Draft season is in full swing and NBA Draft rumors are flying — the Warriors are working out a big sleeper, the Rockets are divided and Victor Wembanyama capes for his teammate.
We're just over two weeks out from the NBA Draft and while the top is taking shape trades and high-rising prospects have the potential to bring all sorts of chaos.
NBA Draft rumors: 3. Warriors are working out Ben Sheppard
Ben Sheppard came out of the NBA Draft Combine with plenty of buzz and could sneak his way into the middle of the first round with some solid team workouts. The 6-foot-6 wing from Belmont averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game during his senior season, shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.
His impressive showing in both the athletic testing and scrimmages at the combine erased some concerns about his ability to produce despite the big jump in competition from the Missouri Valley Conference to the NBA. His offensive versatility and shooting could attract plenty of teams and Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report tabbed him as someone drawing first-round interest,
Sheppard has recently worked out for the Hawks (No. 15 pick), Jazz (No. 16 and No. 28). According to Wasserman, he'll also work out for the Pelicans (No. 14) and Warriors (No. 19) this week. The Warriors, in particular, make for an interesting fit with minutes potentially available on the win next season for an NBA-ready shooter, comfortable finding the open man and moving without the ball.
NBA Draft rumors: 2. Rockets divided on the Thompson twins
We're weeks away from the actual 2023 NBA Draft but the top picks have already begun to take shape. Victor Wembanyama is all but locked into the top spot for the San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets are reportedly deciding between Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson. Whoever the Hornets don't take, will likely go No. 3 either to the Trail Blazers or whoever trades up with them into that slot.
That leaves the Rockets at No. 4 deciding between a handful of prospects with the twins, Ausar and Amen Thompson, near the top of the board. There are a lot of similarities between the two — both are explosive athletes with great size on the wing and fantastic two-way potential. Amen is further along as a ball-handler and creator. Ausar is perhaps more ready as a defender and appears to have made more progress as a shooter. According to Jonathan Wasserman, that has left the Rockets somewhat divided between which player they prefer:
"A source told B/R the Rockets are content with their choices at No. 4, specifically Amen and Ausar Thompson. It's likely that one of the twins will be selected at that spot since Wembanyama, Miller, and Henderson are the presumed top 3 picks.
Although we slightly favor Amen over Ausar, teams don't perceive a significant difference between them. Though neither participated in drills or pro days at the combine, new video of Ausar's shooting and tweaked mechanics have made it to scouts, and they sound encouraged by the tape.
If the Rockets anticipate signing Harden after the draft, Ausar's shooting would make him a better fit. Amen, on the other hand, is a more natural playmaker but less suited for an off-ball role."
NBA Draft rumors: 1. Victor Wembanyama is hyping up Bilal Coulibaly
Victor Wembanyama helped put French team, Metropolitans 92, on the international map this season and likely helped raise the draft stock of teammate Bilal Coulibaly. The long, athletic wing has impressed with his physical tools and two-way upside and while Wembanyama has been preparing for the draft, Coulibaly has been continuing to show out for the Mets 92. And Wembanyama wants to make sure everyone knows just how good his teammate is.
Coulibaly is ranked at No. 14 on our latest NBA Draft Big Board and Chris Kline helped Wemby make the case for him in his full scouting report:
"There's a reason Coulibaly would probably be a top-10 pick in 2024 and the best NBA front offices maintain the longest view in the room. Coulibaly might not possess star-creator upside, but he's a potentially elite do-it-all defender who can make his impact felt with hustle plays or out in transition.
If the 3-point shot progresses, it's hard to imagine Coulibaly not contributing amply on both sides of the ball. Even the best draft classes only have a couple true No. 1 stars, if that. Getting high-level complementary pieces is extremely valuable.
There's a lot of talent in the 2023 lottery, but it's not unreasonable to argue that Coulibaly should get looks in that late lottery range — especially from teams with a strong track record of player development and the proper infrastructure to support the growth of such a young, innately gifted individual."
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