Matt’s 2023 NBA Mock Draft

MATT’S 2023 NBA MOCK DRAFT – The 2023 NBA Draft is all about French star Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery and are almost certainly going to select Wembanyama. However, the rest of the first round is a big question mark, and some players are still deciding whether or not to test the waters or head back to college. 

Nonetheless, let’s examine the top 10 picks and do an early mock draft. 

No. 1: San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, Mets 92

There is zero question with this pick. The Spurs select Wembanyama, the French star that the NBA has been waiting for. He immediately slots in as the best player on the roster and the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Gregg Popovich keeps landing top-tier talent. 

No. 2: Charlotte Hornets: Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite 

This is where the draft starts, and either Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller end up at this pick. I’ll take Scoot here. Any other year, he would be the top choice, but Wembanyama is on a different level than any prospect we have seen since maybe LeBron James.

Henderson played for the G League Ignite this season, averaging 17.6 PPG with 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds. Pairing him with LaMelo Ball makes for quite the guard duo, and Charlotte should be thrilled with this selection. 

No. 3: Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller, Alabama 

There’s a scenario where Brandon Miller goes No. 2 and Scoot drops to No. 3 alongside Damian Lillard. But, Miller lands at No. 3 here and the Blazers get a much-needed all-purpose wing.

Miller was filled with off-the-court issues, but those should be subsided. Miller was the Player of the Year, finishing with 18.8 PPG and 8.2 rebounds. 

No. 4: Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite 

The NBA will see a lot of G League Ignite and Overtime Elite players selected in the foreseeable future, and now we see two in the first four picks.

Amen Thompson is a combo guard that will immediately slot in next to Jalen Green in a young Rockets core. New coach Ime Udoka will love working with him, and there is a reason the Thompson twins have been drawing plenty of hype. 

No. 5: Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite 

The Pistons sit back at No. 5, although they were definitely hoping for a higher pick. Yet, they land Ausar Thompson, the other Thompson twin that plays forward and guard.

There’s an argument about him having even more upside than his brother. On the other hand, the Pistons have Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, so it’s likely that he slides to forward if he lands in the Motor City. Nonetheless, taking the best player available is the move here. 

No 6: Orlando Magic: Gradey Dick, Kansas 

This might be a surprising selection for the time being, but let’s discuss this.

The Magic have arguably the best young nucleus in the NBA. Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Paolo Banchero Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. is a decent group.

The Magic could use some backcourt help, and adding a sharpshooter such as Gradey Dick would fill a big need. He shot 40 percent from three and 48 percent from the field with Kansas in his final season, and he stands at 6-foot-8, which is massive for a guard. 

No. 7: Indiana Pacers: Jordan Hawkins, UCONN 

The Pacers REALLY wanted to land Gradey Dick, but he goes one pick before. Instead, they take Jordan Hawkins, who helped lead UConn to the national title.

He started every single game this season, averaging 16.2 PPG with 3.8 boards and shot 38 percent from three. Hawkins can replace Buddy Hield if the Pacers finally decide to trade him, and a three-man lineup of Tyrese Haliburton, Benedict Mathurin, and Hawkins is a fun trio. 

No. 8: Washington Wizards: Cam Whitmore, Villanova 

The Wizards have all sorts of questions. Bradley Beal’s future is always up in the air, and Kyle Kuzma also is a question mark to return next season.

The Wizards just need playmakers everywhere, and Cam Whitmore – who is potentially a top-5 pick – falls to them right here. He is a talented wing that can step in on Day One and contribute immediately in the nation’s capital. 

No. 9: Utah Jazz: Keyonte George, Baylor 

The Jazz tanked hard, and they land a top-10 pick in the process. Lauri Markkanen was a huge surprise, and Mike Conley was traded at the deadline.

The Jazz need a guard after Donovan Mitchell was traded, and they get one right here in George. He can shoot the ball from deep and can become an all-around guard with the right development, and he fits right in with the Jazz in a youthful rebuild. 

No. 10: Dallas Mavericks: Taylor Hendricks, UCF

The Mavericks Kyrie Irving-Luka Doncic duo did not work, but all signs point to Irving coming back to Dallas. The Mavs need a big, and they get the best big man of the class that is not named Victor Wembanyama.

The pick-and-roll game with Hendricks and Luka and Kyrie will be fun, and Hendricks has serious potential.