NBA Draft 2023: Recap the news of the night, plus every pick
As Ben Simmons eyes a Boomers berth, he still became a topic of conversation on NBA draft night — and a former teammate wasn’t overly kind. DRAFT RECAP + EVERY PICK.
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As expected, Victor Wembanyama went No.1 to the San Antonio Spurs and a couple of NBL Next Stars heard their name called but, somehow, Ben Simmons still became a topic of conversation on NBA draft night.
SCROLL DOWN FOR EVERY PICK AND TO RE-CAP THE 2023 NBA DRAFT
Broadcaster JJ Redick first snubbed the Aussie then called him a “non-factor” as the Brooklyn Net works to repair his body, with a plan to playing for the Boomers in next month’s FIBA World Cup.
Speaking on NBA draft night as Brooklyn selected Alabama monster Noah Clowney and Duke guard Dariq Whitehead with picks 22 and 23, Redick reeled off Nets players Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nick Claxton and “multiple draft picks” as positives — without mentioning his uber-talented but much-maligned former teammate.
It was noticed by draft host Malika Andrews.
“But JJ … we have not even discussed Ben Simmons?”
“Yeah, I will discuss Ben Simmons when he’s back on the basketball court,” Redick replied.
Redick went on to call himself a “friend” of Simmons: “I still believe in him”.
“If you think about the facts that they (the Nets) gave up James Harden … They were expecting Ben Simmons to play at an All Star, All-NBA level and, because of injuries and, I believe some lingering effects from that Atlanta series in terms of his mental approach, he has really struggled in Brooklyn and has been essentially a non factor.
“It’s a matter of him just being on the court and being the player that he was early in his career in Philadelphia and then we can start talking about how that would impact Brooklyn going forward.”
Simmons, in 2022, infamously passed up a dunk in the Sixers’ game seven playoff loss to Atlanta and was thrown under the bus by teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers. He was subsequently traded to Brooklyn, where he struggled to recover from major back surgery and was eventually shut down, half way through the season.
He’s been posting bulk workout content on his socials and has expressed a desire to play for Australia at the World Cup, if he can get his body right.
There’s scepticism about Simmons from Australia to the US, some of it fair, some of it just nasty.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has an open invitation for Simmons to present at their camp in Cairns on August 1.
Stay tuned.
EVERY PICK
ROUND 1
PICK 1: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs.
PICK 2: Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
PICK 3: Scoot Henderson, Portland Trailblazers
PICK 4: Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
PICK 5: Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
PICK 6: Anthony Black, Orlando Magic
PICK 7: Bilal Coulibaly, Indiana Pacers — Trade proposed to Washington
PICK 8: Jarace Walker, Washington Wizards — Trade proposed to Indiana
PICK 9: Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz
PICK 10: Cason Wallace, Dallas Mavericks — Trade proposed to Oklahoma City
PICK 11: Jett Howard, Orlando Magic
PICK 12: Dereck Lively II, Oklahoma City Thunder — Trade proposed to Dallas Mavericks
PICK 13: Gradey Dick, Toronto Raptors
PICK 14: Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans
PICK 15: Koby Bufkin, Atlanta Hawks
PICK 16: Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
PICK 17: Jalen Hood-Schifino, LA Lakers
PICK 18: Jaime Jaquez Jr, Miami Heat
PICK 19: Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors
PICK 20: Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets
PICK 21: Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets
PICK 22: Dariq Whitehead, Brooklyn Nets
PICK 23: Kris Murray, Portland Trailblazers
PICK 24: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Sacramento Kings — Trade proposed to Dallas
PICK 25: Marcus Sasser, Memphis Grizzlies — Trade proposed to Detroit (via Boston)
PICK 26: Ben Sheppard, Indiana Pacers
PICK 27: Nick Smith Jr, Charlotte Hornets
PICK 28: Bryce Sensabaugh, Utah Jazz
PICK 29: Julian Strawther, Indiana Pacers — Trade proposed to Denver
PICK 30: Kobe Brown, LA Clippers
ROUND 2
PICK 31: James Nnaji, Detroit Pistons
PICK 32: Jalen Pickett, Indiana Pacers — Trade proposed to Denver
PICK 33: Leonard Miller, San Antonio Spurs — Trade proposed to Minnesota
PICK 34: Colby Jones, Charlotte Hornets
PICK 35: Julian Phillips, Boston Celtics
PICK 36: Andre Jackson Jr, Orlando Magic
PICK 37: Hunter Tyson, Oklahoma City Thunder
PICK 38: Jordan Walsh, Sacramento Kings
PICK 39: Mouhamed Gueye, Charlotte Hornets
PICK 40: Maxwell Lewis, Denver Nuggets
PICK 41: Amari Bailey, Charlotte Hornets
PICK 42: Tristan Vuckcevic, Washington
PICK 43: Ryan Rupert, Portland Trailblazers
PICK 44: Sidy Cissoko, San Antonio Spurs
PICK 45: Gregory Jackson II, Memphis Grizzlies
PICK 46: Seth Lundy, Atlanta Hawks
PICK 47: Mojave King, LA Lakers — Trade proposed to Indiana Pacers
PICK 48: Jordan Miller, LA Clippers
PICK 49: Emoni Bates, Cleveland Cavaliers
PICK 50: Keyontae Johnson, Oklahoma City Thunder
PICK 51: Jalen Wilson, Brooklyn Nets
PICK 52: Toumani Kamara, Phoenix Suns
PICK 53: Jaylen Clark, Minnesota Timberwolves
PICK 54: Jalen Slawson, Sacramento Kings
PICK 55: Isaiah Wong, Indiana Pacers
PICK 56: Tarik Biberovic, Memphis Grizzlies
PICK 57: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Washington Wizards
PICK 58: Chris Livingston, Milwaukee Bucks
2.14PM — A KING BECOMES A PACER
Former Cairns Taipan and Adelaide 36er Mojave King followed Rupert, four picks later, when he was snapped up by Indiana, via the Lakers’ 47th pick.
The Kiwi is another Next Star who spent two years in the NBL but did not have a lot of success.
A move to the G League Ignite in the US reinvigorated the 21-year-old. His shooting is still a work in progress, but the kid is 6’5” and has the ability to play all three outside positions.
Huge two-way chance and, if his rapid improvement continues, could sneak his way into a main roster spot.
1.59PM — FINALLY, NBL NEXT STAR’S NAME GETS CALLED
He was the last man standing in the green room in Brooklyn on draft night, but NBL Next Star Rayan Rupert is finally an NBA player.
The French phenom is a defensive beast who impressed as a long athletic defender for the New Zealand Breakers last season.
Could be the steal of the draft!
FLYING THE FLAG FOR THE NBL
Another Frenchman in Ryan Rupert is also creating some draft buzz and you should care because he’s another one to go through the NBL production line.
Rupert was a Next Star in New Zealand last season and battled through a broken wrist to show signs of why he’s highly rated. An elite wing defender with serious length and athleticism, Rupert was once projected as high as the lottery, that fell to around the pick No.25 range. But he’s fallen out of the first round will have to hope a team uses a second-round pick on him.
11.31AM — RIDICULOUS SHOOTER, RIDICULOUS SUIT
NBA players, these days, love to show off their personalities.
I don’t even know how to describe to you what new Toronto Raptor Gradey Dick wore.
The former Kansas Jayhawks sharpshooter’s Wizard of Oz-inspired fit is basically a suit made out of Dorothy’s ruby red slippers. ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore’, get it? Pretty clever.
It’s a similar colour to his new team, too.
“I guess I knew it … I’m from Kansas, Dorothy’s got her little red slippers, I’ve got my Dorothy suit” he said.
As you can imagine in the Twitter cesspool, he’s copping it.
Gradey Dick tells us the 3 things to know about his draft night fit ‼
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2023
The #NBADraft presented by State Farm begins at 8pm/et on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6UvSQxX85M
11.18AM — MAGIC SELECT SON OF A GUN
Vintage NBA fans like myself will remember when Juwan Howard burst onto the scene as one of the Michigan Fab Five.
His son Jett is now headed to the NBA as pick No.11 with Orlando — where his old man spent one season.
Juwan Howard was drafted by Washington at pick No.5 in 1994, Howard began as high-potential big who signed the NBA’s first $100 million contract. He won two chips as a role player in Miami late in his career.
Since 2002, every #NBADraft class except 2021 has included at least one son of a former NBA player.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 23, 2023
Jett Howard is this year's representative.
His father Juwan even played for the Magic in 2003-2004. pic.twitter.com/z9qf6hdbIx
11.07AM — ANOTHER TRADE
Dallas picked guard Cason Wallace — who models his game on Miami star Jimmy Butler — to Oklahoma City Thunder, where our man Josh Giddey is a star! Davis Bertans’ contract goes with the Kentucky alumni and the Mavs get pick No.12 from back from the Mavs.
10.55AM — TRADE TIME?
Indiana picked Victor Wembanyama’s Mets 92 teammate Bilal Coulibaly but Woj is reporting he’s being traded to Washington, for pick No.8, which is athletic big man Jarace Walker — incidentally the first top-10 pick out of Houston U since the great Hakeem Olajuwon.
“It means a ton (Hakeem), I’m blessed and fortunate,” Walker said.
Interested to see this trade unfold.
The commish just confirmed it. Pacers send a couple of picks back in the trade.
10.41AM — TWINS GO BACK-TO-BACK
Twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson go at picks four and five, the former to Portland, the latter headed to Detroit.
Amen is a freak athlete, good playmaker and rapid improver. Ausar has strong defensive chops.
Houston has cap space to burn and a third top-five draft pick in as many seasons to build with, with Amen joining Jalen Green and Jabari Smith, with Alperun Sengun as brilliant young building blocks to be honed by highly-rated — if controversial — new coach Ime Udoka.
The Pistons have a new coach in Monty Williams, too, and he’s a players coach who Ausar should love playing under. The Pistons have been perennially bad, but Ausar, with Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and James Wiseman is also a nice young nucleus Williams can build with.
10.27AM — SCOOT TO PORTLAND, WHAT’S THAT MEAN FOR DAME?
The Blazers had to take Scoot at No.3, given it’s been touted as a three-player draft, but I’m intrigued to see if Portland doesn’t look to make a trade.
If they don’t what will Damian Lillard do.
The greatest player in franchise history has agitated publicly for the team to find him the pieces to be a contender. Scoot plays the same position, so will be interesting to see how it works.
Reckon Miami will come hard for Dame.
10.12AM — WEMBY GOES PICK NO.1, AS EXPECTED BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HORNETS?
Victor Wembanyama is in tears after he was selected with the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft. NBA commish Adam Silver loved it!
The joy at “accomplishing something I’ve been dreaming of my whole life.”
“Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I’ve dreamed about it so much, I gotta cry.
“It’s tough to win in this league. I’m going to try and learn as quick as possible because I want to win that ring.
“Oh my God, I’m a Spur.”
Nice moment when colourful Spur Jeremy Sochan — resplendent with purple hair — came out to congratulate him.”
Wemby joins the big Spurs No.1 pick family with David Robinson and Tim Duncan — the same team he idolised growing up, which had French alumni Tony Parker.
Elite rim protector, high shooting potential, incredible ball handling, dunks it from everywhere. As a good, if not better — and just as hyped — draft pick as the great LeBron James.
But let’s look ahead.
Charlotte has a strong link with the NBL through Lamelo Ball, who famously spent a season with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL before becoming the No.3 pick in the 2023 draft.
The Hornets nailed that one but haven’t had a huge amount of success at the draft table, with failures including Cody Zeller (pick 4, 2013), Noah Vonleh (pick 9, 2014), Frank Laminsky (pick 9, 2015).
My bet is they take Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson, solely for Lamelo. Miller’s a great small forward with shooting and slashing ability who could work well with Lamelo. And boy do the Hornets need shooting. Henderson could be a franchise guard if everything adds up — that’s how Lamelo would see himself.
8.30AM — WEMBY IN THE HOUSE
If you’ve been hiding under a rock, Victor Wembanyama is going to be a Spur.
San Antonio has the first pick and will use it on the 19-year-old French star.
He’s arrived in Brooklyn and he’s already signing Spurs jerseys.
And the rabid fans down in Texas are celebrating with everything from candlelit shrines to massive murals of their great hope — and the draft hasn’t begun yet.
Melbourne United superstar Chris Goulding got an up-close look at Wembanyama while playing for Paris Basketball, and saw him pour in seven of his 22 points in the last two minutes of Mets 92’s 93-85 win.
Goulding was struck by Wembanyama’s sheer size, saying the 19-year-old was “way bigger” than his 219cm listed height — an assertion backed up by those at the draft, who believe he is closer to 226cm.
“I’m probably understating his sheer size, It’s ridiculous,” Goulding told Code Sports.
“I played against Yao Ming a couple of times and it’s like that guy was the biggest human I’d ever seen in my life, enormous, massive. Victor’s the same sort of, ‘Oh my, that’s a huge human, that’s a massive person’.
“Then you see him running around and shooting and doing all this stuff that a guard does. It’s mind-boggling.”
Goulding cautioned the teen would face a vastly different challenge in the NBA.
“In France, he’s a French kid and he’s like a god over there. People are like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to get blocked by Wemby’,” Goulding said.
“In the NBA, there’s going to be people wanting to absolutely chop his head off and try and put him through the rim and they have that athleticism.
“Someone’s coming to try and put him on a poster and I’m sure it will happen, but his base layer as a rim protector and as a scorer in the open court if he’s allowed space I think you’re going to see a guy who comes in and contributes in a pretty hefty way, straight off the bat. “He could be anything.”
7.50AM — GOOD MORNING
Hey everyone, we’ve already had some action and the draft doesn’t start until around 10am AEST.
The Warriors and Wizards are the fresh news with Golden State trading Jordan Poole to Washington for point god Chris Paul, who was acquired in the Bradley Beal trade of a couple of days ago.
It’s both a money and culture trade with Poole famous for his pre-season blow up with fellow Warriors free agent Draymond Green and his four-year $140 million contract comes off the books.
Paul’s 38 — and his ligaments are made out of paper mache — but he’ll be asked to do less behind (and maybe alongside) Steph Curry and that might help him stay on the floor.
The Wizards, who have Aussie Xavier Cooks on their roster, are clearly in early tank mode, stocking up on draft picks as the most active trader over the past few days.
They sent Beal to Phoenix for Paul and cannon fodder and big man Kristaps Porzingis to Boston in a three-team deal with Memphis — the Grizz received former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from the Celtics and the Grizz got efficient role-playing guard Tyus Jones and a couple of packets of Smith’s crisps.
BOGUT’S WARNING FOR BASKETBALL’S MOST HYPED TEEN
—Matt Logue
Seven-foot French sensation Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s best draft prospect since LeBron James, but his toughest test awaits, according to Australian great Andrew Bogut.
Wembanyama has the hoops world at his giant 21-sized feet, while standing at 7’3 he’s the second-tallest player to join the association since China’s eight-time All-Star Yao Ming.
Add an 8-feet wingspan that’s superior to the majority of current NBA stars, including Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it’s easy to see why the gifted teen is already so highly rated.
For all the justified hype, Bogut believes Wembanyama won’t have it all his way when he joins the world’s best basketball league.
“Wemby has the body and athleticism of a guy who could be a generational player, but saying that and doing it are going to be two different things,” Bogut said about Wembanyama, who is set to join the San Antonio Spurs as the No.1 pick in the NBA draft, from 10am on Friday (AEST).
“He is going to have a lot of guys going after him and he is going to have a target on his back, but he is capable and skilled, and you’ve just got to hope that he stays healthy.”
Check out Victor Wembanyama's top plays from this season with Metropolitans 92!
— NBA (@NBA) June 16, 2023
The #NBADraft Presented by State Farm is Thursday, June 22 at 8pm/et on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DCaRpBohYF
Bogut is speaking from experience.
Fresh off a decorated college career with Utah, the Melbourne big man faced expectation to perform when joined the Milwaukee Bucks as the No.1 pick in 2005.
He found the step up in class enormously taxing, despite earning All-Rookie First Team honours after averaging 9.4 points and 7 rebounds.
Bogut expects Wembanyama to overcome any rookie bumps in the road, but says the fanfare around the French phenomenon will add pressure.
The 19-year-old is already the most talked about basketballer on the planet, which will pose a challenge, especially at a club like the San Antonio Spurs.
Led by veteran coach and former air force assistant Gregg Popovich, the Spurs pride themselves on a regimented, low key and minimal fuss approach.
Wembanyama is at the other end of the spectrum.
“I’ve heard Victor is pretty outlandish with how he goes about things,” Bogut said.
“You’ve got to realise he has been touted as a generational player for two years now, so the hype around him is real.
“I’ve also heard that he has an entourage, and he is making demands already, which is fine and he has every right to.
“But he is probably going to the one club that doesn’t stand for that (type of) stuff, so I see that as an interesting dynamic.
“I think the Spurs will bend the knee a little bit for him because they have to given he is a generational player and what not, but they won’t lie down.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how that relationship, especially when times get tough, how it comes to fruition.”
Bogut likens Wembanyama to a player born out of a lab or someone you’d design on the NBA2K video game given his godlike body metrics.
These qualities will give the gun teen a decent head start, but you also can’t beat the practical experience of playing on basketball’s best stage.
Bogut certainly learnt this lesson throughout his initial years in the NBA, including a gruesome dislocated elbow injury in 2010.
“Joining the NBA is a challenge,” he said.
“It’s about fitting into the team. He looks like he is going to San Antonio, so they’ll play through him a lot.
“He is going to have good days and bad days as he tries to figure things out.
“There will be nights when he isn’t great defensively and teams will look to expose any weaknesses in his game.
“So, it’s about not getting too high or too low in your rookie year. It’s all about figuring out your ups and downs and working through that.
“I think he’ll be fine once he finds his feet, but it’s just a matter of having some bad days otherwise you’ll never learn.”
Wembanyama will get the opportunity to learn from the best in the business at San Antonio.
Head coach Popovich is one of the NBA’s greatest mentors while Bogut is tipping the club’s Australian assistant Matt Nielsen to play a key role for the rookie French star.
“Matty will probably be Wemby’s big man coach to be honest, looking at their roster and their coaches,” Bogut said about Nielsen, a current Australian Boomers assistant and two-time NBL champion with the Sydney Kings.
“He is probably the best inclined to work with him and it’s a great notch on Matty’s resume.”
The 2023 NBA draft doesn’t possess the strong Australian links of past years. There are no Aussies in the draft, but the NBL will take centre stage with two former talents in the running.
Ex-New Zealand Breakers wing Rayan Rupert has received a green room invite to attend the NBA Draft with his family while former Cairns and Adelaide guard Mojave King is expected to be a late second-round selection.
Rupert is being projected to link with Portland as the 23rd overall pick, but this could change on the day.
The Frenchman has attracted impressive reviews from NBA experts, including ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony.
“Rupert’s ability to wreak havoc all over the floor with his 7-foot-2 wingspan and high intensity level could be interesting at this stage of the draft,” Givony said.
“The Trail Blazers could be in the market for a long-armed wing with the versatility to defend point guards, which would help with their undersized backcourt.”
ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) believes #NBL23 Next Star Rayan Rupert is ready to make an immediate impact in the NBA 👀
— NBL (@NBL) June 21, 2023
â° The NBA Draft kicks off this Friday at 10am AEST. pic.twitter.com/qk7OFMzA3u
Bogut received close-up look at Rupert during the NBL last season, especially during Sydney’s grand final series against New Zealand.
He has no doubts the former Breaker can succeed in the NBA.
“He has got all the tools,” he said of Rupert, who averaged 5.9 points on 35 per cent shooting from the field for the Breakers last season.
“He has the size, athleticism, he moves really well, has a long stride.
“He didn’t have the greatest season in the NBL by his numbers, but he is young, and he is learning to play in a grown man’s league.
“The year that he had in the NBL is going to be invaluable for him making that jump to the NBA.”
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