2023 NBA Mock Draft: Final Edition

Here is the final edition of my 2023 NBA Mock Draft.

1. San Antonio Spurs- Victor Wembanyama, Center, France: This is a slam dunk selection for the Spurs as they luck out yet again with a franchise altering big man in Wembanyama. Wemby is the best prospect to enter the league since LeBron James and he is a super intimidating presence on the court with his ability to shoot from anywhere and at the rim blocking shots.

2.  Charlotte Hornets- Brandon Miller, Small Forward, Alabama: The pick should be Scoot Henderson here, but because of the presence of LaMelo Ball they may go in with Miller, like some of the reports are suggesting. Despite off court troubles, Miller has the upside to be an elite scorer on a good team.

3. Portland Trail Blazers- Scoot Henderson, Point Guard, G-League Ignite: Henderson dropping to three would cause chaos as teams would be either trying to acquire the pick or even if the team were to keep it and take Henderson, to trade Damian Lillard. Henderson has great athleticism and has All-NBA type of talent.

4. Houston Rockets- Amen Thompson, Point Guard, Overtime Elite: This pick is absolutely in play to be traded with the Rockets desire to bring back James Harden and to win now. Thompson has a ton of length and can guard any position realistically, but he needs to become a better shooter.

5. Detroit Pistons- Ausar Thompson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Overtime Elite: The Pistons land a great talent here with Thompson and the fit here would be interesting with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Ausar arguably has higher upside than his brother Amen due to his three-point shooting ability and that is something that this Pistons team can use.

6. Orlando Magic- Anthony Black, Point Guard, Arkansas: This is a very trendy mock selection as we approach the draft today as the Magic are possibly looking for a guard and move on from some of the ones they have. Black is a big guard that does just about everything and is a smart player that knows how to utilize advantages.

7. Indiana Pacers- Jarace Walker, Power Forward, Houston: The Pacers have some options here with this pick as they can potentially trade up if they want to. Walker is a versatile player on both ends of the court and would give the Pacers offense a different look.

8. Washington Wizards- Cam Whitmore, Small Forward/Power Forward, Villanova: This would be a really good pick for the Wizards as they need a young building block to have as they may be heading for a rebuild. Whitmore showed good catch-and-shoot promise while in school and is a solid defender too.

9. Utah Jazz- Taylor Hendricks, Power Forward, UCF: The Jazz were surprisingly decent this season and they don't seem that far off from being a threat. Hendricks would provide much needed front court depth as it would take pressure off Lauri Markannen and Walker Kessler with his ability to shoot the three.

10. Dallas Mavericks- Derrick Lively Jr, Center, Duke: This pick makes sense since the Mavericks need a long term answer at the center position. Lively has two-way upside as a player, but didn't really show that consistency in college and has the ability to play on the perimeter too.

11. Orlando Magic (from Chicago Bulls)- Gradey Dick, Shooting Guard, Kansas: With their second lottery pick, the Magic go with someone who is a lot of fun to watch in Dick. He makes a ton of sense here for the Magic with his ability to shoot the three and defend and has the ability to develop more as a player.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kobi Bufkin, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Michigan: This would be an interesting selection in which either Bufkin would be a bench guy or Josh Giddey gets moved to small forward. Bufkin is super quick and athletic on the perimeter and is a safe bet in this draft to be impactful.

13. Toronto Raptors- Jalen Hood-Schifino, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Indiana: The Raptors here go with the versatile guard in Hood-Schifino. He is a wild card in the draft that could go anywhere from the lottery to the end of the round as he's very skilled, but needs improvement with his shooting.

14. New Orleans Pelicans- Bilal Couliably, Small Forward, France: The Pelicans take a big swing here and take Wembanyama's teammate in Couliably. He has a ton of talent and has the length to be a solid defender.

15. Atlanta Hawks- Cason Wallace, Point Guard, Kentucky: With Trae Young's future with the Hawks in the air, it would not surprise me if a point guard is selected here. Wallace is somebody that is a good defender and could develop more offensively and could be a long term point guard option here.

16. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Keyonte George, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Baylor: The Jazz go with a battle tested player here with George. He is super explosive and tends to get to the basket well, but his shooting has to improve on what he's shown.

17. Los Angeles Lakers- Jordan Hawkins, Shooting Guard, Connecticut: The Laker here would be getting a steal with Hawkins, who some think could go in the lottery. The Lakers could use production and youth from the two-guard position and Hawkins is an elite shooter.

18. Miami Heat- Leonard Miller, Small Forward/Power Forward, G-League Ignite: The Heat are a team that wants to keep and add to its identity that got them to the finals. Miller is someone who's stock has flown the last several weeks as he's shown the ability to shoot the three well and has a chance to develop defensively too.

19. Golden State Warriors- Kris Murray, Small Forward/Power Forward, Iowa: The Warriors go with a possible need pick in Murray depending on what happens to their roster. I believe Murray will be an impact player for anyone as he can come in and play good defense and has a good IQ.

20. Houston Rockets (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Small Forward/Power Forward, Marquette: With their second first rounder, the Rockets take the versatile forward in Maxence-Prosper. He is an aggressive player as he excels defensively, but he needs to develop more offensively.

21. Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix Suns)- Nick Smith, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Arkansas: The Nets get a steal here with Smith, but there are reasons why he may drop. Smith struggled in college a season ago with injuries and inconsistencies, but it could be worth the risk if he lives up to the hype he got in college.

22. Brooklyn Nets- Noah Clowney, Power Forward, Alabama: With their second first rounder, the Nets go with someone who's played on good teams in college in Clowney. He is a flawed offensive player, but is a really good defensive player that impacts games.

23. Portland Trail Blazers (from New York Knicks)- Jaime Jaquez, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, UCLA: This would be a nice pick for the Trail Blazers for their second of two first's. Jaquez was an NCAA Tournament standout that is an excellent play maker and has a really good midrange game.

24. Sacramento Kings- Branden Podziemski, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Santa Clara: The Broncos of Santa Clara really have been producing great talent recently. Podzimski is the type of player the Kings really can use with his versatility and 3-and-D potential.

25. Boston Celtics (from Memphis Grizzlies)- Jett Howard, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Michigan: With the Celtics in the mix now, they can go in any direction they'd like. Howard is a really good scorer and could do so in many ways, but an injury held him back at times this past season.

26. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- James Nnaji, Center, France: With their second first rounder, I have the Pacers taking the talented center in Nnaji. He has solid physical tools as he's strong and lengthy and has a ton of potential defensively.

27. Charlotte Hornets (from Denver Nuggets)- Dariq Whitehead, Small Forward, Duke: With their second first rounder, I have the Hornets going with Whitehead. He would have been a lottery pick had he not fractured his foot his Freshman year and he would fit nicely as a secondary scoring option off the bench.

28. Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia 76ers via Brooklyn Nets)- Rayan Rupert, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, France: This could be an interesting draft and stash player for the Jazz as they should take that swing here. Rupert has the ability to defend at a high level and has a great wing span.

29. Denver Nuggets (from Boston Celtics via Indiana Pacers)- Ben Sheppard, Shooting Guard, Belmont: The Nuggets are now a new entree into the first round getting this pick and here they get someone that can come in and help them possibly replace Bruce Brown in Sheppard. He is someone that is an elite shooter and has a great all around game which could get him drafted in the first round.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Milwaukee Bucks)- Brice Sensabaugh, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oho State: The Clippers take the talented wing in Sensabaugh. He is your classic three point bucket getter that can help swing a game.