2023 NBA Mock Draft: Big names go early in game-changing year
By Mike Luciano
Pick Analysis. SG. 31. player. 64. Scouting Report. Santa Clara. Brandin Podziemski
Detroit kicks off the second round with a deadly shooter and promising offensive player that should have no trouble getting acclimated to life at the professional level.
player. Pick Analysis. C. Spain. Scouting Report. James Nnaji. 32. 73
Now is the time for raw international players can be drafted. Nnaji going to Denver allows them to stash him overseas or work with the powerful low-post man.
33. player. 29. SG. Xavier. Colby Jones. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Jones was born to play wing for Gregg Popovich. While he isn’t the greatest shooter, Jones has great passing skills and the versatility the Spurs typically covet.
34. player. Scouting Report. PF/SF. Marquette. Olivier-Maxence Prosper. 170. Pick Analysis
Prosper has been flying up draft boards lately, with his 230-pound body and genuine three-positon versatility making teams like Charlotte very interested in picking him.
G League. 35. SF. Sidy Cissoko. player. 18. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Cissoko doesn’t have all of his issues worked out just yet, but that is why Boston might be able to land him this late. The Celtics can stash him in the G League before bringing his boundless leaping to the pros.
Pick Analysis. player. Auzolas Tubelis. 36. 38. Scouting Report. PF/C. Arizona
Tubelis doesn’t have the gaudy athletic numbers of some of the other forwards in this draft, but the production and consistency will likely get teams like Orlando interested.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. PF/SF. Kansas. Jalen Wilson. player. 37. 73
Wilson’s style of play is not too dissimilar to that of Nuggets forwards Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. This could make him more attractive as a bench option for Denver.
84. Scouting Report. UConn. 38. player. Pick Analysis. C. Adama Sanogo
Sanogo was not only one of the more consistent double-double machines in major college basketball, but an elite finisher as well. That is music to Sacramento’s ears.
North Carolina State. Terquavion Smith. 39. 170. SG. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Smith went from a lottery pick to a likely second-rounder after an iffy season at NC State. Will Charlotte be drafting the excellent scorer or the inconsistent shooter?
NBA Mock Draft: Isaiah Wong joining Intriguing Pacers team
Scouting Report. PG/SG. 100. player. Pick Analysis. Miami. Isaiah Wong. 40
Wong may not be the most efficient guard out there, but the Hurricane’s peaks make it seem like he could instantly slip into the Indiana rotation as a backup.
C. Serbia. 41. player. Pick Analysis. Tristan Vukcevic. 170. Scouting Report
Another Serbian big man taken in Nikola Jokic’s spot, Vukcevic dominated the Draft Combine. Still, he might be best served with one more year in Europe before coming over.
Pick Analysis. 42. Scouting Report. SG/PF. Missouri. Kobe Brown. player. 142
Brown is listed at 6-8 and 250 pounds, playing just about whatever position Missouri asked of him. The Wizards need talent, plain and simple, and Brown has that,
Andre Jackson. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. SF. 43. player. 34. UConn
Jackson may not have as high a ceiling as his teammate in Jordan Hawkins, but there were enough flashes for Portland to overlook both that and his lack of tremendous scoring.