NBA Mock Draft 2023 – Full First Round Projected Draft

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The 2023 NBA Draft will see the French prodigy Victor Wembanyama enter the league. The generational talent that “Wemby” is has created major hype around the draft. However, there are many more talented young players that will join the NBA this season. Below, we give you our NBA Mock Draft for all 30 picks from round 1.

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama PF/C

The 7’4″ Frenchman Victor Wembanyama is seen as a generational talent and is 100% certain to be the number 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. The 19-year-old prodigy has created the most hype since LeBron James was drafted into the league and the Spurs are already estimated to have increased their value by half a million dollars just by earning the 1st pick and the right to select “Wemby”, as he is widely known.

Wembanyama will officially become the tallest player in the NBA once he gets selected. He can practically shoot over anyone and is averaging 47% from the field making him a lethal weapon. Wembanyama joins a great franchise that developed their 2 other number 1 picks Duncan and Robinson into Hall of Famers. With coach Greg Popovich “Wemby” is certain to stay grounded and the excitement around him will only keep on rising as the new season begins.

2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller SF

The biggest unknown regarding the 2023 NBA Draft seems to be what the Hornets will do with the 2nd overall pick. Charlotte are torn between 2 exciting young players that in any other year would have been contenders for the number 1 pick. It seems the Hornets won’t decide who to pick until the last minute, with other teams also to be considered regarding Charlotte’s choice.

The point guard Scoot Henderson and the small forward Brandon Miller are the 2 players that Charlotte are considering. With the Hornets already having an All-Star point guard in LaMello Ball they simply don’t need Henderson. However, the New Orleans Pelicans want him badly so Charlotte might consider selecting him and then immediately trading him for Brandon Ingram, who the Pelicans seem willing to let go.

However, if we ignore this potential trade scenario we think the most logical pick for the Hornets if they are to keep the player would be Brandon Miller. The small forward had an amazing season for Alabama. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds over 37 games, shooting 38.4% from three and 85.9% from the free-throw line. Miller is seen by most as the best fit next to LaMello Ball.

3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson PG

Naturally, Portland will have to pick whoever Charlotte doesn’t select. The Trail Blazers are in a similar situation as the Hornets and they might pick Henderson only to trade him straight away to willing teams for already-developed assets to help the ageing Dame Lillard.

In any case, Henderson is a great point guard that developed during this year in the G League. During last season he averaged 16.5 points on 43/28/76 shooting, 6.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Compared to young Russel Westbrook and Derrick Rose Henderson will be a great pick, although Portland might be looking to shift him as they seek help on the wings.

4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson PG

The first of the electric Thompson twins Amen is arguably the most athletic player of the entire 2023 Draft Class. The Rockets look set to select him with the 4th pick as they seek to find help for Jalen Green going forward. Amen should fit well in Houston with the Rockets having a very young squad that is eager to play at a fast pace.

Amen is at his best attacking the rim in transition and he is also a very good passer, making him an excellent addition to the Rockets franchise. Thompson still needs to work on his jump shot but he will get the time needed for that in Houston and we believe that the Rockets will add an important piece to their roster by selecting Amen with the 4th pick.

5. Detroit Pistons: Cam Whitmore SF

With the 5th pick, we believe the Pistons will select the one-and-done Villanova product Cam Whitmore. The small forward is a willing shooter and in his freshman year, he knocked down 34.2% of his shots beyond the arc on 4.2 attempts per game. He looks to be a perfect fit next to Cunningham and Ivey in Detroit. The trio will form an exciting young backcourt with Whitmore also seen as an excellent defender with his 6’8″ wingspan.

6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson PG/SG

Ausar Thompson is the 1-minute younger twin brother of Amen and many teams are eager to add him to their ranks. Ausar is seen as the better shooter of the two twins, he is also boasting impressive defensive stats this season with 2.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game. Very athletic, able to guard multiple positions in defence and eager to attack the rim Ausar won’t drop much further in the draft and the Magic might opt to add him to their exciting young forwards Banchero and Wagner.

If this happens Ausar and Amen Thompson will make NBA History as the first-ever siblings to be selected as top-10 picks.

7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker PF

The Pacers really have their eyes on Ausar Thompson but with the 7th pick, they might have to settle for the heavy power forward Jarace Walker. Walker is the most powerful youngster to enter this year’s draft and despite still needing to work on his shooting he will be a good fit at Indiana. Selecting him seems a logical thing from the Pacers too as they try to trade out Myles Turner this offseason, so they will need fresh blood in the power forward position.

8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black PG/SG

The Wizards are clearly looking for a rebuild after trading out Bradley Beal to the Suns. They received the veteran point guard Chris Paul in this trade but we believe Washington will try and trade him out too soon. That’s why we think that with their 8th pick, the Wizards will be looking for a new point guard to build around. Assuming that Ausar Thompson will be taken by that stage we believe Anthony Black is the next on the line to get picked.

Black is an intelligent point guard and is considered to have a great IQ. His passing skills impressed during his college period but he still struggles to create his own shot off the dribble. Still, we think his ability to read the game and find the right play will sway the Wizards to select him with the 8th pick.

9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks PF

With the 9th pick, Utah will obviously evaluate what picks had been made before them and then decide. The Jazz need depth in the frontcourt and selecting the UCF power forward Taylor Hendricks will be an enticing prospect for them.

Hendricks is a gifted defensive player with versatility that will compliment nicely Utah’s main scorer Lauri Markannen. We believe the Jazz will select him as they need to add bodies to their frontcourt this offseason.

10. Dallas Mavericks: Gradey Dick SG

The Dallas 10th pick is available in multiple trade scenarios and the Mavs are actively trying to arrange a trade that involves their top 10 pick. Considering that and the increasing rumours that a deal with the Atlanta Hawks is near we take the approach that the Hawks will be dictating the 10th pick. Atlanta desperately need shooters around their star Trae Young and for them will be logical to select the sharpest shooter from the 2023 Draft Class Gradey Dick. Dick shot 43.9% from beyond the arc for Kansas this season and he will be the perfect player to join the Hawks.

11. Orlando Magic: Kobe Bufkin PG/SG

With their second pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, the Magic could continue adding young point guards to their roster. Kobe Bufkin has been rising fast across most NBA Mock Drafts and if he doesn’t get picked earlier we believe Orlando could select him with the 11th pick.

Bufkin reads pick-and-rolls well and this makes him a valuable defender. He does a lot of small things well and will certainly be a solid addition to any franchise. If not selected earlier expect the Magic to make a move for him with their second pick.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bilal Coulibaly SF

The Thunder seem to have set their eyes on another French player from the Metropolitans 92 (Wembanyama’s team) with their first pick of the draft. Thunder’s GM Presti flew all the way to France to watch live the small forward Bilal Coulibaly and we think the reason for that was because OKC plan to grab him with their first selection.

Coulibaly is only 18-years-old but he already played 2 years of professional basketball in Europe. With 7’2″ wingspan, great defensive skills and the ability to go downhill in transition the young Frenchman is likely to be a perfect fit for the Thunder’s talented group of young players.

13. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Hood-Scifino PG

The Raptors are a team to watch during the Draft as many expect them to move up the picking list with a series of trades. Still, considering they fail and stay where they are now the most obvious need for them is to add point guards to their roster with Van Vleet option out of his contract extension. The capable and always hard-working Hood-Scifino seems like a very good fit for Toronto. He’s a solid shooter and a pretty good passer. There are concerns regarding his ability to defend taller opponents but this is not likely to put off the Raptors as they seek versatile point guards to add to their roster.

14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins SG

The Pelicans are very eager to trade for Scoot Henderson and make him their new main point guard. This means that with their own selection, the Pels will look to add shooters and Jordan Hawkins looks like a great fit. Hawkins is widely regarded as the best shooter of the 2023 Draft Class. He shot 50% (21 out of 42) from three during the NCAA Tournament. We believe Hawkins is exactly what the Pelicans will be looking for.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Dereick Lively II C

If as we expect Atlanta and Dallas swap picks in a trade it will be Dallas that will dictate who to be selected with the 15th pick. The Mavs need big men and the 7’1″ Duke one-and-done centre Lively II might be their pick. Lively II is a row talent in terms of attacking returns but he is a great rim protector that has a 7’7″ wingspan and averaged 2.5 blocks per game in his freshman year at Duke. Dallas need such a monster in the paint and they will certainly be tempted.

16. Utah Jazz: Cason Wallace PG/SG

With their second pick of the draft, the Jazz are likely to see to add fresh blood at point guard. Presumably, the picks before that will go as we predicted them Cason Wallace seems to be the most exciting prospect in that position for Utah. Willing hard worker that averaged 2.0 steals and 11.7 points on 45/35/76 shooting for Kentucky this season Wallace will be a good fit at Utah.

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Smith Jr PG

The Lakers need more guards and with their only round 1 pick they will look to add depth in that position. The small Nick Smith Jr could be the one selected by them. He has a history of injury problems, and shot only 33.8% from three for Arkansas this season. Still, Smith Jr has the potential to develop and the Lakers might swing for him.

18. Miami Heat: Kris Murray PF

The beaten 2023 NBA Finalists Miami Heat will seek to add big bodies to their roster and Iowa’s 6’8″ Kris Murray might be a great fit for them. The twin brother of Sacramento’s Keegan Murray is regarded as one of the best finishers inside the paint in this class and the Heat will be tempted to add such a player to their roster.

19. Golden State Warriors: Jett Howard SG/SF

The Warriors are likely to trust what they have been doing for years and add another shooter to their roster in Jett Howard. At 6’8″ and with a solid 35% shooting from beyond the arc Howard should fit nicely in Golden State. He’s not a very good rebounder and still lacks a lot defensively though.

20. Houston Rockets: Noah Clowney PF

The belief is that the Rockets are looking to sell their 20th pick. Still, if we assume they keep it the power forward Noah Clowney could be their choice as the Rockets will seek to add big men as they lack size.

21. Brooklyn Nets: Keyonte George SG

The Nets are in a unique position as they hold both the 21st and the 22nd picks. Brooklyn will almost certainly try to trade up even if they give up both of these picks. However, if we assume Brooklyn is selecting we think adding a shooting guard like Keyonte George to their roster will be a good move. George is a volume shooter and nothing much. His ability to score off the dribble could make him a valuable option off the bench for the Nets.

22. Brooklyn Nets: James Nnaji C

Brooklyn need size and with their next pick, they could go for a wild punt at Barcelona’s 18-year-old 6’11” centre Nnaji. With his 7’4″ wingspan Nnaji can develop into a great rim protector and he has been looked at by many teams that seek bigs.

23. Portland Trail Blazers: Jaime Jaquez Jr

As this is their 2nd round 1 pick it would make sense for Portland to look for a senior player that is ready to contribute straight away. Jaquez Jr fits that bill perfectly as at age 22 he is the oldest player in the class of 2023. Jaquez Jr should become a solid rotation option even if he plays only limited minutes.

24. Sacramento Kings: Leonard Miller SF/PF

The Kings need size and the 6’10” and 215 pounds forward Leonard Miller might be the main for them so far back in round 1. Miller has a nice touch finishing at the rim and he can provide good rim protection on the defensive end too.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Brandin Podziemski SG

The Grizzlies will need to add a 3-and-D body to their roster after releasing Dillon Brooks. This makes Brandin Podziemski the perfect fit so late in the round 1 pecking order. Willing and solid shooter from beyond the arc Podziemski could be Memphis’ choice. However, there are many rumours that the Grizzlies are looking to trade and move up the draft order.

26. Indian Pacers: Ryan Rupert SF

With their 2nd round 1 pick the Pacers could target another exciting young Frenchman. Ryan Rupert played in New Zealand this past season. With his 7’2″ wingspan Rupert is an aggressive defender but he still lacks the shooting skills needed to be successful in the NBA. Still, Indiana trialled him twice and even if they send him to play in the G League this season this could be a good selection for them.

27. Charlotte Hornets: Oliver-Maxence Prosper PF

This selection for Charlotte will depend mainly on what they decide to do with the 2nd pick. The Hornets also have 3 round 2 picks so they can move assets as the night progresses. Still, if we assume they make a selection the Hornets need size and rim protection so a willing defender and strong rebounder like Propser could be a logical pick for them.

28. Utah Jazz: Maxwell Lewis SF

If the Jazz keep their 3rd round 1 pick they are likely to be looking for a young prospect they could send to the G League to develop. Pepperdine’s small forward Maxwell Lewis fits that bill and that’s why we think he could be their selection. Willing shooter Lewis needs to develop his defensive game and then he could be a useful player for most teams in the league.

29. Indiana Pacers: Colby Jones SG

As this will be Indiana’s 3rd round 1 pick we think the Pacers will look to add depth in the backcourt. Colby Jones from Xavier is a solid shooting guard that at 6’6″ averaged 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season. Capable to contribute in attack Jones still need to work on his defensive returns.

30. Los Angeles Clippers: Andre Jackson SF

The Clippers will be making the last pick of round 1 of the draft. Considering how deep their roster is they might go for a player that could be sent to the G League for a year. Andre Jackson fits that bill. His length, versatility and defensive skills make him a solid small forward to add to the roster.

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