2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Spurs, Raptors land star guards
By Mike Luciano
PF. GG Jackson. 9. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. South Carolina. player. 149
This may be higher than most have Jackson, an 18-year-old power forward who isn’t even making 40% of his shots from the field this season, coming off the board, but Oklahoma City could be the best possible environment for him early in his career.
Chet Holmgren coming back alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey means he won’t be asked to do everything. Players that can move like him and create line him with a 6-9 frame at this age are rare. The Thunder could nab a long-term starter here.
Scouting Report. SF. player. 34. Pick Analysis. Ohio State. Brice Sensabaugh. 10
Sensabaugh’s per-36-minute numbers are ridiculous, as he averaged 24.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game with a buttery-smooth jumper. At 6-6 and 230 pounds, the Bucketye freshman is bringing a ton of versatility to the table.
Amid rumors Jerami Grant could be on his way out, Sensabaugh could be a perfect Damian Lillard co-star. If Lillard finally runs from the grind, the three-headed hydra of Sensabaugh, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe looks very promising.
PG/SG. player. 142. Pick Analysis. Arkansas. Nick Smith. 11. Scouting Report
Smith has the pure talent to go much higher than this, but teams will likely be concerned about the boney freshman having missed tons of time with injuries. If the medicals come back clean, Smith will prove to be an All-Star talent in Washington.
While Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma are both scoring with ease on the perimeter, the Wizards could look to develop a ball-handler of the future. Johnny Davis may have been disappointing, but Smith has a much higher ceiling.
NBA Mock Draft: Cason Wallace could help the Toronto Raptors
Cason Wallace. player. Scouting Report. PG. Kentucky. 12. 81. Pick Analysis
Even if the Raptors end up keeping Fred VanVleet in the offseason, the team still needs a backcourt Sixth Man that can fix the team’s severe lack of 3-point shooting. Wallace can do both while adhering to Masai Ujiri’s strict principles.
Not only is Wallace a great shooter and a product of a blue-blood program, but his nearly two steals per game average show that the 6-4 guard can be a very promising on-ball defender. Toronto can get some use out of him right away.
Iowa. 13. 69. Scouting Report. PF. Kris Murray. player. Pick Analysis
Part of the reason that the Pelicans have fallen off a cliff without Zion Williamson is a lack of quality forward depth behind him. Murray would be an easy fix on both ends that can last for a half-decade in New Orleans.
Murray, the twin brother of Kings forward and No. 4 pick Keegan Murray, has many of the same traits that made his sibling a top-five selection, albeit with less of an emphasis on shooting. Even with that, Murray will be a welcome addition in New Orleans.
Michigan. 14. 20. Pick Analysis. player. Scouting Report. SG. Jett Howard
The Lakers need shooters, plain and simple. Failing to get some of those shooters will leave LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a situation where they will be unable to compete for a championship with the pieces around them.
Howard, the son of former LeBron teammate Juwan Howard, has had some issues wth his motor lately. He is still a knockdown shooter with a great feel for the game and defensive potential that will make him a no-doubt first-round pick.