2023 NBA Draft tracker: Live results, updates and grades of picks so far
The 2023 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday with the expected selection of French phenom Victor Wembanyama by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 1 overall.
G League Ignite's Scoot Henderson and Alabama's Brandon Miller are expected to be selected with the next two picks, to Charlotte at No. 2 and Portland at No. 3, in some order.
The Memphis Grizzlies used their 2023 first round pick late on Wednesday night in a three-team trade to acquire guard Marcus Smart from the Celtics.
Follow along with our pick and grade tracker for all 60 picks in the two-round draft below:
MARK GIANNOTTO: Marcus Smart trade isn't perfect, but at least Memphis Grizzlies took a swing
2023 NBA Draft tracker: Picks and grades
First round
1: San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama, C, France
Instant grade: A-plus
Analysis: He's a 7-foot-5 center that looks like a guard when handling the basketball and pulling up from 3, while resembling a prolific rim protector on defense. If he has some luck with durability, Wembanyama will be an all-time great. He may be anyway.
2. Charlotte Hornets | Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Miller will be a very good wing in the NBA for a long time, given his plus passing ability and a good shot. The risk for the Hornets is the scrutinized decision between Miller and Scoot Henderson at this pick. His development will be predicated on his ability to add strength and continued improvement in finishing at the rim.
3. Portland Trail Blazers | Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite
Instant grade: A
Analysis: Really like Henderson, who can evolve into the leader of the next era of Blazers basketball if and when Damian Lillard's Portland career ends in the future. Henderson can create his own offense, and his shot will improve over the next couple years to make him a more complete offensive player. And at this point in Lillard's career, it doesn't hurt to take some ballhandling load off the Blazers superstar.
4. Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Thompson will fit the Rockets timeline as he develops as an offensive player, though he will be the Rockets' best backcourt passer as a rookie. His ability to score for himself will determine his ceiling. At worst, he'll be a good distributor who can disrupt on the perimeter. Houston's young core needed Thompson.
5. Detroit Pistons | Ausar Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: The twins go back-to-back. Ausar Thompson has shown more to this point as a defender, and similar to his brother's fit in Houston, he'll tie together the Pistons' young core alongside Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham. Ausar's shot will need some improvement, but the Pistons timeline will allow him to grow. Good pick.
6. Orlando Magic | Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
Instant grade: B
Analysis: The Magic add the 6-foot-6 guard who is very, very comfortable with making the right decision with the basketball. Like the latter two picks, Black goes to a franchise who should allow him to progress on the floor without worrying too much about short-term results. The shot will need to improve.
7. Indiana Pacers | Bilal Coulibaly, F, France (proposed trade to Washington)
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Coulibaly was a teammate of Wembanyama in France. He is a pick for the future as a lanky forward who has a good bit of potential on the defensive end. Is he done growing? (Coulibaly has grown nearly a foot in the last two years.) There will need to be some progression from Coulibaly as a scorer and creator.
*ESPN reported that Coulibaly will be traded to Washington in a No. 7-for-No. 8 pick swap that also involves second round picks.*
8. Washington Wizards | Jarace Walker, F, Houston (proposed trade to Indiana)
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Walker may not have the super-high potential of the rest of this top 10, but he has a high floor as an energy defender who can do just about everything off the ball on the other end. Walker can knock down shots, is a solid rebounder and can defend multiple positions.
9. Utah Jazz | Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: This one is easy. Hendricks, at 6-foot-9, can block shots and catch-and-shoot from outside. He'll play early and often in the Jazz rotation as long as he can continue making shots at the rate he did at UCF (39% from 3 on 155 attempts last year). He'll have some fun viral help-defense blocks throughout the regular season.
10. Dallas Mavericks | Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky (proposed trade to OKC)
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Wallace fits the bill as a plus defender who can create his own offense at times. He'll need to become more consistent, and I like his shot more than his Kentucky numbers may project out, but Wallace can be a boost for OKC in the rotation immediately.
*ESPN reported that Wallace and Davis Bertans will be traded to Oklahoma City for the No. 12 pick and more.*
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) | Jett Howard, G, Michigan
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Howard can make shots, and Orlando could use some shooters. Howard, the son of former NBA player and current Michigan coach Juwan Howard, needs to become a better defender and will be targeted on the floor despite decent size at 6-foot-7.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder | Dereck Lively, C, Duke (proposed trade to Dallas)
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Lively was a defensive dynamo by the end of last season at Duke. Lively will be one of the top shot blockers in the NBA. Can his offensive game expand? And what does that look like?
13. Toronto Raptors | Gradey Dick, G, Kansas
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Dick will be a catch-and-shoot player in the NBA, at least early on. Defensively, he'll need to be thoughtful to make up for a lack of quickness against the better guards and wings in the pros.
14. New Orleans Pelicans | Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn
Instant grade: A
Analysis: He's as polished as any player outside the top three with the ability to work open and create his own offense. At worst, he'll be a quality scorer as a third guard. Hawkins has high potential.
15. Atlanta Hawks | Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: If Bufkin was 3 inches taller, he would have been a top-half-of-the-lottery pick. He's a capable scorer who has a productive shot, can contribute as a passer and has solid defensive awareness. High floor, if his athleticism can hold up in the pros.
16. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota) | Keyonte George, G, Baylor
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Another player who may have been a lottery pick had he been a couple inches taller, George was a very good scorer in a tough Big 12 as a freshman. Does he have the athleticism at 6-foot-4 to be a quality NBA guard?
17. Los Angeles Lakers | Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Hood-Schifino is an energy guy who defended well in college. Will that translate in the NBA?
18. Miami Heat | Jaime Jaquez Jr., G, UCLA
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: Jaquez is an ideal spot at Miami, where decision making is valued. Can he score enough and defend OK enough to carve out a role in Miami's rotation? I'm not sure.
19. Golden State Warriors | Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: With Jordan Poole headed to Washington, the Warriors will need to find some shooting and scoring when Steph Curry is off the floor. Podziemski fits here as a 44% 3-point shooter last year. and he averaged nearly 9 rebounds per game in the WCC.
20. Houston Rockets (via LA Clippers) | Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Whitmore was mocked as high as the top five but fell to Houston at No. 20. Whitmore has proven to create for himself, but only had 19 assists in 711 minutes. That needs to improve. High potential and a possible gem for Houston with its second first round selection.
21. Brooklyn Nets (via Phoenix) | Noah Clowney, F, Alabama
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Clowney can make 3s, though the consistency can improve, and can defend and rebound at a solid level. Early on, his energy level will dictate whether or not he will play notable minutes in the Nets rotation. I bet he will carve out some sort of role.
22. Brooklyn Nets | Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Really like this pick. Whitehead's freshman season was impacted by injury. If healthy, he should be a quality 3-and-D rotational player for the Nets. Maybe more.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (via NY Knicks) | Kris Murray, F, Iowa
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Murray is a first round pick one year after his brother, Keegan, was a lottery pick by Sacramento last summer. If there's a doubt that Portland was going to continue trying to outscore every opponent again, they select Murray to add to Scoot Henderson in this rookie class.
24. Sacramento Kings | Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette (proposed trade to Dallas)
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Prosper is early on in his development, but his length and athleticism is a good starting point.
25. Boston Celtics (from Memphis) | Marcus Sasser, G, Houston (proposed trade to Detroit)
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Sasser can be a backup point guard for a long time in the league if he can knock down shots. Detroit continues to build its backcourt.
26. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland) | Ben Sheppard, G/F, Belmont
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Sheppard could be a microwave scoring third guard or a rotational 3-and-D guy. The shot should keep him in the NBA for a while.
27. Charlotte Hornets (via Denver) | Nick Smith Jr, G, Arkansas
Instant grade: A
Analysis: Smith's freshman season was impacted by injury, and the country did not see the best of him at Arkansas because of it. If healthy, Smith's creation and shot making could make him a starting NBA guard sooner than later. The Hornets have to draft well to build a winner, and they've selected two exciting one-and-done SEC players.
28. Utah Jazz (via Philadelphia) | Brice Sensabaugh, G, Ohio State
Instant grade: B-minus
Analysis: Sensabaugh will need to improve as a defender to stay on the floor. Can he contribute on the offensive end without the ball in his hands?
29. Denver Nuggets (via Boston through Indiana) | Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: The Nuggets do really well in finding a fit for what they look for in role players. Strawther was an excellent 3-point shooter in college. He'll fit well in Denver and in the NBA.
30. LA Clippers (via Milwaukee) | Kobe Brown, F, Missouri
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Brown shouldered a lot for Missouri last season, and he can score in a variety of ways. If he can shoot, he should help the Clippers' second unit production in time.
Second round
31. Detroit Pistons | James Nnaji, C, FC Barcelona (proposed trade to Charlotte via Boston)
32. Indiana Pacers (via Houston) | Jalen Pickett, G, Penn State (proposed trade to Denver)
33. San Antonio Spurs | Leonard Miller, F, G League Ignite (proposed trade to Minnesota)
34. Charlotte Hornets | Colby Jones, G, Xavier (proposed trade to Sacramento via Boston)
35. Boston Celtics (via Portland) | Julian Phillips, F, Tennessee (proposed trade to Chicago via Washington)
36. Orlando Magic | Andre Jackson, G, UConn (proposed trade to Milwaukee)
37. Denver Nuggets (via Washington) | Hunter Tyson, F, Clemson
38. Sacramento Kings (via Indiana) | Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas
39. Charlotte Hornets (via Utah) | Mouhamed Gueye, F, Washington State (proposed trade to Atlanta via Boston)
40. Denver Nuggets (via Dallas) | Max Lewis, F, Pepperdine (proposed trade to the LA Lakers)
41. Charlotte Hornets (via Oklahoma City) | Amari Bailey, G, UCLA
42. Washington Wizards (via Chicago) | Tristan Vukcevic, F, Serbia
43. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta) | Rayan Rupert, G, France
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto) | Sidy Cissoko, G, G League Ignite
45. Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota) | GG Jackson, F, South Carolina
46. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans) | Seth Lundy, G, Penn State
47. Los Angeles Lakers | Mojave King, G, New Zealand (proposed trade to Indiana)
48. Los Angeles Clippers | Jordan Miller, G/F, Miami
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Golden State) | Emoni Bates, G, Eastern Michigan
50. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami) | Keyontae Johnson, F, Kansas State
51. Brooklyn Nets | Jalen Wilson, G/F, Kansas
52. Phoenix Suns | Toumani Camara, F, Dayton
53. Minnesota Timberwolves (via NY Knicks) | Jaylen Clark, G, UCLA
54. Sacramento Kings | Jalen Slawson, F, Furman
55. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland) | Isaiah Wong, G, Miami (Fla.)
56. Memphis Grizzlies | Tarik Biberovic, F, Turkey
57. Washington Wizards (via Boston) | Trayce Jackson-Davis, F, Indiana
58. Milwaukee Bucks | Chris Livingston, F, Kentucky
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: NBA Draft tracker 2023: Live results, updates and grades of picks so far
