During a breakout summer and senior year, Smith showcased the most complete skill package among 2023 draft-eligible guards. We've watched the class' best prospects grow up in high school, AAU, USA Basketball . Those questions are justified, but his ambidextrous finishing, polished footwork, and multi-faceted skill set make me generally optimistic about his potential to carve out a lane. A look at the full Draft board and every reported deal as Paolo Banchero goes No. At 6'8", 230 pounds, he offers a unique mix of size, strength, shooting potential and passing IQ. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Washington), Roko Prkacin | Undecided | PF | Age: 19.5, Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | C | Age: 22.5, Caleb Love | North Carolina | SG | Age: 20.7, Daimion Collins | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.6, Mouhamed Gueye | Washington State | C | Age: 19.6, Coleman Hawkins | Illinois | PF | Age: 20.5, Matthew Cleveland | Florida State | SG/SF | Age: 19.7, Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 20.4, Matthew Murrell | Ole Miss | SG | Age: 20.5, Jazian Gortman | Overtime Elite | PG/SG | Age: 19.1, Matthew Mayer | Illinois | SF/PF | Age: 22.7, Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 20.1, 57. He profiles well as a two-way role player at the next level. Long term, theres reason to believe in his jumper. If he can progress as a shooter, its hard to imagine he wont stick around in the NBA. A breakout junior year led to scouts visiting Williams, who averaged 18.0 points and 4.2 assists on 51.8 percent shooting and 40.6 percent from three. The selection of NBA draft picks is one of the highlights of the calendar, with teams having spent the entirety of the season sculpting their rosters around it. The recent legacy of Kentucky guards in the NBA is quite strong. Hes more than just 3-and-D, though Strawther is an under-appreciated athlete who can get out in transition and play above the rim every now and then. CLE. Players including the Thompson twins, Cameron Whitmore, Dillon Mitchell, Dariq Whitehead, Anthony Black, Jarace Walker, Julian Phillips, Gradey Dick and Leonard Miller make up half of the top 20 prospects currently forecast, and all currently project as wings. Running back remains a vital commodity for offenses even as we've seen fewer and fewer of them taken with premium draft picks. Stroud at number two," McShay said. Hes quite good at getting downhill or out in transition, using his frame to initiate contact and finish at the rim. Washington's first-rounder is owned by Oklahoma City if Washington's pick falls between 15 and 30 in 2023. 8. G League Ignite and Paris Basket are said to be the main candidates for his signature. To claim eligibility, it's also necessary to have completed four years of college in the US, or four years passed since their graduation. An impressive athlete at 6'6", he's added more self-creation and shot-making skill for half-court scoring to average 16.8 points in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference. He needs to trim the fat off his shot chart right now, but Hendersons explosive live-dribble playmaking makes it easy to believe in him as a lead initiator and future star point guard. A lanky 6-foot-7 wing with a lot of intriguing physical traits, Travis Arceneaux has cemented his place on draft boards. John Butler (Florida State, PF, Freshman). The 2023 NBA draft isn't shaping up as a point-guard-heavy class either. And between his 6'6" size and fundamentally sound shot prep and shot-making, it's not hard to see a pro. Improved shooting and fewer defensive lapses could help Rollins generate legitimate NBA interest. Sidy Cissoko is getting plenty of run with the G-League Ignite. Should Wembanyama struggle to stay healthy, or not improve as much as hoped, there's a group of extremely talented prospects right behind him looking to show there's a conversation about why big playmakers who can be the engine of an NBA offense deserve just as much consideration atop the draft. That said, Bates complete lack of explosion at the rim is a concern when projecting his efficiency long-term. If he can get NBA teams to believe in his offensive package, the athleticism and defensive upside could carry him into the first round. NEW YORK It's a full year until the 2023 NBA draft, but the players projected at the top five are like no other draft class in the past. If Portland misses the playoffs as expected, Chicago will instead receive Portland's 2024 first-rounder, again lottery-protected. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. The teams that did qualify for the playoffs become the next 16 picks, from numbers 15 to 30, and they pick in reverse order, so that the team to have won the league that season, gets the 30th pick. That said, Thompson possesses unique size and explosiveness for a lead ball-handler, and he might be the best passer on the board. The 2023 NBA draft is 12 months away, but we've had our eyes on this group of players for quite some time, . As mentioned before, teams have been known to swap prospective players for more experienced, proven figures, to bring about wins, or fuel a playoff run. Specializing in drafts with top players on the NBA horizon, player profiles, scouting reports, rankings and prospective international recruits. The NBA draft is an annual event in which teams select players from their American colleges as well as international professional leagues to join their rosters. Harrison Ingram (Stanford, SG/SF, Freshman). He plays with confidence and energy. Adem Bona is an enthusiastic and explosive dunker who will gladly supply his future NBA point guard with a lob threat and play finisher inside. If youre curious about any aspect of this class, we have it covered. Recent history indicates that every season, at . Saturday, July 16 Ja Morant is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. Henderson hasn't played since November, after spending three weeks in concussion protocol. He'll make standstill threes at Kentucky, though he's best when he's not forcing jumpers and instead using his tools and force attacking and finishing. We can only project so much in January. Now at Eastern Michigan after his dreadful stint in Memphis, Bates is looking to rebuild his draft stock. He can finish with power or finesse around the rim and hes electric in the open court, where his speediness and playmaking are on full display. He slings some beautiful dimes, no doubt aided by his high vantage point. 1 for the better part of three years, and for good reason. Jovic arrived in the United States after playing the last three seasons in Serbia. With the McDonald's All-American Game (March 29) and Nike Hoop Summit (April 8) coming up, it's worth looking ahead to the 2023 NBA draft. At 6-foot-6, Council is a fearless and physical slasher who has no trouble embracing contact at the rim. 2023 Top Basketball . August 1, 2022 4:09 pm CT. With the 2023 NBA draft less than a year away, the Rockets own two first-round selections. He defends smart and hard, with enough 3-point shooting and off-ball scoring upside to complement teammates on that side of the ball too. The 2023 NBA Draft is headlined by center Victor Wembanyama and guard Scoot . A talented three-level scorer who can make shots from any angle, Keyonte George should have no trouble finding his way to points in the NBA. Hes an electric and efficient three-level scorer at 6-foot-9, possessing a blend of size and shot-making prowess that immediately jumps off the screen. His length and touch make up for his lack of strength finishing inside. Anthony Black (Duncanville SG/SF, Undecided). 2023 NBA Draft - Page 66 - RealGM Bucks Emerge As Favorites For Goran Dragic Stephen Curry Targeting Return From Leg Injury Sunday At Lakers LeBron James Out At Least Three Weeks With Tendon Injury In Right Foot Ty Lue Says Clippers Need 'To Be Tougher' Jamaree Bouyea, Wizards Agree To 10-Day Deal More Basketball News Home; Draft. Flashes of speed and athleticism create visions of a Ja Morant- or De'Aaron Fox-type ball-handler. However, we'd likely be pointing out the 18-year-old's positives more than the negatives if he didn't arrive with so much hype. Yohan Traore (Dream City Christian, PF, LSU commit). Adjusting to a new role at Kansas, fourth-year wing Kevin McCullar Jr. has upped his 3-point rate without sacrificing the small things that make him unique. Hes an excellent movement shooter with what might be the first actually unguardable jumper. 2023 Mock Draft; 2024 Mock Draft; Consensus Mock Draft; My Mock Drafts; Create Your Own Mock Draft; . So here's a look at four players who are projected to be top draft picks next year: Hes one of the most dominant players in college basketball and is going to earn some looks at the next level. Advanced self-creation, shooting versatility, floater touch and. At 6-foot-5, he has good size and physicality at the point of attack on defense. 2023 NBA Draft - Page 17 - RealGM Bucks Emerge As Favorites For Goran Dragic Stephen Curry Targeting Return From Leg Injury Sunday At Lakers LeBron James Out At Least Three Weeks With Tendon Injury In Right Foot Ty Lue Says Clippers Need 'To Be Tougher' Jamaree Bouyea, Wizards Agree To 10-Day Deal More Basketball News But Wembanyama possesses an unheard of combination of 7'9" wingspan, mobility and perimeter skill, including speciality shot-making around the post and three-point range. defender as well. He mucks up the floor for opposing offenses and shows potential as a downhill driver and perimeter shooter. Nick Smith : G--5 . 1-4 Own; 5-30 to . Hes an excellent perimeter defender at 6-foot-3, possessing the length and physicality needed to stonewall ball-handlers at the point of attack. His 3-point numbers have notably improved, both in terms of efficiency and volume, and he has all the intangibles NBA front offices covet. JJ Starling (La Lumiere, SG, Notre Dame commit). He has a long way to go developmentally (especially with his jumper), but hes scoring with relative efficiency in the G-League and contributing in various ways across the board. If youre new to it, it may seem complicated, but theres not a lot to it once you sift away the jargon. Early January is usually the month in which NBA prospects aim to get the attention of teams before the draft. Our first mock draft of the 2023 cycle has projections by SportsLine that give the Rockets the early edge over the Thunder and Magic. D'Angelo Russell is a professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA). Of course, the Hawks might be regretting that, given what Doncic has become since (see Wednesday's league-record, 60-point triple-double). Here's everything you need to know about how it works. Victor Wembanyama, generously listed at 7-foot-5 and 220 pounds over at ESPN, will be the No.1 overall pick in 2023. While Nick Smith Jr. lacks the eye-popping athleticism of his top-five counterparts, he more than makes up for it with skill and craft. A team can select a player depending on whether they have gained the positioning in the league season to do so. NBA teams still have a lot to learn about this group. At 6'6", he possesses the tools and skill versatility to play either guard spot in the pros after grading in the 87th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and 96th percentile out of spot-ups, per Synergy Sports. Terrence Shannons main appeal, still, is rooted in defense: at 6-foot-7, hes equal parts versatile and hard-edged. Fantastic to swat the ball from behind. First Round: 2023 NBA Mock Draft 1- Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama. Way-too-early 2023 NBA Mock Draft 1) San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, France) First, there's no surprise who tops our NBA Mock Draft. According to the terms of the agreement, a draftee must be at least 19 years old and within one year of. Dariq Whitehead just checks a lot of boxes. Hes shifty off the bounce and has no trouble creating space to get into his jump shot. This is not the first time that Miller has been connected to the Raptors, as many believed that Toronto could use their. Check out our detailed scouting report on Amen Thompson here. Hes playing important minutes against professional, high-level competition. The cherry on top is Millers passing upside. OKC. This big board, by definition, cannot take into account individual team fit, so therefore it hinges on the broader stylistic trends of NBA basketball, my personal idiosyncrasies as a basketball watcher, and to state it plainly who I think will make the best NBA players, however imprecise and subjective the method to get there may be. 2- Chicago Bulls: Scoot Henderson. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Golden State), Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | PF/C | Age: 22.3, Jamarion Sharp | Western Kentucky | C | Age: 20.8. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll NBA and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 6. Scouts will be drawn to his ability to grab-and-go, stretch the floor, attack from the arc and dish over the top, though he'll still produce plenty around the basket with his strength to finish through contact and rebound. 10. Alabama is leaning on him to great effect, and its easy to decipher the path to stardom when watching a player his size move so fluidly with the ball. Oklahoma City has first-round swap rights with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the meantime, he's still a threat to impact games with his transition offense and downhill slashing, passing and outstanding defensive tools. A strongly built 6-foot-4 guard, George will need to get better at elevating teammates in the long run, but there are flashes of legitimate passing upside to complement his impressive shot-making. He checks a lot of the important physical boxes and should draw first-round consideration accordingly. While Henderson and Nick Smith project as primary ball handlers down the road, they must refine their decision-making and ability to create for others. The 2023 draft has been starred for years in anticipation of Wembanyama's NBA eligibility. All Wembanyama games will stream on the NBA App. Sure, draft picks can be obtained, but they can also be traded, a pretty common practice which poses for much more excitement and thrill. Dariq Whitehead (Duke) Shooting guard/small forward, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds. Showing he can hit open threes would be huge for his draft stock. Other notable 2023 NBA draft prospects. The senior, who transferred over from Texas Tech, appears to be making a shooting leap in his final collegiate season. Ja Morant became the first player in . He can defend up and down the positional spectrum and he possesses impressive open-court athleticism. From an NBA perspective, there is still enough to like about his ball-handling, passing, athleticism and defensive projection for a 6'7" guard or wing. A talented movement shooter with athleticism and two-way potential, NBA scouts should eagerly track J.J. Starlings development over the course of the season. In addition, we have our first mock draft with projections from KOC, plus a team needs section where Michael Pina analyzes the biggest decisions facing each team before the trade deadline and the draft. Find out by returning here often. He crashes the glass, explodes into passing lanes, and racks up highlight blocks on the regular. Which non-quarterback group will define each top-25 team's season? He takes pride in his defense and is switch-friendly. Dereck Lively II is next in a long line of physically imposing centers from Duke. Just prior to the start of the college hoops season, here's version 1.0 of my mock draft. At 6'8", Minott has stood out with his transition and off-ball scoring and defensive instincts. Scoot Henderson : G--4 . He can spread the floor, attack the lane, and defend a couple positions. If he can clean up simple mistakes and really nail down the 3-point shot, NBA teams will have no trouble imagining a productive future at the next level. DET. Hes smart, unselfish, and hard-working. At 7'1", he's a giant presence around the basket for lobs, finishing, offensive rebounding and shot-blocking. Once the top recruit in the high school class of 2023, Jackson instead graduated early and went to Carolina as a 17-year-old. He gets after it and takes pride in making stops. He has room to grow as a decision-maker, but Hendersons dynamic athleticism, three-level scoring, and flashes of on-ball defense cement his standing near the top of the draft board. Though Ingram looked like a one-and-done prospect earlier in the year, he hit a wall over the past month, and scouts still need more convincing. Coming off an outstanding season for Richardson, the 6'4" combo puts pressure on opponents with his dribble creativity and defensive motor. Tie that in with steady growth as a shooter and playmaker, and theres reason to believe Whitmores game will only get better from here. To put it in perspective: In the past 10 years, there have been only six non-college players selected in the top five total. Houston has first-round swap rights with Brooklyn. He has excellent size on the wing at 6-foot-7, combined with comfort shooting on the move and the ability to attack downhill, using long and purposeful strides to keep the defense off-balance. RELATED: 2023 NBA Draft Prospects Ranked 1-100. Full round 2023 NBA mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings. That said, his decision-making can lag behind at times. Hes everything the league currently values length, dynamic shooting, defensive versatility, scalable offense plugged into the most absurd physical frame one could think of. 1 is an ideal use of a team's resources, in terms of the value they return in the modern game. Filipowski will have to convince scouts the offensive dynamism can offset the defensive limitations. But he'll distinguish himself from Duke's current center with more shooting range and controlled post shots. The opportunity for Wembanyama to be closer to home in Paris and still play in the competitive EuroCup league will likely be attractive. A 6'6" guard/wing, Sharpe possesses the type of athletic bounce, self-creation and shot-making suited for NBA scoring. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Gradey Dick (Sunrise Christian, SG/SF, Kansas commit). The teams that did qualify for the playoffs become the next 16 picks, from numbers 15 to 30, and they pick in reverse order, so that the team to have won the league that season, gets the 30th pick. Detroit's first-rounder is owned by Oklahoma City if Detroit's pick falls between 19 and 30 in 2023. 2023 NBA Mock Draft V.4 The No Ceilings crew put together V.4 of their Mock Draft for the 2023 NBA Draft cycle. Is Mathurin sleeper pick for Kia Rookie of the Year. Several NBA decision-makers we've spoken with expressed the belief that the NBA draft continues to get stronger and deeper, pointing to the fact that the 2020 and 2021 draft classes have significantly exceeded early expectations. What will Banchero bring to the Orlando Magic? GG Jackson has been admirably productive as one of the youngest players in college basketball. An experienced collegiate wing in one of the nations top programs, Julian Strawther should continue to draw attention all year thanks to his combination of size and shooting on the wing. Kris Murray will undoubtedly draw comparisons to his brother Keegan, the No. That said, he has been a staple of Dukes offense and the most consistent underclassman on the perpetually loaded Blue Devils roster. At 6-foot-9, his combination of size and shot-making is not easy to find. The path to the 2023 NFL Draft will cross a major checkpoint with the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 to March 6. Here's everything you need to know about how it works. Jordan Walsh (Link Academy, SF, Arkansas commit). Smiths shooting and playmaking upside will keep him glued to draft boards, but his defense and sporadic efficiency are concerning when one considers his air-light 165-pound frame. For the seventh year in a row, were featuring Kevin OConnors Big Board, in which he extensively breaks down each of the top prospects strengths, weaknesses, and closest NBA comparisons. He can also guard multiple positions. Though only 160 pounds, his athletic ability and shooting confidence are starting to look enticing for an instant-offense microwave role. NBADraft.net. Hes statistically a very poor 3-point shooter, but his touch closer to the rim is a positive indicator long-term. Ja Morant Net Worth is $80 Million US Dollars. Emoni Bates was touted as the "next LeBron James" in high school, but his college career has left NBA scouts with a wide range of opinions. If he can make the 3-point shot a regular staple of his game, Walker will have very few glaring weaknesses at the next level. Traore's perimeter-skill development has been noteworthy from an NBA scouting standpoint. By Ricky O'Donnell Dec. One of the countrys top defensive guards, Reece Beekmans steadfast offensive improvement most notably from 3-point range is edging him into early riser territory. At 6-foot-8, hes a strong and physical defender capable of guarding several positions when he puts his mind to it. Plus, hes playing for Villanova, one of the top developmental hotspots in the country. Kyle Filipowski (Wilbraham & Monson, PF/C, Duke commit). Bills-Bengals preview, Chargers collapse and more, 3 reasons Daniel Jones should be the Giants QB of the future, most unique prospect in modern NBA history. Miller, 19, will be old for a freshman, but with 6'8" size and explosive athleticism for finishing and defending, he'll crack the NBA radar by flashing enough scoring and shot-making touch. 1. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Dariq Whitehead (Montverde Academy, SG, Duke commit). Big men emerge early as prospects for obvious reasons, but the bar for being playable in today's NBA has never been higher, which means that showcasing their defensive versatility, playmaking ability and skill level on the perimeter will be important to separate from the crowd. He lacks explosiveness on drives to the rim, but a wide array of floaters and touch shots combined with his ability to play physically through contact allow Hood-Schifino to offset those limitations. Once they have claimed their pick, they have the exclusive rights to sign the player onto an official NBA contract. Theres plenty of room for bigs like that in todays game. Very few freshmen have even approached Millers production across the board. 7. That's only going to increase in the coming years with the advent of platforms like the NBA Academy, G League Ignite, OTE and the NIBC, which all scout the globe intently and draw on talent from extremely diverse backgrounds. We're still feeling the effects of a pandemic that severely disjointed the high school careers of many of these prospects. October 27, 2022 FROM BLEACHER REPORT B/R: NBA. Note: Potential breakout returners only includes players who were not included in our latest mock draft. A top prospect for the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama would make his senior national team debut as France attempts to seal a World Cup berth. High School. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and defend multiple positions. Below is GiveMeSport's 2023 NBA mock draft. Despite his high center of gravity, hes more than capable of negotiating tight spaces off the bounce and fluidly moving into his pull-up jumper. 1 pick stuns NBA fans with his flashy diamond suit during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. He can also defend the paint quite well, with quick enough feet to survive the increasing pace and space of the modern game. What Mike Miles lacks in 3-point volume, he makes up for with fearlessness driving the lane and impressive finishing ability for a 6-foot-1 guard. Marcus Sasser is a magnificent shooter with deep range on the move, pulling up, standing still, it doesnt really matter. To NYK (via LAC) if NYK 15-30 in 2023 or to POR (via LAC to NYK) if NYK 1-14 in 2023; More favorable of WAS and MEM (via MEM to OKC to WAS; via BRK to DET) Golden State Warriors. He's shown he can carry a team through stretches of a game with his aggressiveness attacking downhill and shot-making confidence. The 2023 draft class is supposed to be one of the most stacked and talented that we've seen in years. As of 2006, high school players are no longer allowed to go straight to the NBA, as the minimum draft eligibility was raised from . A bulky 6-foot-6 guard with feather-soft touch and advanced playmaking instincts, Jalen Hood-Schifino should hover around draft boards all season. Baylor could be losing multiple wings/forwards if freshmen Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan join Matthew Mayer in the draft. The French star and top 2023 NBA Draft prospect plays for Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in the French top league. Hes putting up numbers, albeit one has to remember the context of those numbers (its Eastern Michigan). One of college basketballs most productive guards. Teams with two point guards, he wonders, might be the future. . 1 pick Chet Holmgren. Just over one-third of all players currently projected to be picked can be classified as big men, which is a significant number but might not ultimately hold up.