My thoughts on the 2023 NBA Draft - First Round
Being my second season of fully covering the NBA Draft, and I can barely believe it came to an end. Here are my grades for the players being selected in round one, followed by my personal top 3.
1 - San Antonio Spurs selecting Victor Wembanyama.
A+
He's going to lead another Spurs dynasty and will become an all-time great under Popovich.
2 - Charlotte Hornets select Brandon Miller
Drafting for fit over taking the best player available is a strategy I don't agree with. Especially in the stage of their rebuild.
Miller is going to be a great defender and a three-level scoring threat for them.
A-
3 - The Portland Trail Blazers select Scoot Henderson
Getting a generational leading guard in Henderson is a big prize at three. But the opportunity to play early is challenging unless Portland decides to move Simons.
Not the best landing spot for Scoot.
B
4 - The Houston Rockets select Amen Thompson
Adding an elite athlete and automatic paint touch in Amen is the big prize for them. The spacing in Houston is going to be great, and his great feel for the game as a playmaker will complement Green very well.
Great pick.
A
5 - The Detroit Pistons select Ausar Thompson
Pistons value high-end athletes in recent years. He'll be an excellent floor-spacer and him and Ivey will be one of the most dynamic backcourt in the NBA. Ausar has serious multiple ALL-NBA Defensive Team potential.
A-
6 - Orlando selects Anthony Black
He'll complete the Orlando future core. His elite feel for the game as a playmaker and the promising defense give him a potential two-way impact. Great fit with Suggs in the backcourt.
Magic will likely move other parts to avoid overlap
B+
7 - Indiana selects Bilal Coulibaly
Feels like a reach, but if you believe in him long-term, I don't hate just going for it. The flashes are real, but it'll take a bit longer for him to impact his team. Indiana isn't in a rush. Perfect guy for Coach Carlisle to develop.
B
Indiana trades back to 8, Bilal Coulibaly goes to Washington who's entering a full rebuild, which makes it a better destination for Coulibaly.
Washington fans should be very happy.
B changes to A-
8 - Washington selects Jarace Walker, who's traded to Indiana
He's a serious floor-raiser for anyone around him. Potentially an elite defender that'll guard 2-5. The jumper needs work and he's ready to contribute on day one. The offense is the swing skill.
A-
9 - Utah selects Taylor Hendricks
Home-run pick. Absolutely stunning. Hendricks is the prime example of the modern switchable floor spacing NBA four. Serious untapped potential as a scorer. The best help defender in this class.
He's going to be a star.
A++
10 - Dallas selects Cason Wallace and moves him to Oklahoma City.
Wallace is an elite player off-ball and one of the best perimeter defenders. OKC gets a great complementary piece for Shai and Williams and he's going to have a crucial role.
A
11 - Orlando Magic selects Jett Howard
They need a legit shot-maker on the wing, and Howard is one of the better options on that end. The size and frame are promising, but the lack of rebounding will be an area of development early on in his career.
Drafting for fit.
B-
12 - Dallas selects Dereck Lively II
They take their center for the next decade. One of the most impressive rim-protecting big men in recent years. Serious potential to guard in space. With an elite P&R playmaker in Luka, Lively II will find his fair share of O.
A+
13 - Toronto selects Gradey Dick
A great pick. His size and versatility will bring their team to the next level as a whole. One of the rare prospects that's both potentially elite as a stand-still shooter and off-movement.
The defense is going to surprise a lot of folks.
A
14 - New Orleans selects Jordan Hawkins
Matching their shooting need. An impressive off-ball guy on both ends. His laser-quick release off the catch utilizing screens is going to keep him in the league for as long as his body allows him to.
The Pelicans pick a complementary piece
B
15 - The Atlanta Hawks select Kobe Bufkin
Adding a combo guard with a lot of potentials as a P&R creator is a good call. One of the best rim-finishers in the league. Excellent fit alongside Murray and Griffin Jr.
A
16 - Utah selects Keyonte George
The most prolific scorer in this class. Picture perfect shooting release. I had him at #3 in the preseason. They have their future team-leading scorer in George.
Another home-run pick by Utah. They're owning this draft so far.
A++
17 - The Lakers select Jalen Hood-Schifino
He's the best P&R playmaker in this class. The feel for the game at his age is simply mind-boggling.
Hood-Schifino has untapped potential as a scorer, especially if he's allowed to keep the ball in his hands in LA.
A
18 - The Miami Heat selects Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Fits their culture as a hard worker. Feel for the game is off the charts. Very underrated team defender despite being All PAC-12 on that end. His midrange scoring game and leveraging the threat of his elite pump-fake will help him.
B
19 - Golden State selects Brandin Podziemski
Has that old-man game. Excellent rebounder that processes the game very well. They value that in their prospects while going for more raw guys in recent years. Podziemski looks like a higher-floor prospect, drafted for fit.
B-
20 - The Rockets select Cam Whitmore
I'm lost for words. The Rockets get two top-5 caliber picks in the first round. Having a combination of BPA and fit is rare.
Whitmore is a multi-time All-Star in the making. It'll all come to the opportunity to play and get the usage.
21 - Brooklyn selects Noah Clowney
One of the best screeners in this class. The defensive potential is his unique selling point. I expect him to play as a play-finisher and a very good help-side defender. Clowney showed some touch as a shooter, something he can expand in BKN
A
22 - Brooklyn steals Dariq Whitehead
He was one of the best all-around players in high school. The lack of on-ball reps at Duke didn't help his draft stock. But Brooklyn will give him the ball in his hands. He has serious All-Star potential and the Nets have a homerun.
A+
23 - Portland picks Kris Murray
The most NBA-ready player. He'll guard a few positions and shoot the ball well. A guy every winning team needs. A very high-floor player that'll complement the usage-heavy backcourt very well.
B
24 - The Kings trade the pick and Holmes to Dallas, who selects Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
After losing Finney-Smith, Dallas takes their high-feel wing shooter. He's a very good defender with a great feel for the game. His NBA-paced game at Marquette will benefit him.
A
25 - The Pistons select Marcus Sasser
He's one of the best shooters for several years in college. The Pistons have incredible floor-spacers that'll set him up in bunches. Adding a high-volume shooter was a good move. Underrated off-ball defender too.
A
26 - Indiana picks Ben Sheppard
At 6'6" he's a very good wing defender that'll be a reliable shooter off the catch. Sheppard is known for his ability to be a secondary creator when his team needs him to. High-feel player. Fits that Carlisle mold.
A
@BelmontMBB 27 - The Hornets steal Nick Smith Jr.
Making up for the Miller pick. Smith Jr. is a star in the making if he can stay healthy and gain his burst back we saw in high school.
High-end scorer. His midrange game is the best I've seen in years. But health is the question mark.
A++
@BelmontMBB 28 - The Utah Jazz select Brice Sensabaugh
At 6'6" he's a three-level scorer and one of the best shooters in this class. Sensabaugh is not a good defender at this stage, an area he'll improve under Coach Hardy in Utah.
Potential lottery value late in the first round.
A+
29 - Denver selects Julian Strawther
He's a knockdown shooter with a very good off-ball game. Similar to Braun last year, Denver values connecting pieces that have proven to play consistent winning basketball.
A solid pick.
B
30 - Clippers select Kobe Brown
I'm neutral with this pick. I haven't watched Missouri this year. The main reason I didn't rank Brown on my board.
My favorite picks
Taylor Hendricks to the Utah Jazz
Dereck Lively II to the Dallas Mavericks
Keyonte George to the Utah Jazz