NBA Mock Draft 2023: Top 3 Prospects Apart From Victor Wembanyama

Among the Prospects, the likely first overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, officially declared for the 2023 NBA draft in April and submitted papers to the league office, according to an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”

The NBA draft lottery on May 15, which determines which club receives the No. 1 selection, will be one of the greatest evenings in years for the NBA’s non-playoff teams and the league as a whole since Wembanyama is the most awaited prospect since LeBron James.

“Declaring for the draft … it’s something crazy I’m not realizing yet,” Wembanyama told ESPN. “I realized pretty young I wanted to play in the NBA but it becomes a reality more every day. I’m so lucky to have this dream within the reach of my hand.”

Victor Wembanyama The 7-foot-5 French prospects resembles Rudy Gobert on defence and Kevin Durant, if he were an additional half-foot tall, on the attack. Wembanyama should immediately rise to the top of the NBA, similar to LeBron and Durant, and have whatever club chooses him ready to compete for titles by the conclusion of his rookie deal.

He also possesses a guard’s skill set, since he is frequently charged with moving the ball up the court for his team, starting the offense, and making 3-point shots from all over the court. He has the potential to be a game-changer on that end of the floor because of the timing, reflexes, and anticipation he displays defensively. He also has the ability to cover territory quickly and alter the game’s geometry with his dimensions.

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Wembanyama, who is only 19 years old, is having a historic season in France, averaging 21.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 2.3 assists per game while dominating the French league in nearly every statistical category. He is the clear favorite to win MVP.

Simply told, he is incredible. A candidate with the potential to alter a franchise’s course.

Who will come after is the real question.

NBA Mock Draft 2023: Top 3 Prospects Apart From Victor Wembanyama

1. Thompson Brothers

Amen Thompson is a large and incredibly athletic guard who possesses a special talent for creating shots and making passes that other players his age just cannot perceive. The one clear factor that could keep him from being a long-term NBA star is his lack of a perimeter shot.

Given that Miller seems to be in the running for the No. 2 choice, the selection of Amen Thompson over Brandon Miller could come as a bit of a surprise, but Amen has an equally high ceiling as Miller and seems like the type of player who would fit in well with the San Antonio Spurs.

A 6-foot-7 point guard who will join the NBA as one of the top athletes in the league, and whose brother Ausar will also be chosen in the early lottery. It doesn’t take much to see him as a terrific rim-attacker in the NBA, despite the fact that he entered the league in an unusual way through the Overtime Elite program and didn’t encounter the same level of competition as some of the other top prospects. His ability to create plays might provide the Spurs a cornerstone for the ensuing ten years.

Ausar is built similarly to his brother, and while he isn’t quite as explosive as Amen, he comes close. In addition, he scores more goals than his brother and is definitely more NBA-ready.

2. Scoot Henderson

If the Rockets are selected at number two, their choice with this pick may depend on their confidence in their ability to convince James Harden to relocate to Houston this offseason. If they can, this may lead them to lean toward Alabama’s Brandon Miller, a wing who can play off of Harden. But let’s pretend for the sake of this mock that Harden remains put and the 76ers go far in the playoffs. In that case, the Rockets will choose to sign Scoot Henderson, who they believe to be the best player available.

The athleticism that Henderson exudes is reminiscent of a young Russell Westbrook. If the Rockets add him, they will need to sign or trade for some veterans and put Scoot in a position to thrive – even if that means moving on  from some of their talented, but immature youngsters like Kevin Porter Jr.

These are favourable analogies, but they also fail to take into account the possibility that Henderson is a better passer, shooter, and defender now than any of those players were when they were Henderson’s age.

For the Ignite this season, Henderson averaged 21.1 points, 7.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals a game while shooting with a usage rate of 27.8 and a true shooting percentage of 54.6. He will need to maintain his shooting development and deliver on his defensive upside with constant ferocity and focus.

3. Cam Whitmore

One of those candidates who only has a distinctive appearance is Whitmore. He is a phenomenal prospects who can play either forward position, but his talent mostly went unnoticed on the national stage since he was a member of a Villanova team that fell short of the school’s usual calibre.

He is a 6-foot-7 wing with a strong, athletic build who plays with agility, strength, and speed as well as explosive jumping ability. Whitmore is a high-level role player at his position; he is a tenacious and stifling defender who can handle matchups with all five positions, contributes on the glass, and serve as a flexible connector at the other end of the floor.

Did anyone see him last season when he played on a 17-17 team that missed the NCAA Tournament and averaged 12.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG? He is undoubtedly gifted and has NBA athleticism, but his lacklustre performance on a mediocre college team makes me doubt that he will develop into the franchise player that a team wants to get when it picks in the top 10. Then again, the Wizards seem to enjoy winning 30-40 games per season, and Whitmore won’t change that, so maybe it’s a perfect fit.

 

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