NBA mock draft: Wembanyama to Spurs at 1, then Miller to Hornets at 2

There’s nodoubt who the San Antonio Spurs are going to select with the firstpick in this year’s NBA draft.VictorWembanyamacould have started packing for Texas once theSpurs learned they had won the NBA draft lottery.

But oncethe7-foot-3French phenomis off the board minutes after the draftbegins on June 22, that’s when the intrigue will begin.

Scoot Henderson or Brandon Millerto the Charlotte Hornetsat No. 2?

The firstedition of the AP’s 2023 mock draft says it’ll be Miller.

1.SAN ANTONIO SPURS: VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, FORWARD, FRANCE

Hiscombination of a center’s size and a guard’s shooting and dribblingmake the 19-year-old a prospect perhaps unlike any other the NBAhas seen. The Spurs won five NBA titles after taking Tim Duncan in1997 the last time they had the No. 1 pick and dream of a similarimpact from Wembanyama.

2.CHARLOTTE HORNETS: BRANDON MILLER, FORWARD, ALABAMA

At 6-9,Miller has the size, versatility and 3-point stroke to make him anideal player for the modern NBA game. The SEC player of the yearand tournament MVP as a freshman, Miller would appear to be a goodfit playing with LaMelo Ball, though the Hornets, who playedwithout Miles Bridges last season after an arrest for a domesticviolence incident against the mother of his children, may have toweigh a negative reaction if they add Miller, whodeliveredthe gun used in a fatal shooting.

3.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: SCOOT HENDERSON, GUARD, G LEAGUEIGNITE

Hisathleticism and ability to do it all from the guard spot may havemade Henderson the No. 1 pick in many years. This time, he could bepart of a trade if the Blazers decide they’d prefer to acquire moreveteran help around Damian Lillard — or perhaps Lillard’sreplacement if they instead decide to build around youth.

4.HOUSTON ROCKETS: AMEN THOMPSON, GUARD, OVERTIME ELITE

At 6-7,Thompson has great size for a guard and the 20-year old showed theability to step up when it matters most, averaging 17.2 points, 9.2assists and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs to lead the City Reapersto the championship last season. The Rockets, after adding JalenGreen and Jabari Smith Jr. in the last two drafts, are positionedto get another good one.

5.DETROIT PISTONS: CAM WHITMORE, FORWARD, VILLANOVA

The Pistonsfell to the lowest spot possible in the lottery after finishingwith the NBA’s worst record and sharing the best odds of landingthe No. 1 pick. But getting Whitmore, a versatile wing with astrong build, to add to young pieces such as Cade Cunningham andJaden Ivey would help ease the sting.

6.ORLANDO MAGIC: AUSAR THOMPSON, FORWARD, OVERTIME ELITE

AmenThompson’s twin brother has been the Overtime Elite regular seasonand finals MVP the last two seasons and the 6-7 swingman plays bigon defense, twice blocking seven shots in a game. The Magic were ateam on the rise in the second half of last season and Thompsoncould help ensure that continues.

7.INDIANA PACERS: JARACE WALKER, FORWARD, HOUSTON

Coming fromHouston’s rugged program means Walker already plays NBA-readydefense, and the offensive end could come along quickly under RickCarlisle. At 6-8, 240 pounds, he already has the size and strengthto deal with anyone he could face in the frontcourt.

8.WASHINGTON WIZARDS: TAYLOR HENDRICKS, CENTRAL FLORIDA

The 6-9freshman makes an impact inside and outside on both ends of thefloor. He led the American Athletic Conference in blocked shots andshot 39% from 3-point range, becoming the only Division I playerlast season with at least 60 3-pointers, 55 blocked shots and 35dunks.

9.UTAH JAZZ: ANTHONY BLACK, GUARD, ARKANSAS

The 6-7 guardseems to have endless energy, playing nearly 35 minutes a game tolead the Southeastern Conference and all 20 minutes in a half 19times. That included 37 minutes on an injured left ankle in theRazorbacks’ NCAA Tournament upset of top-seeded Kansas, when hehelped hold expected lottery pick Gradey Dick to seven points.

10.DALLAS MAVERICKS: GRADEY DICK, GUARD, KANSAS

Dick made 833-pointers, most in Kansas history by a freshman, and the 6-8forward could get plenty of open looks when Mavericks opponentsfocus their attention on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Irvingremains in Dallas. The Mavs went to great lengths to protect theirchances of keeping this pick, tanking their final couple games toboost their lottery odds while still in play-in contention,.

11.ORLANDO MAGIC (from Chicago Bulls): KEYONTE GEORGE, GUARD,BAYLOR

Thehighest-ranked recruit in program history lived up to the billingin his lone college season, scoring 20 or more points 12 times andaveraging 15.3 en route to Big 12 freshman of the year honors. The6-4 guard could provide scoring punch on a team that was 26th inthe NBA in points per game.

12.OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: CASON WALLACE, KENTUCKY

A point guardwho takes care of the ball and takes it away from opponents, he wasfourth in the SEC in both steals per game and assist-to-turnoverratio. The Thunder already have a Kentucky guard thriving in theirbackcourt in All-NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

13.TORONTO RAPTORS: NICK SMITH JR., GUARD, ARKANSAS

Played injust 17 games in his lone college season after recovering from aright knee injury, but that was enough to play himself into lotteryconsideration. At 6-5, Smith can play either guard spot and wouldimprove the backcourt on a Toronto team whose strength was itswings.

14.NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: JORDAN HAWKINS, GUARD, UCONN

Ballhandlingstill needs improvement, but Hawkins’ catch-and-shoot ability wasone of the biggest reasons the Huskies stormed through the NCAATournament to their fifth national title. Now it could help createmore driving lanes for Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.

15.ATLANTA HAWKS: KOBE BUFKIN, GUARD, MICHIGAN

Massive leapfrom first to second year of college, averaging 14 points as asophomore after not starting a game while averaging 3.0 points as afreshman. Next leap is to the NBA, where the 6-4 lefty couldquickly be a change-of-pace guard off the bench.

16.UTAH JAZZ (from Minnesota): G.G. JACKSON, FORWARD, SOUTHCAROLINA

Would havebeen heading to college now — perhaps as the No. 1 prospect —before reclassifying last summer to enter a year earlier. Instead,the 6-9 Jackson is on his way to the NBA after scoring in doublefigures in 25 of his 32 games, averaging 15.4 points.

17.LOS ANGELES LAKERS: JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO, GUARD,INDIANA

After mixedresults with Russell Westbrook and D’Angelo Russell last season,the Lakers’ search for point guard help could lead to Indiana,where Hood-Schifino was the Big Ten freshman of the year. Greatsize in the backcourt at 6-6 but needs to become a better shooterafter hitting only 40% from the field in his lone season.

18.MIAMI HEAT: MAXWELL LEWIS, FORWARD, PEPPERDINE

The Heat’ssuccess developing undrafted players — they have seven on theroster that has made a surprising run to the NBA Finals — allowsthem to recover if they miss in the draft. But they might not bylooking at the 6-7 Lewis, who made nearly 80% of his free throwsand 36% of his 3-point attempts in his two seasons with theWaves.

19.GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: KRIS MURRAY, FORWARD, IOWA

Afteraveraging 20.2 points — with a 30-point, 20-rebound game in oneouting — Murray will try to make a similar first-year NBA impact astwin brother Keegan, who after leaving the Hawkeyes became animmediate starter for Sacramento last season and was an All-Rookiefirst-team selection.

20.HOUSTON ROCKETS (from LA Clippers): BILAL COULIBALY, FORWARD,FRANCE

The Rocketshoped to land Wembanyama after sharing the best odds to win thelottery. They could look here at his teammate with Metropolitans92, a 6-6 swingman who doesn’t score much yet but whose 7-3wingspan allows him to impact the game on both ends even withoutdoing so.

21.BROOKLYN NETS (from Phoenix): JETT HOWARD, GUARD,MICHIGAN

Hiswillingness to fire from behind the arc makes the freshman aperfect fit for the 3-point happy NBA. The 6-8 freshman mademultiple 3-pointers in 24 of his 29 games for Juwan Howard, hisfather, and hit three or more in almost half of them. Howard made36.8% of them while averaging 14.2 points

22.BROOKLYN NETS: LEONARD MILLER, FORWARD, G LEAGUEIGNITE

The Nets haveneeded more scoring punch since trading Kevin Durant and KyrieIrving, and Miller looks capable of providing it after averaging 18points last season. The 6-10 Canadian also averaged nearly 11rebounds, another area Nets leadership has identified as apriority.

23.PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (from New York): RAYAN RUPERT, FORWARD, NEWZEALAND BREAKERS

The native ofFrance would bring coveted defensive abilities, though not much inthe way of scoring. Still, it would be hard to pass up a19-year-old whose 6-7 size allows him to defend any forward orguard position.

24.SACRAMENTO KINGS: DERECK LIVELY II, CENTER, DUKE

Is stilllimited offensively, but the NBA’s highest-scoring team doesn’tneed points. The Kings need someone to help prevent them, and the7-1 Lively shows promise as a rebounder and shot blocker,highlighted by 14 boards and eight blocks in a game against rivalNorth Carolina.

25.MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, FORWARD,INDIANA

Had more than2,200 points and 1,100 rebounds in one of the most decoratedcareers in Hoosiers history. But in the one-and-done era, the23-year-old All-American’s age may work against the son of formerIndiana Pacers forward Dale Davis.

26.INDIANA PACERS (from Cleveland): JAIME JAQUEZ JR., GUARD,UCLA

Thedo-everything swingman led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2rebounds, becoming their first Pac-12 player of the year sinceKevin Love in 2008. At 6-7, Jacquez does everything well — he’s No.8 in UCLA history in both points and steals — but maybe not any ofthem at the top NBA level.

27.CHARLOTTE HORNETS (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City):AMARI BAILEY, GUARD, UCLA

Bailey had astrong finish to his lone college season, averaging 16.7 points on56% shooting in the Bruins’ run to the Sweet 16. The Hornetsstruggle when LaMelo Ball is out, so the 6-5 guard could beappealing to a team that was fourth-worst in the NBA inscoring.

28.UTAH JAZZ (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn): COLBY JONES, GUARD,XAVIER

With threepicks in the first round, the Jazz are positioned to bolster a teamthat hung around the playoff race much longer than expected. The6-6 Jones, who made 18-of-21 shots in one torrid stretch lastseason and 9-of-10 3-pointers in another, could be a nice lateaddition.

29.INDIANA PACERS (from Boston): NOAH CLOWNEY, FORWARD,ALABAMA

Clowney putup nearly eight rebounds and a block per game in his lone collegeseason. At just 210 pounds on his 6-10 frame, he will need to addstrength for the battles inside against NBA big men.

30.LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (from Milwaukee via Houston): DARIQ WHITEHEAD,FORWARD, DUKE

Arrived atDuke as the high school player of the year but a foot injury led toa delayed start to his college career followed by shootingstruggles after it finally began. But the 6-7 forward showed enoughdefensive and 3-point abilities in his limited time to make himselfworthy of a first-round spot.