2023 Draft Discussion Part 4

[DeKobe DeBryant]

I was really hoping Portland wasn't gonna get #1.

They're in a really interesting spot now. #3 is sitting on the border of being too good to trade (Scoot?) and bad enough to trade to win now with Dame. If I'm Masai, I'm trying my hardest to make a Siakam for #3 package work. That pick would be incredible to have, whether it's Scoot, Miller, or Amen.

[720]

Read on Twitter

[bboyskinnylegs]

Dallas keeping their pick is also good for trade possibilities. Aside from their interest in our wings (I doubt we are interested in Pascal or OG for #10), if Kyrie leaves, I wonder if they would be interested in a prospect rights swap + Fred s&t.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

thank god for orl

[JShuttlesworth]

If the Hornets pass on Scoot to draft Miller things get very interesting.... because if Portland drafts Scoot they are almost certainly going to have to trade Dame

[WuTang_CMB]

Givony new mock

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37654799/2023-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-post-lottery

[ArthurVandelay]

Givony new mock

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37654799/2023-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-post-lottery

How did threading the needle work out for GS?

The Blazers are attempting to thread a tight needle between navigating Damian Lillard's prime and rehauling an increasingly young roster highlighted by the promises flashes displayed by last season's lottery pick, Shaedon Sharpe.

[720]

If the Hornets pass on Scoot to draft Miller things get very interesting.... because if Portland drafts Scoot they are almost certainly going to have to trade Dame

They could almost certainly trade the pick and honour the legacy of their Franchise’s goat and build a contender around him with Siakam and potentially OG.

[OakleyDokely]

I think the Hornets go Scoot and put him in the backcourt with Ball, especially with Bridges expected to return.

But who knows, they're the Hornets.

[WuTang_CMB]

Givony new mock

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/37654799/2023-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-post-lottery

How did threading the needle work out for GS?

The Blazers are attempting to thread a tight needle between navigating Damian Lillard's prime and rehauling an increasingly young roster highlighted by the promises flashes displayed by last season's lottery pick, Shaedon Sharpe.

this mock is kinda shyt

OKC, TOR dumb picks for them

[bboyskinnylegs]

I'm sure he's gotten well compensated, but I feel like it's been all downhill for Givony after moving to ESPN. I miss DX.

[WuTang_CMB]

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/

[bboyskinnylegs]

Houston will likely also be willing to deal to get talent around Harden (which still doesn't make any sense to me from a team-building perspective).

[WuTang_CMB]

1. San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama | 7-4 center | 19 years old | Metropolitans 92
The Scout: The best draft prospect to enter the NBA since LeBron James. It’s that simple. Wembanyama is the epitome of a franchise changer. As a teenager, he is leading the French League in points, rebounds and blocks. It’s hard to overemphasize how incredible Wembanyama’s long-term potential is on both ends of the floor. He will immediately be the biggest, longest player in the NBA, which allows him to change the geometry of the court defensively. He has great instincts and recovery ability on that end. He’s doubling everybody else in the French League in blocks per game. But moreover, he is also a legitimate shot creator at center who can score off the bounce with creativity and knock down shots with ease off pull-ups or drives to the rim. He’s a terrific finisher inside due to his length and touch and is already starting to experiment with shots that could make him special such as some of the turnaround pull-ups, the fake-spin shimmies and even the weirdo floater 3s. He is a historic prospect, one well within the tapestry of past elite center prospects such as Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Ralph Sampson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Anthony Davis.

ADVERTISEMENT


The Fit: Wembanyama fits every single team. He’s the player you build around. He is the fit. San Antonio has found some strong players in the latter half of the lottery and in the back portion of the first round, but the Spurs don’t have a star yet. Wembanyama slides everyone down a peg into roles that are more suitable. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson can be young, high-level wings who don’t get the top defensive assignments. Wembanyama will be a tremendous fit next to Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt, with Sochan as an all-around gap-filler who was productive as a teenage rookie. He’ll be able to be brought along slowly as a scorer as he continues to rework his shot. The Spurs got to transition beautifully from the David Robinson era into the Tim Duncan era and now slide perfectly into the Victor Wembanyama era.

The Range: No. 1.


2. Charlotte Hornets
Scoot Henderson | 6-2 lead guard | 19 years old | G League Ignite
The Scout: Henderson is an explosive playmaker who has been seen as the likely No. 2 overall pick behind Wembanyama all season. In many other drafts, Henderson would be the clear No. 1 pick. He’s going to be an exceptionally hard problem to solve for defenses from the first day he hits the NBA because of how well-rounded he is in ball-screen actions. He can pull-up and hit floaters, he can get all the way to the rim and finish with authority or touch, he can play slow or fast, and he can make high-level passing reads. On top of that, he’s going to force the action in transition and drive easy points that way, as well as be the guy from day one who sets the tone for your organization as the top dog on the team due to his competitiveness and drive. This is truly an elite, franchise-altering prospect. No. 2 is no consolation prize in this year’s class.

The Fit: I love the idea of putting Henderson in the backcourt with LaMelo Ball. It would create one of the most exciting, up-tempo attacks in the NBA with how good both players are at pushing pace. But more importantly, they complement each other well. Both have the ability to blend scoring and playmaking together, but Henderson tends to think more about the scoring side of the things, and Ball thrives as a creative decision-maker who can make high-level passing reads from any angle. Henderson’s elite midrange game would complement Ball’s 3s and layups approach. And I would bet Henderson’s overall competitiveness and attitude will really vibe with the intensity coach Steve Clifford brings. Don’t rule out Miller here, though. The team does have a significant need on the wing long term. This will be the swing point of the top five.

The Range: No. 2 to No. 4

3. Portland Trail Blazers
Brandon Miller | 6-9 wing | 20 years old | Alabama
The Scout: Miller was one of the best players in college basketball this past season. He averaged 19 points and nine rebounds and was even more dominant in SEC play. During conference play, he averaged 20 points while shooting 49 percent and 38 percent from 3. Miller showcased just about everything teams look for from big wing creators. He’s a terrific high-volume shooter, having made a high percentage from 3 on over seven attempts per game. He can handle the ball out of ball screens and string out mismatches, attack the basket and finish at the rim. Defensively, he’s a switchable player who isn’t quite an impact player on that end, but he’s not going to get hunted. In high school, Miller was also seen as something of a midrange maestro with the ability to rise up and knock down shots in the middle of the court. Around the league, Miller is seen as a potential high-end offensive weapon who can be a top-two option long term on a good NBA team.

ADVERTISEMENT


The Fit: Obviously, the Blazers will be disappointed not to win the lottery, but Miller would be an awesome consolation prize. He’ll be able to step in immediately as a useful player next to Lillard if the Blazers continue to go down the road of building around their longtime superstar point guard. Miller’s floor-spacing should be able to get him on the floor early, and his shot creation would be a perfect fit next to Jerami Grant’s athleticism. Even if the Blazers do decide to go in a different direction, Miller is a perfect long-term running partner for Shaedon Sharpe on the wing, with Sharpe’s explosive athleticism complementing Miller’s skilled shot making. It works across the board. One note, though: The Blazers love to draft for upside. This is a front office, going back to when Joe Cronin was an assistant GM, that loves betting on youth. Their picks last year with Cronin in the top chair didn’t change that. Think Anfernee Simons, Sharpe, Jabari Walker, Greg Brown, Nassir Little and Zach Collins. All of these guys were teenagers when the Blazers took them. There are some hits and some misses there, certainly. But the value has exceeded the draft slot for the most part.

The Range: No. 2 to 4

4. Houston Rockets
Amen Thompson | 6-7 lead guard | 20 years old | Overtime Elite
The Scout: The first of the Thompson twins to go, Amen is the point guard of the duo. He’s an electric athlete out in space and in transition, where he can drive easy buckets as a genuine top 1 percent athlete in the NBA. He has a great first step and is an elite leaper and also has tremendous hang time and body control in the air. He attacks the basket aggressively. But he also is a very high-level passer and playmaker who can find his teammates from all sorts of angles and positions. Defensively, Thompson has some real mechanical issues to clean up, but his length and athleticism gives him all sorts of upside, and he already makes consistent plays on that end. He needs more experience making reads in half-court settings — he didn’t get a chance to do a ton of that with Overtime Elite, comparatively to other prospects. But his upside is enormous because of the pressure he puts on defenses.

The Fit: The Rockets end up here and get a perfect high-upside swing who would pair sublimely in the backcourt with Jalen Green. Thompson would up the competitive level of the team immediately due to his aggressive transition play and desire to be great. He plays hard and pushes the pace constantly. He fills an immediate need at the point guard position that has hampered them over the last couple of seasons with Kevin Porter Jr. running the show. Thompson might take a year to really lock in as he continues to develop as a half-court decision-maker, but this is the kind of swing that could transform Houston in a significant way long term. If he hits his ceiling, Thompson and Green have “best backcourt in the NBA” upside.

The Range: No. 3 to No. 6

5. Detroit Pistons
Cam Whitmore | 6-7 wing | 18 years old | Villanova
The Scout: Whitmore has ridiculous upside because he has an elite blend of explosiveness and strength. Coming in at about 230 pounds, Whitmore is a 40-inch vertical leaper who actually plays like he has one. He rises up through contact powerfully and throws down around the basket. But there’s more to it than that. He is a real shot creator who can knock down pull-up jumpers from behind the 3-point line. He has a real first step when attacking the basket. Defensively, he’s a very good on-ball defender with real switchability due to his strength and quickness. The main concern here is his overall feel as an offensive player. Whitmore had a historically low assist rate and consistently missed passing reads throughout the course of his time at Villanova. That’s where he needs to improve. But his ceiling is immense.

The Fit: The Pistons could have an incredibly fun core with Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Whitmore on the perimeter. Cunningham and Ivey would be perfect for Whitmore, two high-level ballhandlers and distributors who would allow Whitmore to focus on what he does best: Score the basketball. He’d be allowed to come along slowly as a passer and decision-maker and would be a tremendous transition threat with Ivey running the break. A pairing with Ivey would arguably give the Pistons two of the 10 most athletic players in the league. The Pistons are undoubtedly disappointed to fall to No. 5, but Whitmore would be a killer fit for what they’re building, and he fits perfectly with what Troy Weaver tends to value in terms of bigger, longer prospects with athletic tools.

ADVERTISEMENT


The Range: No. 4 to No. 10

6. Orlando Magic
Taylor Hendricks | 6-9 forward | 19 years old | UCF
The Scout: Hendricks is the biggest riser of this draft class. He’s over 6-9 in shoes and has over a 7-foot wingspan. He’s an elite defensive player and has real athleticism. He slides his feet incredibly well as an on-ball defender and has real switchability. Off the ball, he’s very impactful as a weakside rim protector who can fly over in help situations and block shots. And offensively, Hendricks was very valuable. He averaged 15.1 points and seven rebounds while shooting 39.4 percent from the field on real volume. Hendricks need to improve as an offensive playmaker and ballhandler. But it’s easy to imagine Hendricks stepping into the NBA early and playing relatively early as a useful 3-and-D player while he continues to round out his game.

The Fit: The Magic love guys like Hendricks who are long, athletic and have high upside. On top of that, Hendricks actually fills a real need as a shooter for a team that really could use one. The team finished in the bottom 10 in the NBA in 3-point rate, and the Magic shot just 34.6 percent this season. They obviously have a lot of this player type already, but he’s a skill-level fit the team likely envisioned when they drafted Chuma Okeke as a valuable multi-positional player a few years ago. This is definitely the high-end of his range, but Hendricks starts getting in play here.

The Range: No. 6 to No. 14

7. Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Houston
The Scout: Walker is about as well-rounded a forward/big prospect as you’ll find. He’s 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan. He’s a terrific passer and playmaker, particularly as a short-roll weapon out of ball screens. Walker improved a bit as a shooter this past season, making 34.7 percent from 3, albeit on limited volume. But where he really makes his mark is on defense. Walker is a tremendous, instinctive defensive player whose reactivity and basketball IQ makes him a wildly impactful help defender flying all across the court. On top of it, he’s switchable as a man-to-man defender who can manage all but the quickest guards (and that includes sliding up onto centers because of his shredded 240-pound frame). There are some questions on how he’ll score effectively in the NBA if the jumper doesn’t come along, and that could resign him toward being more of a rotation player if it doesn’t happen. But Walker will help you win basketball games.

The Fit: The Pacers have a real need for defensive players. They were 26th in defensive rating this season despite getting nearly 2,000 minutes from an elite defensive center in Myles Turner. Realistically, they need guys who can play strong help defense as well as provide switchable, aggressive on-ball defense. Walker would be a strong start in this respect, and he’d be a strong complement next to Turner because of that ability to make plays and pass.

The Range: No. 5 to No. 12

8. Washington Wizards
Ausar Thompson | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Overtime Elite
The Scout: Thompson is an elite athlete who impacts the game in a wide variety of ways. He’s a very strong defender who flies around in help as a good rim protector and playmaker in passing lanes. He’s a strong, technical on-ball defender. Offensively, he can really get out on the break and score, and in the half court, he’s a sharp cutter and driver of the basketball in straight lines. His passing is maybe my favorite skill of his, especially as a secondary ballhandler. As a finisher, Thompson has a terrific package of touch finishes and layups in addition to above-the-rim athleticism. The guy Thompson reminds me of most is Andre Iguodala, even down to the shooting questions that Thompson will have to work through early in his career. My bet is Thompson is an impact player on winning basketball because of how well-rounded his game is.

ADVERTISEMENT


The Fit: The Wizards just need upside talents. It also helps that Thompson is a near perfect fit between Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma because of how well-rounded he is. He’d give the team a transition playmaker, a good passer who can occasionally actually run the offense and a defensive difference-maker. I’d be surprised to see Thompson drop out of the top 10, and this makes an awful lot of sense. One thing to note, though: The Wizards do not currently have a full-time general manager after firing Tommy Sheppard earlier this offseason.

The Range: No. 4 to No. 10

9. Utah Jazz
Anthony Black | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Arkansas
The Scout: Black is maybe the smartest player in this draft class in terms of basketball IQ. He consistently makes the right play. Black averaged 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 45 percent from the field and is entirely reliable as a 6-7 point guard. On top of it, he’s a terrific defensive player and one of the best in the class at the point of attack while also being switchable due to his size and strength level. I buy Black making decisions at an exceedingly high level and being able to reliably attack both ends of the court.

The Fit: The Jazz get to reshape their roster now following the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell deals. Danny Ainge rebuilt the Celtics roster with a lot of size on the wing and on the perimeter (think Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams and others). My bet is that they look for bigger wings and guards to build around, especially with where the NBA is going. Black fits the bill perfectly and would pair very well with some of the scoring guards on the roster.

The Range: No. 5 to No. 12

10. Dallas Mavericks
Dereck Lively II | 7-1 center| 19 years old| Duke
The Scout: Lively struggled to start the season, but by the end of it, there was not a more impactful defender in college basketball. He’s an elite rim protector who averaged 2.5 blocks per game this past season in 20 minutes. He defends ball screens well and can do so in a variety of different schemes. He can hard hedge and recover, he can drop, and he can play at the level. He’s mobile and runs the court very well. Offensively, he’s extremely limited right now, but Lively has immense tools with a 7-7 wingspan that portends potential to not just be a good defender but a great one.

The Fit: The Mavericks essentially have no long-term answer at the center position right now, and they desperately need rim protection and rebounding to pair with Luka Dončić and potentially Kyrie Irving. Lively would be a tremendous partner for both of them in ball screens on offense, and defensively, he can cover for them if they lose track of their players. This is probably on the early end of Lively’s range, but the fit is too good.

The Range: No. 10 to No. 20

11. Orlando Magic (via CHI)
Gradey Dick | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Kansas
The Scout: Dick is maybe the best shooter in the class, a 6-8 freshman who drilled 40.3 percent of his six 3-point attempts per game. The list of high-major true freshmen in the last 30 years, per Sports-Reference, to average 14 points and shoot 40 percent from 3 while taking at least 200 3s is limited. It’s Dick, Gary Trent, Kevin Durant, D’Angelo Russell, O.J. Mayo, Tajuan Porter and Jamal Murray. That’s a pretty great list, given that it’s five NBA starters and Porter, who was 5-7. Dick profiles as a long-term NBA starter with real upside. He has some on-ball defensive concerns, but he has great hands and is smart rotationally in a team construct. He knows how to play.

The Fit: The Magic need shooting around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, especially if they’re going to continue with a backcourt core of Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs. Dick is an elite shooter. This is an easy one.

The Range: No. 7 to No. 14

12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Leonard Miller | 6-10 forward | 19 years old | G League Ignite
The Scout: I’m calling my shot on Miller. This is earlier than just about everyone will have him. But he’s a 6-10 forward who is a terrific, fluid athlete with unique body mechanics that allow him to get defenders off balance as he handles the ball as a driver or in transition. He’s an elite finisher with incredible touch, having made 67 percent of his shots at the rim. In 14 games from Feb. 8 onward, Miller averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game with one steal and one block. He shot 55.6 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3 and 82 percent from the line. He figured out the G League quickly last season, really his first season of high-level basketball. I think he has real upside long term, and I bet he rises as people see him throughout the process.

The Fit: The Thunder tend to draft guys with terrific positional size, strong basketball IQ and high-level character traits. Miller ticks all of those boxes. And he also fits incredibly well as an elite rebounder and attack-oriented player next to last season’s No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren. Holmgren’s elite defensive anticipation, shot blocking and floor spacing would pair nicely with Miller’s ability to pressure the rim. This would be one of my favorite potential fits in the draft.

The Range: No. 11 to No. 25

13. Toronto Raptors
Cason Wallace | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Kentucky
The Scout: Wallace is one of those dudes you just trust to be a hooper. He gets how to play and impact winning basketball. He’s an elite defensive guard with incredible hands and disruptive hand-eye coordination. He’s extremely strong and can slide up the lineup because of how capable he is at getting his chest in front of players and cutting off their momentum. Offensively, you’d like to see more with how Wallace can create off the bounce. But he’s good enough in ball screens and is strong as a catch-and-shoot weapon. He suffered a few injuries this past season, so teams want to learn a bit more about those, but Wallace is a very trustworthy player.

The Fit: The Raptors have a lot of questions forthcoming in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. can become free agents, and there is precious little depth behind them. The team needs to find more answers there, even if they envision Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator long term. Wallace can play a bit on and off the ball, and I think he’s the rare one-and-done who figures to play early due to how impactful he is as a defender. He would give the Raptors some further flexibility in terms of their offseason decision-making.

The Range: No. 7 to 20

14. New Orleans Pelicans
Kobe Bufkin | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Michigan
The Scout: I’m placing a bet that Bufkin ends up rising through the pre-draft process. He’s one of my favorite prospects, and the tape is quite strong. Over his last 12 games, he averaged 17 points per game in Big Ten play while shooting 52 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3 and 89 percent from the line. He also grabbed six rebounds, had three assists and about two steals. That’s the point in the year when he started to get more usage consistently. He averaged only 9.6 shots per game for Michigan’s first 18 games as the Wolverines used more Hunter Dickinson/Jett Howard sets. In those last 15, Bufkin took nearly 13 shots per game and got far more high-leverage opportunities. There just aren’t many holes in his game. He’s a great finisher and a good shooter from the midrange and 3. He makes high-level passes. He’s strong on the ball and can help defensively. He’s just well-rounded.

The Fit: The Pelicans could certainly use more young backcourt depth. They took Dyson Daniels last year. Bufkin profiles really well next to CJ McCollum and Daniels long term as a solid defender who mixes scoring and passing at a solid level. It’s also not impossible that the team looks to shore up some depth in the frontcourt as Jonas Valančiūnas continues to get older and Zion Williamson remains an injury risk. But there aren’t a ton of great options available in this regard at this point.

[OakleyDokely]

Mockers keep believing the Raps will pick for need when the Raps have shown time after time they go for best talent available and typically someone long.

Their philosophy is similar to OKCs. Long players with high IQs, good character and typically with strong college/pro numbers

[S.W.A.N]

Mockers keep believing the Raps will pick for need when the Raps have shown time after time they go for best talent available and typically someone long.

Their philosophy is similar to OKCs. Long players with high IQs, good character and typically with strong college/pro numbers

I think it is almost a certainty that raps change directions and prioritize shooting this draft

[niQ]

Kobe Bufkin, Jordan Hawkins, or Bilal Coulibaly please.

Though, knowing the Raps, it'll probably be someone I've never heard of.

[OakleyDokely]

Mockers keep believing the Raps will pick for need when the Raps have shown time after time they go for best talent available and typically someone long.

Their philosophy is similar to OKCs. Long players with high IQs, good character and typically with strong college/pro numbers

I think it is almost a certainty that raps change directions and prioritize shooting this draft

That's what mockers said last year and they took a 7ft C and the year before that when they took Barnes instead of Suggs.

It's certainly possible they take a shooter, but would I be surprised if they took L Miller instead? Nope.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[S.W.A.N]

Mockers keep believing the Raps will pick for need when the Raps have shown time after time they go for best talent available and typically someone long.

Their philosophy is similar to OKCs. Long players with high IQs, good character and typically with strong college/pro numbers

I think it is almost a certainty that raps change directions and prioritize shooting this draft

That's what mockers said last year and they took a 7ft C and the year before that when they took Barnes instead of Suggs.

It's certainly possible they take a shooter, but would I be surprised if they took L Miller instead? Nope.

Valid point in that I also think L Miller is a real possibility at our pick.

Last year I thought is was going to be shooting or a C. Both were obvious needs. This year the need is Shooting/Guard depth.

Way easier to draft the overlap of shooting guard depth than a big and shooting.

Wallace, Hawkins, Dick, Bufkin, Bilal, George, Smith, Sensabough .... Lot of guys in our range that fit need and bpa crossover potential.