NBA Mock Draft 2023: A way-too-early look at what’s coming next

Here’s how the lottery looks after trades in our latest NBA Mock Draft 2023:

14. Dillon Mitchell, Forward, Texas

Mitchell is another explosive athlete with defensive upside and versatility, still figuring out how he contributes consistently and efficiently to a halfcourt offense.

13. Keyonte George, Guard, Baylor

George is one of the best shooters in this freshman class but has upside as an on-ball creator as well. He’ll have a chance to carry a big offensive load at Baylor and could really move up if he shines.

12. Kel’el Ware, Big, Oregon

Ware has terrific size (7-foot) and athletic tools and is growing into his ability as a shooter and post-up threat.

11. Nikola Durišić, Wing, Mega Basket

Durišić is a big wing, with intriguing polish as a creator and shotmaker. If he can become a reliable spot-up threat it would really unlock him as a secondary creator and offensive connector.

10. Cason Wallace, Guard, Kentucky

Wallace reminds a bit of Tyrese Maxey, an explosive open-floor ball-handler with great defensive upside who is growing as a shooter and halfcourt creator.

9. Dereck Lively II, Big, Duke

Lively is already a strong rim protector, combining excellent size, wingspan, mobility and leaping ability. He has the potential to develop into more than just a rim-runner on offense with a soft shooting touch and potentially expanding range.

8. Ausar Thompson, Wing, Overtime Elite

Ausar is the twin brother of Amen (No. 4) and offers a very similar package, elite athleticism on the wing with slightly less polish on his traditional skill set.

7. Anthony Black, Guard, Arkansas

At 6-foot-7, Black has tremendous size for someone with the skills to play as a primary point guard. In addition to his handling and creation skills, he’s an excellent athlete and smooth 3-point shooter.

6. Cam Whitmore, Wing, Villanova

Whitemore is another strong athlete who plays with relentless energy and intensity on the wing. He’s still putting his skill package together but what he shows at Villanova could move him up draft boards.

5. Dariq Whitehead, Wing, Duke

Whitehead will need to prove he can be a consistent outside shooter during his freshman year but he looks like a skilled primary creator and on-ball scorer with good size in the backcourt.

4. Amen Thompson, Wing, Overtime Elite

Thompson is in the 100th percentile as an athlete and will have leaping and quickness advantages even against many fully mature NBA players. He’s still filling out and figuring out how to use his tools to make basketball plays but he might have the highest ceiling of anyone besides Wembanyama.

3. Nick Smith Jr., Guard, Arkansas

Smith Jr. looks like a potent three-level scorer, with a polished pull-up game and outside shot. As a freshman at Arkansas, he’ll need to prove he can create for others, defend consistently and continue to create against a higher level of competition.

2. Scoot Henderson, Guard, G League Ignite

His jumper is still developing but Henderson is a talented guard with great physical tools who can get himself to the basket at will and averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the G League Ignite, turning 18 during the season.

1. Victor Wembanyama, Big, ASVEL Basket

If you’re intrigued by Chet Holmgren, you’re going to love Wembanyama — a fluid 7-foot-2 forward with a 7-foot-8 wingspan, smooth ball-handling ability, a fantastic pull-up game and all the terrifying defensive upside that comes with being able to reach from one side of the court to other.