NBA mock draft: Can OKC Thunder hit lottery jackpot again with No. 12 pick?
Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson have made their cases to be the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft.
With Victor Wembanyama long expected to be chosen first by the San Antonio Spurs, the first bit of uncertainty on June 22 could arrive once the Charlotte Hornets are on the clock.
The Hornets have now taken a look at both players. Henderson worked out for Charlotte on Sunday and Miller visited two days later, according to a person with knowledge of the details. The person spoke with the AP on condition anonymity because neither workout was publicly announced, and neither player spoke to reporters.
Charlotte went 27-55 last season as one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA. The Hornets got only 36 games from star point guard LaMelo Ball because of injuries, but his return could make them more interested in Miller, a versatile forward, rather than another guard in Henderson.
That's the way the AP continues to lean, keeping Miller at No. 2 in the third version of its 2023 mock draft.
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1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, FORWARD, FRANCE: His combination of a center's size and a guard's shooting and dribbling make the 19-year-old a prospect perhaps unlike any other the NBA has seen, and should end the 13-year streak of the No. 1 pick being a college freshman. The Spurs won five NBA titles after taking Tim Duncan in 1997, the last time they had the No. 1 pick and dream of a similar impact from Wembanyama.
2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
BRANDON MILLER, FORWARD, ALABAMA: At 6-9, the SEC player of the year and tournament MVP as a freshman has the size, versatility and 3-point stroke to make him an ideal player for the modern NBA game. But the Hornets, who played without Miles Bridges last season after an arrest for a domestic violence incident against the mother of his children, may have to weigh a negative reaction if they add Miller, who delivered the gun used in a fatal shooting.
3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
SCOOT HENDERSON, GUARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE: Worked out for the Trail Blazers and showed the athleticism and ability to do it all from the guard spot that may have made Henderson the No. 1 pick in many years. This time, he could be part of a trade if the Blazers decide they'd prefer to acquire more veteran help around Damian Lillard — or perhaps Lillard's replacement 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 the ability to step up when it matters most, averaging 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs to lead the City Reapers to the championship last season. The Rockets, after adding Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. in the last two drafts, are positioned to get another good one.
5. DETROIT PISTONS
CAM WHITMORE, FORWARD, VILLANOVA: The Pistons fell to the lowest spot possible in the lottery after finishing with the NBA's worst record and sharing the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick. But getting Whitmore, a versatile wing with a strong build, to add to young pieces such as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey under new coach Monty Williams would help ease the sting.
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6. ORLANDO MAGIC
AUSAR THOMPSON, FORWARD, OVERTIME ELITE: Amen Thompson's twin brother has been the Overtime Elite regular season and finals MVP the last two seasons and the 6-7 swingman plays big on defense, twice blocking seven shots in a game. The Magic were a team on the rise in the second half of last season and Thompson could help ensure that continues.
7. INDIANA PACERS
JARACE WALKER, FORWARD, HOUSTON: Coming from Houston's rugged program means Walker already plays NBA-ready defense, and the offensive end could come along quickly under Rick Carlisle. At 6-8, 240 pounds, he already has the size and strength to deal with anyone he could face in the frontcourt.
8. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
ANTHONY BLACK, GUARD, ARKANSAS: The 6-7 guard seems to have endless energy, playing nearly 35 minutes a game to lead the Southeastern Conference and all 20 minutes in a half 19 times. That included 37 minutes on an injured left ankle in the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament upset of top-seeded Kansas, when he helped hold expected lottery pick Gradey Dick to seven points.
9. UTAH JAZZ
TAYLOR HENDRICKS, CENTRAL FLORIDA: The 6-9 freshman makes an impact inside and outside on both ends of the floor. He led the American Athletic Conference in blocked shots and shot 39% from 3-point range, becoming the only Division I player last season with at least 60 3-pointers, 55 blocked shots and 35 dunks.
10. DALLAS MAVERICKS
GRADEY DICK, GUARD, KANSAS: Dick made 83 3-pointers, most in Kansas history by a freshman, and the 6-8 forward could get plenty of open looks when Mavericks opponents focus their attention on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Irving remains in Dallas. The Mavs went to great lengths to protect their chances of keeping this pick, tanking their final couple games to boost their lottery odds while still in play-in contention.
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11. ORLANDO MAGIC (from Chicago Bulls)
BILAL COULIBALY, FORWARD, FRANCE: Wembanyama’s teammate with Metropolitans 92 is a 6-6 swingman whose stock has risen as their team reached their French League finals. He hasn’t reached his potential yet as a scorer, but his 7-3 wingspan allows him to impact the game on both ends even without doing so and could make him a good fit with 2022 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.
12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
DERECK LIVELY II, CENTER, DUKE: Is still limited offensively, but the 7-1 Lively shows promise as a rebounder and shot blocker, highlighted by 14 boards and eight blocks in a game against rival North Carolina.
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13. TORONTO RAPTORS
JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO, GUARD, INDIANA: The Big Ten freshman of the year has great size in the backcourt at 6-6 and could help the Raptors guard against a potential loss of Fred VanVleet in free agency, but needs to become a better shooter after hitting only 40% from the field in his lone season.
14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
KEYONTE GEORGE, GUARD, BAYLOR: The highest-ranked recruit in program history lived up to the billing in his lone college season, scoring 20 or more points 12 times and averaging 15.3 en route to Big 12 freshman of the year honors. The 6-4 guard could provide scoring punch on a team that just missed the postseason.
15. ATLANTA HAWKS
KOBE BUFKIN, GUARD, MICHIGAN: Massive leap from first to second year of college, averaging 14 points as a sophomore after not starting a game while averaging 3.0 points as a freshman. Next leap is to the NBA, where the 6-4 lefty could quickly be a change-of-pace guard off the bench.
16. UTAH JAZZ (from Minnesota)
CASON WALLACE, GUARD, KENTUCKY: A point guard who takes care of the ball and takes it away from opponents, he was fourth in the SEC in both steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. At 6-4, has the size and strength to defend some of the marquee guards in the Western Conference.
17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
NICK SMITH JR., GUARD, ARKANSAS: After mixed results with Russell Westbrook and D'Angelo Russell last season, the Lakers' search for guard help could lead to Arkansas, where the 6-5 Smith played in just 17 games in his lone college season after recovering from a right knee injury but showed the ability to play either guard spot.
18. MIAMI HEAT
JORDAN HAWKINS, GUARD, UCONN: Ballhandling still needs improvement, but Hawkins’ catch-and-shoot ability was one of the biggest reasons the Huskies stormed through the NCAA Tournament to their fifth national title, and something the Heat were missing in their NBA Finals loss.
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19. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
KRIS MURRAY, FORWARD, IOWA: After averaging 20.2 points — with a 30-point, 20-rebound game in one outing — Murray will try to make a similar first-year NBA impact as twin brother Keegan, who after leaving the Hawkeyes became an immediate starter for Sacramento last season and was an All-Rookie first-team selection.
20. HOUSTON ROCKETS (from LA Clippers)
MAXWELL LEWIS, FORWARD, PEPPERDINE: The 6-7 Lewis made nearly 80% of his free throws and 36% of his 3-point attempts in his two seasons with the Waves, and improved his ability to score off the dribble while averaging 17.1 points last season.
21. BROOKLYN NETS (from Phoenix)
JETT HOWARD, GUARD, MICHIGAN: His willingness to fire from behind the arc makes the freshman a perfect fit for the 3-point happy NBA. The 6-8 freshman made multiple 3-pointers in 24 of his 29 games for Juwan Howard, his father, and hit three or more in almost half of them. Howard made 36.8% of them while averaging 14.2 points
22. BROOKLYN NETS
LEONARD MILLER, FORWARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE: The Nets have needed more scoring punch since trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and Miller looks capable of providing it after averaging 18 points last season. The 6-10 Canadian also averaged nearly 11 rebounds, another area Nets leadership has identified as a priority.
23. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (from New York)
NOAH CLOWNEY, FORWARD, ALABAMA: Clowney put up nearly eight rebounds and a block per game in his lone college season. With just 210 pounds on his 6-10 frame, he will need to add strength for the battles inside against NBA big men.
24. SACRAMENTO KINGS
BRICE SENSABAUGH, FORWARD, OHIO STATE: Averaged 16.3 points and shot better than 40% from 3-point range in his strong one season for the Buckeyes, where he was the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.
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25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
G.G. JACKSON, FORWARD, SOUTH CAROLINA: Would have been 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 double figures in 25 of his 32 games, averaging 15.4 points.
26. INDIANA PACERS (from Cleveland)
JAIME JAQUEZ JR., GUARD, UCLA: The do-everything swingman led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, becoming their first Pac-12 player of the year since Kevin Love in 2008. At 6-7, Jaquez does everything well — he's No. 8 in UCLA history in both points and steals — but maybe not any of them at the top NBA level.
27. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (from Denver via New York and OKC)
AMARI BAILEY, GUARD, UCLA: Bailey had a strong finish to his lone college season, averaging 16.7 points on 56% shooting in the Bruins' run to the Sweet 16. The Hornets struggle when LaMelo Ball is out, so the 6-5 guard could be appealing to a team that was fourth-worst in the NBA in scoring.
28. UTAH JAZZ (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn)
COLBY JONES, GUARD, XAVIER: With three picks in the first round, the Jazz are positioned to bolster a team that hung around the playoff race much longer than expected. The 6-6 Jones, who made 18 of 21 shots in one torrid stretch last season and shot 9 of 10 on 3-pointers in another, could be a nice late addition.
29. INDIANA PACERS (from Boston)
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, FORWARD, INDIANA: Had more than 2,200 points and 1,100 rebounds in one of the most decorated careers in Hoosiers history. But in the one-and-done era, the 23-year-old All-American’s age may work against the son of former Pacers forward Dale Davis.
30. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (from Milwaukee via Houston)
DARIQ WHITEHEAD, FORWARD, DUKE: Arrived at Duke as the high school player of the year, but a foot injury led to a delayed start to his college career followed by shooting struggles after it finally began. But the 6-7 forward showed enough defensive and 3-point abilities in his limited time to make himself worthy of a first-round spot.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA mock draft: Can OKC Thunder hit lottery jackpot again at No. 12?
