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2023 NBA Re-Draft: Lottery Teams Regret Letting 1 Young Guard Slide
The 2023 NBA draft will forever be known as the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, although there's been plenty of talent that's emerged now three years later.
The latest player to make a leap is Utah Jazz point guard Keyonte George, originally the No. 16 overall selection. Despite falling out of the lottery, he is actually tied with Wembanyama in scoring this season (24.3 points per game) while averaging more assists (6.8) than LeBron James, Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker.
If all the players in the 2023 class were re-drafted today, how high would George go? How far would lottery picks like Scoot Henderson, Jarace Walker and Taylor Hendricks fall? Do the Charlotte Hornets still take Brandon Miller at No. 2?
It's time to re-draft the entire 2023 first round.
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
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Original Pick: Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama's Original Draft Position: No. 1
Wembanyama is the best defensive prospect we've ever seen and arguably the best overall player to enter the NBA since LeBron James. The 22-year-old is still just scratching the surface of what he can become.
He has already been named an All-Star, Rookie of the Year, a member of the All-Defensive team and has led the NBA in blocked shots twice. He's becoming more efficient on offense, and is shooting a career-best 52.5 percent overall and 36.5 percent from three this season.
An absolute cheat code on defense with his 8'0" wingspan (the longest in the NBA), Wembanyama's guard-like skills on offense have him quickly becoming one of the best players in the league already.
2. Charlotte Hornets: Amen Thompson
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Original Pick: Brandon Miller
Amen Thompson's Original Draft Position: No. 4
The Charlotte Hornets would certainly consider taking Miller again here, although Thompson's defensive impact and overall play has made him worthy of being the top selection behind Victor Wembanyama.
The 22-year-old is averaging a career-high 18.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals a game this year.
One of the NBA's most athletic players, Thompson finished fifth overall in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and was named to the All-Defensive first team.
His 6'7", 200-pound frame allows him to guard nearly every player on the floor, helping an already stingy Houston Rockets defense to allow 3.2 fewer points per 100 possessions when Thompson's in the game.
For a Hornets team that is ranked 24th or worse in defense over the last three seasons, Thompson would be the best choice for Charlotte here.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Keyonte George
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Original Pick: Scoot Henderson
Keyonte George's Original Draft Position: No. 16
The Scoot Henderson experience has been a failure thus far for the Portland Trail Blazers, as the heir to Damian Lillard at point guard has yet to play this season following a torn hamstring.
Even in his first two years, Henderson never established himself as a full-time starter and struggled with turnovers and poor shooting.
George is proving he's worthy of being a franchise point guard, as he's giving the Utah Jazz 24.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists a night while shooting 50.5 percent on twos and 37.8 percent from behind the arc.
His breakout this season has helped the Jazz remain competitive in a loaded West. If given the opportunity, the Blazers would happily take George over Henderson to be their new franchise floor general.
4. Houston Rockets: Brandon Miller
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Original Pick: Amen Thompson
Brandon Miller's Original Draft Position: No. 2
With Amen Thompson off the board, the Houston Rockets could select his twin brother, Ausar, and still get about 75 percent of the production.
As fun as this would be, Miller is the best player left on the board and would get to learn from Kevin Durant for a few years, a player he should be modeling his game after.
Miller is the second-highest scoring player in his draft class to date (18.6 career points per game, only behind Victor Wembanyama). He fits the ideal body type of a modern NBA wing with his 6'7" frame and can score from all three levels.
Miller still needs to improve his shooting efficiency (42.4 percent overall for his career) and there's been some injury concerns, although the 23-year-old is still worthy of going No. 4 overall.
5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson
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Original Pick: Ausar Thompson
Ausar Thompson's Original Draft Position: No. 5
Following some shuffling at the top of the draft, the Detroit Pistons should be happy that Thompson falls to them at No. 5 again.
An extremely talented defender who can guard multiple positions, Thompson is averaging career highs across the board this year in points (11.4), rebounds (5.8) and assists (2.5) while racking up 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks a game.
Like his brother, Thompson still isn't a threat from the outside, although he's cut down on his attempts while shooting nearly 10 percent higher than his rookie season (27.8 percent compared to 18.6 percent). His motor and athleticism help secure a top-five pick once again.
6. Orlando Magic: Toumani Camara
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Original Pick: Anthony Black
Toumani Camara's Original Draft Position: No. 52
The biggest riser on this entire list, Camara jumps 46 spots after being selected late in the second round less than three years ago.
Already one of the NBA's best wing defenders, he was named to the All-Defensive second team last year. The Orlando Magic would also crave his floor-spacing ability, as the 25-year-old has made 36.5 percent of his threes over the last two years and is knocking down a career-best 2.6 triples a game this season.
Camara has been extremely durable over his first three seasons, another reason why the injury-plagued Magic would desire him with the No. 6 overall pick here.
7. Indiana Pacers: Dereck Lively II
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Original Pick: Jarace Walker
Dereck Lively II's Original Draft Position: No. 12
Injuries have plagued Lively in his young career, and he is set to miss the remainder of this year following foot surgery.
For an Indiana Pacers team in need of a franchise center and waiting for Tyrese Haliburton to return from a torn Achilles, being patient with Lively would be no problem.
At 7'1", the 21-year-old is a huge presence around the rim on both ends with his defense and lob-finishing ability. He's become an ideal target for Haliburton and has held opponents to under 59 percent shooting at the rim in each of his first three seasons while blocking 2.3 shots per 36 minutes of play.
One of the league's best young centers when healthy, Lively and the Pacers would make for a good match.
8. Washington Wizards: Scoot Henderson
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Original Pick: Bilal Coulibaly
Scoot Henderson's Original Draft Position: No. 3
Henderson's slide is ended here by a Washington Wizards team in need of star power.
Despite a rocky start to his NBA career, Henderson still ranks fourth in scoring (13.3 points) and second in assists (5.2) among all members of the 2023 draft class. He's an impressive physical prospect with a strong, 6'3", 207-pound frame at point guard.
He also thrived when given bigger opportunities last season, averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and shooting 44.8 percent from three in the 18 games when he logged at least 30 minutes.
For a Wizards team in full rebuild mode, Henderson simply has more upside than their original pick in Coulibaly.
9. Utah Jazz: Anthony Black
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Original Pick: Taylor Hendricks
Anthony Black's Original Draft Position: No. 6
Keyonte George came off the board six picks ago, meaning the Utah Jazz are in need of a new point guard. Black hasn't lived up to his sixth overall selection to this point, although he's had a breakout year for the Orlando Magic.
The 21-year-old is up to 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals a game this season, mostly in a reserve role in Orlando. His 6'7" frame and good defense add to Utah's decision to keep him as a top-10 pick in a re-draft.
If Black can continue his production as a starter (19.6 points, 4.7 assists, 39.3 percent from three), the Jazz may have found a new franchise point guard.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Cason Wallace
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Original Pick: Cason Wallace
Cason Wallace's Original Draft Position: No. 10
We're ignoring original draft-day trades in this exercise, meaning the Dallas Mavericks still own the No. 10 overall pick here. In real life, the Oklahoma City Thunder moved up to get Cason Wallace in this spot, and the 2025 NBA champion is again worthy of going this high.
Wallace is a bulldog of a defender at the point of attack and has started nearly every game for OKC this season. His 2.1 steals per game are tied with Kawhi Leonard for first overall in the NBA and Wallace's 11.6 win shares are the second-most in his draft class behind only Amen Thompson.
A 38.1 percent three-point shooter for his career, Wallace would be an ideal fit in a Mavs backcourt that desperately needs good guard play.
11. Orlando Magic: Brandin Podziemski
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Original Pick: Jett Howard
Brandin Podziemski's Original Draft Position: No. 19
The Orlando Magic already picked up Toumani Camara at No. 6 overall and now look to shore up their backcourt with Podziemski.
The 22-year-old is shooting a career-best 40.5 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game, perfect for a Magic team that still ranks in the bottom six in both three-point accuracy (34.3 percent) and makes per game (11.2).
Podziemski has played both starter and key reserve throughout his career and is giving the Golden State Warriors 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals a night this year.
Losing Anthony Black in a re-draft hurts, although replacing him (and Howard) with Camara and Podziemski would be a big upgrade overall.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bilal Coulibaly
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Original Pick: Dereck Lively II
Bilal Coulibaly's Original Draft Position: No. 7
Coulibaly has taken a step back offensively from Year 2 to 3, although he's still young (21) and has proved to be a good defender with his size and length on the wing. There's enough there for the Oklahoma City Thunder to still take him in the lottery.
Shot selection needs to change, as he has been an awful three-point shooter (24.7 percent this year), yet takes nearly 43 percent of all his shots from outside the arc. He needs to continue to add muscle and get into the paint more often.
A minus-3.3 point defensive swing rating is a nice plus, though, and playing for a winning Thunder team could bring out the best in Coulibaly overall.
13. Toronto Raptors: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
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Original Pick: Gradey Dick
Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s Original Draft Position: No. 18
It's tough to ignore the production Jaquez is giving the Miami Heat this season. His age (25 next month) is the only reason why he would go as low as he's going here in a re-draft.
One of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, he is averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and shooting 53.3 percent overall this season despite starting just one of his 34 games for Miami.
His three-point shooting (26.8 percent) continues to be worrisome, and Jaquez doesn't have the upside of a lot of the guys being picked around him here, although he's quickly become a really good NBA rotation player.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Gradey Dick
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Original Pick: Jordan Hawkins
Gradey Dick's Original Draft Position: No. 13
The New Orleans Pelicans could go in a few directions here, although they desperately need shooting prowess. They rank 28th overall in both made threes per game (10.8) and accuracy (34.1 percent).
Dick thrived as a starter last year, averaging 14.4 points while making 2.1 threes a game at a 35.0 percent clip. His numbers have dipped this year in a return to the bench, however.
Standing at 6'7", he has a high release point on his jumper which is tough to defend. In the right situation, it's easy to see him becoming a 40 percent three-point shooter.
Pick Nos. 15-20
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15. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Whitmore
Whitmore's athleticism, size and strength on the wing is still worth betting on here for the Hawks, even if the 21-year-old is currently sidelined with deep vein thrombosis. He's averaged 21.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per 36 minutes of play in only 119 career games.
16. Utah Jazz: Jarace Walker
The No. 7 overall pick has yet to break out for the Indiana Pacers and has struggled in 12 starts this season (11.1 points on 33.9 percent shooting overall in 29.5 minutes). The Jazz bank on his upside and pair Walker with Anthony Black in this re-draft.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Smith Jr.
Originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, Smith is having a solid year with the Lakers. The 21-year-old is making 39.7 percent of his threes en route to 7.7 points a game.
18. Miami Heat: Brice Sensabaugh
Sensabaugh is a bucket-getter who's deserving of a bigger role than the one he's currently playing with the Utah Jazz. He's averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his last 10 games and is a career 37.8 percent marksman from deep.
19. Golden State Warriors: Noah Clowney
Clowney ranks No. 7 in scoring (13.2 points per game) among all 2023 draft class members this season while becoming a full-time starter with the Brooklyn Nets. The Warriors could use his floor-spacing in the frontcourt alongside Draymond Green.
20. Houston Rockets: Marcus Sasser
Sasser has been great when given the opportunity this season with the Detroit Pistons, registering 37 points, seven assists and going 8-of-12 from three over a two-game stretch around the turn of the calendar. He's a little older (25) and a bit undersized (6'1", 195 pounds), but he is an exciting player who would help the Rockets cover for the loss of Fred VanVleet.
Pick Nos. 21-25
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21. Brooklyn Nets: Jordan Walsh
Walsh is just eight made threes away from being one of the top ranked shooters in the NBA, as his 47.4 percent mark from deep would rank No. 2 overall if he had a little more volume to qualify for the leaderboard. He's played well in an increased role for the Boston Celtics this season.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Taylor Hendricks
Injuries have limited the No. 9 overall pick to just 67 games over the first three years of his career. Hendricks is quietly having a solid season for the Utah Jazz now, putting up 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on 40.4 percent from three in just 15.3 minutes. The rebuilding Nets would offer Hendricks plenty of opportunity to grow.
23. Portland Trail Blazers: Kris Murray
The Blazers still go with their original selection in Murray here, who's become a consistent member of the team's rotation. Already 25, however, Murray needs to improve his three-point shooting (25.6 percent) although his 1.2 steals per game this year rank No. 7 in his draft class.
24. Sacramento Kings: Jordan Hawkins
Hawkins hasn't looked like the sharpshooter the New Orleans Pelicans originally drafted him to be with their lottery pick in 2024, although the potential is still there. He has connected on 37.0 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes this season, a positive sign.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: GG Jackson II
The 45th overall pick in 2023, Jackson had a monster rookie season (14.6 points per game). He's failed to replicate these numbers the past two years, yet has the size and length for the Grizzlies to want to bring him back for a longer look.
Pick Nos. 26-30
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26. Indiana Pacers: Ben Sheppard
Sheppard has logged 38 games of playoff experience already in his young career and already has 11 starts for the Pacers this season. He's a solid two-way wing who looks like a nice rotation piece for years to come.
27. Charlotte Hornets: Craig Porter Jr.
After going undrafted in 2023, Porter has proven he's worthy of being a backup point guard in the NBA. A terrific rebounder at his position, Porter has career shooting splits of 50.9/40.5/71.0 in his three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
28. Utah Jazz: Trayce Jackson-Davis
Jackson-Davis has already started 54 games in his young career and ranks No. 7 in rebounding (4.8 per game) among all 2023 draft class members. He's been efficient with averages of 15.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 blocks on 63.6 percent shooting per 36 minutes of play.
29. Indiana Pacers: Tristan Vukčević
The Pacers continue to load up on center depth after taking Dereck Lively II earlier. Vukčević brings a change of pace to the position with his three-point shooting and has averaged 22.0 points per 36 minutes in his career with the Washington Wizards.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Jordan Miller
The 48th overall pick in 2023, Miller has been one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Clippers. The 6'5" wing has made 42.1 percent of his threes and rebounded well for his size and position.
