Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
The 2023 NBA Draft – or the Victor Wembanyama #1 coronation – takes place on Thursday night. There is obviously no suspense surrounding the top pick belonging to the San Antonio Spurs, but things will get interesting once the Charlotte Hornets find themselves on the clock in the second spot.
Here is my first-round mock draft in advance of Thursday’s proceedings, and you can also read Prop Holliday’s best NBA Draft bets in addition to our analysis of the #1 and #2 picks.
If you’re looking for a new sportsbook, check out Bet365, the world’s #1 sportsbook. They have an amazing sign-up offer where you can bet just $1 and instantly get $200 in bonus bets! There’s no catch, it’s really that simple. Click here to join Bet365 right now.
1. San Antonio Spurs – Victor Wembanyama, C, France
At 7’4’’ and with a shooting range reminiscent of Kevin Durant, Wembanyama looks like a generational talent. There is obviously no debate at the top of the board.
2. Charlotte Hornets – Scoot Henderson, PG, G-League
Will it be Henderson or Brandon Miller going right behind Wembanyama at #2? It’s a difficult call, but the higher ceiling of Henderson is probably too much to pass up.
3. Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama
The top 3 appears to be clear cut, although the specific order of #2 and #3 is still up for discussion. Portland will likely be content with either Miller or Henderson.
4. Houston Rockets – Amen Thompson, SG, Overtime Elite
Houston has to be ruing a missed opportunity to land in the top 3, but Thompson isn’t the worst consolation prize. He is probably the second-most athletic guard in the draft.
5. Detroit Pistons – Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova
Detroit already has a nice young core and Whitmore will add to that in a major way. He didn’t do a ton at Villanova, but his pre-draft workouts were extremely impressive.
6. Orlando Magic – Anthony Black, PG, Arkansas
After landing Paolo Banchero at #1 overall last year, the Magic will likely go in the direction of a guard – and perhaps multiple guards – this time around.
7. Indiana Pacers – Jarace Walker, PF, Houston
The Pacers could go in any number of directions considering how many picks they have, but Walker makes the most sense if the first 6 selections go as planned above.
8. Washington Wizards – Ausar Thompson, SF, Overtime Elite
Yes, the Thompson twins of Overtime Elite are both likely to go in the lottery – and even in the top 10. You could swap Black and Thompson at #6 and #8 depending on what Orlando decides to do.
9. Utah Jazz – Taylor Hendricks, SF, UCF
The Jazz are formidable in the frontcourt with Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen, but they could use a versatile wing player and Hendricks fits that mold.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
Lively didn’t do a whole lot in his 1 season at Duke, but perhaps no one is shooting up draft boards to a greater extent than he is at the moment.
11. Orlando Magic (from Chicago Bulls) – Gradey Dick, SG, Kansas
It was 1-and-done for Dick at Kansas. Now it could be time for him to help Orlando revamp its backcourt and continue the rebuilding process along with Banchero.
12.Oklahoma City Thunder – Kobe Bufkin, SG, Michigan
Picks, picks and more picks…. That’s what the Thunder are all about these days. Bufkin improved his stock with a big finish to the season for Michigan.
13. Toronto Raptors – Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky
Wallace is arguably the best defensive guard in the draft. The Raptors are already stout on defense around the basket, but they could improve in that area on the perimeter.
14. New Orleans Pelicans – Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana
New Orleans is 1 of many teams rumored to be in the trade market this time of year, and that could obviously involve this pick. If not, JHS would be a solid choice.
15. Atlanta Hawks – Bilal Coulibaly, SF, France
The Hawks are by no means great, but they are deep at most positions with plenty of young talent. They can draft someone with high upside and perhaps send him to the G-League for a while.
Now you can bet on the NBA Draft at FanDuel Sportsbook, which has a great new-customer offer to take advantage of. If you sign up for FanDuel right now, you can get a $1,000 No Sweat First Bet! Click here to join FanDuel right now.
16. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota Timberwolves) – Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn
Like several of his teammates, Hawkins helped himself in a major way during UConn’s dominant run to the NCAA title. A lottery selection for him is not out of the question.
17. Los Angeles Lakers – Keyonte George, SG, Baylor
Following 1 season at Baylor, George is ready to take his talents to the next level. Impressive work at his pro day and the combine has his stock on the rise.
18. Miami Heat – Nick Smith Jr., SG, Arkansas
This is a buy-low situation, as Smith was a top college recruit and potential lottery pick before a knee injury wrecked his college campaign at Arkansas.
19. Golden State Warriors – Leonard Miller, SF, G-League
The Warriors have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, starting with Draymond Green. If they think Green is leaving, drafting Miller makes more sense.
20. Houston Rockets (from Los Angeles Clippers) – Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine
With their second pick of the opening round, the Rockets can afford to bet on a bit of a project. Lewis stuck around for 2 years at Pepperdine, but he is still more of a long-term plan.
21. Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix Suns) – Jett Howard, SG, Michigan
Howard, the son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, is an outstanding perimeter shooter. That alone makes him worthy of a spot in the 20s.
22. Brooklyn Nets – Olivier-Maxence Prosper, SF, Marquette
Brooklyn has back-to-back picks. Will it use both? Maybe; maybe not. OMP is an athletic forward who has a chance to contribute right away on both ends of the floor.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (from New York Knicks) – Kris Murray, PF, Iowa
Clowney is a forward who can bang with big bodies down low and also spread the floor by shooting the 3. The Trail Blazers need all of the above.
24. Sacramento Kings – Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama
Needless to say, the Kings are on the rise. They really could do anything in this spot, but giving Sabonis some help down low would be a good idea.
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF, UCLA
Jaquez is pretty much the veteran of this draft class. Memphis is obviously in win-now mode and could use someone who can contribute right away.
26. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland Cavaliers) – Brandin Podziemski, SG, Santa Clara
Podziemski helped himself with a big sophomore season at Santa Clara (co-West Coast Conference Player of the Year) and an equally big combine. I can’t see him falling out of the first round now.
27. Charlotte Hornets (from Denver Nuggets) – Rayan Rupert, SF, France
Obviously this selection (if the Hornets keep it), will depend on what they do at #2 overall. A forward is probably the way to go if Henderson is their first pick.
28. Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia 76ers) – Dariq Whitehead, SG, Duke
Whitehead is coming off 1 injury-plagued season at Duke. He is a wild card in this draft, but he is worth a shot with significant upside late in the first round.
29. Indiana Pacers (from Boston Celtics) – Trayce Jackson-Davis, PF, Indiana
With 3 first-round picks, who knows if Indiana will still be in this spot by the end of the night? If it is, some help down low is still necessary in the post-Domantas Sabonis era.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Milwaukee Bucks) – Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State
Sensabaugh could end up going closer to #20 than #30, so this would be a good pick for the Clippers at the end of round 1.
You can bet on the NBA Draft at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has thousands of betting options available and a great new customer offer where you can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets instantly! Click here to sign up for DraftKings, and MAKE IT RAIN.
Pickswise is the home of free expert NBA Picks and Predictions, and we offer so much more. Be sure to also check out our daily NBA Prop Bets and NBA Parlays.
