Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
June 1, 2023.
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Orlando Magic: Paulo Banchero, F, Duke 
Actual Pick: Paulo Banchero
Well this is easy, he was selected here and he’s already their franchise player, so this was a wise choice. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga 
Actual Pick: Chet Holmgren
Holmgren missed his rookie season because of injury, but there is no doubt the Thunder would draft him again. The 7-footer is likely to be one of the elite NBA shot-blockers soon and has fantastic scoring and shooting talent. If healthy, he should be a star. -
Houston Rockets: Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue 
Actual Pick: Jabari Smith Jr.
Smith is a solid talent and had a nice rookie season, but Ivey’s was superior, and he fills a big need at point guard. Ivey needs to be more efficient as a scorer and playmaker, but has the makings of a franchise point guard. -
Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, F, Iowa 
Actual Pick: Keegan Murray
Sacramento drafted him, and he started 80 games as well as in their first-round playoff loss to the Warriors. There may be bigger talents, but Murray fits like a glove, will continue to improve and is already an elite shooter. I’d say they’d pick him again. -
Detroit Pistons: Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn 
Actual Pick: Jaden Ivey
I kind of traded Ivey for Smith Jr., but Smith is a really solid fit in Detroit. He is a near-7-footer who blocks shots and rebounds quite well. Smith is a solid scorer, but he has to increase his efficiency scoring the ball. He can hit threes, which adds value to him. -
Indiana Pacers: Jalen Duren, C, Memphis 
Actual Pick: Bennedict Mathurin
I really considered Mathurin here, as he had a monster rookie season for Indiana, but with Duren, the team would still be receiving a fantastic building block and could have traded Myles Turner for a ton of assets. -
Portland Trail Blazers: Bennedict Mathurin, SG, Arizona 
Actual Pick: Shaedon Sharpe
Mathurin was at nearly 20 points a game mid-season and ended with just 16, so he obviously had trouble in the second half, which can also be said for the Pacers. Regardless, he looks like a second offensive option and would be the kind of guy Damian Lillard would love to have. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Jalen Williams, SG, Santa Clara 
Actual Pick: Dyson Daniels
Williams has been fantastic for the Thunder and is already their starting shooting guard. A pesky defender, a talented playmaker, and a strong and efficient shooter and scorer, Williams was a steal at pick No. 12. -
San Antonio Spurs: Walker Kessler, C, Auburn
Actual Pick: Jeremy Sochan
Kessler is famous for being a throw-in by Minnesota in the Rudy Gobert trade and had a fantastic rookie season. He’s already shown that he can be a long-term starter and is already one of the NBA’s elite shot-blockers and rebounders. He’s a stud. -
Washington Wizards: Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky 
Actual Pick: Johnny Davis
Sharpe falls a few spots, but he’s still a big-time talent who I think could be traded as the Trail Blazers look to re-tool. The Wizards have needed a guard partner with Bradley Beal for a long time, and Sharpe’s an efficient scorer with huge potential. -
New York Knicks: Tari Eason, PF, LSU 
Actual Pick: Ousmane Dieng
Eason had a nice rookie season, proving himself to be a keeper. The young forward is a potential big-time scorer, although his accuracy was mediocre. He also the makings of a strong defender and should start for Houston next season. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeremy Sochan, PF, Baylor
Actual Pick: Jalen Williams
The Spurs found another really nice piece in Sochan, who was a starter for most of the season. He needs help with his efficiency, mostly from three, but has the makings of a fine scorer. -
Detroit Pistons: Mark Williams, C, Duke
Actual Pick: Jalen Duren
He isn’t Duren, but Williams should become a starting center. He was excellent in his smaller role as a rookie, and I really want to see what he can accomplish with starter minutes. -
Cleveland Cavaliers: A.J. Griffin, F, Duke
Actual Pick: Ochai Agbaji
Griffin looks to be an ace shooter and big-time bench scorer. The Hawks were starved for bench help, and he really helped them. -
Charlotte Hornets: Dyson Daniels, SG, Australia 
Actual Pick: Mark Williams
Daniels is only here because of his potential, and for a guy who was the eight pick in real life, there’s a lot. Daniels was a very inefficient shooter and scorer, but be showed playmaking potential.
Go to Mike’s 2022 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.
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