2025 NBA Draft Thread

Victor gets a mid fadeaway, he’ll be even more unstoppable. Need a go to move like KG or Dirk in the halfcourt.
 
He's gotta ask Mark Eaton what he did to stay so healthy his whole career.

I feel like he's the only 7-3+ guy who didn't really have injury problems.
 
Fd_IAyqWQAMaBaN
 


2023 NBA mock draft: What you need to know before Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson

The college basketball season is a month away, but NBA scouts will be traveling this week to Henderson, Nevada, to watch two games featuring players not in school who just so happen to be the projected No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks in the 2023 draft.

French basketball club Metropolitans 92 and Victor Wembanyama will play the G League Ignite and Scoot Henderson in a pair of highly anticipated games this week on ESPN2 (Oct. 4, 10 p.m. ET; Oct. 6, 3 p.m. ET).

The 7-foot-5 Wembanyama will play in the United States for the first time as NBA fans start to imagine what impact the 18-year-old could have on their respective teams. Henderson is no slouch either as the explosive 6-3 point guard with a 6-9 wingspan signed with the Ignite in 2021, becoming the first high school junior to commit to the program.

After spending the summer evaluating players globally, here are my latest projections in what's expected to be a deep class.

The 2023 draft order is based on ESPN projections and reflects the current state of picks owed and owned:

First Round

1. Houston Rockets

Victor Wembanyama | Metropolitans 92 | PF/C | Age: 18.7

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Scoot Henderson | G League Ignite | PG | Age: 18.6

3. Orlando Magic

Amen Thompson | Overtime Elite | PG/SG | Age: 19.6

4. Indiana Pacers

Nick Smith | Arkansas | PG/SG | Age: 18.4

5. San Antonio Spurs

Cameron Whitmore | Villanova | SF | Age: 18.2

6. Utah Jazz

Dereck Lively | Duke | C | Age: 18.6

7. Detroit Pistons

Keyonte George | Baylor | SG | Age: 18.8

8. Sacramento Kings

Ausar Thompson | Overtime Elite | SG/SF | Age: 19.6

9. Washington Wizards

Dillon Mitchell | Texas | SF/PF | Age: 18.9

10. Charlotte Hornets (to Atlanta if 17-30)

Kel'el Ware | Oregon | C | Age: 18.4

11. New York Knicks

Dariq Whitehead | Duke | SG/SF | Age: 18.1

12. Portland Trail Blazers

Terquavion Smith | NC State | SG | Age: 19.7

13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)

Cason Wallace | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.9

14. Orlando Magic (via Chicago)

Jarace Walker | Houston | PF | Age: 19.0

15. Los Angeles Lakers (via New Orleans)

Anthony Black | Arkansas | SG | Age: 18.6

16. Atlanta Hawks

Rayan Rupert | New Zealand Breakers | SG/SF | Age: 18.3

17. Toronto Raptors

Julian Phillips | Tennessee | SF | Age: 18.9

18. Cleveland Cavaliers

Gradey **** | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 18.8

19. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota)

Brandon Miller | Alabama | SF | Age: 19.8

20. Brooklyn Nets

GG Jackson | South Carolina | PF/C | Age: 17.7

21. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia)

Leonard Miller | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 18.8

22. Charlotte Hornets (via Denver)

Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 19.5

23. New York Knicks (via Dallas)

Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 18.9

24. Miami Heat

Sidy Cissoko | G League Ignite | SG/SF | Age: 18.4

25. LA Clippers

Nikola Durisic | Mega MIS | SG/SF | Age: 18.6

26. Phoenix Suns

Jordan Walsh | Arkansas | SF/PF | Age: 18.5

27. Memphis Grizzlies

Chris Livingston | Kentucky | SF/PF | Age: 18.9

28. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee)

J.J. Starling | Notre Dame | SG | Age: 18.5

29. Indiana Pacers (via Boston)

Marcus Sasser | Houston | PG/SG | Age: 22.0

30. Golden State Warriors

Amari Bailey | UCLA | PG | Age: 18.6

Second Round

31. Houston Rockets

James Nnaji | Barcelona | C | Age: 18.1

32. Oklahoma City Thunder

Arthur Kaluma | Creighton | PF | Age: 20.5

33. Orlando Magic

Nolan Hickman | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 19.4

34. Sacramento Kings (via Indiana)

Jordan Hawkins | Connecticut | SG | Age: 20.4

35. San Antonio Spurs

Julian Strawther | Gonzaga | SF | Age: 20.4

36. Charlotte Hornets (via Utah)

Jaime Jaquez | UCLA | SF | Age: 21.6

37. Detroit Pistons

Andre Jackson | Connecticut | SG/SF | Age: 20.8

38. Sacramento Kings

Ousmane Ndiaye | Baskonia | C | Age: 18.5

39. Denver Nuggets (via Washington)

Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | C | Age: 22.8

40. Philadelphia 76ers (via Charlotte)

Caleb Love | North Carolina | SG | Age: 21.0

41. Minnesota Timberwolves (via New York Knicks)

Kris Murray | Iowa | PF | Age: 22.1

42. Boston Celtics (via Portland)

Daimion Collins | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.9

43. Los Angeles Lakers

Alex Fudge | Florida | SF/PF | Age: 19.4

44. Los Angeles Lakers (via Chicago)

Harrison Ingram | Stanford | SF/PF | Age: 19.8

45. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans)

Mouhamed Gueye | Washington St. | PF/C | Age: 19.8

46. Atlanta Hawks

Coleman Hawkins | Illinois | PF | Age: 20.8

47. Toronto Raptors

Matthew Cleveland | Florida St. | SG/SF | Age: 20.8

48. Cleveland Cavaliers

Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 20.7

49. Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota)

Matthew Murrell | Mississippi | SG | Age: 20.7

50. Brooklyn Nets

Drew Timme | Gonzaga | PF/C | Age: 22.0

51. Philadelphia 76ers

Colby Jones | Xavier | SG/SF | Age: 20.3

52. Chicago Bulls (via Denver)

Note: The Chicago Bulls forfeited a 2023 second-round draft pick.

53. Denver Nuggets (via Dallas)

Kevin McCullar | Kansas | SF | Age: 21.5

54. Boston Celtics (via Miami)

DaRon Holmes | Dayton | PF | Age: 20.1

55. LA Clippers

Roko Prkacin | Girona | PF | Age: 19.8

56. Phoenix Suns

Mantas Rubstavicius | Girona | PF | Age: 19.8

57. Memphis Grizzlies

Michael Caicedo | Barcelona | SF | Age: 19.2

58. Milwaukee Bucks

Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 20.3

59. Boston Celtics

Jamarion Sharp | Western Kentucky | C | Age: 21.1

60. Milwaukee Bucks (via Golden State)

Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | PF/C | Age: 22.6

Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson preview

Two blockbuster games from an NBA draft standpoint will be conducted outside Las Vegas this week as Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 team has made the trek from Paris to play Scoot Henderson and G League Ignite, giving scouts an opportunity to evaluate the projected top two 2023 draft picks on the same floor.

This matchup is fascinating from several different perspectives. You don't often get to see international teams on U.S. soil facing off against a G League squad that includes five NBA draft-eligible players in Henderson, projected first-round picks Leonard Miller and Sidy Cissoko, and 20-year-olds Mojave King and Efe Abogidi. The Metropolitans also bring two draft-eligible teenagers in 18-year-old Bilal Coulibaly and 19-year-old Armel Traore who will be studied closely by NBA scouts in attendance. Similar to Overtime Elite's games against Mega MIS and Adelaide 36ers, these matchups help NBA teams get a better gauge for the level of competition they are watching all season, as well as players' ability to adapt to different styles of play.

The big prize of the week is Wembanyama, who had a spectacular preseason in France, including a pair of 34-point games, and has been the author of quite a few jaw-dropping plays in his first three regular-season games as well prior to departing for Las Vegas. Now standing 7-5 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama's combination of length, fluidity, skill, timing and feel for the game is unprecedented in my 20 years of NBA draft scouting evaluations. He blocks and dunks everything, can step out and shoot 3s, and is an excellent ball handler and passer as well. Every play he makes oozes talent, and the 18-year-old will only continue to improve as his frame fills out.

Two big games in front of what's expected to be every decision-maker in the NBA will go a long way in cementing him as the eventual No. 1 pick in the draft next June, and could very well accelerate the teardown process of his many suitors among rebuilding teams, for which the main candidates appear to be the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. The only real concern teams have about Wembanyama as a franchise-altering prospect is his long-term durability, after he played in just 33 of ASVEL's 79 games in the French league and Euroleague last season.

Should that question mark continue to hover, the player best positioned to capitalize is Henderson, who is exactly the type of electric off-the-dribble playmaker every NBA team covets in the modern game. Henderson has an outstanding frame and huge wingspan, is a blur in the open court, regularly beats opponents off the dribble without a ball screen to take a piece of the paint thanks to his powerful first step, and showed real promise as a passer and pull-up jump-shooter as a 17-year-old playing in the G League last season. Continued progress as an outside shooter, defender and game reader will be what teams want to see from Henderson with Ignite this season, but there's quite a bit to like about his profile already.

Is Amen Thompson a challenger for No. 1 draft pick?

While Henderson is the early favorite to emerge as the "consolation prize" in the Wembanyama sweepstakes, Amen Thompson has shown that that's far from a done deal based on outstanding performances he had in Serbia against Mega MIS and in a scrimmage against the NBL Adelaide 36ers squad that defeated the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. We knew that Thompson is one of the most physically gifted prospects in this class, standing 6-7 with an NBA-ready frame, dynamic burst in the open floor and the defensive versatility to guard point guards through power forwards.

The 19-year-old also is adding a lot more nuance to his game as a ball handler, passer and overall creator, getting anywhere he wants on the floor against high-level professionals in the half court, living at the free throw line and coming up with some absolutely spectacular finishes and assists passing off a live dribble. He posted 18.6 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1.3 blocks in three preseason games, making 65% of his 2s and shooting the ball from the free throw line as well as he ever has (80%). His outside shot and decision-making still leave something to be desired, but he looks en route to a huge season and took advantage of the fact that nearly 80 scouts from all 30 teams were in attendance to watch him in these preseason showcases.

GG Jackson debuts at No. 20 on mock draft

One of the front-runners for the mantle of No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2023, GG Jackson's decision to graduate high school early, enroll at South Carolina and become NBA draft eligible next June surprised very few people who had closely followed his recruitment.

Not turning 18 until the middle of December, Jackson is one of the youngest players in college basketball but is coming off an uneven spring and summer that made him somewhat of a polarizing prospect among scouts who don't seem to unanimously hold him in quite the same esteem as his lofty recruiting rankings when projecting to the NBA.

Some of that is due to the fact that Jackson is leaving an underwhelming 2023 high school class to enter a 2023 draft that is as deep and talented as we've seen in recent years. Another reason is positional concerns, as Jackson doesn't have elite size or length for a big man, measuring 6-7½ barefoot with a wingspan under 6-11, dimensions that will make it difficult for him to slide up in the NBA to the center position that he mostly played in high school, without the requisite two-way skill set to compensate.

Jackson has a long way to go with defensive versatility and awareness on the perimeter, as he's not the most physical interior player or a natural rim protector, often looking a step slow to react to things happening around him. He's not much of a creator offensively in terms of his ballhandling or passing, looking at his best finishing plays around the rim or stepping into open 3-pointers, which he has proved very capable of making.

Working in Jackson's favor is his impressive explosiveness in the paint, his growing comfort as a perimeter shooter, the excellent intensity he operates with, his youth, and the strong reviews he draws off the court. He'll be asked to shoulder a heavy load for a South Carolina team that saw quite a bit of turnover from last season, including introducing a new coach in Lamont Paris from Chattanooga. Jackson will likely take his lumps early as he transitions from the high school game to college, and how much he's able to grow as the season moves along will help determine if he can emerge as a lottery-level prospect, or perhaps ends up more of a lower-end first-round pick.

European class softening

Outside of Wembanyama, the early-season results suggest there isn't a great deal to be excited about in Europe.

Several prospects who were considered to be potential first-rounders don't appear to be in the most favorable situations as far as playing time and NBA exposure are concerned, which might make it difficult to position themselves among a strong class of collegiate players, non-Europe-based internationals and alternative pathway candidates from G League Ignite and OTE. It's early in the season, and injuries or loans to better playing time opportunities happen, but for now, these players have dropped somewhat in our forecast due to their less than desirable situations for impressing scouts. The 2024 NBA draft, which currently looks significantly weaker than the 2023 one, will likely absorb some of these prospects.

Ousmane Ndiaye made the surprising decision to transfer to top-level Euroleague and ACB team Baskonia this summer after playing most of last season in the German third division, a steep climb in the level of competition. The Senegalese big man didn't see any minutes in the preseason for the Spanish powerhouse and looks like he will spend most of the year in the Spanish third division (LEB Plata) with Baskonia's subsidiary. While he will likely receive ample playing time, the competition he'll face will surely leave something to be desired, perhaps making it difficult for him to solidify himself as a sure-fire first-rounder.

James Nnaji has seen just six total minutes of action for Barcelona in their first four cup and league games, as he's currently buried on their depth chart behind some of the best big men in Europe in Jan Vesely, Mike Tobey, Sertac Sanli and Oscar da Silva. Should the situation continue, a loan to a smaller ACB team might be the ideal situation for Nnaji to get playing time and show why he's deemed to have lottery-level upside with his outstanding physical tools, shot-blocking and finishing ability, but it's not clear how quickly Barcelona would be willing to let him go considering the energy and physicality he brings to practice daily.

Roko Prkacin, a potential first-round candidate entering the season, left Croatia to sign with ACB team Girona this summer but missed most of the preseason as he was a part of his senior national team that participated in EuroBasket. Prkacin played only 10 total minutes at EuroBasket and doesn't appear to be a major part of Girona's rotation thus far, playing just 21 scoreless minutes in their first two league contests. Still only 19, despite being on the radar seemingly forever, Prkacin will need time to establish himself in Spain and eventually rebuild his draft stock after missing much of last season with an injury.

Ariel Hukporti, previously a projected second-round pick, was playing well in the preseason and looked to be in line for a significant role for Melbourne United in the NBL before a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his season before it even began. The 20-year-old did not enter last year's draft and can still withdraw from the 2023 draft if he chooses to enter, before becoming automatically eligible in 2024.

Rayan Rupert is one European player who looks en route to improving his standing with his early-season performances, as he had an extremely productive showing in the NBL Blitz preseason tournament, posting 45 points in 77 minutes through three games while shooting a scorching 10-for-16 for 3. Besides his likely unsustainable shooting, the long-armed French wing showed some flashes of creativity handling in pick-and-roll and facilitating for others off a live dribble, while heating up the ball and playing his trademark full-court defense hounding opposing guards the length of the floor. His opening game in the NBL regular season wasn't quite as impressive, but Rupert looks ahead of schedule compared with where he was in August at the FIBA U18 European Championship and seems primed to seize an important role for the New Zealand Breakers, who sent fellow Frenchman Ousmane Dieng to the past NBA draft as the No. 11 pick.

Nikola Djurisic is another player who improved his standing from our last projection. The 6-8 18-year-old had an outstanding performance in front of 37 NBA scouts from 25 teams in a showcase game against OTE in Belgrade in early September, finishing with 24 points and six assists. Djurisic showed impressive shot-making prowess and confidence, hitting a barrage of jumpers from all over the floor, many coming pulling up off the dribble or running off screens, while also doing an excellent job initiating offense and facilitating out of pick-and-roll, making creative, intelligent reads. Djurisic's decision-making ability and body language look much improved from previous settings, and his defensive activity, always considered one of his biggest strengths, held up well in a matchup with two projected top-10 picks. Unfortunately for Djurisic, he was unable to build on this positive momentum as a throat infection he suffered in late September led to him losing 10 pounds and missing several Mega MIS preseason contests as well as their opening regular-season game in the Adriatic League. He'll likely need time to get his conditioning level back once cleared, but he has a long season ahead of him in front of plenty of NBA eyeballs to continue to build his draft stock leading into June.

Juan Nunez is another European prospect we have our eye on after an impressive debut with Ratiopharm Ulm in the German BBL, posting 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and no turnovers in 18 confident and creative minutes of action against Euroleague team Bayern Munich, getting where he wanted on the floor. The 18-year-old won MVP of the U20 European Championship after leading Spain to gold this summer, delivering a barrage of highlight-reel passes while scoring as efficiently as he ever has. Scouts will be monitoring the evolution of his perimeter shooting, interior finishing and propensity for turning the ball over -- considered weaknesses of his in the past -- as well as how his defense holds up against seasoned pros. He could be a first-round candidate in 2024 or might end up ahead of schedule and factoring into this year's class if his opening game is any indication. There's never been any doubt about his talent, but rather how exactly his flashy offensive game translates; early signs are promising.

Other developments from our last mock draft update

Emoni Bates, previously the No. 33 prospect in our 2023 mock in June, is now off our projection altogether following his arrest for carrying a concealed weapon and "altering ID marks" on a firearm and subsequent suspension from Eastern Michigan. The 18-year-old is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued freshman season at Memphis that resulted in his decision to transfer closer to home. Should his legal issues be cleared and he successfully returns to the court and shows glimpses of what made him such a highly touted prospect entering college, he'll likely receive strong consideration in future iterations.

Adem Bona didn't get the same exposure to NBA scouts as other five-star recruits as he missed the entire high school all-star circuit last spring with an injury, which put him behind other prospects in our initial 2023 draft projection in June. He has made up for that in a major way with an impressive summer and fall that put him firmly on the radar as a potential first-round pick, performing extremely well at both the FIBA U20 European Championship in July and in well-scouted scrimmages against NBA players in Los Angeles, where he has demonstrated a much higher skill level than anticipated.

Bona will stand out physically -- even at the NBA level -- as soon as his time at UCLA is done, at 6-10 with a chiseled frame, a huge wingspan and outstanding quickness both running the floor and getting off his feet for dunks and blocks. Few players in the college game offer the same combination of intensity, power and explosiveness Bona does, but he also has shown notable progress with his hands, footwork and touch finishing out of pick-and-roll and creating offense inside the paint, using powerful spin moves, finishing with both hands around the basket and even handling the ball skillfully pushing off the defensive glass.

Defensively, Bona shows good versatility as a rim protector and switching onto guards on the perimeter, covering ground seamlessly and playing with nonstop physicality and activity, helping him lead the U20s in rebounding, blocks and free throw attempts.

NBA teams will want to get a better gauge for his passing ability, floor-spacing potential and overall awareness and processing speed, as he can be a hair late with his reaction time and does lack a degree of traditional size and bulk for an NBA center. Comparisons we've heard to players such as Clint Capela and Precious Achiuwa give you an idea of the type of role teams project him to, but there's still a lot to be learned about how that will translate to high-level college competition.
 
pmatic said:


2023 NBA mock draft: What you need to know before Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson

The college basketball season is a month away, but NBA scouts will be traveling this week to Henderson, Nevada, to watch two games featuring players not in school who just so happen to be the projected No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks in the 2023 draft.

French basketball club Metropolitans 92 and Victor Wembanyama will play the G League Ignite and Scoot Henderson in a pair of highly anticipated games this week on ESPN2 (Oct. 4, 10 p.m. ET; Oct. 6, 3 p.m. ET).

The 7-foot-5 Wembanyama will play in the United States for the first time as NBA fans start to imagine what impact the 18-year-old could have on their respective teams. Henderson is no slouch either as the explosive 6-3 point guard with a 6-9 wingspan signed with the Ignite in 2021, becoming the first high school junior to commit to the program.

After spending the summer evaluating players globally, here are my latest projections in what's expected to be a deep class.

The 2023 draft order is based on ESPN projections and reflects the current state of picks owed and owned:

First Round

1. Houston Rockets

Victor Wembanyama | Metropolitans 92 | PF/C | Age: 18.7

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Scoot Henderson | G League Ignite | PG | Age: 18.6

3. Orlando Magic

Amen Thompson | Overtime Elite | PG/SG | Age: 19.6

4. Indiana Pacers

Nick Smith | Arkansas | PG/SG | Age: 18.4

5. San Antonio Spurs

Cameron Whitmore | Villanova | SF | Age: 18.2

6. Utah Jazz

Dereck Lively | Duke | C | Age: 18.6

7. Detroit Pistons

Keyonte George | Baylor | SG | Age: 18.8

8. Sacramento Kings

Ausar Thompson | Overtime Elite | SG/SF | Age: 19.6

9. Washington Wizards

Dillon Mitchell | Texas | SF/PF | Age: 18.9

10. Charlotte Hornets (to Atlanta if 17-30)

Kel'el Ware | Oregon | C | Age: 18.4

11. New York Knicks

Dariq Whitehead | Duke | SG/SF | Age: 18.1

12. Portland Trail Blazers

Terquavion Smith | NC State | SG | Age: 19.7

13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)

Cason Wallace | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.9

14. Orlando Magic (via Chicago)

Jarace Walker | Houston | PF | Age: 19.0

15. Los Angeles Lakers (via New Orleans)

Anthony Black | Arkansas | SG | Age: 18.6

16. Atlanta Hawks

Rayan Rupert | New Zealand Breakers | SG/SF | Age: 18.3

17. Toronto Raptors

Julian Phillips | Tennessee | SF | Age: 18.9

18. Cleveland Cavaliers

Gradey **** | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 18.8

19. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota)

Brandon Miller | Alabama | SF | Age: 19.8

20. Brooklyn Nets

GG Jackson | South Carolina | PF/C | Age: 17.7

21. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia)

Leonard Miller | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 18.8

22. Charlotte Hornets (via Denver)

Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 19.5

23. New York Knicks (via Dallas)

Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 18.9

24. Miami Heat

Sidy Cissoko | G League Ignite | SG/SF | Age: 18.4

25. LA Clippers

Nikola Durisic | Mega MIS | SG/SF | Age: 18.6

26. Phoenix Suns

Jordan Walsh | Arkansas | SF/PF | Age: 18.5

27. Memphis Grizzlies

Chris Livingston | Kentucky | SF/PF | Age: 18.9

28. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee)

J.J. Starling | Notre Dame | SG | Age: 18.5

29. Indiana Pacers (via Boston)

Marcus Sasser | Houston | PG/SG | Age: 22.0

30. Golden State Warriors

Amari Bailey | UCLA | PG | Age: 18.6

Second Round

31. Houston Rockets

James Nnaji | Barcelona | C | Age: 18.1

32. Oklahoma City Thunder

Arthur Kaluma | Creighton | PF | Age: 20.5

33. Orlando Magic

Nolan Hickman | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 19.4

34. Sacramento Kings (via Indiana)

Jordan Hawkins | Connecticut | SG | Age: 20.4

35. San Antonio Spurs

Julian Strawther | Gonzaga | SF | Age: 20.4

36. Charlotte Hornets (via Utah)

Jaime Jaquez | UCLA | SF | Age: 21.6

37. Detroit Pistons

Andre Jackson | Connecticut | SG/SF | Age: 20.8

38. Sacramento Kings

Ousmane Ndiaye | Baskonia | C | Age: 18.5

39. Denver Nuggets (via Washington)

Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | C | Age: 22.8

40. Philadelphia 76ers (via Charlotte)

Caleb Love | North Carolina | SG | Age: 21.0

41. Minnesota Timberwolves (via New York Knicks)

Kris Murray | Iowa | PF | Age: 22.1

42. Boston Celtics (via Portland)

Daimion Collins | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.9

43. Los Angeles Lakers

Alex Fudge | Florida | SF/PF | Age: 19.4

44. Los Angeles Lakers (via Chicago)

Harrison Ingram | Stanford | SF/PF | Age: 19.8

45. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans)

Mouhamed Gueye | Washington St. | PF/C | Age: 19.8

46. Atlanta Hawks

Coleman Hawkins | Illinois | PF | Age: 20.8

47. Toronto Raptors

Matthew Cleveland | Florida St. | SG/SF | Age: 20.8

48. Cleveland Cavaliers

Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 20.7

49. Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota)

Matthew Murrell | Mississippi | SG | Age: 20.7

50. Brooklyn Nets

Drew Timme | Gonzaga | PF/C | Age: 22.0

51. Philadelphia 76ers

Colby Jones | Xavier | SG/SF | Age: 20.3

52. Chicago Bulls (via Denver)

Note: The Chicago Bulls forfeited a 2023 second-round draft pick.

53. Denver Nuggets (via Dallas)

Kevin McCullar | Kansas | SF | Age: 21.5

54. Boston Celtics (via Miami)

DaRon Holmes | Dayton | PF | Age: 20.1

55. LA Clippers

Roko Prkacin | Girona | PF | Age: 19.8

56. Phoenix Suns

Mantas Rubstavicius | Girona | PF | Age: 19.8

57. Memphis Grizzlies

Michael Caicedo | Barcelona | SF | Age: 19.2

58. Milwaukee Bucks

Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 20.3

59. Boston Celtics

Jamarion Sharp | Western Kentucky | C | Age: 21.1

60. Milwaukee Bucks (via Golden State)

Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | PF/C | Age: 22.6

Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson preview

Two blockbuster games from an NBA draft standpoint will be conducted outside Las Vegas this week as Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 team has made the trek from Paris to play Scoot Henderson and G League Ignite, giving scouts an opportunity to evaluate the projected top two 2023 draft picks on the same floor.

This matchup is fascinating from several different perspectives. You don't often get to see international teams on U.S. soil facing off against a G League squad that includes five NBA draft-eligible players in Henderson, projected first-round picks Leonard Miller and Sidy Cissoko, and 20-year-olds Mojave King and Efe Abogidi. The Metropolitans also bring two draft-eligible teenagers in 18-year-old Bilal Coulibaly and 19-year-old Armel Traore who will be studied closely by NBA scouts in attendance. Similar to Overtime Elite's games against Mega MIS and Adelaide 36ers, these matchups help NBA teams get a better gauge for the level of competition they are watching all season, as well as players' ability to adapt to different styles of play.

The big prize of the week is Wembanyama, who had a spectacular preseason in France, including a pair of 34-point games, and has been the author of quite a few jaw-dropping plays in his first three regular-season games as well prior to departing for Las Vegas. Now standing 7-5 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama's combination of length, fluidity, skill, timing and feel for the game is unprecedented in my 20 years of NBA draft scouting evaluations. He blocks and dunks everything, can step out and shoot 3s, and is an excellent ball handler and passer as well. Every play he makes oozes talent, and the 18-year-old will only continue to improve as his frame fills out.

Two big games in front of what's expected to be every decision-maker in the NBA will go a long way in cementing him as the eventual No. 1 pick in the draft next June, and could very well accelerate the teardown process of his many suitors among rebuilding teams, for which the main candidates appear to be the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. The only real concern teams have about Wembanyama as a franchise-altering prospect is his long-term durability, after he played in just 33 of ASVEL's 79 games in the French league and Euroleague last season.

Should that question mark continue to hover, the player best positioned to capitalize is Henderson, who is exactly the type of electric off-the-dribble playmaker every NBA team covets in the modern game. Henderson has an outstanding frame and huge wingspan, is a blur in the open court, regularly beats opponents off the dribble without a ball screen to take a piece of the paint thanks to his powerful first step, and showed real promise as a passer and pull-up jump-shooter as a 17-year-old playing in the G League last season. Continued progress as an outside shooter, defender and game reader will be what teams want to see from Henderson with Ignite this season, but there's quite a bit to like about his profile already.

Is Amen Thompson a challenger for No. 1 draft pick?

While Henderson is the early favorite to emerge as the "consolation prize" in the Wembanyama sweepstakes, Amen Thompson has shown that that's far from a done deal based on outstanding performances he had in Serbia against Mega MIS and in a scrimmage against the NBL Adelaide 36ers squad that defeated the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. We knew that Thompson is one of the most physically gifted prospects in this class, standing 6-7 with an NBA-ready frame, dynamic burst in the open floor and the defensive versatility to guard point guards through power forwards.

The 19-year-old also is adding a lot more nuance to his game as a ball handler, passer and overall creator, getting anywhere he wants on the floor against high-level professionals in the half court, living at the free throw line and coming up with some absolutely spectacular finishes and assists passing off a live dribble. He posted 18.6 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1.3 blocks in three preseason games, making 65% of his 2s and shooting the ball from the free throw line as well as he ever has (80%). His outside shot and decision-making still leave something to be desired, but he looks en route to a huge season and took advantage of the fact that nearly 80 scouts from all 30 teams were in attendance to watch him in these preseason showcases.

GG Jackson debuts at No. 20 on mock draft

One of the front-runners for the mantle of No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2023, GG Jackson's decision to graduate high school early, enroll at South Carolina and become NBA draft eligible next June surprised very few people who had closely followed his recruitment.

Not turning 18 until the middle of December, Jackson is one of the youngest players in college basketball but is coming off an uneven spring and summer that made him somewhat of a polarizing prospect among scouts who don't seem to unanimously hold him in quite the same esteem as his lofty recruiting rankings when projecting to the NBA.

Some of that is due to the fact that Jackson is leaving an underwhelming 2023 high school class to enter a 2023 draft that is as deep and talented as we've seen in recent years. Another reason is positional concerns, as Jackson doesn't have elite size or length for a big man, measuring 6-7½ barefoot with a wingspan under 6-11, dimensions that will make it difficult for him to slide up in the NBA to the center position that he mostly played in high school, without the requisite two-way skill set to compensate.

Jackson has a long way to go with defensive versatility and awareness on the perimeter, as he's not the most physical interior player or a natural rim protector, often looking a step slow to react to things happening around him. He's not much of a creator offensively in terms of his ballhandling or passing, looking at his best finishing plays around the rim or stepping into open 3-pointers, which he has proved very capable of making.

Working in Jackson's favor is his impressive explosiveness in the paint, his growing comfort as a perimeter shooter, the excellent intensity he operates with, his youth, and the strong reviews he draws off the court. He'll be asked to shoulder a heavy load for a South Carolina team that saw quite a bit of turnover from last season, including introducing a new coach in Lamont Paris from Chattanooga. Jackson will likely take his lumps early as he transitions from the high school game to college, and how much he's able to grow as the season moves along will help determine if he can emerge as a lottery-level prospect, or perhaps ends up more of a lower-end first-round pick.

European class softening

Outside of Wembanyama, the early-season results suggest there isn't a great deal to be excited about in Europe.

Several prospects who were considered to be potential first-rounders don't appear to be in the most favorable situations as far as playing time and NBA exposure are concerned, which might make it difficult to position themselves among a strong class of collegiate players, non-Europe-based internationals and alternative pathway candidates from G League Ignite and OTE. It's early in the season, and injuries or loans to better playing time opportunities happen, but for now, these players have dropped somewhat in our forecast due to their less than desirable situations for impressing scouts. The 2024 NBA draft, which currently looks significantly weaker than the 2023 one, will likely absorb some of these prospects.

Ousmane Ndiaye made the surprising decision to transfer to top-level Euroleague and ACB team Baskonia this summer after playing most of last season in the German third division, a steep climb in the level of competition. The Senegalese big man didn't see any minutes in the preseason for the Spanish powerhouse and looks like he will spend most of the year in the Spanish third division (LEB Plata) with Baskonia's subsidiary. While he will likely receive ample playing time, the competition he'll face will surely leave something to be desired, perhaps making it difficult for him to solidify himself as a sure-fire first-rounder.

James Nnaji has seen just six total minutes of action for Barcelona in their first four cup and league games, as he's currently buried on their depth chart behind some of the best big men in Europe in Jan Vesely, Mike Tobey, Sertac Sanli and Oscar da Silva. Should the situation continue, a loan to a smaller ACB team might be the ideal situation for Nnaji to get playing time and show why he's deemed to have lottery-level upside with his outstanding physical tools, shot-blocking and finishing ability, but it's not clear how quickly Barcelona would be willing to let him go considering the energy and physicality he brings to practice daily.

Roko Prkacin, a potential first-round candidate entering the season, left Croatia to sign with ACB team Girona this summer but missed most of the preseason as he was a part of his senior national team that participated in EuroBasket. Prkacin played only 10 total minutes at EuroBasket and doesn't appear to be a major part of Girona's rotation thus far, playing just 21 scoreless minutes in their first two league contests. Still only 19, despite being on the radar seemingly forever, Prkacin will need time to establish himself in Spain and eventually rebuild his draft stock after missing much of last season with an injury.

Ariel Hukporti, previously a projected second-round pick, was playing well in the preseason and looked to be in line for a significant role for Melbourne United in the NBL before a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his season before it even began. The 20-year-old did not enter last year's draft and can still withdraw from the 2023 draft if he chooses to enter, before becoming automatically eligible in 2024.

Rayan Rupert is one European player who looks en route to improving his standing with his early-season performances, as he had an extremely productive showing in the NBL Blitz preseason tournament, posting 45 points in 77 minutes through three games while shooting a scorching 10-for-16 for 3. Besides his likely unsustainable shooting, the long-armed French wing showed some flashes of creativity handling in pick-and-roll and facilitating for others off a live dribble, while heating up the ball and playing his trademark full-court defense hounding opposing guards the length of the floor. His opening game in the NBL regular season wasn't quite as impressive, but Rupert looks ahead of schedule compared with where he was in August at the FIBA U18 European Championship and seems primed to seize an important role for the New Zealand Breakers, who sent fellow Frenchman Ousmane Dieng to the past NBA draft as the No. 11 pick.

Nikola Djurisic is another player who improved his standing from our last projection. The 6-8 18-year-old had an outstanding performance in front of 37 NBA scouts from 25 teams in a showcase game against OTE in Belgrade in early September, finishing with 24 points and six assists. Djurisic showed impressive shot-making prowess and confidence, hitting a barrage of jumpers from all over the floor, many coming pulling up off the dribble or running off screens, while also doing an excellent job initiating offense and facilitating out of pick-and-roll, making creative, intelligent reads. Djurisic's decision-making ability and body language look much improved from previous settings, and his defensive activity, always considered one of his biggest strengths, held up well in a matchup with two projected top-10 picks. Unfortunately for Djurisic, he was unable to build on this positive momentum as a throat infection he suffered in late September led to him losing 10 pounds and missing several Mega MIS preseason contests as well as their opening regular-season game in the Adriatic League. He'll likely need time to get his conditioning level back once cleared, but he has a long season ahead of him in front of plenty of NBA eyeballs to continue to build his draft stock leading into June.

Juan Nunez is another European prospect we have our eye on after an impressive debut with Ratiopharm Ulm in the German BBL, posting 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and no turnovers in 18 confident and creative minutes of action against Euroleague team Bayern Munich, getting where he wanted on the floor. The 18-year-old won MVP of the U20 European Championship after leading Spain to gold this summer, delivering a barrage of highlight-reel passes while scoring as efficiently as he ever has. Scouts will be monitoring the evolution of his perimeter shooting, interior finishing and propensity for turning the ball over -- considered weaknesses of his in the past -- as well as how his defense holds up against seasoned pros. He could be a first-round candidate in 2024 or might end up ahead of schedule and factoring into this year's class if his opening game is any indication. There's never been any doubt about his talent, but rather how exactly his flashy offensive game translates; early signs are promising.

Other developments from our last mock draft update

Emoni Bates, previously the No. 33 prospect in our 2023 mock in June, is now off our projection altogether following his arrest for carrying a concealed weapon and "altering ID marks" on a firearm and subsequent suspension from Eastern Michigan. The 18-year-old is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued freshman season at Memphis that resulted in his decision to transfer closer to home. Should his legal issues be cleared and he successfully returns to the court and shows glimpses of what made him such a highly touted prospect entering college, he'll likely receive strong consideration in future iterations.

Adem Bona didn't get the same exposure to NBA scouts as other five-star recruits as he missed the entire high school all-star circuit last spring with an injury, which put him behind other prospects in our initial 2023 draft projection in June. He has made up for that in a major way with an impressive summer and fall that put him firmly on the radar as a potential first-round pick, performing extremely well at both the FIBA U20 European Championship in July and in well-scouted scrimmages against NBA players in Los Angeles, where he has demonstrated a much higher skill level than anticipated.

Bona will stand out physically -- even at the NBA level -- as soon as his time at UCLA is done, at 6-10 with a chiseled frame, a huge wingspan and outstanding quickness both running the floor and getting off his feet for dunks and blocks. Few players in the college game offer the same combination of intensity, power and explosiveness Bona does, but he also has shown notable progress with his hands, footwork and touch finishing out of pick-and-roll and creating offense inside the paint, using powerful spin moves, finishing with both hands around the basket and even handling the ball skillfully pushing off the defensive glass.

Defensively, Bona shows good versatility as a rim protector and switching onto guards on the perimeter, covering ground seamlessly and playing with nonstop physicality and activity, helping him lead the U20s in rebounding, blocks and free throw attempts.

NBA teams will want to get a better gauge for his passing ability, floor-spacing potential and overall awareness and processing speed, as he can be a hair late with his reaction time and does lack a degree of traditional size and bulk for an NBA center. Comparisons we've heard to players such as Clint Capela and Precious Achiuwa give you an idea of the type of role teams project him to, but there's still a lot to be learned about how that will translate to high-level college competition.
Click to expand...


This is first mock I've seen GG Jackson accurately placed. I see some people putting him in their Top 6-10 and it HAS to be based off of HS ranking.
 
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