2023 NBA Mock Draft 9.0: Hornets, Rockets set dominoes in motion

The Hawks will have to make a difficult decision with Dejounte Murray in the near future, but adding another guard with secondary playmaking upside is a good start. George is a prolific 3-point shooter who is comfortable manipulating defenders and locating open shooters out of the pick-and-roll. He’s also a competitive defender, if a little undersized at 6-foot-4.

The Jazz bulk up their backcourt even further with Jalen Hood-Schifino, who cemented his reputation as a prospect of interest with strong measurements at the combine. He needs to get better around the rim, but Hood-Schifino has floaters and mid-range pull-ups for days and he has the potential to guard multiple spots with NBA strength development.

Jordan Hawkins saw his stock skyrocket with UConn’s championship run. LeBron James has advocated for slender championship guards from UConn in the past, plus Hawkins makes schematic sense with his elite movement shooting ability.

There’s plenty of intrigue around Leonard Miller due to his 6-foot-10 frame, versatile defense, and flashes of playmaking upside. He loves to run the floor in transition and he’s a real handful driving downhill with a full head of steam. The Heat need more size on the defensive end and Miller could benefit from Miami’s high-effort, detail-oriented regime.

The Warriors tried to find their elite rim-runner and shot-blocker with James Wiseman a few years ago but it didn’t work out. Dereck Lively would represent a similar investment. He’s light on his feet and showcased elite defensive instincts down the stretch of the season at Duke. He doesn’t provide much offensively outside the paint, but Golden State can spoon-feed him finishes at the rim.

Brandin Podziemski has been explicitly linked to Houston in the No. 20 spot. A high-feel guard who shoots with endless confidence and plays committed, fundamentally-sound defense, Podziemski has given front offices outside the lottery a lot to think about. The Rockets need winning players who can tie everything together. That’s Podziemski.

The Nets could face competition on the free agent market for Cam Johnson, but either way, there’s still reason to invest in Jett Howard. A knockdown shooter with complementary playmaking attributes, Howard is more than ready to contribute offensively. Meanwhile, the Nets have the personnel to hide his flaws on the defensive end.

Dariq Whitehead is the perfect upside swing with Brooklyn’s second first-round pick. A former top recruit who spent his year at Duke banged up and largely ineffective in key areas, Whitehead could shock fans once he’s back to full strength. Even in a down year with the Blue Devils, he shot 42.4 percent from deep and showcased effortless touch on pull-up jumpers.

The Blazers tend to prioritize athleticism and Noah Clowney is an impressive athlete, standing 6-foot-10 with burgeoning rim protection skills and the mobility to switch screens on the perimeter. He would fill the gaping hole in the frontcourt caused by Jusuf Nurkic’s swift decline.

The Kings are intimately familiar with last year’s No. 4 pick Keegan Murray and, by extension, should be intimately familiar with his twin brother and former college teammate, Kris. The latter doesn’t possess the same shooting dynamism as Keegan, but he can still space the floor while providing size and connective tissue on the wing.

Ben Sheppard vaulted into the first round discussion with a strong showing at the combine. The Grizzlies could use 3-and-D help on the wing and the Memphis front office hasn’t been afraid to embrace prospects from smaller schools.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. spent four productive years at UCLA. He’s older and there are legitimate concerns tied to his 3-point shooting and limited athleticism, but he’s a crafty playmaker who can score every which way inside the arc. The Pacers are looking to make the jump to contention sooner than later and have shown a proclivity for more experienced prospects in the past.

Bobi Klintman has emerged as a real sleeper pick in the first round. He played sparsely as a freshman at Wake Forest, but his theoretical upside as a 6-foot-10 wing who can handle, pass, and shoot is bound to catch a team’s eye. Charlotte has been right down the street from Klintman all year and his potential as a transition threat alongside LaMelo Ball is worthy of investment.

The Jazz grab one of the best scorers in college basketball. Brice Sensabaugh will need to prove his ability to defend and create for teammates, but he can absolutely torch the net from 3-point range and his mid-range scoring craft is top-tier. He has the bucket-getting gene, now it’s about rounding out the rest of his skill set to maximize that unique ability.

Colby Jones is the perfect Swiss Army knife wing to round out Indiana’s busy first round. He can spread the floor, provide rapid-fire decision-making as a passer, and defend all over the perimeter. He doesn’t have many holes in his role player repertoire.

The Clippers love to swing big on flashy prospects who don’t always have the collegiate résumé to back up their potential. Jackson was the bleeding heart of South Carolina’s offense as a 17-year-old, for better and for worse. He got plenty of on-ball reps and showcased legitimate self-creation ability at 6-foot-9, but he’s a mess of a decision-maker right now.