fact, he’s won both the OTE MVP and OTE Finals MVP in each of the last two seasons. At 6-foot-7, Thompson is a high-level athlete, quality passer, and potentially versatile defender who has made significant strides with his shooting this year. Like Portland, it's very possible that this pick will be up for grabs as Houston tries to secure a star in hopes to win immediately. Don't be surprised if Ausar/the No. 4 pick is the highlight of a trade package that possibly features Jalen Green or Jabari Smith. |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Cam Whitmore Villanova, Fr
|
SF | |||
|
Cam Whitmore is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. Some people content he should be in contention as high as 2, and others that he may slip to the late lottery. What is undeniable is that he is a powerful, downhill athlete with plays above the rim with force, and has made strides with his shooting. That's a prototype that should thrive in NBA spacing, but simultaneously he also have to prove he can operate in structure, better utilize his physical gifts on the defensive end of the floor, and be more consistent and reliable. The Pistons are building around Cade Cunningham (who missed most of this season with injury) and Jaden Ivey, who is coming off a strong rookie campaign. If Whitmore can continue to improve his shooting, then he will make a big difference for the Pistons, who are of course bummed to go from dreaming of Wembanyama to learning about options this far down the board. |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Amen Thompson | ||||