As the 2022 NBA Offseason has officially been overtaken by the 2022-2023 NBA Season, most of the teams have shifted their focus to winning the NBA Finals. For some teams, however, their goal for the 2022-2023 season isn’t focused on the present, but rather on the future. A great example of this is the Orlando Magic, as the Magic will prioritize player development over winning. In addition to Orlando’s young collection of guards and forwards alongside fellow 2022 draft picks Paolo Banchero and Caleb Houstan, the Magic will be able to add even more young talent through the 2023 NBA Draft, which projects to be one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory.
NBA Teams Planning to Tank for Victor Wembanyma and Scoot Henderson in the 2023 NBA Draft
As the 2022-2023 NBA season is underway, there will be more teams that will decide that having a chance to land Wembanyma or Henderson is greater than making the play-in tournament or the playoffs, but these five teams listed below are the teams with known plans of tanking in this upcoming season.
Utah Jazz (49-33, fifth in Western Conference): After enduring another early postseason exit, Utah’s General Manager Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge decided that major changes were needed to the Jazz’s roster and staff. First, Zanik and Ainge hired former Boston Celtics’ Assistant Head Coach Will Hardy as the new Head Coach after eight-year Coach Quin Snyder voluntarily stepped down. Soon after, Utah decided to part ways with longtime starters Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanović, and Royce O’Neale in exchange for numerous draft picks and young players. Utah is still expected to trade away Veterans Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay to acquire more assets in preparation to land a two-two pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
San Antonio Spurs (34-48, tenth in Western Conference): Similar to Utah, San Antonio decided to embrace their upcoming rebuild after failing to meet expectations, missing the 2022 NBA Playoffs. As a result, San Antonio managed to acquire three future first-round picks from Atlanta in exchange for All-Star Guard Dejounte Murray. In addition to their promising core of Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jakob Poeltl, and Josh Primo, San Antonio managed to add Jeremy Sochan (No. 9), Malaki Branham (No. 20), and Blake Wesley (No. 25) in the 2022 NBA Draft, giving the Spurs one of the youngest and most inexperienced rosters in the NBA.
Indiana Pacers (25-57, 13th in Eastern Conference): After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, Indiana decided to focus on sacrificing their present for the improvement of their future. By trading away two-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, two-way wing Justin Holiday, combo guard Caris Levert, and veteran guard Malcolm Brogden, the Pacers have managed to improve their future outlook. Those acquisitions are highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, along with 2022 Draft picks Bennedict Mathurin (No. 6), Andrew Nembhard (No. 31), and Kendall Brown (No. 48).
Oklahoma City Thunder (24-58, 14th in Western Conference): There’s no doubt that Oklahoma City General Manager Sam Presti is infatuated with draft picks, as the Thunder own 38 draft picks (19 first-round picks, 19 second-round picks) from the 2023 NBA Draft to the 2029 NBA Draft. In hindsight, Presti’s use of these draft picks have worked out in Oklahoma City’s favor, as the Thunder have drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Luguentz Dort over the past three seasons. Furthermore, the Thunder added Chet Holmgren (No. 2), Jalen Williams (No. 12), Ousmane Dieng (No. 13), and Jaylin Williams (No. 34) in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Houston Rockets (20-62, 15th in Western Conference): Since trading Superstar James Harden to Brooklyn in 2020, Houston is three seasons into their rebuild. So far, the Rockets have managed to acquire multiple top draft picks, turning into Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith, Kevin Porter Jr, and Tari Eason. In an extremely competitive western conference, Houston is expected to tank for Wembanyama or Henderson, which would pay dividends for the Rockets in the next seasons.
In reference to the five aforementioned teams, it appears likely that Orlando (22-60, 15th in Eastern Conference) will also be involved in the Wembanyama and Henderson draft sweepstakes. After failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs in the 2018-2019 and 2019-20 seasons, the Magic managed to trade franchise cornerstones Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier for an impressive package of players and picks, including Wendell Carter Jr, Franz Wagner, and RJ Hampton. In addition to this, Orlando has accumulated plenty of promising talent from the NBA Drafts, such as Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Mo Bamba, and 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero. With an immense ability to run any starting five, Wembanyama would be the final piece for Orlando to return to relevance in the NBA. With this said, this is the second edition of the top ten prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft, led by Wembanyama and Henderson.
1. Victor Wembanyama, PF/C, LDLC ASVEL (LNB Pro A League) and Metropolitans 92 Team
Over the last 20 years, the NBA has seen its share of very uniquely built draft prospects, but Wembanyama tops them all, as a 7’4″, 224-pound unicorn with a 7’8″ wingspan who can do anything on the court. Wembanyama’s aforementioned size gives him an undeniable physical presence, as shown by his play in France’s LNB Pro A-League. Although Wembanyama played in just 34 games from 2020-2022 in the LNB Pro A-League, Wembanyama still showcased his unique physique and incredible potential as a two-way forward, averaging 17.6 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 1.9 BPG while shooting 46.0% from the field, 30.9% from three-point range, and 69.2% from the free-throw line. While Wembanyama’s aforementioned stats aren’t too impressive, Wembanyama began playing in France’s LNB Pro A-League as a 16-year-old, and has competed against grown men for the past two seasons. Furthermore, Wembanyama has fully embraced the increased competitiveness, as he was named as the LNB Pro A League’s Best Young Player in 2021 and 2022.
As a result of Wembanyama’s large amounts of success in France’s top basketball league, it’s no wonder that Wembanyama has already been dubbed as the best NBA draft prospect since LeBron James and has drawn numerous comparisons to future Hall-of-Fame Forward Kevin Durant. Due the immense hype surrounding Wembanyama’s future in the NBA, many NBA General Managers and Scouts were in attendance for his two exhibition games against Henderson and the G-League Ignite. In those two games, Wembanyama averaged 36.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 4.5 BPG while shooting 22-44 (50.0%) from the field and converting on nine-three point attempts. After playing in the two aforementioned games, there are 31 games left on Metropolitans’ 34-game schedule in the French league, and the plan is for Wembanyama to finish his season just before the 2023 NBA Draft commences on June 22nd. Simply put, Wembanyama looks to be a transcendent talent in the NBA for many years, and will be the most sought-after prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft.
2. Scoot Henderson, PG/SG, G-League Ignite
After foregoing his Senior Year at Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, Henderson decided to join the G-League Ignite team as an 18-year-old, making him the youngest player to ever play in the NBA G-League. Shortly after joining, Henderson didn’t disappoint, and quickly became a dynamic offense force on the Ignite. Standing at 6’4″ and 195 pounds, Henderson is a phenomenally skilled and explosive guard with elite scoring and playmaking skills. In 11 games with the Ignite this past season, Henderson averaged a career-high 24.5 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.6 SPG while shooting 43.6% from the field and 77.8% from the charity stripe. Henderson’s statistics should only increase this season, as he was the Ignite’s primary bench scorer behind 2022 NBA draft picks Dyson Daniels (No. 8), MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24), and Jaden Hardy (No. 37), alongside Undrafted Free Agent Michael Foster Jr.
While Henderson is a highly-touted draft prospect due to his scoring and competitive spirit, there are plenty of concerns regarding his outlook in the NBA, such as his health, and a lack of consistent three-point shooting. For context, Henderson missed multiple regular-season games with a cracked rib, and shot 4-23 (17.4%) from three-point range, the worst mark on the Ignite. Although the 2022-2023 NBA G-League Season doesn’t officially begin until December 27th, Henderson quieted those aforementioned concerns in his lone exhibition game against Wembanyama and the Metropolitans 92. During his performance against France’s prized team, Henderson notched 28 points and nine assists in the 122–115 win on October Fourth.
3. Nick Smith, PG/SG, University of Arkansas
Like the G-League Ignite’s Henderson, Smith is an extremely dynamic combo-guard with the ability to score anywhere on the court. Standing at 6’4″ and 185 pounds in addition to a 6’9″ wingspan, Smith’s frame allows him to play bigger than his size, score in tightly contested areas, and make jaw-dropping passes to his teammates. As a Senior at North Little Rock High School, Smith averaged an impressive 26.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 7.3 APG, and Smith was later named as the 6A Championship MVP after leading North Little Rock to a 27-3 record and the State Title. In the State Championship against Bentonville, Smith recorded a team-high 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the 65-47 blowout win. Before dominating at the high school level, Smith was already displaying his immense talent at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
During the summer of 2021, Smith led NBA Superstar Bradley Beal’s AAU Team to a 6-2 record and to the Peach Jam Finals while averaging 18.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 3.0 APG. In the Peach Jam Championship game, Smith didn’t disappoint, as he scored 31 points on 10-18 (55.6%) shooting, and became the first player since Denver Nuggets’ Forward Michael Porter Jr. to score more than 30 points in the Peach Jam Finals. As a result of Smith’s endless success at the high school and AAU level, Smith was labeled as the top-rated high school prospect by 247Sports and a consensus top-3 player in the country. Likewise, Smith is the top-rated guard in the nation by Rivals, and the top-rated shooting guard in the nation by ESPN. After committing to Arkansas as the Razorbacks’ third-highest recruit to ever sign with Arkansas, Smith will look to build up draft stock during the 2022-2023 college basketball season.
4/5. Amen and Ausar Thompson, PG/SG, Overtime Elite
After Wembanyama, Henderson, and Smith, the rest of the 2023 Draft class looks to be quite interchangeable, with the majority of prospects entering their first year of college basketball or in a professional league. With this said, Amen and Ausar Thompson will remain very close to one another throughout the 2022-2023 season, due to their own dynamic but unique playstyle. In their Senior Years at Pine Crest High School, Amen Thompson was listed as a combo guard while Ausar Thompson played the role of a traditional shooting guard. Regardless, Amen and Ausar Thompson both had their areas of expertise, as shown by their High School stats. Amen Thompson was Pine Crest’s primary playmaker, as Amen emerged as the best passer in the program while learning to harness his size and speed in the half-court. This can be shown by Amen Thompson’s Stats, as he averaged 13.4 PPG and 3.7 APG in 24 games. Likewise, Amen was more than capable as an on-ball defender, as Amen Thompson totaled 54 steals (2.3 SPG) and 30 blocks (1.3 BPG) this past season.
Not to be outdone by his brother Amen, Ausar Thompson thrived as a three-&-d wing who can score at all three levels of the floor. In 24 games, Ausar Thompson averaged 15.1 PPG while totaling 44 steals (1.8 SPG) and 54 blocks (2.3 BPG). Together, Amen’s playmaking and Ausar’s defense helped lead Pine Crest to the Florida 4A state championship this past season and were co-players of the year for Broward County Class 5A-1A boys. If there is one other thing that Amen and Ausar Thompson have in common besides their last name and physique (6’6″, 190 pounds), it’s their inefficient shooting splits. Both Amen and Ausar struggled mightily with shooting from the three-point line and the free-throw line, as Amen shot 19.5% from three-point range and 47.1% from the free-throw line, while Ausar shot 27.3% from downtown and 67.6% from the charity stripe, respectively. Although neither Amen nor Ausar is finished products, both are continuing to develop their all-around skill sets while facing increased levels of competition in the Overtime Elite League.
6. Cameron Whitmore, SF/PF, University of Villanova
Simply put, Whitmore is a force of nature on the basketball court. At 6’7″ and 200 pounds, Whitmore is an elite above-the-rim player and one of the most powerful dunkers in the 2023 draft class. Whitmore is a very high-energy player who defends all over the court and excels in transition, thanks to his ability to drive to the basket. He’s an aggressive driver who puts a lot of pressure on the rim. During the 2021-2022 U18 America’s Championship Tournament, Whitmore was a dominant force on both ends of the floor, as he averaged 18.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.7 APG while shooting 63.0% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range in six games. As a result, Whitmore was named as the Tournament’s MVP and to the All-Tournament Team. In addition to this, Whitmore sent shockwaves after his great performances at the McDonalds All-American Classic, the Jordan Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. Throughout those three prestigious events, Whitmore averaged 18.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 65.8% from the field and 62.7% from the free-throw line.
Of course, athleticism and dunking ability only goes so far at the college level, especially for players who want to reach an elite level in the NBA. Whitmore has already acknowledged that he has some room to grow as a shooter, as he shot just 22.2% in the three aforementioned high school events. If Whitmore isn’t a capable three-point shooter, then his defenders can sag off him on the perimeter, and cut off his angles for drives into the paint. Fortunately for Whitmore, Jay Wright and the University of Villanova have a knack for developing raw but promising talent, as shown by Saddiq Bey, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart, all of whom are having great careers in the NBA. With the right coaching and development at Villanova this season, Whitmore will turn into a true three-level scorer that can expose defenses anywhere on the court.
7. Dillon Mitchell, SF/PF, University of Texas
Similar to Whitmore, Mitchell lacks a consistent three-point shot, but still projects to be a fantastic two-way wing in the NBA. At 6’7″ and 200 pounds, Mitchell has a thin build, but has electric athleticism and moves well off the ball. Mitchell may arguably be one of the best ‘cutters’, as shown by his averages of 11.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.0 RPG throughout the McDonalds All-American Classic, the Jordan Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. Mitchell also shot an impressive clip of 16-19 (84.2%) from the field in those three games, showcasing his efficient scoring. As shown by his field goal percentage, Mitchell typically excels at attacking the rim and finishing with authority, rather than settling for jump shots. Due to spending most of his time in the paint, Mitchell is a high level rebounder and can crash the boards, giving his team opportunities for second-chance points.
In spite of this, defense may be Mithcell’s biggest specialty. Mitchell has no issues defending the opponent’s best offensive player night in and night out, and can guard every player on the floor. Whether Mitchell is matched up with more agile guards or stronger forwards, Mitchell holds his own on defense, allowing Montverde Academy to boast one of the best defenses in the nation. Although Mitchell doesn’t rack up many blocks or steals, Mitchell’s defense impact can’t be understated, and will be one of the best aspects of his game. Mitchell definitely needs to work on his shooting, as he failed to make a single three-pointer in any of the three high school special event games. Mitchell will have ample opportunity to work on his shooting at the University of Texas this upcoming season.
8. Dariq Whitehead, SF/PF, University of Duke
After losing Banchero (No. 1 to ORL), Mark Williams (No. 15 to CHA), Adrian Griffin (No. 16 to ATL), Wendell Moore Jr. (No. 26 to HOU), and Trevor Keels (No. 42 to NYK) to the NBA Draft, newly hired Head Coach Jon Scheyer and the University of Duke needed to recruit their best class of high school prospects for 2022-2023, which starts with Whitehead. Standing at 6’6″ and 200 pounds, Whitehead is an athletic and skilled swingman that can score or facilitate with the basketball. While at Montverde Academy this past season, Whitehead didn’t disappoint, as he averaged 17.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 3.8 APG to lead the Eagles to a 22-4 record and Montverde Academy’s second consecutive GEICO High School Nationals Championship. Throughout the Tournament, Whitehead averaged 15.7 PPG and 5.7 APG in three games en route to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
In addition to his two national Player of the Year honors, Whitehead was also named the MVP at the McDonalds All-American game and was also selected to play at the Jordan Brand Classic Game in Chicago. Finally, Whitehead was outstanding for Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer, averaging 16.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 3.0 APG, which was highlighted by Whitehead’s 26-point, 12-rebound, and four-assist effort against 2022 No. 7 pick Shaedon Sharpe and UPlay Canada. Needless to say, Whitehead will look to showcase his elite talent at the collegiate level under Scheyer and Duke, and will likely be a top-ten pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
*The University of Duke announced on August 30th that Whitehead underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot. The procedure was performed by Dr. Ned Amendola, Duke’s athletics chief medical officer. The university said that Whitehead suffered the injury during a team workout on Monday, Aug. 29. Whitehead will begin rehab immediately and is expected to play this fall. Duke is scheduled to begin practice on Sept. 26, but Whitehead is unlikely to be available then, knocking him down in the prospect ratings.
9. Keyonte George, PG/SG, University of Baylor
Standing at 6’5″ and 205 pounds, George is an athletic guard with broad shoulders and a solid frame. Moreover, George is a smooth athlete with good quickness and explosiveness for a player of his size. This combination of size, strength, and quickness made George a difficult player to defend at the high school level, as shown by his production this past season.
Throughout the 2022 Global Jam Tournament, George averaged an impressive 22.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, and 1.4 SPG while shooting 39.6% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. Although George doesn’t have elite blow-by speed or an elite first step, George is very crafty with the ball in his hands, using ball fakes and jab steps to keep the defender off balance. George can also use his big frame to power his way into the lane, posting up smaller guards.
It’s worth noting that George did struggle against tougher competition in the McDonalds All-American Classic, the Jordan Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit, as he averaged just 8.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, and 1.3 APG while shooting 36.1% from the field, 28.8% from downtown. In spite of George’s aforementioned struggles, he is still an elite-level prospect who has a very bright future and looks like a future lottery pick. Like Whitehead, George will certainly be able to improve his draft stock during the 2022-2023 college basketball season, after committing to the University of Baylor as a five-star recruit.
10. Dereck Lively, PF/C, University of Duke
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There’s no doubt that Lively has tremendous athleticism for a 7’1″, 220-pound center. Despite his large frame, Lively elevates off the floor well and is aggressive in defending the rim and controlling the glass on a consistent basis. While competing for Team Final on the Nike EYBL Circuit in 2021, Lively led the league with 3.7 BPG in 15 games while adding 8.4 PPG and 6.7 RPG, simultaneously leading his team to a Peach Jam Title. Likewise, Lively is dangerous in the screen and roll game and is an effective scorer in the post. His offensive game has really blossomed over the past year, as Lively has been improving as a three-point shooter and has a nice feel on the offensive end. Lively is a pretty good passer for a big, playing with his head up and seeing the court well.
Like most other draft prospects, Lively needs to work on committing fewer turnovers and fouls in college. If Lively is able to do so, he’ll differentiate himself from the other big men in his draft class, and may even solidify himself as the second-best big man behind Wembanyama. Similarly, Lively will need to add lower and upper body strength during his Freshman season at Duke. Once Lively does this, there’s a good chance that he will certainly shoot up draft boards. Otherwise, Lively may fall to the middle part of the first round, but still holds very intriguing abilities as an athletic two-way center.