The 2023 NBA Draft has come to a close.
After a full year of awaiting Victor Wembanyama's arrival to the NBA, the French phenom heard his name called with the first overall pick by the Spurs. The Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson debate was one of the headlines of the entire pre-draft process, but they eventually went No. 2 and 3 to the Hornets and Trail Blazers, respectively.
After the first three prospects were off the board, the draft really kicked off on an exciting night that had no shortage of surprise picks and trades.
If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, analysis and a grade for each first-round pick, diving deeper into every selection to explain the fit between prospects and their new team.
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NBA Draft grades 2023: Live picks, analysis for Round 1
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 (France)
- Grade: A+
No surprises here. The Spurs have officially won the Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes, landing the generational talent with the No. 1 pick. He has big shoes to fill, looking to follow the path of Hall of Famers like David Robinson and Tim Duncan as the only other first overall picks in franchise history.
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, Alabama
- Grade: A
After several back-and-forth reports, the Hornets elected to stick with Miller as the No. 2 pick. While I still believe Scoot Henderson is the second-best player in this draft class, Miller’s fit alongside franchise point guard LaMelo Ball was too seamless to pass up. Charlotte, who was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season, lands a much-needed versatile sharpshooting wing.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
- Grade: A+
The Trail Blazers have to be thrilled about Henderson falling into their lap at No. 3. Even though there is some overlap with superstar Damian Lillard, the pairing will still work because both guards can make an impact with or without the ball in their hands. Henderson will be able to learn from Portland’s franchise cornerstone and carry the torch long after Lillard’s playing days are done.
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
- Grade: A
The Rockets were determined to land a long-term point guard to complete their backcourt of the future with Jalen Green, and they found that in Thompson. The first of the Thompson twins to come off the board, Amen is a freak athlete, tenacious perimeter defender and crafty playmaker. He fills multiple needs for Houston and made the most sense at No. 4.
5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
- Grade: A-
And the Thompson twins go back-to-back. The Pistons elect to go with a defensive-minded, slashing wing to pair with their young core of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. While I like the fit with either power forward on the board — Jarace Walker or Cam Whitmore — Ausar will complement Detroit’s backcourt and shore up its perimeter.
6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black, Arkansas
- Grade: A+
The Magic needed guard help and they land the best playmaker in the entire draft class in Black. Adding the 6-7 jumbo guard alongside skilled forwards like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner gives Orlando a number of intriguing lineups that should pose mismatches for opposing teams. If they add a shooter at No. 11, we’re looking at a very successful draft night for the Magic.
7. Washington Wizards (via IND): Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92 (France)
- Grade: A
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pacers and Wizards are swapping the Nos. 7 and 8 picks, respectively.
That means Coulibaly is headed to Washington, and I love that move for a Wizards team that has completely cleaned house for the future over the last few days. Coulibaly — who was Wembanyama’s teammate in France — has as much upside potential as any prospect in this draft. The 6-6 wing is a Swiss Army Knife, capable of defending multiple positions and scoring off the ball while flashing some promise as a playmaker.
8. Indiana Pacers (via WAS): Jarace Walker, Houston
- Grade: A+
The Pacers nailed this pick. In need of a power forward, Indiana has added one of the best interior defenders in this class, forming an elite backline alongside a rim protector like Myles Turner. Walker brings some power and muscle to the Pacers and he should thrive as a pick-and-roll partner with one of the best playmakers in the NBA in Tyrese Haliburton.
9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, UCF
- Grade: A
The Jazz have solidified their frontcourt of the future and man, does it look good. Hendricks is a prototypical stretch-four in today’s NBA as a 6-8 floor-spacer and versatile defender. He’ll join Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler to form a trio with plenty of length.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Cason Wallace, Kentucky
- Grade: B-
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Mavericks are trading the No. 10 pick and Davis Bertans to the Thunder for the No. 12 pick.
The Thunder select Wallace, who is a reliable floor general and pesky perimeter defender. This is a curious pick, considering Oklahoma City already has two franchise cornerstone playmakers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. Their grade is less about Wallace as a prospect and more about the logjam of similarly skilled guards.
11. Orlando Magic (via CHI): Jett Howard, Michigan
- Grade: B
The Magic address a massive void for a perimeter shooter, but Howard is an interesting choice with prospects like Gradey Dick and Jordan Hawkins on the board. However, Howard will still provide Orlando with a 3-point marksman who has the potential to be a versatile defender with a 6-8 frame if it can get him to buy in on that side of the ball.
12. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Dereck Lively II, Duke
- Grade: A
The Mavericks got their guy. Dallas has been linked to Lively for over a week now, and they offloaded Bertans’ contract in the process by trading back to No. 12. The Mavericks needed a rim protector and rim-runner to pair with Luka Doncic, and now the Slovenian star has a young, dynamic lob target.
13. Toronto Raptors: Grady Dick, Kansas
- Grade: A
The Raptors had two pathways with this pick — shooting or playmaking. Toronto elected to go with the former, and they landed the best shooter in the draft in Dick. The Raptors ranked 28th in the NBA in both 3-point makes per game and 3-point percentage. Dick adds to Toronto’s roster full of length as a 6-8 sniper who will contribute immediately.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, UConn
- Grade: A
The Pelicans also address a need, landing a prospect who could challenge Dick for the label of “best shooter in the draft.” Hawkins put on a 3-point shooting clinic during UConn’s run to the National Championship. He needs little-to-no time to get his shot off, unphased by closing out defenders. He’ll be the perfect floor spacer for Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin, Michigan
- Grade: C+
The Hawks already have Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but they decided to add another combo guard in Bufkin. While I do like the Michigan sophomore’s potential as a crafty shot creator and scorer, he gives Atlanta more of what it already has in its star backcourt duo.
16. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Keyonte George, Baylor
- Grade: B+
The Jazz could use another prolific scorer on the perimeter and they get that in George, who was viewed as a lottery-caliber talent. Even though he has questionable shot selection at times, there is no denying the Baylor freshman is an NBA-level shot creator and shot-maker.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana
- Grade: A
The Lakers are getting great value with this pick. Hood-Schifino is a fantastic pick-and-roll playmaker who can take some ball-handling pressure off of LeBron James. Los Angeles gains a high-upside point guard with a confident midrange jumper and the length to bother opposing guards on the defensive end.
18. Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
- Grade: B
The Heat elected to go with an NBA-ready upperclassmen, looking to build on their run to the 2023 NBA Finals. Jaquez is a physical forward who can knock down midrange jumpers and score out of the post. He should help some of Miami’s shortcomings on the offensive end and his competitive attitude lines up with “Heat Culture.”
19. Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara
- Grade: B
The Warriors traded away Jordan Poole on draft day and find a backup guard replacement at No. 19. Podziemski was one of the biggest winners of the NBA Draft Combine and pre-draft process, proving to be a creative shot creator and savvy secondary playmaker.
20. Houston Rockets (via LAC): Cam Whitmore, Villanova
- Grade: A+
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo reported Whitmore’s medicals are the reason the Villanova forward fell this far. Going into the draft, I thought Whitmore could have been a great fit for the Rockets at No. 4. Now, they land the biggest steal of the draft, selecting a top-five talent with the 20th overall pick. Whitmore is an athletic two-way forward who gives Houston another building block for the future of its franchise.
21. Brooklyn Nets (via PHX): Noah Clowney, Alabama
- Grade: B+
The rebuilding Nets have back-to-back picks and with their first, they elect to take a long-term project with a ton of upside potential in Clowney. The Alabama freshman is a mobile and athletic forward who flashed some potential to space the floor with a willingness to step outside and shoot the 3. He fills a void for frontcourt depth in Brooklyn.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead, Duke
- Grade: A-
The Nets play for the future with both consecutive first-round picks. Whitehead was once a projected top-five pick before injuries derailed his freshman season at Duke. He has already had two foot surgeries, but when healthy, the 18-year-old is a three-level scoring threat who will help Brooklyn down the line.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (via NYK): Kris Murray, Iowa
- Grade: B+
The Trail Blazers may have just made an enemy out of Sacramento, taking Keegan Murray’s twin one pick before the brothers could unite with the Kings. The fit makes plenty of sense as Portland tries to put win-now pieces around Damian Lillard. Murray can defend multiple positions and knock down the 3-ball as a plug-and-play upperclassman.
24. Dallas Mavericks (via SAC): Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette
- Grade: A
The Mavericks have nailed this draft. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Dallas has acquired the No. 24 pick and Richaun Holmes from the Kings. It selects Prosper, a high-energy forward with a developing 3-point shot who will fit perfectly on the wing next to Doncic.
25. Detroit Pistons (via BOS): Marcus Sasser, Houston
- Grade: C
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Celtics are trading the No. 25 pick to the Pistons for No. 31 and future second-round picks. Detroit selects Sasser, an upperclassman guard who is a hard-nosed defender and confident scorer. With young players like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes on the roster, it's surprising to see the Pistons use this pick on another guard.
26. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): Ben Sheppard, Belmont
- Grade: B
The Pacers went with a pure shooter at No. 26, as Sheppard skyrocketed up draft boards following impressive showings at the NBA Draft Combine and pre-draft workouts. At 6-6, Sheppard is ready to come in and contribute as a 3-point marksman for an Indiana team that could use more spacing with perimeter shooting.
27. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN): Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas
- Grade: A
After passing on Henderson at No. 2, the Hornets land a former top guard prospect in Smith Jr. The Arkansas freshman was once projected to be the first college player selected in this draft before a knee injury plagued his freshman season. He’s a wiry, shifty scoring guard with plenty of upside potential.
28. Utah Jazz (via PHI): Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State
- Grade: B+
More perimeter shooting for the Jazz. Utah has had a great night, landing three shooters in Hendricks, George and Sensabaugh. All three prospects are teenagers who fit its rebuilding timeline, and the future is bright for the Jazz.
29. Denver Nuggets (via IND): Julian Strawther, Gonzaga
- Grade: A
The Nuggets have done it again. One year after landing a playoff contributor in Christian Braun with the 21st pick, Denver lands another plug-and-play upperclassman in Strawther. The Gonzaga wing is a lethal 3-point shooter who will thrive off of passers like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
30. LA Clippers (via MIL): Kobe Brown, Missouri
- Grade: C
This is a major reach for the Clippers. Brown is an upperclassman who fits their win-now timeline, and he’s a big forward who can shoot and defend. But this feels like a player LA could have landed with its second-round pick.
