2023 NBA Mock Draft (V2)

It's officially NBA Draft week. The San Antonio Spurs have won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes and will take him with the first pick of the draft barring a shocking change. With the questions surrounding Damian Lillard's future and the back-and-forth debate between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller at No. 2, Thursday's draft should be an entertaining night. 

There's been a lot of risers from the first version of the our mock draft. Names like Kobe Bufkin and Dereck Lively have improved their stock with draft workouts and interviews. International prospects like Bilal Coulibaly and James Nnaji showed off some eye-popping physical tests that could bode well for them on draft night. 

With that all being said, we put together the final version of our mock draft. 

Position: Forward 
Height: 7’4”
Weight: 196 pounds
Age: 19

This selection has been a no-brainer for over a year. Victor Wembanyama is one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history. Standing at 7-foot-4, Wemby moves like a wing, shoots like a wing, and protects the rim at a high level. He’s the ultimate unicorn and no matter what team lands the No. 1 spot, they will be selecting Wemby. Wemby would inject life into a Spurs that has been nearly unwatchable the past few years. 

Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 196 pounds
Age: 19

This is where the draft begins. While Wemby is a lock for the No. 1 pick. There's been a back-and-forth discussion on who should go No. 2 between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller. Ultimately, the Hornets seemed to like Scoot better after working out the two during the draft process. With LaMelo's size, there shouldn't be a major issue starting him and Scoot together. Brandon Miller may be a better fit but you always choose the best player available especially this early in the draft. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 200 pounds

Age: 20

Brandon Miller’s game doesn’t need much explanation. In a league dominated by wings, Miller is a 6-foot-9 do-it-all forward who can handle the ball, shoot at an elite level and has flashed the ability to be a high-level playmaker for others. The combination of size, length and shooting makes him a lay-up top three pick. The Blazers can take all the wing scoring they can get. 

Position: Guard
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 20

Amen Thompson is an elite athlete, maybe the best in the class, and has a ridiculous first step. At the absolute worst, he projects to be a high-level defensive wing that pops as a devastating cutter on the offensive end. If he refines his jumper, there is legitimate star potential here with him.

Position: Guard
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 20

The twins are similar in a lot of ways and while both Ausar and Amen struggle as shooters, Ausar has the edge in the shooting category. Ausar, Cade Cunningham, and Jaden Ivey could form a young, entertaining backcourt core. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 18

Outside of Wembanyama and Henderson, Whitmore could possess the most upside of any player in the draft. At 18 years old, he already has a grown man’s body but has elite athleticism combined with legitimate ability to create offense for himself from beyond the arc and at the rim. Do not be surprised if he turns out to be one of the stars of this draft three years down the line.

Position: Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 210 pounds 

Age: 19

The Pacers have to value length & versatility at every possession. Few prospects pair those things as well as Taylor Hendricks does at his 6-foot-9 frame. An average of 1.8 three pointers made per game on 39 percent and 1.7 blocks per game make him one of the most unique players in the draft. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 240 pounds

Age: 19

Walker already possesses an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds. Combine that with his athleticism and the fact he played for Kelvin Sampson at Houston, he will be an impact multi-positional defender from day one in the NBA. His 34.7 3-point percentage also shows untapped potential as a shooter at the next level.

Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 19

The Jazz have a longterm need at the point guard position. Cason Wallace’s defense and spot-up shooting are the skills that can translate from Day 1. While there’s reasons to be skeptical of his upside as a creator, he could be anywhere in between Jrue Holiday and Marcus Smart offensively once he reaches his prime.

Position: Center

Height: 7’1”

Weight: 230 pounds

Age: 19

Coming out of high school, Dereck Lively II was the No. 1 player in the class according to ESPN. Lively got off to a slow start at Duke, hampered by injuries and adjustment to the college game, which led to people questioning what they saw in him as a prospect. That quickly dissolved in the second half of the season when Lively started to dominate games defensively. He won games without scoring. He’s still very raw offensively but his ability to switch on to perimeter players to go along with his elite rim protection are valuable traits to make an instant impact. He also has potential as a shooter which would skyrocket his value at his size. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 19

Gradey Dick fits the modern NBA game perfectly. He’s a 6-foot-8 sharpshooter with respectable athleticism. Off those qualities alone you can find a longtime role for him in the NBA. He shot 40 percent from deep this season despite having his share of erratic shooting performances, his shot will fall on the next level. You’ll have to see if he can grow in the shot creation category but there’s a role for him in this league. 

Position: Guard/Wing
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 19

Anthony Black’s lack of shooting is a concern, but he makes up for it in every other area of the game. He’s a quality playmaker for himself and others, can defend multiple positions on the perimeter, and has one of the highest IQ’s of any player in the draft. More aggressiveness on the court could take his game to another level.

Position: Wing
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 18

Bilal Coulibaly is one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft due to his size on the perimeter, elite athleticism, and the fact that he won’t be 19-years-old until July 26. If it weren’t for his Metropolitan 92 teammate Victor Wembanyama being in this same draft class, Coulibaly might be viewed as the top international prospect in this class. Coulibaly would give the Raptors another versatile athlete in the mold of players they have had recently such as Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, and his age allows them to take their time with him to develop him into a legitimate player for them down the line. On pure upside alone, there aren’t many players in this class who have a higher ceiling.

Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 19

Kobe Bufkin is one of the most underrated players in the draft. Offensively, he’s a good finisher, good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, good at attacking closeouts, and he can create for himself. Defensively, he should be able to guard both guard spots in the NBA. The huge jump from his freshman Year to his sophomore Year indicate he’s willing to put the work in to improve and despite being a sophomore, he will only be 19 on draft night. You’re betting on his upside.

Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 19

George was up-and-down as a freshman, shooting just 37.6 percet from the field and 33.8 percent from 3-point range. But there is no denying his offensive skill set, and it’s fair to wonder if most of his inefficiency boils down to shot selection and refining his game. He has unlimited range on his jumper and can create his own offense without screen.

Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 20

Jordan Hawkins was arguably a borderline lottery talent before the tournament and his play in the Big Dance did nothing but strengthen that case as he averaged 16.3 points on 66.3 percent true shooting. The 6-foot-5 guard’s shooting ability should make him a seamless offensive fit in Utah and his defensive ability flashed through the year as well. The Jazz taking a player with a defined skillset and high floor (high ceiling as well) at 16 after betting on upside with their ninth pick makes too much sense.

Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 215 pounds

Age: 21

Although they’re identical twins, Kris Murray is not like his brother Keegan on the court. With that being said, Kris can still have a solid NBA career. He’s still provides a team with floor spacing at his size and was a great rebounder at Iowa. He’s a better shooter than his numbers show last year and he was definitely hampered by injuries early in the season. Even as a rookie, he provides some maturity to a Rockets that’s really young. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 18

Miami is in desperate need of adding size. Clowney is the prototypical stretch big man prospect. At 6 ‘10 he has the height and length to play both the power forward and center position, while flashing potential as a shooter at the next level. As his body develops, so will his game, making him a viable pro and rotational big man.

Position: Forward
Height: 6’6 
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 19

Brice Sensabaugh is an interesting prospect. He’s got a husky frame but isn’t necessarily a bruiser. In fact, he was one of the better shooters in college basketball as a freshman and overall scorers in this draft. He’s a pure bucket getter. The questions will be with his ability to guard wings or interior guys. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’10’
Weight: 211 Pounds
Age: 19 

Leonard Miller to the Rockets is a dream fit. His experience playing alongside a  good young lead guard & playmaker like Scoot should ensure that his transition seamless. The Rockets would stacking up on versatility at the forward spots with Jabari Smith and Tari Eason entering their sophomore years. Drafting Amen Thompson and Leonard would be nice additions to their young core. 

Position: Guard
Height: 6’6” 
Weight: 213 pounds
Age: 19

Jalen Hood-Schifino's size and shot creation are his best attributes, and despite being a 33 percent 3-point shooter in his lone season at Indiana, we believe that he’s a better shooter than his percentages indicated. The Nets won’t pass on a rare opportunity to add a high upside player who also helps fill a need at this range of the draft in this scenario.

Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 6’6
Weight: 207 pounds 
Age: 20 

Colby Jones could be one of the best plug and play pieces in the draft. He’s a great connective player which can best be shown by complimentary skills such as his shooting (37.8 percent from 3), rebounding (5.7 rebounds), and his passing (4.4 assists per game compared to only 2.3 turnovers.) He’s an efficient basketball player that does all the little things well. The Nets can use his versatility. 

Position: Guard
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 19

Jett Howard can do something his father and former head coach, Juwan, couldn’t do, and that’s shoot the ball at high clip from deep. At his size, Jett brings great upside to the next level and his shot-making ability gives him a shot to be a really good player on the next level. Jett shot 37 percent from deep this season with a high volume. 

Position: Guard/Wing
Height: 6’6” 
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 21

This might seem like a reach but when you get to this portion of the first round, you start to look for players that have a specific trait to fill a need. National champion Andre Jackson is a superb defender and perfect glue guy for winning teams. The Kings are a winning team that still has its struggles defensively. Adding a guy like Jackson that can defend off the bat and be that glue guy on the floor would be a great fit. 

Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 185 pounds

Age: 18

Smith Jr. experienced a rollercoaster of a season at Arkansas, battling through injuries and trying to find a role on the team after missing time. He wasn’t particularly efficient as a freshman (37.6 percent shooting), but he was a consensus top-five recruit. That pedigree combined with a team believing he is more capable than what he was able to show at Arkansas is enough for somebody to take flier on him. He can score from all three levels on the floor, is most comfortable in the mid-range, and has intriguing length.

Position: Guard
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 18

Rayan Rupert is raw, extremely young, and he has elite physical tools (7-foot-3 wingspan). He's a player you take a chance on with the potential of his upside. If he develops his game, his floor can be very high. There's a lot of defensive potential with those physical attributes. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’9” 
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 18

After reclassifying in high school, GG Jackson comes in as one of the younger prospects in the draft. He looked young at many points this season playing for a struggling South Carolina team but the upside is there. He has potential to seriously stretch the floor and he’s very-skilled freak athlete. Give him an opportunity to learn and fail and you could get the best out of him. 

Position: Guard/Wing
Height: 6’6” 
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 18

If Dariq Whitehead had a healthy season at Duke, he’d likely go in the top seven and as early at No. 5. We never really saw the real Dariq Whitehead at Duke even when he had big games. Whitehead didn’t come into Duke as a shooter but he shot the lights when he was on the floor, shooting 43% percent from deep. While he may not live up to that number, if the jumper continues to improve and he regains his confidence and athleticism back, he will be a steal. If you take him here, you just have to hope he recovers well from his second procedure. 

Position: Forward
Height: 6’7” 
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 20

Maxwell Lewis has three-level scoring potential, and despite his defense being more about potential than reality at this point of his development, it’s hard to believe with his agility and size that he isn’t eventually a positive on defense. He’s good from two (52.6 percent), above average from three (34.8 percentage), and gets to the line (4.4 free throw attempts per game.) 

Position: Center
Height: 7’0” 
Weight: 250 pounds

Age: 18

James Nnaji is the second best international big man in this class after Wemby. He’s a raw a talent who will need some years of development as the game is still fairly new to him but the potential is there. He’s playing in the second best league in the world. His physicality to go along with his defensive potential may be worth the wait. His measurements are frightening with his 7-foot-7 wingspan and chiseled frame at a young age.