2023 NBA Mock Draft: Prospects Facing Major Fall Down Draft Boards

The NBA offseason is here for 14 of the league's 30 teams.

The coming weeks will send the other 16 into offseason mode.

If clubs haven't jumped head-first into draft mode, they'll get there soon.

That makes this the perfect time to build a fresh mock first round, then we'll spotlight two prospects who could fall further than most would think.

Mock First Round

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LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE - APRIL 08: Victor Wembanyama of Metropolitans 92 in action during the Betclic Elite match between Metropolitans 92 and Strasbourg on April 08, 2023 in Levallois-Perret, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

1. Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama, PF/C, Metropolitans 92

2. Houston Rockets: Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite

3. San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson, PG/SG, Overtime Elite

4. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama

5. Portland Trail Blazers: Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova

6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black, PG/SG, Arkansas

7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, PF/C, Houston

8. Washington Wizards: Ausar Thompson, SG/SF, Overtime Elite

9. Utah Jazz: Gradey Dick, SF, Kansas

10. Dallas Mavericks: Taylor Hendricks, PF, Central Florida

11. Orlando Magic (via CHI): Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nick Smith Jr., SG, Arkansas

13. Toronto Raptors: Keyonte George, SG, Baylor

14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, SG, Connecticut

15. Atlanta Hawks: Jett Howard, SF, Michigan

16. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Dariq Whitehead, SG/SF, Duke

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Kris Murray, PF, Iowa

18. Miami Heat: Kobe Bufkin, PG/SG, Michigan

19. Golden State Warriors: Colby Jones, PG/SG, Xavier

20. Houston Rockets (via LAC): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

21. Brooklyn Nets (via PHX): Jalen Hood-Scifino, PG/SG, Indiana

22. Brooklyn Nets: Maxwell Lewis, SG/SF, Pepperdine

23. Portland Trail Blazers (via NY): GG Jackson, PF, South Carolina

24. Sacramento Kings: Brice Sensabaugh, SG, Ohio State

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Rayan Rupert, SG/SF, New Zealand Breakers

26. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): Leonard Miller, SF, G League Ignite

27. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN): Bilal Coulibaly, SF, Metropolitans 92

28. Utah Jazz (via PHI): Terquavion Smith, SG, North Carolina State

29. Indiana Pacers (via BOS): Brandin Podziemski, PG/SG, Santa Clara

30. LA Clippers (via MIL): Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF/PF, UCLA

Keyonte George, SG, Baylor

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DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 16: Keyonte George of the Baylor Bears looks on during a practice session ahead of the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Ball Arena on March 16, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

It's possible Keyonte George will go into pre-draft workouts, flash dizzying handles and a silky soft shooting touch and launch his way even higher up in the lottery.

But for someone billed as a dynamic shot-maker, George didn't exactly do a ton of shot-making at Baylor.

He ended his one-and-done run with a 37.6 field-goal percentage. He only made 33.8 percent of his threes and 42.4 percent of his twos. In his final four outings, he averaged more shots (9.8) than points (8.5) while posting an awful 23.1/19.2/68.8 shooting slash.

Some of these percentages could alarm teams, particularly when shot-making is such a big part of his profile. He isn't super explosive, didn't provide a lot of playmaking (2.8 assists against 2.9 turnovers) and could be targeted on defense as a 6'4", 185-pounder who won't exclusively play point guard.

GG Jackson, PF, South Carolina

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BATON ROUGE, LA - FEBRUARY 18: South Carolina Gamecocks forwards Gregory "GG" Jackson (23) dribbles the ball during a game between the South Carolina forwards Gregory "GG" Jackson II (23) during a game between the Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers on February 18, 2023, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

A lot of NBA teams draft with long-term futures in mind, so they may not hold the raw state of GG Jackson's game against him too much. He'll be the youngest player in the league when he gets there, so time is certainly on his side.

Still, he raised enough red flags during his lone season at South Carolina to wonder whether the juice will ever be worth the squeeze. While The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor praised Jackson for plenty in his scouting report, the weaknesses section is alarming. O'Connor spotlighted shot selection, a shaky free-throw percentage, erratic passing and a lack of length and heft to play stints as a small-ball 5.

If Jackson is taking questionable shots and might not be a great shooter to begin with—while not adding value as a playmaker and only playable on the perimeter—what exactly is the appeal? It's certainly noting what he did at South Carolina, where he had a 38.4/32.4/67.7 shooting slash, 86 turnovers against 27 assists and unimpressive film on defense.

Length aside, he has great physical gifts, and he plays hard. Add in his youth, and someone will take a flier. But his lack of polish could be glaring in workouts and potentially scare off would-be suitors.