2023 NBA Draft Thread

[Jamaaliver]

This kid should be the primary draft target for us at this point of the season.

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[Jamaaliver]

Sleeper NBA Draft Picks to Watch

Noah Clowney (Alabama, PF, Freshman)

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Overlooked because of: Lack of production, limited creation skill, shooting numbers, average athleticism

Undervalued because of: Physical tools, shot-making potential, valued archetype

Clowney's archetype is an obvious draw, being a 6'10" freshman who looks comfortable from three and moving defensively while blocking shots and rebounding. Despite taking just 6.8 shots per game, Noah Clowney is building a strong NBA case with a valued mix of shooting, defense and finishing efficiency.

Still 18 years old, the flashes of shot-making, drives past closeouts and screener baskets outweigh his suspect 28.2 three-point percentage and clear lack of polish.

He's up to eight three-point makes over Alabama's last five games, appearing more confident in his release, which is quick and concise with minimal dip. He appears on the right path toward developing into a stretch-4, pick-and-pop big man.

Though limited offensively in terms of ball-handling, self-creation and post play, Clowney does find ways to score off the ball, showing good timing/awareness slipping screens and rolling or getting to the dunker's spot (68.3 percent at the rim).

On the ball, we've seen a few sequences of him identifying space, putting the ball down, attacking in a straight line and finishing with body control.

His 14.6 boards and 2.4 blocks per 40 minutes highlight NBA physical tools and activity. Clowney projects as a plus rebounder who adds value defensively with his mobility, motor and length.

A lack of perceived scoring upside could ultimately allow the freshman to be on the board for teams in the 20s. That's steal territory for a 6'10", three-and-D forward with room to add more shot versatility.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

Another shooter!! Perfect prospect to fill a role as bench scorer.

Can thrive as a C&S option beside Trae or Dejounte.

Sleeper NBA Draft Picks to Watch

Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut, SG/SF, Sophomore)

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Overlooked because of: Limited creation or versatility
Undervalued because of: Translatable/valued shot-making

Though Jordan Hawkins hasn't taken a step forward with his creation and off-the-dribble play, NBA teams should start to picture his shot-making translating to off-ball scoring.

He's averaging 3.0 made three-pointers in just 26.0 minutes, burying jumpers off spot-ups (47.1 percent) and screens (43.6 percent). Hawkins' shooting has been convincing from an NBA scouting standpoint, given the elevation he gets on his shot and no hesitation. A quick trigger shows in transition as well (10 3PTM), as Hawkins needs little time or space when catching, squaring and loading up.

Though clearly most comfortable/dangerous releasing off the catch, he's flashed enough promise with his pull-up (36.0 percent), separating by rising with abrupt decisiveness and height over the contest.

Otherwise, he relies on functional athleticism, mostly for transition finishing and defensive playmaking.

He doesn't offer too much versatility, but Hawkins has a plug-and-play skill set with a valuable specialty that should continue to be effective in a catch-and-shoot role alongside NBA creators and passers. He's averaging 14.6 points (22.5 per 40 minutes) despite receiving a combined 14 ball-screen and isolation possessions all season.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

Prospect of the Week

Cam Whitmore, 6-7 freshman, SF, Villanova

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Touted as a high lottery pick entering the season, Villanova star freshman Cam Whitmore missed the first seven games for the Wildcats before returning to action in early December. Since then, he’s played nine games and put up very respectable numbers: 32.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per 100 possessions, including 59.6 percent shooting on 2s. Most of the nine games were against legitimate opposition (sorry, Georgetown), and he shone against No. 18 Xavier, scoring 26 in Saturday’s loss.

However, projecting his game to the NBA level still feels tricky. There’s a lot of, “Yes, but …” in his profile. Whitmore is built like a tank but often plays more like an undersized four than a true wing. He has a great first step off the catch, but his best work comes in straight-line attacks; there isn’t a lot of wiggle here. He can finish powerfully at the rim, throwing down monstrous dunks when he can load up, but everything is with two hands and most are with two feet. He’s listed at 6-7, but that seems optimistic; I’m guessing he’ll measure 6-6 at best.

In particular, scouts will want to see more perimeter game from Whitmore to truly believe in him. He’s made 15 of his 18 free-throw attempts to date, which offers hope, but he’s only 11-of-37 from 3. Included in that figure was a wild brick in the Xavier game that sailed over the rim and smacked into the far side of the backboard. Had it been an NBA game, it would have sent Jerry West into concussion protocol.

Additionally, Whitmore needs to show feel for more than just scoring. He has only six assists in 17 games; can he use his first step to generate opportunities for others at some point?

However, Whitmore does have one huge item on his favor: his birth certificate. With a July 2004 birthdate that puts him a year or more younger than several other high lottery prospects, Whitmore has time on his side. History says teams have often underrated this factor in the past, and that he’s performing well in a high-major league as an 18-year-old is a big check in his favor.

The top two picks in the 2023 draft are no-brainers, but the mid-lottery has started looking pretty soft of late. Scouts still have questions about Whitmore too, but his combination of age and production could make him one of the safer bets here … especially if he can spend the rest of the season proving that his true position is small forward.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

Another guy likely available where we'll be picking.

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Smith finds himself in a slump (15-of-55 last three games), as some of the finishing issues he had last year have begun to resurface. There is still too much evidence of special shot-making and improving playmaking that will help first-round teams picture instant offense.

[Jamaaliver]

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Inconsistent offense has led to some scouts questioning Walker's scoring potential, but 6'8", 235-pound size, versatility and defensive upside will keep interest from fading.

Dude is young and raw, but his ability to face up against opposing bigs and put the ball on the floor is enticing.

[Jamaaliver]

Make it four (4) 30-point games for Keegan's twin brother.

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Though Murray isn't as threatening with the ball as Keegan was, he's showcased similarly translatable off-ball scoring with his spot-up and movement shooting, cutting and offensive rebounding. He's coming off his third 30-point game (versus Penn State) of the season.

[Jamaaliver]

Prospect for the 2nd round.

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Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State, SF, Senior)

Two years after collapsing mid-game as a junior for Florida, Johnson has resurfaced onto NBA radars at Kansas State, producing (18.4 PPG) with potentially translatable off-ball scoring skills for play-finishing, driving and catch-and-shooting.

[Jamaaliver]

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Jordan Walsh (Arkansas, SF, Freshman)

With Trevon Brazile out for the season, Walsh is starting to showcase his value with off-ball scoring, defensive versatility/IQ and constant hustle plays. There is a path for Walsh to climb boards as his touches and confidence increase.

[Jamaaliver]

An under the radar player that could end up as a real stud:

Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida, PF, Freshman)

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Overlooked because of: Scouts' unfamiliarity, limited creation

Undervalued because of: NBA tools, valued archetype

Taylor Hendricks is starting to generate NBA attention by checking a valued mix of boxes with his shot-making, defense and tools/athleticism.

He's the nation's only player with at least 25 threes, 15 dunks and a block rate over 5.0 percent.

It's obviously important for the shooting to continue, though the early consistency remains promising, as he's at 41.0 percent from deep on 4.4 attempts per game while converting 79.1 percent of his free throws. Hendricks has done most of his damage spotting up, but a small sample size shows Hendricks is also comfortable off the dribble (6-of-14), slowing down before pulling up or using touch on runners (6-of-10).

He does remain limited in creation situations, but he's ultraefficient when converting in transition (99th percentile), and he's produced by mostly playing to his strengths, play-finishing fast-breaks, rolls, cuts and catch-and-shoot chances.

Early on, NBA coaches may find more use for his defensive tools and activity, given his 6'9", 210-pound frame, mobility, motor and ability to contest shots at the rim and away from it. Hendricks combines both fearlessness challenging finishes and impressive foot speed guarding in space.

Between his body type and shot, teams are beginning to see translatable three-and-D—and that's a floor projection for a freshman who turned 19 years old in November. Continuing to produce during conference play should help Hendricks secure a spot on team's first-round boards.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

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[CP War Hawks]

This kid might be the answer to our front court issues: a true 7 footer who can protect the rim and knock down open threes!!!

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Just catching up to this dude's tape and... Yeah I'm pretty much sold. No better compliment to OO if he were to start which he probably should be doing. He can match up well with JJ too. Trae could pretty much get him going quicker than normal, pause.

[Jamaaliver]

Jett Howard | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Michigan

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Howard ticks a lot of boxes for teams looking to add to their wing rotation. He has plus positional size for the wing at 6-8 and hits shots at an exceedingly high level off movement with a beautiful, fluid stroke. On top of that, he’s a really sharp passer who can make plays off the bounce, especially off some of the zoom actions Michigan runs when he gets the ball coming off a pin-down and takes dribble-handoffs to get some penetration into the paint. He’s not a great athlete, though. It’s hard to see him truly separating right now from his man. But he does have some shake that he could grow into. The defense pushes him slightly outside of the lottery for me — he really struggles with his quickness to guard — but Howard is terrific and possesses many skills that evaluators covet.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

I can see this kid being used the way Utah uses Markkannen. he's bigger and stronger but less polished.

Terrible defender in space, too.

Kyle Filipowski | 6-11 big | 19 years old | Duke

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Filipowski has been the most impressive Duke freshman this season, a pillar of consistency in what has been a largely inconsistent year. He’s averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game while showcasingd real playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He can run offense as a ballhandler, run dribble-handoffs as a big, create plays off drives and attack mismatches on the block in post-ups. There is some potential here as a pick-and-pop weapon, although he’s only made 26 percent of his 3s to this point. A bet on Filipowski is a bet on getting a versatile big man who can help you in a lot of different mismatch capacities offensively in the right matchups while hopefully being able to hold up with his movement on the perimeter. He has good hands and is more athletic than he gets credit for. Still, he doesn’t have the elite measurables for a rim protector, and teams want to see more from him there.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

DaRon Holmes II | 6-10 big | 20 years old | Dayton

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Holmes had a bit of a tough start to the season, but he’s been monster over his last 11 games, averaging 23.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, two assists and two blocks while drawing eight free throws per game and making 64.2 percent of his shots. He looks every bit the breakout big man he was anticipated to be this season, and this coincides with the team winning nine of its past past games. He’s a smart passer, a sharp rim protector and a versatile weapon who can move away from the rim. His shot is clearly improving. There is a real versatility of skill set here that allows Holmes to potentially be a good bet as a rotation player in the NBA.

The Athletic

[CP War Hawks]

Lewis is in my top 3 for consideration for the Hawks pick. However, his comp has been really poor. The only team with NBA caliber prospects was UCLA and he was kept in check with his team losing by 50.

So many wing prospects in this draft you can't really go wrong. I'm hoping for another pick in the 1st to get a good developmental big.

[CP War Hawks]

Lewis is in my top 3 for consideration for the Hawks pick. However, his comp has been really poor. The only team with NBA caliber prospects was UCLA and he was kept in check with his team losing by 50.

So many wing prospects in this draft you can't really go wrong. I'm hoping for another pick in the 1st to get a good developmental big.

I can't rank these wings w/o a proper combine testing. They are starting to take form as the Hawks likely land another obligatory 16-20th overall draft pick...

Guys likely in the top 15 in no order:

Gradey Dick 6-8 205
Ausar Thompson 6-7 205
Maxwell Lewis 6-7 200
Jett Howard 6-8 220
Anthony Black 6-7 200
Brandon Miller 6-9 205
Amen Thompson 6-7 200
Cam Whitmore 6-7 220

Then you have 'wings' like these in no order that are still intriguing in their own right in that 16-25 range:

Rayan Rupert 6-7 205
Taylor Hendricks 6-9 210 - think Josh Smith with jumpshot
Baba Miller 6-11 205
Leonard Miller 6-10 205
Jalen Hood-Schifino 6-5 215
Brice Sensabaugh 6-6 235

I think with Fields now firmly in control, they could double dip from both lists. I mean it'll probably take Bogi or Collins to get another 1st to do so which I can live with considering even the late 1st picks will still have good value from all the top non wing players still on board.

[Jamaaliver]

This kid looks like an offensive monster with that jumper going.

If he falls out of the top-5, he might be worth trading into the lottery to grab.

Brandon Miller (Alabama, SF, Freshman)

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Coming off a 31-point game against LSU, Miller is having the best three-point shooting season ever recorded for a freshman. None have finished a season at 45.0 percent on at least 7.0 attempts per game, and that's where Miller is now (56-of-121). That's an incredible stat for a 6'9" wing. He's also been more efficient finishing inside the arc by picking the right spots and lanes to attack. Already 20, Miller is old for his class, and scouts do have some questions about his potential to create. But unless he hits a wall hard over the next few months, his positional tools, ridiculous shot-making accuracy and passing flashes will keep top-five teams interested.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

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