MarcWeberSports’ Useless 2023 NBA Mock Draft
NBA Mock Drafts are boring. They’re all analysts trying to be conservative and either picking based on where they hear players are going or trying to copy others. How about picking the best players for the top spots? That’s usually what front offices wish they did anyways. Based on a deep dive of players in the draft, by when they could get drafted and their statistics on a similar scale, here’s what we’ll probably agree the 2023 NBA Draft will look like years from now.
1. Spurs — Victor Wembanyama
Who knows if the hype is real, but the numbers really support Wembanyama being a generational talent. As a 7'5 19-year-old, he averaged 23.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks on 46.8% from the field and 27.2% from three, while playing against professionals overseas. He’s projected to shoot 35.6% from NBA range per Tankathon. Wembanyama is probably the league’s best prospect since Zion Williamson and it’s fitting the Spurs, who’s other number one picks include David Robinson and Tim Duncan, will get him in the draft.
2. Hornets — Brandon Miller
Sure, in a time of Zion Williamson and Ja Morant causing NBA front offices to have massive headaches, Miller is probably scaring off many executives. If you were to ask the Pelicans and the Grizzlies, do they regret drafting either Williamson or Morant? Probably not. That’s the risk teams should consider taking with Miller. He averaged 20.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes on 43% from the field and 38.4% from outside the arc this past season. Those are numbers you’d expect from an upperclassmen in a non-power five conference, not a freshman in the SEC. On top of Miller’s offensive prowess, he was also one of the best defensive players in the country. If there wasn’t a generational talent like Wembanyama, he’d be in serious consideration for the top pick in the draft.
3. Trail Blazers — Scoot Henderson
Henderson is probably the second-most intriguing prospect, but the numbers are weighing him down. Yes, he was playing professionally when most kids his age were in high school. Yes, he was able to keep up with consensus number one pick, Wembanyama, at the beginning of the year. What people are forgetting is that he shot 32% this past season and 75% from the charity stripe. Henderson also had an abysmal 122.1 defensive rating and a 14.8 PER. It’s hard to ignore Henderson’s potential, but it should also be difficult to ignore how bad his numbers were while playing with the pros already.
4. Rockets — Taylor Hendricks
Hendricks is a projected top 10 pick who should be selected much higher. In his freshman season, this past year, he shot 39.4% from three, had a 58.9% true shooting and a 22.5 PER. Why take the risk on an unknown when you can take a 6'9 forward with the numbers of an elite college guard?
5. Pistons — Jarace Walker
Houston had an incredible season this year and it’s safe to say Walker was a big reason why. He’s only 6'7, but has a 7'2 wingspan, which helps show off his defensive prowess. At just 19, he’s incredibly polished with a 1.23 assist-to-turnover ratio and shot 35% from three during his freshman season.
6. Magic — Jordan Hawkins
Time after time, we see a player with a magnificent tournament, not getting taken seriously before having a great NBA career. I’m looking at you, Gordon Hayward, Joakim Noah, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and CJ McCollum. Expect Hawkins to be added to that list and don’t be too shocked when he makes an All-Star Game some day.
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7. Pacers — Amen Thompson
If there is an option that the numbers can support at your draft spot, don’t draft a Thompson twin. If there is no one that can, draft a Thompson twin. It is impossible to effectively calculate a Thompson twin’s production at Overtime Elite, but also impossible to ignore the freak athleticism.
8. Wizards — Ausar Thompson
If there is an option that the numbers can support at your draft spot, don’t draft a Thompson twin. If there is no one that can, draft a Thompson twin. It is impossible to effectively calculate a Thompson twin’s production at Overtime Elite, but also impossible to ignore the freak athleticism.
9. Jazz — Brice Sensabaugh
Sensabaugh is the type of player who goes off in the NBA and is everyone is stunned they never saw it coming. He is projected to go after the lottery picks, but he’s an elite scorer who will be of value to any team. Sensabaugh averaged 23.9 points per 36 minutes on 40.5% from three and a 26.4 PER this past season. He should not go past the top ten.
10. Mavericks — Cam Whitmore
Whitmore will get drafted in the top ten due to his incredible athletic ability before turning 19. Aside from that, it’s hard to see why. We’ve seen athletic freaks pan out in the NBA like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard without the math to prove it. Is Whitmore like those guys? They don’t exactly come dime a dozen and it’s hard to convince anyone of this as he averaged twice as many turnovers as assists last season.
11. Magic — Dereck Lively
Lively is a bit of a risk because it’s not common for superstars to average only nine points in college. However, it’s his other tangibles that make him stand out. He averaged a whopping 4.2 blocks per 36 minutes, 66.2% true shooting and had a 1.61 assist-to-turnover ratio in his freshman season at Duke.
12. Thunder — Kris Murray
Murray’s twin brother, Keegan, shot up the draft boards to going fourth on the big day. Kris is not getting the same love, but he should get some love. This past season, Murray averaged 20.9 points per 36 minutes with a 25.9 PER. It’s still nothing compared to Keegan’s 26.5 points per 36 minutes with a 37.8 PER, but it is something.
13. Raptors — Gradey Dick
Teams always need an elite three-point shooter and they’ll get that in Dick. As a freshman at Kansas, he shot 40% from three and is projected to shoot 38% from outside the arc in the NBA, per Tankathon. He’s not going to be the face of a franchise, but with his shooting you’ll be glad to have him off the bench.
14. Pelicans — Colby Jones
Jones took Xavier to its first Sweet Sixteen since 2015 and proved himself by being a dynamic guard. This past season, he averaged 4.7 assists per 36 minutes, while shooting 51% from the field and 38% from three. He’s a projected late-first round pick, who should not be ignored past the top 20, just because he’s an upperclassmen.
