With March Madness approaching, NBA Mock Draft season is starting to kick into high gear. It doesn’t matter if your favorite team is a tanker like the Detroit Pistons, a contender like the Memphis Grizzlies, or in between like the Toronto Raptors. Fun can be found at all levels.
While the top two picks in this draft appear to be set in stone, as Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson have shown to be elite prospects that will set their respective franchises up for success, that doesn’t mean teams picking later will be all out of luck.
With the scouting community ready to turn their attention to March as the tournament starts to take shape, let’s take a look at the current draft order and identify which players could hit the ground running with their new teams. Will your favorite team add a star?
2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0
Wembanyama might be the most hyped prospect we have seen in two decades, and it doesn’t take a genius to see why. Being 7-4 is one thing, having guard-like handles is another, and being a primary offensive creator is yet another. Having them all in one package after playing against grown men in Europe is otherworldly.
Yes, he is tank-worthy.
While Detroit has a bit of a frontcourt logjam thanks to James Wiseman, Marvin Bagley III, and Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons will likely move heaven and earth to accommodate him and make him the centerpiece of a new era. Expect to get bombarded with Wemby propaganda in the NBA.
NBA Mock Draft: Victor Wembanyama could be a superstar.
The Jalen Green/Kevin Porter Jr. backcourt has been very fun to watch, but it hasn’t translated into a ton of wins. Porter is clearly the more replaceable player of the two, which could lead Houston down the Henderson path as they try to tinker with their culture.
Henderson is quite a raw player as a defender and shooter, which could make it tough for Houston to get immediate returns on him. Still, athletes at the point guard position that are this quality don’t come along this often. With or without James Harden joining, Henderson could be a franchise cornerstone.
One-half of a set of twins that will both be picked in the top five, Amen might have the higher offensive ceiling when compared to his brother Ausar. Thompson profiles as a lead ball-handler with a sweet shot and the defensive chops needed to generate turnovers consistently.
San Antonio has some promising wings in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, so the idea of pairing Thompson and fellow first-rounder Malaki Branham seems like a very prudent option. With tons of cap space, San Antonio could start turning things around rather quickly.