3rd and final 2023 NBA Mock Draft.
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama- Metropolitans 92/France
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller- Alabama
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson- G League Ignite
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson- Overtime Elite
5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson- Overtime Elite
6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black- Arkansas
7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker- Houston
8. Washington Wizards: Kobe Bufkin- Michigan
9. Utah Jazz: Bilal Coulibaly- Metropolitans 92/France
10. Dallas Mavericks: Cam Whitmore- Villanova
11. Orlando Magic: Taylor Hendricks- UCF
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Gradey Dick- Kansas
13. Toronto Raptors: Jordan Hawkins- UConn
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jalen Hood-Schifino- Indiana
Notes: Victor Wembanyama stays put at #1 as he should, but there’s been a lot of new intel since my last mock. Adrian Wojnarwoski recently said that “Brandon Miller continues to be the focus of the Hornets,” leading me to go with Miller at #2. I personally can’t see a talent like Scoot Henderson falling past #3, you just wonder if the Blazers keep the pick. Amen Thompson to the Rockets was my #4 selection all along, as Jeremy Woo (hat tip to RealGM) reported this week that the 20-year-old “looks increasingly like the frontrunner” for Houston. Cam Whitmore is no longer my choice for the Pistons at 5. Bryan Kalbrosky mentioned that a few top draft experts heard concerns about the former Villanova star’s workouts/medicals, so I went with the most talented player left in Ausar Thompson. Jake Fischer wrote that “Arkansas playmaker Anthony Black had a strong visit with Orlando and believes he’s very much in play for the sixth selection,” and Jarace Walker had a “great workout” with Indiana, making Black my 6th pick to the Magic and Walker my 7th selection to the Pacers. Kobe Bufkin moves all the way up to #8, Kalbrosky noted that ESPN thinks Bufkin is a name Washington will seriously consider. Bilal Coulibaly goes back to his original slot at #9 based on Marc Stein’s earlier Jazz intel (hat tip to NBA_Draft on Reddit). Whitmore & Taylor Hendricks slide down to 10 (Dallas) and 11 (Orlando), which I personally think is crazy, I have them rated as top 7 players in this class. Oklahoma City and Toronto get much needed shooting with Gradey Dick & Jordan Hawkins at 12 and 13 while the Pelicans (#14 pick) get a strong combo guard in Jalen Hood-Schifino. Dereck Lively & Nick Smith Jr. fall out of my final mock, but whoever picks them is drafting lottery level talent.
