The NBA will hold its 2023 Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The event usually consists of two rounds of 30 picks each for a total of 60 drafted players, but this year’s process will only have 58 because the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers have had to forfeit their second-round picks due to violations of the league’s free agency policies.
Victor Wembanyama is the consensus top overall prospect and is expected to be taken first overall by the San Antonio Spurs, who won the rights to the first overall selection through the draft lottery last month.
“It’s a phenomenal organization,” Dallas-based trainer Tim Martin, who works with players like Wembanyama, Trae Young, and Tyrese Maxey, told Yahoo Sports’ On the Clock podcast. “They have a great culture, a great staff from the front office down, and they’ve had players of this magnitude of greatness. They know how to coach and teach greatness.”
There is some uncertainty as to which prospect will follow Wembanyama, but Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G-League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson have separated themselves from the pack and are expected to be taken No.2 and No.3 overall by the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Scoot has the potential to be one of the better point guards drafted in the last 10 years,” G-League Ignite Coach Jason Hart told The Dallas Express in an email. “With his God-given ability and his crazy work ethic, the sky’s the limit for him. [He’s an] Instant leader from Day 1!”
From there, Overtime Elite’s Amen and Ausar Thompson, Villanova’s Cam Whitmore, Houston’s Jarace Walker, Central Florida’s Taylor Hendricks, Kentucky’s Cason Wallace, and Arkansas’ Anthony Black have often been projected to finish the top 10, while Kansas’ Gradey Dick has also been projected to get picked early.
There are eight prospects from the Dallas area in this year’s group of prospects: Black (Coppell/Duncanville), Wallace (Richardson), Baylor’s Keyonte George (Lewisville), Arkansas’ Jordan Walsh (Oak Cliff Faith Family), Kansas’ Jalen Wilson (Denton Guyer), TCU’s Mike Miles (Lancaster), Houston’s Marcus Sasser (Red Oak), and Gonzaga’s Drew Timme (Richardson Pearce).
Additionally, there are seven prospects from Texas colleges (Walker, George, Miles, Sasser, Baylor’s Adam Flagler, Texas’ Sir’Jabari Rice, and TCU’s Damion Baugh). Memphis’ Kendric Davis, a Houston native and SMU transfer, will also represent the state on draft night.
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The Dallas Mavericks hold one selection entering the 2023 NBA Draft at 10th overall, keeping the pick away from the New York Knicks by landing in the top 10 during the lottery. Dallas has no second-round selection because of a trade with Oklahoma City, who later sent the pick to Denver.
Some speculate Dallas is looking to trade its pick for veteran help, but here are some common projections for the Mavericks if they keep the choice.
— Fox Sports: Taylor Hendricks, forward, UCF
Hendricks led UCF with 15.1 points per game last season and shot nearly 40% from three-point range. His ability to stretch the floor offensively and play superior defense could make him a valuable asset for the Mavericks.
“Finding a sidekick to Luka Doncic and someone who can help a struggling defense needs to the goal for Dallas, and if Hendricks is on the board at No. 10, this could be a very valuable selection,” Fox Sports writes. “At 6-8 with a 7-1 wingspan, his verticality and athleticism is what makes him such an intriguing prospect. Hendricks is a high-level shot blocker who can cover a lot of ground and is switchable from one through four. ”
“Offensively, Hendricks shot close to 40% from 3-point range this past season, which is a big reason his stock has risen,” Fox continues. “He fits the 3-and-D mold, and while there are some concerns about him as a ball handler and playmaker, to be switchable and capable from beyond the arc at his size is such a desired trait in the NBA.”
— CBS Sports: Cason Wallace, guard. Kentucky
The Dallas native played one year at Kentucky, averaging 11.7 points and 4.3 assists per game. He was not a particularly high-scoring player, but he is a young player who can help facilitate the offense and fits what Dallas should be looking for defensively.
“Dallas could — and I think, should — be thinking of ways to best maximize its pieces around Luka Doncic, and for my money Wallace is the best bet here,” CBS writes. “He’s a great defensive playmaker who can play on or off the ball and brings playmaking to the game as a potential secondary creator.”
— Yahoo Sports, ESPN: Dereck Lively, center, Duke
Lively’s length is the upside here. Picking the center would be a gamble, but the promise is there, especially if you believe Yahoo’s analysis. Lively only scored 5.2 points per game last season, but his athleticism and size should fit the theme of getting the Mavericks more help on defense.
“Lively was one of the biggest draft risers after showcasing his improved motor and 3-point shot during his pro day with Klutch Sports,” Yahoo writes. “The Mavericks, if they end up keeping this pick, can use his rim protection with his 7-7 wingspan and won’t necessarily rely on him offensively with what they already have with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.”
— Associated Press (AP): Gradey Dick, guard/forward, Kansas
The AP decided to give the Mavericks shooting with the 10th pick. Dick was the Jayhawks’ second-leading scorer behind Jalen Wilson last season, averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting 40.3% from behind the arc.
“Dick made 83 3-pointers, most in Kansas history by a freshman, and the 6-8 forward could get plenty of open looks when Mavericks opponents focus their attention on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Irving remains in Dallas,” the AP says. “The Mavs went to great lengths to protect their chances of keeping this pick, tanking their final couple games to boost their lottery odds while still in play-in contention.”
— The Athletic, Bleacher Report: Bilal Coulibaly, forward, Metropolitans 92 (France)
Coulibaly is a lesser-known player in this draft class and plays on the same team as Wembanyama in France. Many analysts have him rising on draft boards because of his untapped potential, and he is now consistently projected to be taken in the late lottery.
“Between a combination of age, explosion and shot-making that screams upside—not to mention his budding production into the LNB Pro A playoffs—teams think he’s going somewhere in the No. 9-14 range,” Bleacher Report writes.
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Also in this draft class is former No.1 high school recruit Emoni Bates.
Bates was once called “the next LeBron James” and even started his own team for elite basketball players. He initially committed to Michigan State before flipping to Memphis and then transferred back home to Eastern Michigan for one year.
He has yet to reach his upside and some question whether he will even be drafted.
One scout told The Athletic, “He’s not even on our board. Just too much of a circus. He has a scorer’s mentality but bad shot selection. He’s one of those athletic-looking guys that’s not really athletic. He has no interest in playing defense or utilizing his other abilities.”
“He needs to learn how to play with other good players. Very talented skill-wise. He was good at the combine but his body needs a lot of work. I’ve heard he’s done a pretty good job during his workouts.”
Every draft has small-school prospects to watch out for, like Steph Curry (Davidson), Damian Lillard (Weber State), CJ McCollum (Lehigh), and Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas), to name a few from the past. This year’s crop includes Santa Clara guard Brandin Podziemski, Pepperdine forward Maxwell Lewis, Dayton forward Toumani Camara (Dayton), and Utah State forward Taylor Funk.
The 2023 NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday.
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