With the regular season over, it’s time to reflect on the 2023 NBA Draft and see how the selections would look if we had the knowledge we have now.
At the top of the draft, there’s no doubt that Victor Wembanyama would still be the No. 1 pick. He’s shown that he’s every bit as good as advertised, leading the league in blocks and showing off his offensive versatility. He’s a generational talent who has the potential to be one of the best players in the league.
The No. 2 pick is a bit more difficult to determine. Scoot Henderson was the consensus No. 2 pick last year, but he had a disappointing rookie season. He still has the potential to be a star, but there are now some questions about his upside. Jalen Duren, on the other hand, had a solid rookie season and looks like he could be a future All-Star. If we were redrafting today, Duren would likely be the No. 2 pick.
The No. 3 pick is another tough one. Jabari Smith Jr. was the No. 3 pick last year, but he had a disappointing rookie season. Chet Holmgren, who missed his rookie season due to injury, would likely be the No. 3 pick if we were redrafting today. He’s a skilled big man with a high ceiling.
The rest of the top 10 would likely look something like this:
4. Keyontae Johnson
5. Ausar Thompson
6. Cam Whitmore
7. Nick Smith Jr.
8. Jaden Hardy
9. Jarace Walker
10. Brandon Miller
There are still a lot of unknowns about these players, but they all have the potential to be impact players in the NBA. It will be interesting to see how their careers play out.
