Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Here’s our final NBA mock draft based on intel around the league.
The 2023 NBA Draft is finally here, and with it comes the realization of a lifelong dream for the 58 players who will hear their name called. This year’s draft features two fewer picks than normal after the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers were stripped of second rounders for tampering violations during free agency.
We have been covering this draft class since the day after the 2022 draft, and our initial board looks mostly accurate 12 months later. Be sure to read all of our the draft coverage at SB Nation, which includes a feature on twins Amen and Ausar Thompson, a top-60 overall big board, a look at Victor Wembanyama’s 35 most incredible plays, and a mock draft with what we would do at every pick.
It’s time for one last mock draft — this time projecting both the first and second rounds. This mock is based off intel we’re hearing around the league. It’s what we actually think is going to happen with the draft just hours away. Let’s mock every pick in the 2023 NBA Draft:
Why Brandon Miller is the pick for the Hornets at No 2
We’ve maintained all year that Scoot Henderson should be the second pick in the draft. The Hornets have the least talented roster in the NBA outside of LaMelo Ball, and are in no position to draft for fit. We’ve mocked Henderson to the Hornets in every projection we’ve done, but we’re changing that tune now because all the intel is pointing to Miller.
Outgoing majority owner Michael Jordan has the final say on the pick, according to GM Mitch Kupchak. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is convinced the pick will be Miller:
The Hornets are preparing to select Brandon Miller at No. 2 overall, per @wojespn:
– Miller impressed Michael Jordan and Co. during his second private workout yesterday.
– Charlotte prefers Miller’s fit alongside LaMelo Ball over Scoot Henderson. pic.twitter.com/P3dsnpCl2P
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 21, 2023
Of course, just last year, ESPN reported that Jabari Smith Jr. would go No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic. The Magic ended up taking Paolo Banchero, which was the right pick.
Will the Hornets call an audible at the last second and make the right choice? It’s still possible, but we can no longer ignore all the smoke around Miller.
What are the pivot points of this draft after No. 2?
The Hornets hold the keys to the draft with the second pick. Here are the other picks that can swing the outlook of the draft at the top of the first round:
Detroit Pistons at No. 5: Cam Whitmore should be the pick here, but Detroit doesn’t appear to like him as much as other players in this draft. All the intel says this pick will come down to Jarace Walker vs. Ausar Thompson. Either way, the Pistons are going to have a major shooting crunch with Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey already in their core.
Orlando Magic at No. 6: The Magic need shooting more than anything else. They could also use a dose of athleticism, and help in the backcourt. I’d guess this pick comes down to a Thompson twin vs. Anthony
Dallas Mavericks at No. 10: Consistently the hardest pick to project in the draft. I view this draft as having 11 worthy lottery picks. Derrick Lively is not one of those players. I’m putting him here because Dallas could use size and defense, and he checks both boxes. I wouldn’t love the pick, but it makes sense for them.
Who are the most interesting second round talents?
Here are a few second round picks I think could be steals:
Brice Sensabaugh, G, Ohio State: I have Sensabaugh rated as a lottery talent. NBA teams are lower on him because he’s a poor defender, lacks court vision, and has been dealing with knee injuries. The latest intel says he could slip out of the first round entirely. Personally, I believe his three-point shot and all-around shot-making is just too valuable to slip that far.
Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas: Walsh has a strong 6’7 frame, a massive 7’2 wingspan, and sky-high defensive potential. He can handle the ball in the open floor, and has shown connective passing traits. There’s one swing skill for Walsh, and that’s his shot. He’s a bad shooter right now, but I watched him hit a critical three-pointer in Arkansas’ upset of Kansas in the NCAA tournament. I’d bet on his mentality, physical tools, and ability to improve.
GG Jackson, F, South Carolina: Jackson was the top-rated high school player in next year’s incoming freshman class before reclassifying to enroll at South Carolina. He put up some big numbers and had impressive shot-making flashes for the Gamecocks, but he was brutally inefficient and reportedly immature off the floor. Either way, Jackson’s combination of size (6’9), strength, and shot-making gives him a higher ceiling than a typical second rounder if he lasts that long.
Maxwell Lewis. G, Pepperdine: Lewis is so much fun to watch with long strides, spot-up shooting ability, and a deep bag of scoring tricks inside the arc. The problem is that his play slipped as the season went on, his defensive intensity can wane, and he might be harder to fit into team structures than other players in this range. Still, I like his upside and would consider him a home run pick in the second round.
How to watch the 2023 NBA Draft
Date: Thursday, June 22
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Barclays Center
TV info: ESPN, ABC (first round)
Stream: Watch ESPN
