2023 NBA Mock Draft



By Mike Elworth.

Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.



Updated: March 23, 2023.



  1. Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
    There is really no feasible chance that Wembanyama isn't the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is the single-best and most hyped prospect since LeBron, and is simply an incredible basketball player. The Pistons with Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Wembanyama could be a contender in a very short amount of time.


  2. Houston Rockets: Scoot Henderson, PG, USA
    With talent like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alpernen Sengun, the Rockets are stacked with talent, but they're also a pathetic product currently. Getting a potential superstar point guard in Scoot Henderson would give Houston a leader and somebody to build the team around. Adding Henderson to this core could make the Rockets an elite franchise.


  3. San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson, PG, USA
    The Spurs have some really nice young pieces, but no one near Thompson's level. The 6-foot-7 point guard is an athletic monster with elite two-way talent. He would become San Antonio's franchise talent quickly.




  4. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama
    Miller is a classic, elite perimeter shooter and scorer who could be a franchise player. The Hornets have Lamelo Ball, but need a scoring forward at Miller's level to legitimately make them a promising roster.


  5. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, SG, USA
    Thompson is a huge shooting guard with elite athleticism and defensive ability. He can score the ball as well, but really needs to work on his three-point shooting if he wants to be a star in the NBA. Yes, he and Amen Thompson are twins.




  6. Portland Trail Blazers: Nick Smith, G, Arkansas
    Smith is a natural-born scorer who can play point guard or shooting guard, and he would be a fantastic fit with Damian Lillard and Anferne Simons. Smith has the talent to be Portland's next C.J. McCollum.


  7. Utah Jazz: Keyonte George, SG, Baylor
    The Jazz need guards after trading Mike Conley and Malik Beasley, and George is an elite scoring prospect who has the size to play off the ball. He will have few issues getting the ball in the basket in the NBA, but if he learns how to be a point guard, he could be a superstar.


  8. Washington Wizards: Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky
    Wallace to me is someone who can contribute immediately, can be a star and could become a superstar. The defense-first combo guard has the ability to start at the one or two and has excellent scoring potential. He can pair with Bradley Beal to a "T" and become the foundation of the Wizards.




  9. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, F, Houston
    The Pacers' franchise should be built around Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, the first an all-star point guard and the second one of the elite NBA rookies; but they need defense, which is where Walker can help. He is a long, athletic defender who should develop offensively. He has the talent to be a star power forward.


  10. Oklahoma City Thunder: Gradey Dick, F, Kansas
    The Kansas freshman is a truly elite shooter with the potential to be a big-time scorer in the NBA. He is far more than just a shooter though amd would fit perfectly at small forward.




  11. Utah Jazz: Anthony Black, PG, Arkansas
    Really, I have no idea how Black lasted this long, but it helps the Jazz who need a lead guard and a secondary scorer after Lauri Markkanen.

    Black is a 6-foot-7 guard who can defend multiple position and be a star offensively for Utah.


  12. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova
    This is a near-perfect match. The Hawks need some help at forward, and they are constantly trying to deal John Collins making the need larger. Whitmore's already productive, but he has the potential to be a star.


  13. New Orleans Pelicans: James Nnaji, C, Nigeria
    With Zion Williamson's constant injuries, the Pelicans need more size, and they could use a boost in talent. Nnaji is my favorite non-Wembanyama foreign prospect.




  14. Toronto Raptors: Dariq Whitehead, SF, Duke
    The Duke freshman was fifth in my first mock draft, but has had a difficult season. Regardless, the talent is still there for him to become an excellent NBA starter. With Gary Trent Jr. a free agent and with O.G. Anunoby potentially getting dealt, small forward could become a huge need for the Raptors.


  15. Chicago Bulls: Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
    The Bulls need to re-tool, not re-build, and that means letting center Nikola Vucevic, who is in his 30s, walk as a free agent instead of giving him a $100 million contract. So, why not select arguably the best scoring center prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft. Filipowski has been huge for Duke and looks like a perfect prospect for my hometown Bulls.



    16. Go to Mike's 2023 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 - Picks 16-30
    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I've received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.


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By Mike Elworth.

Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.





2015 NBA Mock Draft

2016 NBA Mock Draft

2014 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG





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