It’s hard to foresee what the NBA draft will look like, especially as the lottery won’t take place for a few months. While some draft prospects will rise during March Madness and pre-draft workouts, others will fall out of favor and slip down the boards.
Even as the draft cycle has spun around, however, the consensus on the 2023 class is that it has a franchise-changing star at the top, a second tier chock full of star prospects, and some hidden depth pieces from older college and international players. Although it doesn’t hold the chance to get LeBron James as well, a lottery pick this year can change a team’s fortune for a decade.
Throughout the draft season, a number of less-heralded freshman like Taylor Hendricks and Jalen Hood-Schifino have risen in the rankings due to standout campaigns, while others like Dereck Lively II and Jordan Walsh have seen their draft stock take a hit.
While it isn’t much of a surprise which player is selected first in this draft, many of the other selections will come down to which team gets which slot, as there are some tougher fits for some teams compared to others.
1. Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitan 92
No surprise for the top pick, as the Pistons would be overjoyed to add a highly skilled and athletic two-way unicorn center to their young core.
2. Houston Rockets: Scoot Henderson, G-League Ignite
Despite recent chatter, a team like the Rockets crave a stabilizing great playmaker at point guard like Scoot to tie all of their talent together.
3. San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
For a team that lacks star power like the Spurs, Amen offers too much raw, massive potential to pass on due to his exceptional athleticism and passing instincts.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, Alabama Crimson Tide
Adding a proven scoring forward like Miller to a team led by LaMelo Ball will give him the easiest landing pad into NBA stardom.
5. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
Even with two stud wings, the Magic can’t pass up an athletic marvel like Ausar who could be a secondary creator, wing stopper, or whatever role the team envisions for him.
6. Washington Wizards: Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas Razorbacks
After coming back from injury with a furious scoring binge, Smith Jr.’s shown enough of his pre-draft hype that makes his fit next to Bradley Beal in the backcourt perfect.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Cam Whitmore, Villanova Wildcats
Whitmore didn’t let Villanova’s up-and-down season obscure his prodigious dunking prowess and underrated cutting and on-ball scoring potential.
8. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, Houston Cougars
With so much of the team focused on the offensive end, Walker could pair with Myles Turner to form one of the deadliest and most versatile defensive frontcourts in the entire league.
9. Orlando Magic (from Chicago Bulls): Keyonte George, Baylor Bears
There’s a need for snipers in Orlando and that’s George’s specialty, which makes this fit one of the cleaner ones in the whole first round.
10. Toronto Raptors: Anthony Black, Arkansas Razorbacks
As the team’s faltered down the stretch, it’s clear that Raptors need an infusion of youthful defense and high basketball IQ, both of which are Black’s calling cards.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder: Taylor Hendricks, UCF Knights
It’s been a meteoric rise for Hendricks, but his blend of shooting mechanics, switching on defense, and untapped athletic upside that make him a perfect fit in OKC.
12. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers): Cason Wallace, Kentucky Wildcats
To build the perfect team around Zion Williamson, the Pelicans load up on a defensive menace at the point-of-attack who can also create for himself and others.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (from New Orleans Pelicans): Jett Howard, Michigan Wolverines
A knockdown shooter like Howard who can hit shots off of the catch, off of screens, and off of the dribble is a match made in heaven for LBJ and AD.
14. Utah Jazz: Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State Buckeyes
Outside of Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz lack a proven scoring threat, which makes Sensabaugh a great fit for a team that is still in transition.
15. New York Knicks (from Dallas Mavericks): Gradey Dick, Kansas Jayhawks
The last piece to New York’s offensive puzzle is a connecting shooter, which Dick fits to a T, while also offering a sly amount of off-ball defense for the team.
16. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota Timberwolves): Dariq Whitehead, Duke Blue Devils
As he’s rounded into health, Whitehead’s started to show the same burst, creation, and shooting touch that made him a consensus top recruit heading into his season for the Blue Devils.
17. Atlanta Hawks: G.G. Jackson, South Carolina Gamecocks
There is no prospect in this draft with a higher ceiling and lower floor than Jackson, but the Hawks could replace John Collins with a player who could be him today and better than him tomorrow.
18. Golden State Warriors: Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine Wave
In the post-Curry future, the Warriors will need a developed scorer to pair with Jordan Poole, which Lewis could become if he’s given time to hone his skills.
19. Miami Heat: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana Hoosiers
Kyle Lowry’s been a non-factor for the Heat in recent weeks, which makes the need for an offensive dynamo like JHS that much more important to their contention.
20. Houston Rockets (from LA Clippers): Kris Murray, Iowa Hawkeyes
Like his brother before him, Murray’s a proven scorer from all areas on the floor, which makes him an easy fit with Scoot and the rest of Houston’s young core.
21. Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix Suns): Leonard Miller, G-League Ignite
Scratch G.G. Jackson, Miller is the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in years, but his consistent rebounding and interior scoring gives Brooklyn a new offensive dimension.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (from New York Knicks): DaRon Holmes II, Dayton Flyers
To actually contend with Damian Lillard, the Blazers need a center who can defend the rim and dunk on the other end, two of Holmes’ best qualities.
23. Brooklyn Nets: Terquavion Smith, NC State Wolfpack
Even with Cam Thomas, the Nets would do well to add a springy offensive guard like Smith who can put up a boatload of points in a hurry.
24. Memphis Grizzlies: Colby Jones, Xavier Musketeers
The Grizzlies seem to love jack-of-all-trade wings who can hit shots and create for others, which makes Jones all too easy of a draft fit.
25. Sacramento Kings: Jordan Walsh, Arkansas Razorbacks
Even though he hasn’t had a chance to shine, Walsh’s repeated defensive flashes and untapped potential make him a worthy choice for a Kings team that can let him develop.
26. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland Cavaliers): Marcus Sasser, Houston Cougars
One of the best upperclassmen in the draft, Sasser would give the Pacers a proven sparkplug off of the bench who could pair with anyone on the roster.
27. Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia 76ers): Noah Clowney, Alabama Crimson Tide
Clowney is one of the biggest risers this draft cycle, as his length and shot-blocking somehow went under the radar, but that won’t stop the Jazz from snapping him up.
28. Charlotte Hornets (from Denver Nuggets): Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut Huskies
No team needs a bigger influx of offensive weapons than the Hornets and Hawkins would immediately become the best shooter on the team.
29. Indiana Pacers (from Boston Celtics): Reece Beekman, Virginia Cavaliers
To supplement their burgeoning defensive core, Indiana takes a veteran star in Beekman who can torture opposing perimeter players on drives and cuts.
30. LA Clippers (from Milwaukee Bucks): Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara Broncos
Just like Jalen Williams last year, Podziemski has emerged out of thin air to be a first-round draft wing with a well-rounded offensive arsenal.