2023 NBA Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 16-30

Wes Langley follow @DraftUtopiaWes Last Updated: April 5, 2023.

16. Utah Jazz: Jett Howard, SG, Michigan
    
    
    Collin Sexton was a point guard in College before moving to shooting guard in Cleveland. Utah may want a pure shooting guard at 16. Jett Howard is the son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. Jett Howard is bigger and might be a better defender at shooting guard than Sexton. His leadership and basketball IQ while playing under his father at Michigan should impress NBA teams.
    
    
    
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Rayan Rupert, SG, New Zealand Breakers
    
    
    The Lakers get the best player on the board with this pick that the Lakers got from the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans gets to swap first round picks with the Lakers in 2023 thanks to the Anthony Davis trade. Rayan Rupert's main position is shooting guard. He can also play point guard and small forward if you need him to. He's my seventeenth best player. He's someone who could compliment Anthony Davis and LeBron James if both veteran forwards decide to stick around.
    
    
    
    
    
18. Miami Heat: Brice Sensabaugh, SG, Ohio State
    
    
    Miami has Kyle Lowry at point guard, Tyler Herro as the second starting guard whose started more games than Lowry despite both being point guards, Jimmy Butler at small forward, and Bam Adeboyo at center. Miami has to get a true shooting guard and with Lowry entering the final year of his contract next season, I believe the Heat grab Brice Sensabaugh whose one of the best three point shooters in this draft class.
    
    
    
19. Golden State Warriors: Kris Murray, SF, Iowa
    
    
    Golden State will still have Steph Curry at point guard, Klay Thompson at shooting guard, Andrew Wiggins at small forward, Draymond Green at power forward, and Kevon Looney at center in their starting five. Everyone from Golden State's Championship team that won the 2022 NBA Finals is under contract for next season. Power forward Draymond Green does have a player option to opt out of his current deal to pursue more money.
    
    
    
    Kris Murray the younger brother of Keegan Murray is versatile enough to play small forward or power forward. He's the only player in the first round outside of projected first overall pick Victor Wembanyama to average over 20 points per game.
    
    
    
    
    
20. Houston Rockets: Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine
    
    
    Houston drafts a small forward here with their pick swap that the Rockets got from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Eric Gordon trade. The small forward that Houston drafts will end up competing with Kevin Porter Jr. for a small forward role at the wing with Scoot Henderson, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun rounding out the starting five.
    
    
    
    Maxwell Lewis has played at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. He's 6-7 195 and makes an ideal small forward for Houston. He's averaged 17.1 points per game which is more than Kevin Porter Jr. meaning he's a guy who could realistically win the small forward job.
    
    
21. Brooklyn Nets: Leonard Miller, SF, Ignite (NBA G-League)
    
    
    Brooklyn drafts Kevin Durant's replacement here. Leonard Miller has 16.9 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game with Ignite in the NBA G-League with Ignite. The teammate of Scoot Henderson is a the perfect missing piece for the Nets here at 21.
    
    
    
22. Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead, SG, Duke
    
    
    Brooklyn got this pick from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade. Dariq Whitehead can play both shooting guard and small forward. Whitehead is good enough to go in the first round and start out as a shooting guard. Brooklyn needs to completely rebuild this starting lineup from the ground up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving gone.
    
    
    
    Dariq Whitehead dominated as a five star recruit. He did enough to secure a late first round pick this year.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Portland Trail Blazers: Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama
    
    
    Portland gets the final piece to their starting five after trading Josh Hart to the New York Knicks for this first round pick. Portland will now have Damian Lillard at point guard, Anfernee Simmmons at shooting guard, Ausen Thompson at small forward, Noah Clowney at power forward, and Jusuf Nurkic at center. With this starting five Portland will finally have the pieces they need to take the next step.
    
    
    
24. Sacramento Kings: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana
    
    
    Point guard De'Aaron Fox, shooting guard Dayvion Mitchell, small forward Harrison Barnes, power forward Domatas Sabonis, and center Richaun Holmes are the core pieces to Sacramento's starting five. Sacramento gets Jalen Hood-Schifino as a point guard for depth behind De'Aaron Fox. Dayvion Mitchell hasn't progressed like many expected after winning a National Championship at Baylor.
    
    
    
    Jalen Hood-Schifino gives Sacramento a player that provides depth at point guard and shooting guard. He's someone who can provide a solid depth piece for Sacramento right now.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Indiana Pacers: Kel'el Ware, C, Oregon
    
    
    Indiana got this pick from Cleveland in the trade that sent Caris LeVert to Cleveland. Myles Turner got a two year extension. Indiana can develop Ware for a few years and turn things over to him once Turner's contract expires.
    
    
    
26. Memphis Grizzlies: Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
    
    
    Memphis gets a center to round out their starting five. Duke center Dereck Lively II was once the number one recruit in High School basketball prior to committing at Duke.
    
    
    
    Memphis would have Ja Morant at point guard, Desmond Bane at shooting guard, Dillon Brooks at small forward, Jaren Jackson at power forward, and Dereck Lively II at center. If Lively finds a way to blossom in the NBA while Brooks re-signs with Memphis, then this is a Memphis Grizzlies team that can contend for the Western Conference. Even if Brooks leaves, you added Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, and Kennard seems to have turned things around in Memphis after his time with the Pistons.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Utah Jazz: Kobe Bufkin, PG, Michigan
    
    
    Utah Jazz leading scorer Jordan Clarkson has a player option in his contract. Kobe Bufkin is a combo guard that can play either point guard or shooting guard. Bufkin improved his points total from 3 points per game as a freshman to 14 points per game for the Maize and Blue this Fall. Utah can draft him as an insurance plan in case Jordan Clarkson leaves.
    
    
    
28. Charlotte Hornets: Colby Jones, SG, Xavier
    
    
    Charlotte goes after another shooting guard for depth with Terry Rozier's recent injuries. Charlotte drafted James Bouknight in the first round. His points per game has improved slightly from 4.8 to 5.3. Bouknight has been red hot the last two games, but I'm not sure he is the answer. Competition for Bouknight feels needed.
    
    
    
    Xavier shooting guard Colby Jones is the top player on the board. Jones is a big shooting guard at 6-6 205. He might be big enough to play small forward too. Either way he gives Charlotte more depth on the wing at both shooting guard and small forward after averaging 15 points a game during his time at Xavier this past season.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Indiana Pacers: Brandin Podziemski, PG, Santa Clara
    
    
    Indiana's done well with Tyrese Halliburton at point guard. Someone for depth behind Halliburton could be used. Brandin Podziemski is a guard on Santa Clara that can be used as a combo guard at both point guard and shooting guard. He's a better fit for the Pacers at point guard since Indiana has both Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin at shooting guard.
    
    
    
    Brandin Podziemski is a point guard, but he's big enough to play shooting guard as well at 6-5 205. Podziemski averaged 19.9 points per game making him third among my top 30 players in points per game in this draft class trailing only Victor Wembanyama and Kris Murray in this category.
    
    
    
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Ricky Council IV, SG, Arkansas
    
    
    Los Angeles has Russell Westbrook at point guard, Eric Gordon at shooting guard, Kawhi Leonard at small forward, Paul George at power forward, and Ivan Zubac at center. The Clippers have a good starting five, but should probably reload at either point guard or shooting guard after this season.
    
    
    
    Ricky Council IV can play both shooting guard and small forward with his versatility and size at 6-6 205. He's probably a better fit at shooting guard unless he adds some muscle.