NBA Mock Draft 2023: Latest Projections and Comparisons for Underrated Prospects

The 2023 NBA draft is shaping up to be great for the teams at the top. The San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery in mid-May, giving them access to the draft's biggest prize, Victor Wembanyama. Likely lottery picks Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller and Amen Thompson appear to be blue-chip prospects as well.

That doesn't mean a few teams won't walk away with legitimate future stars later in the draft, though. Anyone who wants proof needs to look no further than Monday night's closeout game of the Western Conference Finals. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who won MVP in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, was the 41st overall pick in the 2014 draft.

While there might not be another Joker hiding in this year's draft pool, a few prospects will inevitably outpace what scouting reports and raw statistics suggest. We'll dive into a couple of this year's underrated prospects who could do just that here, but first, you'll find a full first-round post-lottery mock draft.

2023 NBA Mock Draft

AP Photo/Bob Edme

Victor Wembanyama

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, PF/C, Metropolitans 92

2. Charlotte Hornets: Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite

3. Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama

4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, PG/SG, Overtime Elite

5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker, PF/C, Houston

6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, SG/SF, Overtime Elite

7. Indiana Pacers: Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova

8. Washington Wizards: Taylor Hendricks, PF, Central Florida

9. Utah Jazz: Anthony Black, PG/SG, Arkansas

10. Dallas Mavericks: Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky

11. Orlando Magic (via Bulls): Keyonte George, SG, Baylor

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Gradey Dick, SF, Kansas

13. Toronto Raptors: Nick Smith Jr., SG, Arkansas

14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jett Howard, SF, Michigan

15. Atlanta Hawks: Dariq Whitehead, SG/SF, Duke

16. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves): Kobe Bufkin, PG/SG, Michigan

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Hawkins, SG, Connecticut

18. Miami Heat: GG Jackson, PF, South Carolina

19. Golden State Warriors: Brice Sensabaugh, SG, Ohio State

20. Houston Rockets (via Clippers): Brandin Podziemski, PG/SG, Santa Clara

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

22. Brooklyn Nets: Bilal Coulibaly, SF, Metropolitans 92

23. Portland Trail Blazers (via Knicks): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

24. Sacramento Kings: Kris Murray, PF, Iowa

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Colby Jones, PG/SG, Xavier

26. Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers): Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama

27. Charlotte Hornets (via Nuggets): Rayan Rupert, SG/SF, New Zealand Breakers

28. Utah Jazz (via 76ers): Maxwell Lewis, SG/SF, Pepperdine

29. Indiana Pacers (via Celtics): Leonard Miller, SF, G League Ignite

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Bucks): Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF/PF, UCLA

Maxwell Lewis, SG/SF, Pepperdine

Chris Gardner/Getty Images

PROVO, UT- JANUARY 14: Maxwell Lewis #24 of the Pepperdine Waves shoots during warmups before their game against the Brigham Young Cougars on January 14, 2023 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Though Pepperdine University has a rich basketball history, the Waves haven't made the NCAA tournament since 2002 and haven't produced a lot of top NBA talent recently. In 2021, Kessler Edwards became the first Pepperdine product drafted since Alex Acker in 2005.

However, Maxwell Lewis is an intriguing prospect who could put Pepperdine back in the first round for the first time Brandon Armstrong in 2001. The 6'7" wing is a smooth shooter who made 46.8 percent of his shots and 34.8 percent of his three-point attempts this past season.

Lewis was streaky in college and needs some work defensively, which will have some teams much higher on Lewis than others.

"We’re talking about a toolsy shot maker who averaged 17 points, six rebounds and three assists," Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote. "He has a lot of work to do on the defensive end, and that will matter. But these guys tend to get picked, even if front offices are generally a bit more polarized on Lewis than people think."

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor compared Maxwell to Devin Vassell of the San Antonio Spurs. Vassell was the 11th overall pick in 2020, and while it took a few years for Vassell to break out, the 22-year-old averaged a solid 18.5 points and 3.6 assists this past season.

Maxwell has similar upside, and a team that falls in love with his potential could bet on him earlier in the draft than many might expect.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF/PF, UCLA

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 23: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins looks on against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

There's a lot to like about UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr., whom O'Connor labeled a "Kevin McHale impressionist."

Comparing any prospect to the Hall of Famer is unfair, but Jaquez could become a valuable sixth man, as McHale was early in his career. The 6'6", 226-pound forward has the "cleanest footwork of anyone in the draft," according to O'Connor.

Last season, Jaquez averaged 17.8 points 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, which highlighted his ability as a two-way player. The 37th-ranked prospect on the latest big board from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Jaquez could end up being drafted higher than some anticipate.

"it wouldn't be surprising if there will be one team in the 20s that sees a surefire role player with the right type of versatility and toughness," Wasserman wrote. "A physical finisher and defender with capable shot-making and passing ability, I'd bet on seeing Jaquez in a rotation at some point."

Jaquez is an older prospect at 22 and might not have the athletic upside to become an NBA star. However, it wouldn't be a shock to see him viewed as a top-tier bench player within his first few seasons.