With individual workouts under way and the NBA season (almost) in the rearview mirror, the 2023 NBA Draft picture is starting to take shape.
The 2023 NBA Draft will usher in a new era of basketball stardom with Victor Wembanyama, arguably the best prospect in decades. Behind him, an especially deep lottery class promises to introduce several high-impact contributors to the league's talent pool next season.
With the season over for 28 of the NBA's 30 teams, the pre-draft cycle is in full swing. Individual and group workouts are giving front offices up-close looks at potential draftees. Meanwhile, the politicking and maneuvering from players' agents is already rampant. Prospects and teams alike are looking for the right match.
The draft will take place on June 22 at 8 PM E.T. in Chicago.
2023 NBA Mock Draft: Projected lottery picks
There's no mystery here. Victor Wembanyama is the best prospect since LeBron James. At 7-foot-5, he can legitimately create his own shot at all three levels. His blend of shooting, passing, and at-rim finishing makes Wemby highly adaptable to the personnel around him. He's also an elite defensive prospect, capable of evaporating shot attempts in the paint with his 8-foot wingspan and erasing mistakes by virtue of being taller and longer than everybody else.
Brandon Miller feels like the safe bet here due to his positional size and defensive versatility at 6-foot-9. He's one of the best pull-up shooters on the board and an advanced playmaker out of pick-and-rolls. He fits pretty seamlessly next to LaMelo Ball, who will keep the rock swinging and place Miller in a position to attack rotating defenses or run out in transition.
The Blazers will heavily consider trades here and the fit between 6-foot-2 Scoot Henderson and 6-foot-2 Damian Lillard (not to mention 6-foot-3 Anfernee Simons) isn't perfect. That said, he's the clear best player on the board. The Blazers can't get too caught up on fit when there's a potential franchise talent available. Henderson has the potential to carry the Blazers into the future once Lillard inevitably declines.
Amen Thompson is the better athlete and playmaker, but there's reason to believe Ausar Thompson could be the first twin off the board due to his superior shooting and defense. Ausar is still a tier-one athlete and the Rockets could prefer his experience working off the ball if James Harden is under serious consideration as a free agent.
Cam Whitmore has gained a lot of fans in the pre-draft process. His blend of explosiveness and strength on the wing is rare. He gets into the teeth of the defense at will and he's liable to punish daydreaming defenders with mesmerizing rim attacks. His defensive versatility and upside as a slasher working off of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey makes him a clean fit in the No. 5 spot.
Amen Thompson tumbles to No. 6, where he's not the best fit, but he's clearly the best player. Orlando loves long, skilled athletes. Thompson is a genius-level playmaker at 6-foot-7 and he's flat-out one of, if not the best perimeter athlete in professional basketball. His ability to glide through space and time, constantly shifting gears before accelerating full-speed like a sports car is incredible to watch. If he the jumper ever comes around he has perennial All-Star potential.
The Pacers have been searching for help at the power forward position and the solution could be Taylor Hendricks. An unheralded recruit who rocketed up draft boards as a freshman at UCF, Hendricks is the ultimate 3-and-D prospect. He's one of the best volume spot-up threats in the draft and he's a legitimate 4 or 5-position defender, capable of sliding his feet with guards or roaming around the paint and blocking shots.
Cason Wallace would be the perfect complement to Bradley Beal in the Wizards' backcourt. He's an elite perimeter defender capable of guarding 1-3 due to his strength and 6-foot-8 wingspan. What he lacks in explosive scoring potential, Wallace makes up for with efficient shooting, steadfast poise, and mistake-free playmaking.
The Jazz love to share the sugar offensively and Anthony Black is the embodiment of that philosophy under Will Hardy. There are legitimate concerns tied to his iffy 3-point shot and lack of self-creation, but he puts pressure on the rim and he is probably the most reactive, instinctive passer on the board. Black makes teammates better and he's a dominant wing defender at 6-foot-7, which addresses a real point of weakness on the Utah roster.
The Mavs get their defensive enforcer with Jarace Walker, a tank-like big who can legitimately guard 1-5. His versatility projects well toward the postseason, where the Mavs hope to be with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving next season. On the offensive end, Walker has legitimate creation upside due to his passing chops and face-up scoring ability. Two-man actions with Walker and Dallas' guards would be hard to stop given Walker's strength, footwork, and touch around the basket.
The Magic desperately need shooting to take the next step offensively and Amen Thompson, while brilliant, only increases that need. Dick is arguably the best shooter on the board while also providing positional size and smart team defense. He would fit hand-in-glove with Orlando's gaggle of jumbo-sized creators.
Bilal Coulibaly's stock is soaring with his play in the French playoffs right now. Already a tremendous defensive prospect at 18 years old, he's now shooting above league-average from 3 and he's flashing legitimate creation upside with his powerful downhill drives. He's a game-changing athlete with a lot of time to develop. OKC has afford the patient approach.
Nick Smith Jr. couldn't put his best foot forward at Arkansas, but he's a rangy athlete at 6-foot-5 with effortless shooting touch and significant scoring upside in the off-guard spot. Toronto needs more shot-making in the backcourt and Smith won't compromise their defensive integrity.
There has been a lot of lottery buzz around Kobe Bufkin lately. The Michigan guard is younger than your average sophomore and his blend of slashing and defense could appeal to a team like New Orleans. The Pelicans won't need Bufkin to create for others; instead, he'd be empowered to attack rotating defenders off the catch while Zion and Brandon Ingram draw attention in the middle of the floor.
The Hawks will have to make a difficult decision with Dejounte Murray in the near future, but adding another guard with secondary playmaking upside is a good start. George is a prolific 3-point shooter who is comfortable manipulating defenders and locating open shooters out of the pick-and-roll. He's also a competitive defender, if a little undersized at 6-foot-4.
The Jazz bulk up their backcourt even further with Jalen Hood-Schifino, who cemented his reputation as a prospect of interest with strong measurements at the combine. He needs to get better around the rim, but Hood-Schifino has floaters and mid-range pull-ups for days and he has the potential to guard multiple spots with NBA strength development.
Jordan Hawkins saw his stock skyrocket with UConn's championship run. LeBron James has advocated for slender championship guards from UConn in the past, plus Hawkins makes schematic sense with his elite movement shooting ability.
There's plenty of intrigue around Leonard Miller due to his 6-foot-10 frame, versatile defense, and flashes of playmaking upside. He loves to run the floor in transition and he's a real handful driving downhill with a full head of steam. The Heat need more size on the defensive end and Miller could benefit from Miami's high-effort, detail-oriented regime.
The Warriors tried to find their elite rim-runner and shot-blocker with James Wiseman a few years ago but it didn't work out. Dereck Lively would represent a similar investment. He's light on his feet and showcased elite defensive instincts down the stretch of the season at Duke. He doesn't provide much offensively outside the paint, but Golden State can spoon-feed him finishes at the rim.
Brandin Podziemski has been explicitly linked to Houston in the No. 20 spot. A high-feel guard who shoots with endless confidence and plays committed, fundamentally-sound defense, Podziemski has given front offices outside the lottery a lot to think about. The Rockets need winning players who can tie everything together. That's Podziemski.
The Nets could face competition on the free agent market for Cam Johnson, but either way, there's still reason to invest in Jett Howard. A knockdown shooter with complementary playmaking attributes, Howard is more than ready to contribute offensively. Meanwhile, the Nets have the personnel to hide his flaws on the defensive end.
Dariq Whitehead is the perfect upside swing with Brooklyn's second first-round pick. A former top recruit who spent his year at Duke banged up and largely ineffective in key areas, Whitehead could shock fans once he's back to full strength. Even in a down year with the Blue Devils, he shot 42.4 percent from deep and showcased effortless touch on pull-up jumpers.
The Blazers tend to prioritize athleticism and Noah Clowney is an impressive athlete, standing 6-foot-10 with burgeoning rim protection skills and the mobility to switch screens on the perimeter. He would fill the gaping hole in the frontcourt caused by Jusuf Nurkic's swift decline.
The Kings are intimately familiar with last year's No. 4 pick Keegan Murray and, by extension, should be intimately familiar with his twin brother and former college teammate, Kris. The latter doesn't possess the same shooting dynamism as Keegan, but he can still space the floor while providing size and connective tissue on the wing.
Ben Sheppard vaulted into the first round discussion with a strong showing at the combine. The Grizzlies could use 3-and-D help on the wing and the Memphis front office hasn't been afraid to embrace prospects from smaller schools.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. spent four productive years at UCLA. He's older and there are legitimate concerns tied to his 3-point shooting and limited athleticism, but he's a crafty playmaker who can score every which way inside the arc. The Pacers are looking to make the jump to contention sooner than later and have shown a proclivity for more experienced prospects in the past.
Bobi Klintman has emerged as a real sleeper pick in the first round. He played sparsely as a freshman at Wake Forest, but his theoretical upside as a 6-foot-10 wing who can handle, pass, and shoot is bound to catch a team's eye. Charlotte has been right down the street from Klintman all year and his potential as a transition threat alongside LaMelo Ball is worthy of investment.
The Jazz grab one of the best scorers in college basketball. Brice Sensabaugh will need to prove his ability to defend and create for teammates, but he can absolutely torch the net from 3-point range and his mid-range scoring craft is top-tier. He has the bucket-getting gene, now it's about rounding out the rest of his skill set to maximize that unique ability.
Colby Jones is the perfect Swiss Army knife wing to round out Indiana's busy first round. He can spread the floor, provide rapid-fire decision-making as a passer, and defend all over the perimeter. He doesn't have many holes in his role player repertoire.
The Clippers love to swing big on flashy prospects who don't always have the collegiate résumé to back up their potential. Jackson was the bleeding heart of South Carolina's offense as a 17-year-old, for better and for worse. He got plenty of on-ball reps and showcased legitimate self-creation ability at 6-foot-9, but he's a mess of a decision-maker right now.
Amari Bailey performed well at the combine and reminded NBA scouts of why he entered his freshman season at UCLA with five stars above his name. The Pistons get creative playmaking and defensive toughness to back up Cunningham and Ivey in the backcourt.
Oliver-Maxence Prosper was another big standout at the combine, using his 6-foot-8 frame and bouncy athleticism to torch defenses as a straight-line driver. He can space the floor and he should defend multiple spots in due time. The Pacers get more size and athleticism to strengthen the frontcourt.
Rayan Rupert's middling production in Australia's NBL may have led some NBA front offices to sour on him, but he's a fluid athlete who can handle the rock, hit 3s, and defend his tail off at 6-foot-7. The Spurs' international scouting is world-renowned, as is their skill development program. This is the perfect low-risk, high-reward second round investment.
Andre Jackson is a winner, and he proved it during the Huskies' NCAA championship run. He doesn't shoot well and that limits his ceiling, but he's a springy athlete with preternatural basketball I.Q. He loves to play in transition and he will make the small efforts — as a defender, as a screener, as a passer — to elevate teammates and impact winning.
James Nnaji has seen his role increase with Barcelona, one of the best professional programs in Europe. He's a monster athlete with a 7-foot-7 wingspan who profiles as a reliable rim-runner and defensive enforcer.
The Magic double down on their sea of length with Jordan Walsh, the 6-foot-7 defensive specialist with a plus-8 wingspan and untapped offensive potential. He needs to get more consistent from 3, but Walsh was a five-star recruit who displayed a remarkable lack of ego in embracing his role for the ultra-talented Razorbacks.
OKC loves to find interesting and unique intersections of size and skill. Trayce Jackson-Davis can provide more muscle and physicality in the paint. He's slightly undersized for a traditional center, but he plays effortlessly above the rim offensively and he's a tremendous passer for his position.
Maxwell Lewis' Pepperdine team went 2-14 in conference play in the WCC, which isn't exactly known for its high level of competition. His apathy on defense likely harmed his stock, but there's obvious upside tied to his size (6-foot-7), athleticism, and slashing ability.
The Hornets take another local kid in Terquavion Smith, whose pull-up shooting and spark-plug nature could make him the heir apparent to Terry Rozier in Charlotte's backcourt.
Julian Phillips has a lot to prove offensively, but he's a dynamic athlete with great positional size at 6-foot-7. The Nuggets can invest in his defensive stopper potential while hoping the shooting comes along later.
Tristan Vukcevic lit up the combine with his shot-making skills. The NBA loves 7-footers who can bomb 3s and face up on the perimeter, but Vukcevic is a stiff athlete who will get destroyed in space defensively. He doesn't have the strength to battle in the post either. Finding his position on defense will be paramount to making him stick in the NBA.
Sidy Cissoko's inconsistent jumper and lack of finishing moves on offense limit his appeal, but the Wizards can afford to bet on a 6-foot-7 athlete with Cissoko's playmaking instincts and defensive versatility.
Ricky Council is one of the best at-rim finishers in the draft. His burst getting downhill, combined with his contortionist skills in the paint, make him an easy scoring bet if the 3-point shot progresses to the point of respectability.
Marcus Sasser gives San Antonio another source of shooting and shot creation in the backcourt. He's one of the best pull-up marksmen on the board, but there are defensive concerns tied to his small frame.
Another small-school investment for Memphis. Jalen Slawson is a tremendous wing defender who makes up for his limited scoring arsenal with intuitive passing. Best case scenario, he could fill some of the void left by Kyle Anderson's departure last season.
Julian Strawther was one of the best 3-and-D wings in the country at one of the best programs in the country. It's not hard to see the appeal for Atlanta, who could use more size and shooting on the wing following Kevin Huerter's departure.
Mouhamed Gueye is a very rough gem that will need a lot of polishing at the next level, but his mobility, explosiveness, and flashes of mid-range shooting touch make him a very interesting long-term bet for the Lakers in the back quarter of the draft.
The Clippers add skill and size at the 4-spot, a glaring need for the team following Marcus Morris' sharp decline last season. Brown will have to prove he can stick on the defensive end, but he's a crafty face-up scorer and elite 3-point shooter at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds.
The Cavs' lack of size and versatility on the wing killed them in the playoffs. The immediate solution probably won't arrive with the 50th pick, but Keyontae Johnson is a noteworthy athlete who can defend a few positions, hit spot-up 3s, and fly above the rim for finishes.
Nikola Durisic began the season as a potential lottery pick before sliding into the second round mix due to inconsistency and injuries. At 6-foot-8, there's still untapped potential as a shot-creator and multi-positional defender. Maybe the Thunder, who have multiple picks and a lot of depth, can stash him overseas for another year.
Emoni Bates can make tough shots look easy and he has great theoretical size for his position at 6-foot-9, although he desperately needs to add muscle. The problem is, he doesn't show an affinity for passing, nor does he possess the burst and elevation necessary to finish consistently around the rim.
Seth Lundy is another combine standout who now seems destined for second round consideration. He shot 40.5 percent from deep last season and he's a gritty positional defender, although not the quickest in space.
Jalen Wilson operated well as the offensive centerpiece at Kansas. He's impressive attacking downhill with plenty of craft and trickery around the basket, but he will need to get more consistent from 3-point range.
The primary drawback for Hunter Tyson is age, as the 24-year-old spent five years at Clemson. But he's 6-foot-8 with a pristine jumper and good instincts for moving without the ball offensively. He could find a niche in Sacramento's up-tempo, movement-heavy offense.
Jaylen Clark gets after it on the defensive end. His penchant for pickpocketing and disruption could make him stick in the Pacers' backcourt, which is frightfully short on reliable defenders right now.
Tosan Evbuomwan looked great at the G-League Elite camp and parlayed that performance into a combine invite. At 6-foot-8, he was the biggest player on the floor for a Princeton team that went deep into March Madness. His passing skill in the frontcourt is quite unique and it could give the Grizzlies something to tinker with in the second unit.
Chris Livingston was largely disappointing at Kentucky, but 19-year-old wings with his size, strength, and athleticism tend to receive patience from NBA teams.
Drew Timme accomplished a lot at Gonzaga. Now it's time to see if the tempo and style of NBA basketball has passed him by. The Bucks could need some extra size and muscle in the frontcourt depending on the outcome of Brook Lopez's free agency. Timme's strength and skill in the post still has utility.
