Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
May 25, 2023.
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Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State 
Actual Pick: Cade Cunningham
Cunningham was starting to really show that he was the correct choice as the first pick with little doubt, but he got hurt, and there are some truly fantastic prospects. Still, he’s first to me and a true franchise player. He’s a stud. -
Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey 
Actual Pick: Jalen Green
It’s true that I may have Sengun too early, but he’s special and will be viewed as such by most in a few years. I can easily see him joining the rank of second-tier star centers along with Domantas Sabonis. Although this isn’t Jalen Green, it’s nice to still get to give the Rockets one of their young stars. -
Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, PF/C, USC 
Actual Pick: Evan Mobley
Mobley just came off an excellent second season where he was the third offensive option on a strong offensive team, but he was also third in defense-award voting. It’s safe to say that Cleveland would happily draft him again. I see him becoming an all-star in his third season. -
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, SF, Florida State 
Actual Pick: Scottie Barnes
After winning Rookie of the Year, Barnes had a nice sophomore season, but he needs to take a big jump next season as the Raptors are likely to lose Gary Trent Jr. and Fred Van Vleet. Barnes needs to jump into a starring role. -
Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga 
Actual Pick: Jalen Suggs
Suggs hasn’t provided the star numbers that he should have given his draft selection and talent, but he can be a franchise point guard. The Magic would be smart to re-draft the Gonzaga product. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia 
Actual Pick: Josh Giddey
Giddey had a fantastic sophomore season, proving he is a key part of the Thunder moving forward, which has had trouble finding true keepers apart from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Giddey has all-star talent just like him. -
Golden State Warriors: Jalen Green, G, USA 
Actual Pick: Jonathan Kuminga
Green has some excellent numbers and is the franchise player in Houston, but he is an inefficient scorer and a mediocre playmaker. He has a lot to work on, but at this point, the value is fantastic. He would easily be a stronger pick than Kuminga. -
Orlando Magic: Franz Wagner, C, Michigan
Actual Pick: P.J. Washington
Wagner has fit with his current team quite well, producing some big numbers. Wagner also stays with the franchise that drafted him. -
Sacramento Kings: Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma 
Actual Pick: Davion Mitchell
Reaves is already a folk hero for Lakers fans, as he went from a UDFA to a starter. He is a fantastic shooter, an efficient scorer and a talented playmaker. Reaves would be perfect in Sacramento. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Cam Thomas, G, LSU 
Actual Pick: Zaire Williams
Thomas is known for his numerous monstrous offensive games, but so far he is just a scorer and shooter who should be a sixth man. The Pelicans could really use a high-level sixth man, and the LSU product would fit their need. -
Charlotte Hornets: Quentin Grimes, G, Houston 
Actual Pick: James Bouknight
The Knicks starting shooting guard is an efficient shooter and scorer who is primarily a marksmen for them. For the Hornets, he could have been a strong starter as well. -
San Antonio Spurs: Herb Jones, F, Alabama 
Actual Pick: Josh Primo
As Primo isn’t in the NBA at the moment due to a very odd personal incident, Jones would be a wise choice. He’s a very productive forward who should be a huge part of the second unit for the Pelicans going forward. -
Indiana Pacers: Bones Hyland, G, VCU 
Actual Pick: Chris Duarte
Hyland has some character concerns, but he is a scorer with shooting and playmaking talent. He is a combo guard who is also a really solid third guard and sixth man. -
Golden State Warriors: Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia
Actual Pick: Moses Moody
The 15th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has become a big part of the Pelicans as a shooter and scorer and would be a perfect addition to the Warriors. There are few young players who could make that rotation, but he’s one of them. -
Washington Wizards: Ayo Donmusu, G, Illinois 
Actual Pick: Corey Kispert
Ayo is an excellent young combo guard who is able to play consistently on or off the ball, but whose biggest talent is defense. Donmusu is competent as a scorer and a decent playmaker as well as a shooter.
Go to Mike’s 2021 NBA Mock Re-Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
Mike Elworth's 2023 NBA Mock Draft
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