NEW YORK — The 2023 NBA draft takes place Thursday (8:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) and there will be plenty of information and speculation as teams prepare for the big night. Victor Wembanyama is sure to be No. 1 heading to the San Antonio Spurs, but speculation still abounds as to what the No. 2 Charlotte Hornets will do, choosing between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller.
Here’s a breakdown of all the current information on the draft.
(This page is continually updated with the latest information and information from across the league.)
Update from Thursday
Brandon Miller probably goes to Charlotte for number 2
Michael Jordan and the Hornets face a tough decision between 6-foot-9-Alabama wing Brandon Miller or 6-2 G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson at No. 2. Both Miller and Henderson practiced for the second time in Charlotte on Monday. The two players said the meetings and training sessions went well.
“I wasn’t that nervous training for Michael Jordan,” Miller told media on Wednesday. “I saw him sitting in the gym and just treated him like a normal person. Obviously it was like, ‘Whoa, that’s Michael Jordan,’ and that kind of motivated me. He makes you feel right at home and we had a great conversation.”
Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was also present at both of Miller’s training sessions, and the two players spent some time getting to know each other off the field.
“LaMelo is a great young guy,” Miller said. “We spent some time together. The biggest relationship between him and me was cars. He has a nice collection of cars and hopefully one day he’ll let me drive this Rolls-Royce.”
Brandon Miller speaks to the media during the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in May. (David Banks/USA TODAY Sports)
Miller fits better off ball and can bring much-needed full defense and defensive versatility to a Hornets team that won just 27 games last year. The consensus in the league is that the Hornets will pick Miller or Henderson. Miller said he didn’t receive any commitments on Monday and said he probably won’t know where he or Henderson will be going until 30 seconds before the Hornets start the game.
“I’m not really nervous, I’m excited,” Miller said. “Wherever I end up, I’m ready to get to work and I feel comfortable coming in and doing my bit for both teams.”
Henderson also praised the Hornets and said he received positive feedback on Monday.
“My gut is, take me,” Henderson said Wednesday. “Just based on the player I am, based on what I bring with me every time I step on the field. They appreciated me coming in and doing this work. I’m just blessed to be here and to maximize my talent at the highest level in the NBA and I will do that wherever I end up.”
Update from Wednesday evening
Will Jazz Rise From No. 9 For Anthony Black?
Black is one of the most talked about draft picks, and could come off the board in 6th place in the Orlando Magic. The Jazz have three first-round picks (Nos. 9, 16, and 28) and could be looking to collect picks to trade for Black, the 5-foot-1 Arkansas guard. Black is arguably the fifth best candidate in this draft class, barring the team’s demands in terms of the way he views the field, passing at a high level, and playing elite defense on the edge.
Arkansas guard Anthony Black during the NCAA Men’s Tournament Sweet 16 on March 24, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dereck Lively II Draft Series
Many believed that Lively, Duke’s 7-2 center, would finish in 10th place before draft week began. With Cam Whitmore potentially out, there is speculation that the Mavericks will either take Whitmore at No. 10 or swap picks.
Lively makes no promises, telling reporters Wednesday during his media availability, “My draft range is somewhere between 10 and 20, that’s the feedback I’ve gotten from teams and people around me.”
Lively’s late rise to the top can be attributed in large part to how productive he was during his pro day at Klutch Sports and his consistency in shooting the 3-ball in practice. Prior to his first season at Duke, Lively was the #1 recruit out of high school and was a two-sided threat offensively in pick-and-pop, playing alongside current Pistons forward Jalen Duren. With minor injuries and Duke leading the offense through Kyle Filipowski and Jeremy Roach, Lively faded away and became a defensive specialist protecting the rim. The NBA game is more focused on Lively and what he can do offensively as a 3-point threat.
Wednesday morning update
Moving in the lottery, Cam Whitmore reportedly falls out of the top 5
While a decision on No. 2 and what the Charlotte Hornets will do isn’t clear yet, the Detroit Pistons appear to have a few other players in their sights in addition to Whitmore, the 6-foot-tall Villanova guard.
Overtime elite guard Amen Thompson is the fourth-best pick in this draft class, and his twin brother Ausar could slip off the field in 5th place, tying the wing on the rim alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. A few other options include Arkansas guard Anthony Black, who has been high on many teams’ draft boards, or 6-8 forward Jarace Walker. Walker has one of the most NBA-fit physiques in this draft class and is a ready-to-play stretch 4 alongside Jalen Duren up front.
Whitmore could fall as low as 9th to the Utah Jazz or 10th to the Dallas Mavericks. At just 18, he has plenty of time to develop into a prolific guard at the NBA level.
Villanova’s Cam Whitmore could falter ahead of Thursday’s NBA draft. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
There are a lot of playmakers coming to the top of the lottery who have yet to develop a consistent outside jump shot. With very few clean shooters expected in the first half of the draft, there could be room for consistent wide shooters like Jordan Hawkins and Gradey Dick to rise up the draft boards. Hawkins could rise to 8th on the Washington Wizards for shooting so well in his two seasons at UConn. Dick had a last-minute practice session with the No. 7 Indiana Pacers last week.
Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s teammate at the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, has shot up draft boards and plays for either the 8th-ranked Wizards or the 9th-ranked Jazz, while many don’t see the 6-7 guard in a 7-3 wingspan that falls outside the lottery.
Tuesday update
Portland most likely stays in 3rd place and retains the pick
Both Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson met with Michael Jordan and the Hornets on Monday, leading many to believe a decision has not yet been made as to which player they will pick with Thursday night’s second pick.
Portland was thought to be buying his No. 3 pick and taking phone calls, but two days after the draft, NBA sources told Yahoo Sports that they expect Portland to pick either Miller or Henderson with the third pick, rather than considering any trades, consider a more established, experienced player and/or lottery swap.
Both Henderson and Miller had strong practice sessions with the Trail Blazers leading up to the draft, with Miller reportedly hitting a high percentage of 3-pointers during practices.
Alabama forward Brandon Miller, featured during the NCAA men’s tournament, had heavy pre-draft practice with the Trail Blazers. (Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports)
Julian Phillips, Jaime Jaquez Jr. Late risers of the first round
Last year, it was the Denver Nuggets who picked UCLA freshman Peyton Watson with the 30th pick after Watson’s relatively quiet season, averaging just 3.3 points in 13 minutes per game. Established teams have flexibility towards the end of the first round and can switch out a player who has a lot of potential as an NBA winger.
Julian Phillips, a 6-foot-8 winger, averaged just 8.3 points during his season in Tennessee, but has great length and defensive versatility at the wing position. He did well in the NBA Draft Combine and has been solid in pre-draft practice for the teams. All through college, Phillips has been a scheduled mid-second-round pick, but with two days to go before the draft his draft range is likely somewhere between Nos. 25 and 35, and he could be a player fans hear about being named before the draft at the end of the first round.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is one of the most reliable forwards in this draft class and was the tough guy for a very successful UCLA team for four years. Given what Caleb Martin did to get the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals, teams may be looking for a similar player in this draft class, and Jaquez fits the bill. He is a good height of 1.90 meters, weighs 110 kilograms, has a high basketball IQ and plays properly. He could go all the way to the 20th place Houston Rockets and is unlikely to fail the 27th place Charlotte Hornets.