Where Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin go in ESPN’s latest 2023 NBA mock draft
It’s NBA draft day and it will all take place at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
On Thursday morning, ESPN updated their 2023 NBA mock draft ($) and per usual, both Michigan basketball players find themselves in the first round.
In this mock draft, Kobe Bufkin — the first Wolverine taken — finds himself going 13th overall to the Toronto Raptors. It’s noted in the excerpt that speculation is Bufkin was promised to go to Toronto if available.
The Raptors have a plethora of options at their disposal that could see them end up anywhere on draft night — higher up in the lottery, with another pick in the mid-to-late first round — or possibly out altogether. Picking a shooter such as Dick or Jordan Hawkins, or pairing franchise stalwart Scottie Barnes with a versatile combo guard such as Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr. or Hood-Schifino are believed to be some of their most likely options, according to rival teams. However, the amount of activity coming out of the Toronto front office makes it difficult to project what they will do. Bufkin’s fit with Barnes because of his experience playing off the ball, defensive tenacity and much-improved shooting has caused many to speculate that the Raptors are the ones who promised Bufkin this pick, and he indeed finds himself as the pick in this scenario.
Bufkin’s name continues to rise in NBA mock drafts and the NBA circle. He had a fantastic sophomore season averaging 14 points per game and shooting 35.5% from behind the arc. He left after his sophomore season and I’m not sure Bufkin’s draft grade could get much higher than it is right now. It sounds like a real possibility Bufkin goes in the lottery.
Jett Howard finds himself just a few picks after Bufkin and right outside the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers take Howard in this mock at No. 17.
Howard is said to be part of a group of options that include Lively, Smith and Noah Clowney, three of whom are available in this scenario. Coming off a run to the Western Conference finals, the Lakers can be opportunistic about where they are positioned on draft night. Several high-level prospects are likely to be available here, allowing them to either add a talented young player to their core or make an impactful trade to remain competitive heading into next season. Should they stand pat, adding a shooter with size, feel and pedigree such as Howard makes a lot of sense with their current roster configuration.
It feels like Howard’s name is all over the place in mock drafts. I’ve seen some mocks where he goes toward the end of the lottery and others where he drops into the 20s. Howard had a solid freshman season with Michigan, but unlike Bufkin, his draft stock could be higher. He averaged 14.2 points while shooting 36.8% from 3.
Stay tuned to see where both get selected in the 2023 NBA draft. Wolverines Wire will have you covered when Bufkin and Howard get selected.
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