2023 NBA Mock Draft With Analysis – 12/27/22

Hope everyone had a happy holiday weekend! New extended NBA Mock Draft for all of you.

Draft order and lottery generator courtesy of http://www.tankathon.com

Pick	Player	Stats	Commentary
1	C Victor Wembanyama, France – 7’4, 240 lbs	22.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.0 bpg	No need to type up a team/player fit for Victor Wembanyama. He is 100% guaranteed to be the top pick. The most hyped prospect in years has lived up to the billing, with jaw dropping performances on national television. He is a legit 7’4 with the ball handling skills of a guard, a great shooting stroke and all defensive NBA potential. Just pray to the basketball gods that he can stay healthy. History has not been kind to players as tall as him. Orlando lucks out in this lottery mock, landing the first overall pick for the second year in a row. Imagine a front court of Wembanyama, Bol Bol and Paolo Banchero. Length and scoring everywhere.
2	PG Scoot Henderson, USA/G-League – 6’3, 180 lbs	21.2 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.3 rpg	Scoot Henderson is more than just a consolation prize for whoever loses out on the top pick. He is an elite talent, and is a perfect fit as a 2023 NBA point guard. He is big, strong, an aggressive scorer and talented distributor and defender. He has 20/5/5 potential right out of the gate. Golden State flies up the board thanks to this lottery, and adding Henderson to basically be a backup guard would be an embarrassment of riches. They basically get to undo the mistake of taking James Wiseman over LaMelo Ball a couple of years ago.
3	SF Amen Thompson, USA/OT Elite – 6’7, 202 lbs	16.7 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.6 rpg	Amen Thompson needs to work on his jumpshot, and it is a legit concern that he is almost 20 years old playing against a bunch of high school kids, but he is a top notch athlete and may be the best on the ball defender in this class. Throw in his ability to be a true point guard and the total package is probably at the top of tier three. Thompson has the kind of all around game that would make him a nice fit for any team. Charlotte desperately needs talent on the roster.
4	SF Brandon Miller, Fr, Alabama – 6’9, 200 lbs	19.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.0 apg	From MIN Another lottery ball surprise, the Jazz shoot up into the top four, courtesy of the brilliant Rudy Gobert trade. A lot of hyped freshmen have struggled this year, so Brandon Miller may be the top prospect playing college basketball right now. He is shooting 44% from three, runs the floor, grabs rebounds and blocks shots. The Jazz are collecting talent regardless of position, and would be thrilled to somehow land in the top five here.
5	SF Cam Whitmore, Fr, Villanova – 6’7, 232 lbs	12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 spg	Villanova is easing Cam Whitmore into the rotation, but he already has back to back 20 point outings (well, 21 and 19), and has shown a nice ability to rebound, play defense and hit the occasional three point shot. The Pistons still have an extremely weak roster, and while Whitmore may not be a superstar in waiting, he can play both forward positions and bring a great deal of toughness to the roster.
6	PG Cason Wallace, Fr, Kentucky – 6’4, 193 lbs	11.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.9 rpg	Cason Wallace’s most recent performance (27 points, 9 assists, 4 steals) perfectly displayed what makes him such an intriguing prospect. He is an NBA level defender already, and has the ability to really score when needed. There is a ton to like here, especially for a team like Houston, which has a high scoring, low defense back court. Wallace could be a Marcus Smart-like impact point guard in the NBA.
7	SG Nick Smith Jr., Fr, Arkansas – 6’5, 185 lbs	12.8 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.8 rpg	It has been a freshman season to forget for Nick Smith Jr. He missed time to start the year and now may be done for the season with a knee injury. I still find it hard to believe he will fall out of the top ten, however. He is a very gifted scorer, and every team in the NBA is clamoring for guards who can get their own offense. The Spurs are in the infancy of a huge rebuilding effort and would be the perfect team to take the plunge on Smith here.
8	SF Ausar Thompson, USA/OT Elite – 6’7, 207 lbs	17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.2 apg	So far so good for the Thompson twins. Ausar has been a terror scoring and on defense, with 3.5 steals per game. He is not a tremendous shooter but you can say the same about most young players. The Wizards are a complete mess. Who knows what this team will look like in 2023. Thompson would be a key piece regardless.
9	PF GG Jackson II, Fr, South Carolina – 6’9, 215 lbs	16.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg	From LAL GG Jackson II, one of the youngest players in college basketball, is holding his own on an overmatched South Carolina team. He is a great athlete who can score off lobs and put backs, and his perimeter shot has been promising. A project to be sure, but he could learn how to obliterate defenses through dunks to the face by one of the best, Zion Williamson.
10	SF Gradey Dick, Fr, Kansas – 6’8, 205 lbs	15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 apg	It is all about shooting with Gradey Dick. He has ideal size, length and the shooting stroke to be a real asset offensively. He is a better athlete than expected, and should be able to hold his own defensively. Developing superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is singlehandedly keeping the Thunder from tanking. Dick should have a ton of open looks off of SGA and Josh Giddey drives.
11	PG Anthony Black, Fr, Arkansas – 6’7, 198 lbs	12.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.7 apg	From CHI Anthony Black is a unique prospect. He is big and strong, a solid scorer with a better than anticipated jump shot. He plays solid defense, and can absolutely run the point guard position full time. He still needs to be more consistent offensively, but the potential is there to be a starting point guard in this league. The Magic have a few intriguing guards, but Black could be the best of the bunch.
12	PF Kris Murray, Jr, Iowa – 6’8, 225 lbs	19.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.8 apg	Kris Murray is looking like a spitting image of his twin brother Keegan. He should average 20 ppg for Iowa this year, showing the same type of offensive game that landed his broter in the lottery. The only worry is that he will be 23 by the time the season starts, but playoff teams do not mind that, as they would welcome the immediate production. The Raptors bench has not been productive this year, and Murray could help improve that.
13	SG Keyonte George, Fr, Baylor – 6’4, 185 lbs	15.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 4.3 rpg	Keyonte George has struggled with efficiency at times, but has been almost as good as advertised for Baylor. When he is on, he is a solid combo guard who can score in bunches and play some point guard. The Heat’s role players have struggled at times this year, and perhaps they could use a first round pick instead of another undrafted player.
14	SF Dariq Whitehead, Fr, Duke – 6’7, 220 lbs	6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.9 apg	Dariq Whitehead has returned from his broken foot, and the Blue Devils are bringing him along slowly, similar to how they used AJ Griffin last year. Whitehead is coming off of his best offensive game of his career, scoring 15 points in 25 minutes. He is definitely a lottery talent, especially on offense. The Jazz would easily gamble on his potential at this point in the draft.
15	SG Maxwell Lewis, So, Pepperdine – 6’7, 195 lbs	19.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.7 apg	Gonzaga is not the only WCC team that produces NBA products. In 2022 it was Jalen Williams of Santa Clara, and this year Pepperdine’s Maxwell Lewis looks like a legitimate talent. He is basically the complete package, able to handle the ball, shoot and play some great defense. Guys like him are in high demand, and he could realistically find his way into the teens come draft time. He would give the Pacers yet another talented wing.
16	PF Jarace Walker, Fr, Houston – 6’8, 240 lbs	9.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg	Jarace Walker was the highest recruit Houston has had in a while, and so far so good. Houston might be the best team in college basketball so they have not asked Walker to do too much, but he has shown the ability to score from everywhere, handle the ball and play solid defense. The Hawks like to draft the best freshman available, and Walker could be the future replacement for John Collins at the four.
17	SG Terquavion Smith, So, NC State – 6’4, 165 lbs	17.9 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.7 rpg	Terquavion Smith has not improved much from a solid freshman year, still struggling to shoot over 40%. He is the majority of the offense for NC State, however, and does a lot of things even when his shot is not falling. He may max out as a Lou Williams type, but he could battle for Sixth Man of the Year awards during his prime. He would make a nice bench piece for a Knicks team that could have three first round picks this draft.
18	C Dereck Lively II, Fr, Duke – 7’1, 230 lbs	4.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.0 bpg	Minutes in the Duke front course are fierce right now, and Dereck Lively II has been a part time player thus far, but he has made the best of his playing time. He is coming off his best game of the season, with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks. He may max out as a poor man’s Tyson Chandler type, but that should be good enough to become a long time starter in the NBA. The Bulls are extremely thin up front and may let Nikola Vucevic walk as a free agent.
19	SF Jett Howard, Fr, Michigan – 6’8, 215 lbs	15.6 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.8 bpg	From DAL Jett Howard is a solid 3 and D type that every team would love to have coming off it’s bench. He is a very consistent scorer, can handle the rock and get some blocks and steals. Like I said, he is an automatic fit anywhere, and he could be the primary backup forward for the Knicks.
20	SG Colby Jones, Jr, Xavier – 6’6, 205 lbs	14.8 ppg, 5.8 apg, 5.3 rpg	Colby Jones has exploded on the scene as a junior, doing it all for Xavier. Most impressive is his 50% shooting from three. Teams in the 20’s are going after these types of upperclassmen more and more, since they are cheap labor so to speak. The Kings are on their way to breaking the longest playoff drought in the NBA. Jones could backup three positions.
21	C Kyle Filipowski, Fr, Duke – 7’0, 230 lbs	14.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.4 spg	Kyle Filipowski is not overly athletic or strong, but he is already showing the ability to grab rebounds, knock down jump shots and play passing lanes on defense. He could have a nice career as a backup stretch-type big man. Things are a bit of a mess in Phoenix right now, and I would be surprised if current center DeAndre Ayton opens the 2023 season on the roster.
22	PF DaRon Holmes II, So, Dayton – 6’10, 225 lbs	17.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 bpg	DaRon Holmes II was perhaps the highest rated Dayton recruit ever, and he has been as good as advertised. Holmes is coming off of four straight double doubles and has the look of a young Bobby Portis. He is not a three point shooter, but can score, rebound and block shots. The Clippers, easily the worst drafting team since 2010, could use some more front court depth, and Holmes would be a nice developmental project.
23	PF Jalen Wilson, Jr, Kansas – 6’8, 225 lbs	21.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.9 apg	Jalen Wilson is definitely in consideration for College Basketball Player of the Year. He has had a monster junior season for Kansas. He is not the best athlete and may struggle to score this well in the NBA, but he does the dirty work rebounding and playing defense as well. Maybe not a starter, but playoff teams are always looking for guys who can produce right away, all the while being paid like a rookie. He would join a very deep Memphis bench.
24	SF Brice Sensabaugh, Fr, Ohio State – 6’6, 235 lbs	15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.5 spg	From PHI Brice Sensabaugh has not been asked to do much more than score, but he has exceled at that role, shooting 50% from the field and the arc. He has been a PER superstar. Kevin Durant is playing at an MVP level for Brooklyn, and Sensabaugh can learn from Joe Harris how to play the “stand around and get open looks” from the best.
25	C Kel’el Ware, Fr, Oregon – 7’0, 210 lbs	8.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg	Kel’el Ware has battled with Nathan Bittle for center minutes for Oregon, but has been productive during his 23 minutes per game. He is a peremiter oriented big man who can block shots and rebound at a high rate. Effort is sometimes a concern, but with the 25th overall pick, and three selections in the first round for Indiana, this is a good spot for him to go.
26	SG Julian Strawther, Jr, Gonzaga – 6’7, 205 lbs	13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.6 spg	From NO Gonzaga has struggled at times this year, and so has Julian Strawther, but I remain a fan. He has nice size, is a good defender and can really shoot the ball. As an upperclassman, he could come in right away and give the Lakers, a team with three or four legit rotation players, some real minutes.
27	SF Dillon Mitchell, Fr, Texas – 6’8, 205 lbs	7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.0 spg	From BKN Texas has been a top five team this year, so they have not needed Dillon Mitchell to make a huge impact. Mitchell has made the best of his 20 minutes per game. He plays extremely hard, scores at a high rate and makes a ton of energy plays. A project to be sure, but he would make a nice pick for a Jazz team collecting talent.
28	PF Azuolas Tubelis, Jr, Arizona – 6’11, 245 lbs	18.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.2 apg	From DEN A generation ago, Azuolas Tubelis would be an easy top ten pick. He has great size, a sweet shooting stroke and can rebound the ball. A lack of speed and athleticism is a real concern, but you could do a lot worse very late in the first round. The Hornets need scoring badly.
29	PF Adama Sanogo, Jr, Connecticut – 6’9, 245 lbs	18.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.3 apg	From MIL Connecticut is finally back, and Adama Sanogo is the captain that makes the ship go. He is a Montrezl Harrell type, a goon, good defender and rebounder, and tough scorer. Though he is not a big time shooter, there is a place in the NBA for guys like him. He woud give the Houston bench some much needed toughness.
24	SG Rayan Rupert, France – 6’6, 192 lbs	8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.7 spg	From BOS Rayan Rupert is a long way from being a productive NBA player, but he is young and versatile, and could be a nice 3 and D player if he develops. The Pacers have three first round picks, and would be one of the better teams for Rupert to end up with, development wise.