The 2023 NBA Draft is under two weeks away and it is time to take a look at the latest NBA mock draft ahead of the big event. It is a very top-heavy draft class with several players who would’ve been the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.
Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and Brandon Miller are all viewed as future superstars. Without further ado, here’s our 2023 NBA mock draft with the official order following the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday, May 16.
Related: Eligibility for all future NBA Drafts changed by major rule addition in new CBA
When is the 2023 NBA Draft?
The 2023 NBA Draft will take place on June 22, 2023, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be fully broadcasted on ESPN while the first round will be simulcasted on ABC. Both rounds will be completed that night as the NBA Draft doesn’t go multiple days like other sports.
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, center, France
Victor Wembanyama is a 7-foot-4 France native that boasts an absurd 7-foot-8 wingspan and displayed flashes of brilliance playing for Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A. Wembanyama averaged 21.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.2 blocks this season. Amazingly, he has the ability to stretch the court from three-point range and already displays an elite jump shot. That was magnified during exhibition performances in Las Vegas with some around the NBA indicating that Wembanyama is the best prospect since LeBron James.
Our updated 2023 NBA mock draft officially gives San Antonio the generational big man to team up with the likes of Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan following the NBA Draft Lottery.
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, forward, Alabama
Brandon Miller burst onto the scene and it was for good reason as the 6-foot-9 freshman forward was on a tear this season. Miller’s shot-making and athleticism are very intriguing to scouts in the league despite a rough NCAA tournament. The forward’s size and skill set as a forward will make him a high pick in the 2023 NBA draft and the Hornets will make that happen as they pair him with LaMelo Ball and company.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, guard, G-League Ignite
Scoot Henderson looks like he belongs in the league with ambitions to torch the NBA. Experts believe that Henderson could have been the No. 1 pick in last year’s NBA Draft, primarily due to his explosion off the dribble and already advanced size for someone his age. Henderson translates better to the point guard spot at the next level too. However, Wembanyana and Miller will likely get the nod over Henderson because the Hornets believe they have a better fit for Miller.
With this selection, Portland pairs Henderson with Damian Lillard and more young talent.
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite
One of two twins in the 2023 NBA draft class, Amen Thompson is going to be a hot commodity after Wembanyana, Miller, and Henderson. Standing at 6-foot-7, he is an amazing playmaker who loves to play above the rim. Thompson possesses an elite athletic ability that makes him a rare find for young players. Many might knock him due to his limited shooting but his finishing, passing, and defense help his case tremendously. Houston adds Thompson in our latest NBA mock draft to pair with Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr.
5. Detroit Pistons: Cam Whitmore, forward, Villanova
Cam Whitmore boasts an NBA-ready 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame as he looks to jump to the next level despite the struggles that Villanova faced by missing the NCAA tournament. Whitmore’s length and athleticism will be really intriguing to NBA teams throughout the pre-draft process. He was not part of a winning college basketball team but he should translate really well to the next level with a high upside. Here, we have Detroit pairing him with Cade Cunningham and company.
6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, guard, Overtime Elite
Ausar Thompson is just as explosive as his twin Amen, who is going off the board the No. 4 to Houston. Thompson is a better defender than his brother and excels at turning it into offense. The 6-foot-7 guard played well in the playoffs and could go even higher. Orlando will pair Thompson at No. 6 overall with Paolo Bancherro and company in our latest NBA mock draft.
7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, forward, Houston
Jarace Walker stands at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds with the ability to grow into that frame even more. Scouts fell in love with Walker’s game over the closing months of the season and could easily go higher than his predicted position. Indiana adds him to a young core of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin with the No. 7 selection in the NBA Draft.
20 best NBA players of all time
8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black, guard, Arkansas
Anthony Black climbed draft boards after injuries affected Arkansas. The 6-foot-7 guard made the best of his opportunity and will end up being a lottery pick in this year’s draft. Black’s start is what propelled him up draft boards and he should transition well to the next level. The freshman guard goes to Washington in our latest NBA mock draft to pair with Bradley Beal and company.
9. Utah Jazz: Gradey Dick, forward, Kansas
Gradey Dick was one of the fastest-rising stars in the country for a Kansas squad that was among the best teams. The 6-foot-8 guard was electric from beyond the arc as his shooting should transition well to the NBA. The Jazz add Dick to pair him with a young core that includes Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Taylor Hendricks, forward, UCF
Taylor Hendricks has been skyrocketing on draft boards since the start of the 2022-23 season and it’s understandable for a player of his caliber. The forward was hot the entire year and produced great numbers from anywhere on the floor, specifically beyond the arc. The Mavericks take Hendricks at No. 10 overall in our NBA mock draft to pair him with Luka Doncic.
11. Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Bilal Coulibaly, forward, France
Bilal Coulibaly is the teammate of Wembanyana for the Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A and has has been boosting his stock in a major way during the playoffs. Coulibaly has an incredible burst as a two-way player and could provide incredible defense in the NBA with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. Here, we have the Magic pairing Coulibaly with Ausar Thompson for a huge haul from the 2023 class.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Hawkins, guard, Connecticut
Jordan Hawkins was one of the main players for Connecticut’s championship-winning team during its March Madness run and it is not a surprise to see him this high in the 2023 NBA mock draft. Hawkins stands at 6-foot-5 and will be a lethal shooter from beyond the three-point line in the NBA. Here, we have Oklahoma City pairing him with Shai-Gilgeous Alexander in the backcourt.
13. Toronto Raptors: Cason Wallace, guard, Kentucky
Cason Wallace’s defensive gifts have him landing with the Raptors as the No. 13 overall pick. While his scoring is not as dangerous, it was not too bad during the season as his shooting was efficient alongside a growing Kentucky team. The 6-foot-4 guard appears to be a good fit anywhere in the NBA and Toronto represents a great landing spot for him with the potential of a big role.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Keyonte George, guard, Baylor
Experts view Keyonte George as someone who can already score at all three levels with the ability to use his 6-foot-5 frame to dominate smaller defenders before the season. This continued at the college level in the Big 12 with Baylor as he was scoring at a high level despite some troubles. George will only get better and that is why he’s linked to New Orleans in our 2023 NBA mock draft.
2023 NBA mock draft: Non-lottery picks
15. Atlanta Hawks: Nick Smith Jr., guard, Arkansas
16. Utah Jazz (from Timberwolves): Jalen Hood-Schifino, forward, Indiana
17. Los Angles Lakers: Dereck Lively II, center, Duke
18. Miami Heat: Kobe Bufkin, guard, Michigan
19. Golden State Warriors: Maxwell Lewis, forward, Pepperdine
20. Houston Rockets (from Clippers): Leonard Miller, forward, G-League Ignite
21. Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): Ben Sheppard, guard, Belmont
22. Brooklyn Nets: G.G. Jackson, forward, South Carolina
23. Portland Trail Blazers (from Knicks): Kris Murray, forward, Iowa
24. Sacramento Kings: Dariq Whitehead, forward, Duke
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Jamie Jaquez Jr., guard, UCLA
26. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers): Jett Howard, guard, Michigan
27. Charlotte Hornets (from Nuggets): Brandin Podziemski, guard, Santa Clara
28. Utah Jazz (from 76ers): Noah Clowney, forward, Alabama
29. Indiana Pacers (from Celtics): Rayan Rupert, guard, France
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Bucks): Colby Jones, guard, Xavier
2023 NBA mock draft: Round 2 Predictions
31. Detroit Pistons: Amari Bailey, guard, UCLA
32. Indiana Pacers (from Rockets): Trayce Jackson-Davis, forward, Indiana
33. San Antonio Spurs: Julian Strawther, forward, Gonzaga
34. Charlotte Hornets: Bobi Klintman, forward, Wake Forest
35. Boston Celtics (from Portland Trail Blazers): James Nnaji, center, Barcelona
36. Orlando Magic: Andre Jackson Jr., forward, Connecticut
37. Denver Nuggets (from Thunder): Terquavion Smith, guard, North Carolina St.
38. Sacramento Kings (from Pacers): Tristan Vukcevic, forward, KK Partizan
39. Charlotte Hornets (from Jazz): Jordan Walsh, forward, Arkansas
40. Denver Nuggets (from Mavericks): Olivier-Maxence Prosper, forward,
41. Charlotte Hornets (from Thunder): Marquette Sidy Cissoko, guard, G-League Ignite
42. Washington Wizards (from Bulls): Keyontae Johnson, forward, Kansas St.
43. Portland Trail Blazers (from Hawks): Jalen Wilson, forward, Kansas
44. San Antonio Spurs (from Raptors): Marcus Sasser, guard, Houston
45. Memphis Grizzlies (from Timberwolves): Nikola Djurisic, forward, Serbia
46. Atlanta Hawks (from Pelicans): Seth Lundy, forward, Penn St.
47. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Brown, forward, Missouri
48. Los Angeles Clippers: Adama Sanogo, center, UConn
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Warriors): Jaylen Clark, forward, UCLA
50. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Jordan Miller, forward, Miami
51. Brooklyn Nets: Chris Livington, forward, Kentucky
52. Phoenix Suns: Ricky Council IV, forward, Arkansas
53. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Knicks): Emoni Bates, forward, Eastern Michigan
54. Sacramento Kings: Drew Timmie, forward, Gonzaga
55. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers): Mike Miles Jr., guard, TCU
56. Memphis Grizzlies: Oscar Tshiebwe, center, Kentucky
57. Washington Wizards (from Celtics): Mojave King, guard, G-League Ignite
58. Milwaukee Bucks: Mouhamed Gueye, forward, Washington St.
Let us know what you think about our latest 2023 NBA mock draft in the comment section below.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
