2023 NBA Draft grades: Second round picks, Nos. 46-60
Grade: B
Seth Lundy makes for a clean fit as a shooter. He has length and strength on the defensive end but his limited lateral quickness has led to questions about his ability to hold up in certain NBA matchups. He will need to guard if he wants to share the court with Trae Young eventually.
Grade: C
Mojave King brings size and defensive versatility to the perimeter, along with a strong defensive end. The Pacers will want him to improve from 3.
Grade: C+
Jordan Miller has a lot of strong role player traits that should translate well to the Clippers’ bench. He moves without the ball, gets downhill aggressively, and defends his tail off on the perimeter.
Grade: C-
The talent bet is understandable and the Cavs were unlikely to find an immediate contributor this late in the draft. That said, he doesn’t really solve any current issue for Cleveland. He struggles on defense and he doesn’t create for teammates; he’s a bit of a shot-chucker right now. The Cavs need role players, Bates plays like he’s the star all the time. Can he adjust in the NBA?
Grade: A-
Keyontae Johnson played a central role in Kansas State’s deep postseason run. He can shoot, cut, and finish above the rim. The Thunder need play-finishers like Johnson. His athleticism and defensive intensity make him a strong value late in the second round.
Grade: B
The Nets grab another skilled wing in Jalen Wilson, the heart and soul of Kansas’ offense last season. He doesn’t shoot the 3 prolifically yet, but Wilson plays with great pace as a driver and he has some secondary creation upside.
Grade: B
6-foot-8 Toumani Camara brings length and bounce to the Suns’ frontcourt. He can defend all over the floor and he crashes the boards relentlessly. He shot 36 percent from deep at Dayton but he will need to increase his volume to thrive in the NBA.
Grade: A
The Timberwolves need backcourt help. Jaylen Clark is one of the best perimeter defenders on the board and he’s no slouch offensively, comfortable moving without the ball and scoring on cuts to the rim or as a straight-line driver off the catch.
Grade: A
Big time, the exact kind of prospect Sacramento needs to take the next step. Jalen Slawson doesn’t shoot much but he’s a heady defender who can offer connective playmaking from the wing, Kyle Anderson-esque.
Grade: B
A shifty score-first guard with a lot of confidence shooting the ball, Isaiah Wong is a good bench scoring bet late in the second round. The Pacers could benefit from more spacers working off of Haliburton and Jarace Walker.
Grade: C
Tarik Biberovic is expected to be a draft-and-stash option for the Grizzlies, who have a lot of young depth on the roster already. It’s tough to grade draft-and-stash guys but he’s a good shooter with positional size on the wing at 6-foot-7.
Grade: A
The Warriors get excellent value in Trayce Jackson-Davis, who fell further than expected. He supplies a vertical threat at the rim and he’s an above-average passer with upside as a playmaking hub in the post. The Warriors always benefit from plus passers in the frontcourt.
Grade: B
An upside swing from the Bucks, who can afford to be patient with Chris Livingston. A flashy prospect who struggled to carve out a consistent role at Kentucky, Livingston’s shot-making talent popped in high school and he’s a strong, powerful athlete at 6-foot-7. The Bucks will hope he can develop as a decision-maker and improve on the defensive end.