2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lotto Edition
The order is finally set, and the Spurs won the grand prize! Where do we go from here?
1. Victor Wembanyama
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 7’5”
Weight: 220 lbs
Wingspan: 8’0”
Age: 19.4 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Metropolitans 92, 23-11 record):
21.5 PTS | 2.4 AST | 2.6 TOV | 10.4 TRB (2.0 ORB)
0.7 STL | 3.0 BLK | 2.0 PFS
208/371 (56.1%) on 2PTs
47/171 (27.5%) on 3PTs
174/215 (80.9%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
If you’re reading this dingy old Substack, you don’t need me to sell you on Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs future now revolves around this new celestial body entering the NBA solar system. The clock starts now.
2. Scoot Henderson
Selected by the Orlando Magic (via the Charlotte Hornets)
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9”
Age: 19.3 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (G League Ignite, 11-21 record):
16.5 PTS | 6.8 AST | 3.4 TOV | 5.3 TRB (1.0 ORB)
1.1 STL | 0.6 BLK | 3.3 PFS
111/217 (51.2%) on 2PTs
14/51 (27.5%) on 3PTs
42/55 (76.4%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Thought to be a known commodity, the floor has started to fall out for previously presumed #2 pick Scoot Henderson. Pitches have been made for Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and others to jump Scoot in the pecking order - these are big, long athletes with intriguing ball skills that need a lot of refining in a lot of areas. What Scoot offers is an instant transformation of your offense into “The Scoot Show” - a spectacle I think could begin to yield real playoff results as early as his 3rd NBA season.
In this theoretical exchange, Orlando manages to move from pick #6 to #3, and from there exchange the #3 pick for #2. This is going to require some serious trade capital - likely shipping Wendell Carter and the #11 pick (+ more) to Portland, and other future assets to Charlotte to truly secure the rights to draft Scoot. But this exchange is worth it, in both the clarity it provides to your rotation and in the unbelievably explosive upside of an offense powered by Scoot Henderson + Paolo Banchero + Franz Wagner. The NBA is such a volatile market, and as the money grows so does the pressure to win - this is a move that gives you a chance to elevate your franchise to a level previously unattainable, one that selecting Taylor Hendricks and Gradey Dick can never lift you to. Scoot Henderson is a superstar talent and a superstar human being, and I hope we see Orlando take a gamble on someone truly transcendent.
3. Brandon Miller
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets (via Portland —> Orlando)
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11” - 7’1” (Rumored)
Age: 20.5 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Alabama Crimson Tide, 31-6 record):
18.8 PTS | 2.1 AST | 2.2 TOV | 8.2 TRB (2.1 ORB)
0.9 STL | 0.9 BLK | 2.4 PFS
116/240 (48.3%) on 2PTs
106/276 (38.4%) on 3PTs
146/170 (85.9%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Brandon Miller will face a reckoning in the coming month leading up to the draft as he is set to become a face of an NBA franchise. There will be scrutiny from all fronts regarding the events of January 15th that lead to Jamae Jonae Harris being shot to death. The Hornets are a franchise that is familiar with issues of morality and legality, with former lottery pick Miles Bridges pleading “No Contest” to charges of Felony Domestic Violence about six months ago. There are rumors that Bridges will rejoin the team for the upcoming 2023-24 season, and there are plenty of rumors that Brandon Miller is the desired target for the Charlotte Hornets. In this scenario, they trade down from #3 to #2 to allow Orlando to take Scoot off the board, but the selection of Brandon Miller goes beyond basketball, and beyond what I know how to speak about in a public setting.
4. Amen Thompson
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’7” | 6’ 5.75” w/o shoes
Weight: 214.2 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Age: 20.3 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (OTE City Reapers, 21-1 record):
15.7 PTS | 6.6 AST | 3.1 TOV | 6.3 TRB (1.2 ORB)
2.1 STL | 0.7 BLK | 2.3 PFS
116/182 (63.7%) on 2PTs
16/63 (25.4%) on 3PTs
66/96 (68.8%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Amen Thompson may be the single greatest enigma in this class. His ability to move in all three dimensions on a basketball court is astonishing; his combination of blinding speed, explosive leaping and nimble dexterity are undeniable. But there is an additional layer to his game, one that puts him in contention for a top 5 selection - flashes of brilliance as a quick processor and distributor that allow him to potentially dominate the game, even without a reliable jump shot. Scoring is his glaring weakness, not just as a shooter but as a finisher; inconsistency dampens his efficiency, and sometimes Amen seems to forego the easy play in search of a spectacular one - which can be a good idea, but the easy play is what wins over 82 game seasons (and 7 game series).
Houston fans may be disappointed to land down at #4, but pairing Jalen Green and Amen Thompson is an awfully enticing proposition - what Amen lacks in scoring Jalen provides in spades, and in turn Jalen can focus on scoring while Amen facilitates the offence and constantly pushes the pace in transition. Defensively Amen will need to learn discipline, but he has the physical gifts to guard the quickest ball handlers around screens, while still holding up against bulkier wings with his 7’ wingspan. With Amen, Jalen, Jabari and Sengun, Houston has a real core of young talent, and with next year’s draft pick already en route to Oklahoma City, the Rockets have no incentive to lose under Ime Udoka. Amen is the perfect personality to add to a push for the play-in, and his skills will certainly shine through in the NBA.
5. Cam Whitmore
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’7” | 6’5.75” w/o shoes
Weight: 235 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.5”
Age: 18.9 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Villanova Wildcats 17-17 record):
12.5 PTS | 0.7 AST | 1.6 TOV | 5.3 TRB (0.8 ORB)
1.4 STL | 0.3 BLK | 1.7 PFS
85/147 (57.8%) on 2PTs
37/108 (34.3%) on 3PTs
45/64 (70.3%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
The most devastating moment of the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery was watching the worst team in the league pop up at #5, failing to last until the commercial break, let alone secure a generational talent in the top two of this draft. However, not all hope is lost for Pistons fans. Cam Whitmore has been a tough evaluation for me personally this year; his statistics are inconsistent and seemingly full of noise, mostly because his sample size (and effectiveness) was limited by an injury to the thumb of his shooting hand about a month before the start of the NCAA season. After missing a month, Whitmore came back and was unsurprisingly inconsistent with the ball in his hands, both as a creator and a shooter. But it was clear he played with a level of power unrivaled even in a competitive Big East, and frankly in all of college basketball.
In my estimation, Cam Whitmore is the second best complementary player in this class behind Brandon Miller. This suits the Pistons well, who can start Whitmore off as a turbo-charged Saddiq Bey impersonator and let him develop his on-ball creation when Cunningham and/or Ivey are off the floor. In crunch time, Whitmore can earn his spot with physically imposing defense on wings and forwards, energy as a rebounder and transition player, and by hitting shots in opportune times. Cam fits in at either forward spot, and could even play SG in some jumbo lineups if his on-ball juice really comes around. Now with Cam in the mix, Cade Cunningham is surrounded by quite an impressive fleet of speedsters and muscle cars here in the Motor City.
6. Ausar Thompson
Selected by the Portland Trailblazers (via Orlando)
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’7” | 6’ 5.75” w/o shoes
Weight: 218.2lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Age: 20.3 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (OTE City Reapers, 21-1 record):
16.6 PTS | 5.5 AST | 3.1 TOV | 6.2 TRB (1.7 ORB)
2.4 STL | 1.1 BLK | 2.1 PFS
102/187 (54.5%) on 2PTs
33/99 (33.3%) on 3PTs
63/90 (70.0%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
This is a bit of a hedge on the Damian Lillard discussion - but I do think it’s reasonable to see the Blazers trading down in the draft, especially if the Hornets are willing to pass on Scoot. Maybe Joe Cronin and Mike Schmitz have sold Lillard on a multi-year rebuild, in which case taking someone like Ausar Thompson is certainly appealing. His role is nebulous, but arguably more malleable than his brother Amen - since Ausar has grown up as a wing off-the-ball, there is less mental adjustment needed to fit alongside Damian Lillard & Anfernee Simons. Frankly, this team has been awful on both ends for the past couple of years any time they have really tried to be competitive, and while I don’t expect Ausar to be a particularly positive half-court offensive force in his first couple of years, I think the defensive playmaking could add a real boost, and with Shaedon Sharpe at his side you’ve got a couple of turbocharged jets taking off in transition.
After thinking about it a little bit more, I think the pitch here is more regular season focused - if the Blazers can’t win 50 games and secure a top 4 seed, it’s going to be a whole lot harder to make a real playoff run in the near future. Adding flawed yet talented prospects like Ausar allows you to potentially bolster your regular season prowess will saving Damian Lillard’s best play for the playoffs - that may Dame’s best chance of getting to another Western Conference Finals or beyond in Portland.
7. Taylor Hendricks
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 210 lbs
Wingspan: ???
Age: 19.5 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (UCF, 19-15 record):
15.1 PTS | 1.4 AST | 1.4 TOV | 7.0 TRB (ORB)
0.9 STL | 1.7 BLK | 2.0 PFS
123/230 (53.5%) on 2PTs
61/155 (39.4%) on 3PTs
86/110 (78.2%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Initially I penned in Jarace Walker at this slot, but after further deliberation I think Taylor Hendricks gets snatched up instead. While I see true superstar upside with Walker, he is a clearly inferior shooter compared to Hendricks, probably to a level the Pacers would find hard to look past. I think that’s especially given they already have a franchise pillar in Tyrese Haliburton who would throw approximately one million assists to Hendricks in his first year. I think this is an example where “Best Player Available” meets the cold hard reality of, well, reality - which is a place where context always matters. Here are two pieces of context:
Herb Simon has owned the Indiana Pacers since 1983.
Herb Simon is currently 88 years old.
The Pacers last made the NBA Finals in 2000, when they lost to Kobe & Shaq. They last made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2014, when they lost to LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. I don’t know that the Pacers have much chance at winning a title in the next few years, but I believe they would want to win at a high level if possible, rather than risking a long-term tanking effort. Taylor Hendricks is a fantastic prospect, and one of the oft-forgotten rules of drafting is to draft people who are good at basketball. If he is a key part of a long playoff run for the Pacers, there won’t be an ounce of regret in this pick.
8. Nick Smith Jr.
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 185 lbs
Wingspan: ??
Age: 19.1
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Arkansas Razorbacks, 22-14 record):
12.5 PTS | 1.7 AST | 1.6 TOV | 1.6 TRB (0.2 ORB)
0.8 STL | 0.1 BLK | 1.5 PFS
52/131 (39.7%) on 2PTs
24/71 (33.8%) on 3PTs
37/50 (74.0%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Nick Smith Jr. has been tied to the Wizards since before the season began, namely due to his time playing on Bradley Beal’s AAU team. But another reason Nick Smith makes sense for the Wizards is that their starting point guard last year was Monte Morris. And a third reason is that after taking swings on guys like Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, and Rui Hachimura, I’d love to see the Wizards invest in a big time talent with a huge pedigree, a guy that came into college hyped as the best point guard in the class behind Scoot Henderson, and potentially one of the best shooters in the class.
Smith’s playmaking, scoring, and high intensity level had him mocked as high as #3 in the preseason, but after suffering a right knee injury he missed Arkansas’ first six games, returned for the next five, and then missed two months when the knee continued to be an issue. After much debate around whether he would even attempt to return for the Razorbacks’ and risk his guaranteed spot in the top 10, Smith returned for 7 SEC games and the team’s SEC & NCAA tournament runs, the latter of which was a struggle for Nick Smith personally, but was a success for the team as a whole when they upset #1 seed Kansas 72-71 to reach the Sweet 16. While the on-court production is unarguably lacking, I still find myself impressed with Smith’s demeanor, his sense of professionalism despite the tumultuous season and the complementary role. Is that enough reason to draft a guy #8 overall? No. But it is another point in favor of the former top 3 overall recruit in last year’s HS class.
9. Brice Sensabaugh
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 235 lbs
Wingspan: ???
Age: 19.6
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Ohio State Buckeyes, 16-19 record):
16.3 PTS | 1.2 AST | 2.0 TOV | 5.4 TRB (1.3 ORB)
0.5 STL | 0.4 BLK | 2.5 PFS
137/262 (52.3%) on 2PTs
60/148 (40.5%) on 3PTs
83/100 (83.0%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Brice is one of the trickier prospects to evaluate in this class, and one that I could see having the widest range of financial outcomes in this draft - to me he could go as high as 7 or as low as the 20’s, which is a heck of a difference in your first contract. He did not participate in the combine, so we don’t have updated measurements, but at approximately 6’6 and 235 lbs, Sensabaugh put up 16.3 PPG on 48/40/83 splits on the year - in less than 25 minutes per game. That level of production and efficiency is pretty dang stunning, especially coming from a guy that was ranked only 49th in last year’s high school class, in part due to multiple injuries suffered during high school. But it’s hard not to notice the reason he sat on the bench over 35% of the Buckeyes’ minutes on the bench - he isn’t just a low effort defender, he genuinely struggles to keep up with guys due to his slow feet and his slow reaction time. Certainly some of that can be alleviated with a strict diet and professional workout regimen, not to mention an 82 game season, but Sensabaugh is really far away from being a passable defender on the wing at this point.
With that said, I find it simple to lay out my case for Utah as the perfect fit for Sensabaugh - Walker Kessler is the key. Like Rudy Gobert before him, Walker Kessler acts as such an effective rim deterrent that it empowers perimeter defenders on his team to play more aggressively on the perimeter, as the downside of a drive is limited by the interior defense. I’m not going to delude either of us into thinking that makes Brice an effective defender, but at least it gives him a much smaller scope to focus on - learn to get around screens, stay down on pump fakes, and contest without crowding the shooter. Speaking of shooting, his offensive fit is rather seamless - Brice is a wonderful off-ball scorer, and a trio of him, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler allows for a lot of options in the backcourt going forward.
10. Gradey Dick
Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’8” | 6’6.25” w/o shoes
Weight: 204 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.75”
Age: 19.5 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Kansas Jayhawks, 28-8 record):
14.1 PTS | 1.7 AST | 1.3 TOV | 5.1 TRB (1.1 ORB)
1.4 STL | 0.3 BLK | 2.1 PFS
91/188 (48.4%) on 2PTs
83/206 (40.3%) on 3PTs
76/89 (85.4%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
You’ve gotta be able to tune out on-court distractions when you’re a 6’8 white guy named Dick playing high level basketball, and that ain’t gonna change when Gradey reaches the NBA. But his shooting pedigree speaks for itself, and his toughness comes out in contested layups and recovery blocks which complement his sweet shooting ability. The lateral agility is not great for a guy that plays like a wing, not like a forward, but a 6’9 wingspan is still substantial, and 40% on 200+ 3PT attempts as a freshman on the team that had just won the National Title is impossible to ignore.
Dallas opted out of the play-in last year in an attempt to secure this pick; I’d say safe money is on them trading out of the draft for veteran role player(s), but in my estimation Gradey Dick is the best win-now option on the wing at this point in the draft. Dick has no problem sitting in the corner or on the wing while Luka or Kyrie orchestrates the offense, and he’ll have no problem hitting 40%+ on those open shots right away. Dallas is not a particularly balanced team, and their goal seems to be to score as many points as possible no matter what. Gradey Dick certainly won’t help their defense, but I’d say he’s certainly less prone to getting attacked than Luka or Kyrie themselves. Again, safe money is on them trading this pick , but I think Dick is a guy they would bet on fitting alongside Luka.
11. Jarace Walker
Selected by the Portland Trailblazers (via Orlando)
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’8” | 6’6.5” w/o shoes
Weight: 248.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7’2.5”
Age: 19.7 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Houston Cougars, 33-4 record):
11.2 PTS | 1.8 AST | 1.5 TOV | 6.8 TRB (2.3 ORB)
1.0 STL | 1.3 BLK | 2.1 PFS
123/239 (51.5%) on 2PTs
35/101 (34.7%) on 3PTs
53/80 (66.3%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
In my estimation, this is the steal of this mock draft.
To be clear, there are reasons why he could fall this far. Jarace is far from ready-made as a shooter; converting on 35/101 3’s (34.7%) was pretty impressive, but 53/80 (66.3%) from the FT line is more concerning than the 3P% is enticing. His role is also in question - some folks think his true destiny is to play the Precious Achiuwa role, an athletic and mobile defensive force that ultimately ends up as a big man on offense. I personally see too much potential in Jarace’s on-ball juice and at times great decision making under pressure, but maybe the skeptics are right, and he peaks as a limited offensive player that disrupts teams defensively and feasts in transition.
You know what the Trailblazers could use? That.
I think Jarace could get more minutes early on for this team than Ausar, and that is doubly true if Jarace hits more jumpers than Ausar. Last year, the Blazers gave over 3500 minutes to a combination of Trendon Watford, Nassir Little, Justice Winslow, and Jabari Walker. Jarace walks into at least half of those minutes, potentially more if he is passable from 3PT range. Not to mention the absolute onslaught of athletes they have between Shaedon Sharpe, Ausar Thompson and now Jarace Walker. Again, all of this hinges on what the front office is able to sell Damian Lillard on, but I think there is a real chance that adding these two guys (and the two picked later in this mock) bolsters the regular season rotation right away, and with a trade or two (or suprise internal breakout) the Blazers could be in the mix to win a round or two in the West.
12. Anthony Black
Selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’7.25” | 6’5.75” w/o shoes
Weight: 210 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.5”
Age: 19.3 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Arkansas Razorbacks, 22-14 record):
12.8 PTS | 3.9 AST | 3.0 TOV | 5.1 TRB (1.3 ORB)
2.1 STL | 0.6 BLK | 2.6 PFS
121/236 (51.3%) on 2PTs
28/93 (30.1%) on 3PTs
134/190 (70.5%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
I was hesitant at first to add Anthony Black to this Thunder squad given the existint talent. His playmaking talent is somewhat duplicative given that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey are already established as core pieces of this team’s future, and his history of inefficient and inconsistent shooting makes it difficult to slot him into a complementary role off the ball. In fact, you could say Josh Giddey is just the Australian version of Anthony Black - why would the Thunder take a second player in the same mold when those types of players generally don’t complement each other?
Two words: Chip. England.
Josh Giddey made 56 3’s last year at a 26% clip; this year he made 76 at a 32% rate. Most critically, he made 21/55 in a 17 game stretch in March when the Thunder were competing for a play-in bid - that’s 38.2%, albeit over an awfully small sample. But his shot form looks upgraded aesthetically, and there is no doubt Giddey has more confidence in his shot especially off the catch. Anthony Black has every skill that Giddey has, can make every read that Giddey can, and literally mentioned Giddey in an interview as an NBA player he most often watches to garner inspiration from. If he can learn to shoot off the catch, it unlocks everything about his game and his compatibility with this roster, because his other offensive skills are not in question, and his transition play will garner him quick favor with his teammates. Black may take a year or two to really contribute to winning at a playoff level, but this OKC incubator is starting to become legendary, and Ant Black has a fiery spirit worth betting on.
13. Keyonte George
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Measurements (Unofficial):
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 185 lbs
Wingspan: ???
Age: 19.5 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Baylor Bears, 23-11 record):
15.3 PTS | 2.8 AST | 2.9 TOV | 4.2 TRB (1.0 ORB)
1.1 STL | 0.2 BLK | 2.1 PFS
78/184 (42.4%) on 2PTs
77/228 (33.8%) on 3PTs
119/150 (79.3%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Go ahead and lock this in for every single mock draft from now until June 22nd. Not many teams are lacking on-ball creation at the guard spot, and those that are would generally prefer a true point guard or a bigger wing. Toronto, the team with Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes, is a little less concerned about the size of this on-ball creator, and although Fred VanVleet’s impending Free Agency is concerning, I think Masai Ujiri prioritizes pedigree and potential over a clear-cut fit.
Keyonte George struggled with efficiency this year, but there is no doubt his role is that of a professional scorer. What was most impressive about his year at Baylor was his ability to shore up his ancillary skills when the shot didn’t fall - his passing and defense were notably improved from his days at IMG Academy. While some of his performances later in the year left me wanting more, the situation in a backcourt next to Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer was not ideal, and Scott Drew is not a coach that caters to one-and-done prospects like others might. I think Keyonte has real upside as a 25+ PPG player over 82 games, and while I don’t expect him to lead your offense to playoff wins, I think he could be one of the two or three best scorers on a title team down the road if he maxes out on both ends of the floor.
14. Cason Wallace
Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans
Measurements (per NBA Combine):
Height: Approx 6’4” | 6’2.5” w/o shoes
Weight: 195.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.5”
Age: 19.5 (Freshman)
2022-23 Per Game Statistics (Kentucky Wildcats, 22-12 record):
11.7 PTS | 4.3 AST | 2.1 TOV | 3.7 TRB (0.9 ORB)
2.0 STL | 0.5 BLK | 2.4 PFS
95/185 (51.4%) on 2PTs
44/127 (34.6%) on 3PTs
53/70 (75.7%) on FTs
Elevator Pitch:
Cason Wallace is one of the easiest fits in the draft, as an approximately 6’4 point guard who has been repeatedly pitched as the next great POA defender - some say Jrue Holiday, I would look more towards a guy like Davion Mitchell - not to mention a guy who hit 3’s at a decent clip (44/127 or 36.7%) and had a 2.0 Assist-to-Turnover ratio on a rather chaotic Kentucky team that featured stellar guard play from players like Sahvir Wheeler… and CJ Frederick…
New Orleans has done well in the past couple drafts by picking long athletic players who flash high levels of coordination and skill - I’m referring to Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III. I would argue that Cason is just a smaller version of that archetype - the high end outcome is that he shoots near 40% on decent volume and is a candidate for All-Defense. I think Cason will be strong & long enough to guard some wings, but his versatility will likely be limited to 1’s and 2’s for the most part. That’s perfectly fine in New Orleans, given again that Trey, Herb, and Brandon Ingram are on this team - not to mention that Zion guy. Having a lockdown defender alongside or in lieu of CJ McCollum would be a stellar change of pace for this team in their hunt for a real playoff run in 2024.
15. Dariq Whitehead
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
~6’7” | 217.2 lbs | 6’10.25” wingspan | 18.8yrs (Duke | Fr)
8.3 PTS | 1.0 AST | 1.4 TOV | 2.4 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.2 BLK
Atlanta struck out in 2019 when they drafted Cam Reddish #10 overall, but their record is a solid 1-1 after taking A.J. Griffin in last year’s draft. Why not take a swing on another highly touted SG out of Duke - their THIRD in five years? Dariq’s season was marred by injury and, well, playing on this year’s Duke team. What he proved in five years at Montverde and one at Duke is that he is a real shooter from range, and after measuring in over 6’5 WITHOUT shoes and almost 220lbs of muscle, Dariq looks set to become a real threat all over the court.
16. G.G. Jackson
Selected by the Utah Jazz
~6’9.5” | 215 lbs | 6’11.5” wingspan | 18.4yrs (South Carolina | Fr)
15.4 PTS | 0.8 AST | 2.7 TOV | 5.9 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.8 BLK
GG Jackson has a long way to go to become an effective contributor towards winning basketball games in the NBA. Frankly, he was unable to contribute towards winning in the SEC in most games last season. But even in the NBA Draft, you don’t see many 6’9” guys who have a shooting stroke he does, much less while being six months than even the youngest freshman in the NCAA (and a full TWO YEARS younger than Alabama’s Brandon Miller). GG has a little bit of RJ Barrett to his game - both are super talented guys who can do great things with the ball in their hands, but can’t thrive without adapting to a complementary role. How much value you get out of GG’s rookie contract is to be seen, but there is no doubt he has the skills and the size to dominate as a scorer.
17. Jalen Hood-Schifino
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
~6’5.5” | 216.6 lbs | 6’11.25” wingspan | 19.8yrs (Indiana | Fr)
13.5 PTS | 3.7 AST | 2.8 TOV | 4.1 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.3 BLK
The Lakers land at a premium spot to choose their favorite ready-made role player at #17 - JHS, Kobe Bufkin, and Jordan Hawkins all stick out for a team always a little short on playmaking and scoring. At first I leaned Hawkins, who has a game you simply copy & paste onto the roster and pencil into your bench rotation. But the size and on-ball shooting led me to select Jalen Hood-Schifino instead. After watching a dozen or so playoff games from Austin Reaves, who may leave the Lakers to go make $20+ million this offseason, I’ve concluded that JHS is the most likely of this group to replicate his role. His offense (most critically his jumper) will not be very refined over the next couple of years, but I don’t trust Hawkins off the bounce, and Bufkin is just a little smaller and less athletic than JHS, who I think has the best chance of this trio of holding up as a defender in the playoffs his rookie year.
18. Jordan Hawkins
Selected by the Miami Heat
~6’5.25” | 186 lbs | 6’7.75” wingspan | 21.1yrs (UConn | So)
16.2 PTS | 1.3 AST | 1.4 TOV | 3.8 REB | 0.7 STL | 0.5 BLK
This was one of the quickest selections I made in this mock draft. Jordan Hawkins fits neatly into the Heat’s offensive tendencies, and “Heat Culture” won’t be a challenge for someone this serious and dedicated to his craft. Hawkins has the chance to beocome a Kyle Korver or even Klay Thompson level of player for the Heat, who will know exactly how to use his skillset and will fall in love with his passion and work ethic. Don’t count Hawkins out as a defender either - he needs work on the perimeter, and he isn’t the heftiest guy, but he has strong instincts and can capitalize on mistakes with quick transition buckets when given the chance.
19. Jaime Jacquez Jr.
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
~6’7.5” | 226.4 lbs | 6’10.5” wingspan | 22.3yrs (UCLA | Sr)
17.8 PTS | 2.4 AST | 1.8 TOV | 8.2 REB | 1.5 STL | 0.6 BLK
Probably one of the most controversial selections in this simulation, Jaime Jacquez Jr. has been a much better tester at the NBA Combine than I expected, and as such I feel more comfortable mocking him as an instant contributor rather than a fringe bet. The Warriors have a lot of options at this pick - Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard, and Max Lewis are high upside prospects who could potentially fit into the Warriors brand of basketball; Kris Murray and Trayce Jackson-Davis could serve as off-brand versions of existing core pieces in Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green respectively.
After the crushing loss to the Lakers in 6 games, the Warriors face two roads - down one road they crumble under the despair of defeat, and see the dynasty fizzle out before our eyes. Down the other road, they regroup and retool for next season - one more chance at the proverbial “Last Dance” run. After seeing Moses Moody contribute far more than James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, I believe Bob Myers/the Warriors brass will make a decision to forsake the allure of upside and instead treat this as a Free Agent signing - identify the players who would impact winning for you at the highest level, and try to acquire them.
Jaime Jacquez Jr. could be an instant impact player, and his brand of read & react offense is exactly what has made the Warriors so fun to watch. Assuming Jacquez can hold up on defense at the 3 or the 4 (or maybe the 2 on weak matchups), I think he’s a good a bet as any to contribute real regular season AND playoff value over the next 4 years of his (cheap) rookie contract. Taking risky swings late in the first round is a young man’s game, and Steph, Klay and Dray ain’t exactly spring chickens as far as NBA players go.
20. Kobe Bufkin
Selected by the Houston Rockets
~6’5.75” | 186.8 lbs | 6’8.75 wingspan | 19.7yrs (Michigan | So)
14.0 PTS | 2.9 AST | 1.9 TOV | 4.5 REB | 1.3 STL | 0.7 BLK
Kobe Bufkin started the year as a curious prospect we thought had the potential to break out in 2024 after playing a secondary role to Jett Howard in 2023. The #40 overall recruit back in 2021, Bufkin played most of his freshman season at age 18, and was able to slide into a complementary role alongside Jett and Hunter Dickinson. But when Jett suffered an ankle injury in early February, Bufkin took the reins of the offense and quickly adapted to a heavy usage role, using Dickinson’s gravity to get to the rim himself and create jumpers off-the-bounce.
In this simulation (and likely in reality) Houston has already drafted Amen Thompson at #4 overall, in theory to be the point guard of the future beside Jalen Green. But I wouldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring in a combo guard as efficient and mature as Kobe Bufkin out of fear that he couldn’t close alongside Thompson and Green. Frankly if you’re considering adding the 20th pick to your closing rotation, you’ve already won with that selection; solid minutes and stability for all 48 minutes is the goal of this pick, and there’s certainly a chance that Amen Thompson guards wings and forwards at times, which may open up space for Bufkin & Green to guard the opposing backcourt. All in all I think this is a phenomenal haul for Houston, picking up two very young but very mentally developed prospects, both of whom could certainly have gone higher in the draft and will have a chip on their shoulders because of it. Houston is ready to play respectable basketball, and I think Bufkin can be a part of that effort at some point next season and into the future.
21. Jett Howard
Selected by the Brooklyn Nets
~6’8” | 215 lbs | ?? wingspan | 19.7yrs (Michigan | Fr)
14.2 PTS | 2.0 AST | 1.3 TOV | 2.8 REB | 0.4 STL | 0.7 BLK
Beyond the novelty of back-to-back Michigan Wolverine selections, I think Jett Howard is the best bet at an offensive star left on the board. His strengths are obvious, as are his flaws - at his best, he is a 6’8 movement shooter that can make decisions from the perimeter and on the move. At his worst, he’s a spectator on defense and the glass, where he put up so little value his closest comparison came up as Nik Stauskas (per The Strickland Draft Guide) - not exactly the comp you’re hoping to see. Not to mention there are lots of red flags regarding his dad being the coach at Michigan - generally it seems to go the other way, where we either here that the son of the coach faces harsher discipline and a shorter leach than others; that did not seem to be the case in Ann Arbor last year.
That said, it is impossible to avoid the reality of Jett’s strengths, and Brooklyn has no reason not to swing on an offensive creator and shotmaker of his caliber. Jett will never be in a situation where he is guarding one of the better offensive players, as the Nets are stacked with wings; he would likely be playing the 2 for most of his minutes. Putting out a lineup of Dinwiddie-Howard-Bridges-Johnson-Claxton is pretty enticing - not a title contender by any means, but there’s enough on-ball wiggle and shotmaking in that lineup, plus a decent bit of size and switchability. Frankly though, if the Nets want a good shot at an offensive star, they should be looking to trade up into the late lottery - this seems like a draft primed for trades, so #21 and #22 may be a more powerful package than we realize.
22. Marcus Sasser
Selected by the Brooklyn Nets
~6’2.75” | 195.6 lbs | 6’7” wingspan | 22.7yrs (Houston | Sr)
16.8 PTS | 3.1 AST | 1.6 TOV | 2.8 REB | 1.6 STL | 0.2 BLK
Marcus Sasser was a projected 1st rounder in the 2022 NBA Draft before missing most of the season due to a toe injury suffered in December. This season, he came back better than ever, especially as a shooter from distance - Sasser made 56/122 catch-and-shoot 3’s (45.9%) as well as 40/127 off-the-dribble (31.5%). Sasser is going to need to run PnRs effectively to get minutes in the NBA, and the off-the-dribble 3PT shot is what makes him dangerous in those actions - by making a decent clip off the dribble, defenders are forced to go over screens, which is by nature a much more difficult action to recover from than simply going under or lazily switching. Brooklyn could use some on-ball shot creation, and again this is a situation with a great defensive foundation so I don’t expect Sasser to get exposed on that end. He may get picked at in the playoffs, but nobody plays four years under Kelvin Sampson and ends up a subpar defender - it may be in a backup role, but I’m pretty confident Sasser is going to provide value to playoff teams for years to come.
23. Dereck Lively II
Selected by the Portland Trailblazers
~7’1” | 230 lbs | ?? wingspan | 19.3yrs (Duke | Fr)
5.2 PTS | 1.1 AST | 0.7 TOV | 5.4 REB | 0.5 STL | 2.4 BLK
In this unlikely scenario that Portland trades out of the #3 pick but not out of the draft at all, they actually stumble across the opportunity to draft the top rated big man out of last year’s freshman class, and potentially the best big man outside of Wemby in this year’s class. Spacing may be a struggle, but Lively offers an alternative to the slow-footed Nurkic and has the potential to impact the game similarly to Mitchell Robinson on the Knicks. This is now three high level prospects that Portland has added in this draft class, and while they are all young they all posses particular skills they may be able to leverage into effective minutes right away - for Lively, that would be his otherworldly shot blocking.
24. Sidy Cissoko
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
~6’7” | 223.8 lbs | 6’9.75” wingspan | 19.1yrs (G League Ignite | Fr)
12.8 PTS | 3.5 AST | 1.9 TOV | 2.8 REB | 1.2 STL | 1.0 BLK
The second G League Ignite prospect finally comes off the board, despite great NBA Combine performances and strong G Leauge seasons from both Sidy Cissoko and Leonard Miller. Sidy is not the cleanest fit in the Kings’ DHO-centric offense, but what he offers is an instant alternative to Harrison Barnes as a wing defender. Sidy is an incredibly strong defender both on the ball and in help situations, and with limited offensive responsibilities in the NBA, I expect him to focus on becoming an elite defender at the wing/forward spots. In time, the Kings may be able to put the ball in his hands occasionally in the half court, and as with many prospects in this range, much of his viability comes down to how well he shoots the 3.
25. Leonard Miller
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
~6’10.75” | 212.8 lbs | 7’2 wingspan | 19.5yrs (G League Ignite | Fr)
18.0 PTS | 1.6 AST | 1.5 TOV | 11.0 REB | 0.9 STL | 0.8 BLK
Leonard Miller is someone that likely sees consideration starting in the late lottery; personally I first considered him going to Atlanta at #15. But after a slight drop, Miller lands gracefully into the halls of Grind City. The Grizzlies were missing Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke for the playoffs this year, but even still it was alarming to see the Lakers systematically dismantle the interior defense of the Grizz in the first round.
The biggest development for Leonard Miller this year was a change in tendencies - he became a defense-first player. His introduction to the draft community was as a skinny ball handler in Canada who got throttled at last year’s NBA Combine; this year he came to Chicago as a soundly built defensive-minded forward with a knack for moving the ball on offense and scoring on cuts, putbacks, and other big man actions. Miller hopes to devlop a reliable 3pt shot in time, but Memphis now has a reliable defensive anchor to either fill in for Jaren Jackson Jr. or supplement his rim protection alongside him. Get ready for a block party in Memphis!
26. Kris Murray
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
~6’9.25” | 212.8 lbs | 6’11.75” wingspan | 22.8yrs (Iowa | Jr )
20.2 PTS | 2.0 AST | 1.5 TOV | 7.9 REB | 1.0 STL | 1.2 BLK
Kris Murray has been rudely (but probably correctly) labeled one of the most boring on-the-court prospects in this class; much of that is because he is so easily compared to his twin brother Keegan who was drafted to the Kings last year. Now common sense would lead you to wonder why Kris is being selected at #26 when Keegan was picked at #4, and that is mostly rooted in Kris’ limitations with the ball in his hands, and a slightly less impressive athletic profile, which shows up in his stocks (STL + BLK) numbers as compared to Keegan’s. But make no mistake, Kris is a fine prospect in his own right; the statline and physical profile listed above is no mistake. Not to mention Kris gets his own perfect point guard pairing in Tyrese Haliburton, the Duke of Dimes. If Kris can hit shots like Keegan did, expect to see him soak up some of Jordan Nwora and Isaiah Jackson’s minutes next year.
27. Bilal Coulibaly
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
~6’7” | 190 lbs | Rumored 7’2” wingspan | 18.8yrs (Mets 92 | Fr)
5.0 PTS | 0.8 AST | 0.9 TOV | 3.1 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.2 BLK
The other guy who garnered attention on the Mets 92 roster with Wemby (well, other than Steeve Ho You Fat) was Bilal Coulibaly, a lifelong guard who hit a late growth spurt (I LOVE late growth spurt guys) and sprouted up to 6’7 with pool noodles for arms and some smooth moves on the court. Bilal is one of the most raw prospects in this class, but there are folks that value him as highly as the lottery, especially with his potential to be a draft-and-stash player for a year in France. While his statline is underwhelming, that is just with the “big club” - most of Coulibaly’s minutes were with similar aged players where he simply moved better than the other guys on the court. While he needs work on the stuff like “dribbling” and “passing” and “shooting” but he is a very coordinated athlete for his dimensions, and has shown a knack for scoring when windows open for him. Charlotte is certainly not my desired destination for Coulibaly (as a resident Horents hater) but he would certainly get some open windows playing alongside LaMelo Ball and #3 pick Brandon Miller.
28. Colby Jones
Selected by the Utah Jazz
~6’6” | 199.2 lbs | 6’8” wingspan | 21.0yrs (Xavier | Jr)
15.0 PTS | 4.4 AST | 2.3 TOV | 5.7 REB | 1.3 STL | 0.6 BLK
After taking massive upside swings with their first two picks, the Jazz elect to select a complementary ball handler and truly ready-made professional in Colby Jones. I am hesitant in his half-court PnR creativity, but Colby has proven that he has a malleable game and can alter his offensive tendencies to enhance the team around him. Utah adds a versatile guard to their backcourt on a 4-year cost-controlled contract, and Colby lands in a rather democratic offense spearheaded by Lauri Markkanen, but with plenty of opportunities for Colby to prove his worth and earn a second contract. This may not sound like a resounding endorsement, but if Colby Jones can shoot 35% from 3 on decent volume, I’d bet on him providing real winning value on the last two or three years of his rookie deal. That’s pretty dang good value down here at #28.
29. Rayan Rupert
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
~6’7.5” | 193.2 lbs | 7’2” wingspan | (NZ Breakers | Fr)
6.6 PTS | 1.0 AST | 1.2 TOV | 2.5 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.2 BLK
At #29, the fourth Frenchman goes off the board, and from the third league - Rayan Rupert played for the New Zealand Breakers over in the NBL, the same team that RJ Hampton played for in 2019-20. Similar to Coulibaly, who went two picks earlier, Rupert’s statline is rather middling for a first rounder - under 7 points a game, negative AST-to-TOV ratio, under a block a game. But unlike Coulibaly, Rupert did not have the opportunity to get reps and establish rhythm at a lower level during the season - all his games were against fully grown men, and frankly the NBL might be the most athletic league outside of the NBA. Rupert only averaged 20MPG, and in those minutes his role was to defend his ass off and run in transition. While he had a few reps with the ball in his hands, most of his buckets came off of cuts, putbacks, and spot up jumpers. Similar to Taylor Hendricks earlier, the Pacers are adding a player with positional size and LOTS of positional length, and a guy who can be in constant motion cutting, spotting up and re-cutting to give Tyrese Haliburotn as many openings as possible. Rupert’s suspect shooting is less of a concern when in a Haliburton-Mathurin-Rupert-Hendricks-Turner lineup, and the defensive playmaking he is capable of can be a real weapon in starting transition attempts.
30. Reece Beekman
Selected by the LA Clippers
~6’3” | 190 lbs | ?? wingspan | 21.6yrs (Virginia | Jr)
9.5 PTS | 5.3 AST | 1.6 TOV | 3.0 REB | 1.8 STL | 0.5 BLK
In another pick that may stray from consensus, Reece Beekman gets picked up as a potential PG option for the LA Clippers, a squad that relied heavily on Russell Westbrook and Bones Hyland for their playmaking in the playoffs this year. Of course losing both PG and Kawhi threw the team into disarray, but there is no doubt that the Clippers have been hurting for reliable lead guard minutes for the past few years, really ever since CP3 left (and even then, there were times where his backups were quite lacking). Reece Beekman is far from a flashy prospect, but don’t underestimate the quiet consistency of a guy whose per game stats mask the importance he had on this UVA team, where he was both the primary initiator on offense and the primary POA defender. Beekman is a guy who combined consistency with steady growth in production and efficiency over his three years in Charlottesville, and his 3/1 AST-to-TOV ratio is pretty fantastic for a guy primarily pitched as a prospect for his defensive prowess. The Clipper are a veteren-laden group full of proud players that have played in rotations for 10+ years, but Ty Lue has never been hesitant to play a young or unproven player - just ask Terrence Mann. If Beekman can hit enough shots, keep the turnovers down and be a pest on defense, he may be able to scrounge up some minutes on this stacked roster - and now that the new CBA will make it infinitely harder to add to a stacked roster, Beekman will face less competition going forward than he would on other rosters. One would think either Beekman or Jason Preston would have a real chance to play as the backup ball-handler next year in LA.
31. Detroit Pistons select Max Lewis (Pepperdine)
The Pistons add a lottery-level talent with the first pick of the second round; though winning was an issue at Pepperdine, Max Lewis was a hyper-efficient scorer overall and his fluid movement at over 6’7 is a great base to build from. Lewis has limited experience in high-level competition, but in Detroit he can play a core rotation role without being tasked with heavy on-ball usage against first units. Let him cook off the bench and you could really have something behind Cam Whitmore on the wing.
32. Minnesota Timberwolves (via IND) select Andre Jackson Jr. (UConn)
In this mock, I decided that Indiana had picked too many times in a similar range and thus decided to trade the pick. But Minnesota has plenty of reasons to try to get cheap talent in the early 2nd round of the draft, and reigning NCAA National Champion Andre Jackson Jr. is nothing if not talented. A guy I have dubbed the Great Value Amen Thompson, Jackson is an incredible athlete who will reign terror on the defensive end and has enough handle to push the pace in transition and make accurate passes on the move - he can’t shoot a lick, but put him in second units with KAT and Anthony Edwards and you’ll have more lobs than you know what to do with.
33. San Antonio Spurs select James Nnaji (FC Barcelona)
After winning the 1st overall pick, the Spurs decision making is now centered around Victor Wembanyama. I opted to bolster the frontcourt and add a burly big man who can handle the constant collisions in the paint, allowing Wemby to sneak in on the help rotation. Nnaji’s offense leaves much to be desired, but the Spurs need to take shots on interior complements to Wemby, and I think this is a great first attempt at filling that archetype. Nnaji played limited minutes for a stacked FC Barcelona club this year, and will be comfortable working his way into a rotation in San Antonio.
34. Charlotte Hornets select Julian Strawther (Gonzaga)
Strawther is a player who I’ve been considering since pick #24 - a 6’7 wing with his track record as an efficient shooter is always going to garner attention, especially when that record was recorded at a powerhouse like Gonzaga. His offensive game is limited but well defined, and gives Charlotte an opportunity to phase Kelly Oubre out of the lineup if Strawther can hit shots and defend capably. I say it’s worth a shot.
35. Boston Celtics select Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State)
Boston is drafting for instant contributors on cheap contracts, and Johnson could fit the bill. His health concerns may make this unrealistic, but I think Keyontae has the talent to be a late first round pick - despite measuring in 6’4 without shoes, he weighs 239 lbs and boasts a 7’ wingspan, which is what allowed him to be a real rim threat and intense on-ball defender at not one, but two high major NCAA programs. Consistently productive and remarkably efficient as a shooter, I think Johnson looks to fill a role similar to Jae’Sean Tate on the Rockets, and if he hits shots I think we could see Keyontae carve out minutes as early as next year.
36. Orlando Magic select Noah Clowney (Alabama)
Clowney doesn’t fill an obvious need, but frankly Orlando doesn’t have a lot of obvious spots to fill. The Magic look poised to make a real run at the play-in next year, and similar to OKC are filled to the brim with young talent. After trading up for Scoot Henderson (and in this mock, trading Wendell Carter Jr. in the process) I like the bet on a long, versatile forward in Noah Clowney that reminds me a lot of Nic Claxton, and could bolster the defense when Banchero is on the court.
37. Oklahoma City Thunder select Trey Alexander (Creighton)
One of my favorite fits of the second round, Trey Alexander fits into the OKC model of long, versatile ball handlers that don’t always move the fastest, but are under control and always aware on the court. To truly excel, Trey will likely need to learn to defend at a high level, both at the point of attack and navigating screens off-ball. But if he can do that, the Thunder could add another core rotation piece on a cheap deal.
38. Sacramento Kings select Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
Sheppard has had a stellar week at the NBA Combine, and with folks like Jonathan Wasserman pledging their support it looks more and more like he is likely to end up as a second round selection. Similar to Julian Strawther, his record as a 6’6+ shooter speaks for itself, albeit at a smaller school in Belmont. The Kings will look to add Sheppard as another orbiting body in the Domantas Sabonis solar system, rotating in sync with other sharpshooters like Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk.
39. Phoenix Suns (via CHA) select Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
Another situation where a team had too many picks in a similar range - this time I ship it off to the Phoenix Suns, who certainly wouldn’t mind a shot at adding a rotation player on a near-minimum deal for a couple years. TJD is a powerful interior athlete, and despite giving up a few inches in height to incumbent big man Deandre Ayton, there is no question Jackson-Davis plays with more power and urgency than Ayton is able to muster. With Devin Booker and Kevin Durant accounting for most of the shots on this team, TJD can focus on offensive rebounds, setting hard screens, and dunking on offense. I feel pretty confident he can do that right away for the Suns.
40. Denver Nuggets select Terquavion Smith (NC State)
Denver has the luxury of a fully fleshed out rotation and a clear central force in Nikola Jokic, which makes identifying potential prospects a lot easier. Terquavion Smith pretty much fills the exact role Bones Hyland was brought in to play - run around a whole lot off the ball, and shoot the second you catch a pass from the big fella. Hyland had a falling out with the coaching staff, but the role is still clearly a valuable one in Denver, and Terq has a great chance at filling it at a high level off the bench.
41. Charlotte Hornets select Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Marquette)
O-Max was a productive part of the best regular season team in the Big East this year, and his 34% on 3.2 3’s per game matched with 74% of his 4.2 FT’s per game was flagged in all sorts of statistical models and Barttorvik queries for a player his size. But after measuring in at nearly 6’7 WITHOUT shoes and a 7’1 wingspan, coupled with the 2nd highest Standing Vert (35 inches) and the 3rd highest Max Vert it seems all but guaranteed that O-Max is going in the top 50 picks of the 2023 NBA Draft. Charlotte has taken athletic upperclassmen like JT Thor and Cody Martin recently in the 2nd round, and I think this is a solid bet on another one.
42. Washington Wizards select Joey Hauser (Michigan State)
This just feels like a Wizards pick doesn’t it? Joey Hauser (brother of Boston’s Sam Hauser) measured in at 6’8 W/O shoes (so around 6’9.5 in shoes) and made 196/471 3’s over the course of his four year NCAA playing career - that’s 41.6% on 3.6 attempts per game. Now there are areas of concern - namely moving fast and defending well - but there are very few players at 6’9+ who can shoot as well as Hauser. Wiz fans may actually come to appreciate good ol’ Joey, who could have some real moments as a scorer especially on a less than stellar team.
43. Portland Trailblazers select Kobe Brown (Missouri)
To recap: the Blazers have selected Ausar Thompson, Jarace Walker, and Dereck Lively II in this simulation, having traded out of the #3 overall pick but not out of the draft. Now in the middle of the second round, we have an opportunity to gamble on one more potential prospect to fit around Dame in the short term, and to fit into our new identity long-term. Kobe Brown, like Jarace Walker, is a big, big, BIG dude. He officially measured 6’6.5 w/o shoes (so around 6’8) at the combine, but sports a 7’0.75” winspan and weighed in at a remarkable 252.2 lbs - like I said, BIG dude. But what makes Brown such an effective player is less centered on his heft and more on his agility and skill at that size. Kobe Brown is a career 31.3% shooter from 3 on 2.6, but seemed to have a breakout year in 2022-23 where he hit 51/112 3’s - that’s a 45.5% clip on 3.3 attempts per game. He also notably hit 79% of his ~250 FT’s and averaged 2.5 assists each of the last two years. I love taking swings on players that develop new skills year over year, and it helps when they come in the package of Kobe Brown.
44. San Antonio Spurs select Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
Having drafted the franchise-altering Victor Wembanyama and adding James Nnaji to the frontcourt, the Spurs biggest opportunity to upgrade is at the point guard position. While they likely sign a player in free agency, I think they could swing on one in the draft as well; recent drafts have seen reliable point guard prospects fall to the second round or even out of the draft altogether, as the position seems to skew more towards stars and/or combo guards over traditional backup point guards. Judah Mintz has a chance to continue that legacy - after measuring in at 6’3 w/o shoes with a 6’3.5 wingspan, there is no doubt Mintz is a true one-position prospect. His stats are rather remarkable as a freshman point guard in the ACC, scoring over 16 per game and averaging 4.6 AST vs 2.4 TOV, not to mention a flashy 1.8 steals per game. His efficiency was lacking, and the inconsistency as a shooter is the clear limiting factor here; but Mintz is a consistent threat to put pressure on the rim, shows promise as a distributor in advantage situations, and though he is skinny, he has the height to survive (if not thrive) as a defender at the next level. I would love to see the Spurs give a guy like Mintz a chance to develop chemistry with Wemby, and see if he can match his tendencies up to a playstyle that best empowers Wemby (and thus makes Mintz most valuable to the Spurs.)
45. Memphis Grizzlies select Mike Miles Jr. (TCU)
I’m writing this less than a week after Ja Morant was suspended a second time by the Memphis Grizzlies, this time indefinitely. For now, I’m assuming Ja returns to the team going forward and plays like a star. That being said, bolstering the backcourt with Mike Miles feels like a smart move, even though he comes in as the 3rd PG on the depth chart (and even though the Grizz waived fellow short king Kennedy Chandler just a few months ago). Despite being only 21 years old, Miles has three years of Big 12 basketball under his belt and carries himself as such. As clean-cut a professional as you will find in the second round, Miles lives and breaths hoops, and will find a way to contribute in practice and eventually in the Grizzlies’ rotation.
46. Atlanta Hawks select Jordan Walsh (Arkansas)
The Hawks have a history of picking prospects with outstanding pedigrees that didn’t quite pan out as one-and-dones - Cam Reddish, Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin, and in my projection Dariq Whitehead (a fourth Blue Devil, weirdly enough). At #46 I think they take another 5* recruit who measures well and moves well, but failed to play well on a consistent basis last year. Jordan Walsh has all the makings of a dangerous NBA defender, with quick feet that allow him to stick with guards and long arms that allow him to block shots when rotating over. If the Hawks can get him comfortable on offense, you’ve got a real weapon to deploy on primary options around the league.
47. LA Lakers select Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara)
The Fall of Podz is finally complete - LA scoops up the obvious Austin Reaves replacement, and unfortunately that comp works beyond their…fine complexions. In his year at Santa Clara, Podziemski was a remarkably creative and efficient on-ball creator. The most intriguing and translatable skill is his 43.8% shooting on 81/185 3PTs last year - the mechanics are pure and he gets the shot off all over the court, and out of all sorts of actions. The ball handling is the wing skill; if he can create and capitalize on advantages with his crafty handle, then Podz has a real shot at contributing to this Lakers squad as they sprint to the finish of LeBron James’ career.
48. LA Clippers select Amari Bailey (UCLA)
Over the past few years, the Clippers have selected Terrence Mann, BJ Boston, and Jason Preston in the 2nd round; this late in a mock draft, I think that’s all the justification I need to give them another tall ball-handling wing in Amari Bailey. A Cali native and former UCLA player, it will be a short move for Amari Bailey, who was the 9th overall freshman in last year’s recruiting class. While he got off to an excruciatingly slow start, Amari was efficient and effective as a scorer in the Pac12 and NCAA Tournaments after fellow draft candidate Jaylen Clark went down with a season ending injury. A true project, Amari will play plenty of minutes with the G League (apparently their team is in Ontario now??) but depending on his growth trajectory, Bailey has the talent to really impact winning in this league.
49. Cleveland Cavaliers select Jordan Miller (Miami)
Jordan Miller was a standout on this year’s Final Four-participating Miami Hurricanes team, playing two productive years in Miami after three years at George Mason. While questions remain regarding his shooting touch, Miller has steadily improved his efficiency and production, taking a step back after transferring to Miami but then reaching heights greater than he ever reached at George Mason - in my mind that’s the sign of a great prospect, someone who manages not just to match the intensity of their situation, but manages to grow exponentially relative to their peers. Cleveland is sifting through a mystery box of small forwards, and Jordan Miller has a chance to contribute rotational minutes next year if he hits shots and doesn’t get too sped up. More likely would be Miller establishing a rotation role in year 2 or 3 - but he’s a guy who has proven that he can take a leap into higher levels of competition time and time again.
50. Oklahoma City Thunder select Zach Edey (Purdue)
At first I was unsure what to do here - I mean we’re at pick 50, these guys so rarely work out in the NBA. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason to who gets picked here, since many of the best remaining prospects simply opt out of the draft at this point in favor of becoming UDFA’s. But then I had an epiphany - who would be the perfect player to insulate Chet Holmgren from some of the toughest defensive assignments, especially as a rookie? I dunno, why don’t you take Zach Edey, the guy who measured 7’3.2.5” WITHOUT SHOES, has a 7’10.5” wingspan, and weighs 300 LBS? I say take that guy.
51. Brooklyn Nets select Adama Sanogo (UConn)
Next up in the Mystery 50’s series, the best player on the National Champion UConn Huskies gets drafted to the shattered remains of the Brooklyn Nets. Adama Sanogo doesn’t always move like an NBA player, but he certainly hits like one and he certainly processes the game like one. The Nets could use some beef on the inside, and you’ll never question Sanogo’s toughness or his strength, not to mention some intriguing touch and skill with the ball.
52. Charlotte Hornets (via PHX) select Nikola Djurisic (KK Mega Bemax)
This is the boring end of my PHX trade up to #39 - let’s just give them a guy they can stash for a year or even more in Nikola Djurisic. A wing on Mega Bemax (that’s Nikola Jokic’s former team by the way), Djurisic struggled mightily with his outside shooting this year, and given that he profiles as a perimeter first prospect that is somewhat concerning. However he has made shots in the past, and if he becomes reliable in that area he has the size & movement ability to play in the NBA.
53. Minnesota Timberwolves select Jalen Pickett (Penn State)
The Wolves are in win-now mode, but lack a true win-now roster. Any swings this late in the draft need to be on instant impact guys who can potentially soak up regular season minutes, but likely won’t play in the playoffs. Jalen Pickett fills an obvious need as a backup ball-handler with an unorthodox style that might get picked apart by the likes of Jrue Holiday, but could do real damage to the Trae Youngs and LaMelo Balls of the world. Timberwolves may try to convert this pick into a Two-Way pick, and Pickett would be a good candidate for that as well.
54. Sacramento Kings select Jalen Slawson (Furman)
I considered taking Slawson at #38 for the Kings, but elected the superior shooter in Ben Sheppard. But I couldn’t pass on him twice, as I think Jalen Slawson could worm his way into playing time if he makes it to year two or three. Hidden away at mid major Furman, Slawson made his debut on the national stage when his #13 seed Paladins upset #4 UVA in the first round of the tourney (they were quickly dispatched by SDSU next round) and most notably Jalen Slawson was the best athlete on the floor without a doubt. Also impressive is his ability to pass from the perimeter and on the move in transition, and ability to occasionally knock down jump shots. Less impressive is his inability to drive to the basket in the half-court due to his unreliable handle - but all the way down at 54, Slawson is a more than worthy selection for Sacramento.
55. Indiana Pacers select Toumani Camara (Dayton)
Toumani started at the Portsmouth Invitational, then worked his way up to the G League Elite Camp and eventually the NBA Combine. How did he get there? Well he’s 6’7 without shoes, has a 7’0.5” wingspan, weighs 220lbs, and hit shots at an efficient clip in every scrimmage he’s played thus far. What did we miss? Not sure we missed much; Toumani shot 36.3% from 3 last year, but on only 29/80 attempts. His FT’s were worse - 89/133 aka 66.9% from the stripe. I would point to the lack of spacing and playmaking at Dayton as important context, but it’s also worth noting that scrimmages are a small sample, and teams will always rely more on the tape. But the Pacers have lots of room at the forward position, and Camara will certainly hope to play spot minutes for the big team this year.
56. Memphis Grizzlies select PJ Hall (Clemson)
Yes, okay, I’m a Clemson fan who’s trying to get my guy to a good spot. Sue me. (Actually please don’t, I don’t need that type of drama)
Anyways - PJ is 6’8 without shoes (so around 6’9.5”) and has a 7’1.5” wingspan to boot, and currently weighs 241lbs in part to his exclusive role as a center at Clemson. As someone who had the opportunity to watch PJ prior to his days at Clemson, I’m pretty confident that his best role is as a forward, not as a big man. If he slims down and prioritizes agility, I’m fairly confident he can hold up against 3’s and 4’s on defense, and with his shooting and extremely high level or coordination I am very confident that he can play the 4 on offense. I’d expect PJ to play heavy minutes with the Memphis Hustle years 1 and 2, but the Grizz have shown they will play players no matter where (or if) they got picked in the draft. Give me all the P.J. Hall stock.
57 & 58 forfeited
Due to something I frankly don’t really care about - just two spots where two guys don’t get to hear their name called. Let’s be real, these guys are probably ending up on Two-Ways anyways because there aren’t enough roster spots in the NBA. But that’s a story for another time.
59. Washington Wizards select Tosan Evbuomwan (Princeton)
Another NBA Combine darling, this Newcastle native averaged 15.1pts/6.3reb/4.9ast in his third year on a Princeton team that had a thrilling run to the Sweet 16 before losing to Creighton. Tosan measured out well, standing at 6’7.25” without shoes and sporting a 7’1.5” wingspan - not a bad toolkit to work with. His fatal flaw is his shooting inconsistency, but he has grown as a shooter both at the stripe and beyond the arc in all three years, expanding both his volume AND his efficiency. The Wizards take a shot on a guy who can soak up some minutes at the 2-4 depending on surrounding talent, and could even develop as a PnR partner for Nick Smith Jr.
60. Milwaukee Bucks select Tristan Vukcevic (KK Partizan)
It seems to be a tradition at this point for the Bucks to pick last in the draft. This year I’ll go with an overseas player that likely stays overseas for another year or so if he wants to play real minutes - Tristan Vukcevic is a skilled big man that shows promise as a connector, but would be far too raw to contribute to the Bucks this year. The Bucks stash an overseas big man, and we end this mock draft with a resounding BANG!