Draft Digest: Two-Round 2023 NBA Mock Draft Early in Conference Play

Just a couple of weeks into conference play at the college level, the Draft Digest team releases its next mock draft of the cycle.

Draft Digest Staff | Jan 17, 2023

Draft Digest: Two-Round 2023 NBA Mock Draft Early in Conference Play /

We're around the halfway point in the college season, which means we've already gotten great insight on that crop of talent. While the 2023 NBA Draft is expected to produce top talent outside of the college game, we're starting to get a good sample size across the board to make assumptions.

Leveraging Tankathon to generate our draft order, we take a look at fit and projections for next summer's event in the next iteration of Draft Digest's 2023 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Orlando Magic: Victor Wembanyama (France)

Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92, 2023 NBA Draft — Lucas Peltier / USA TODAY Sports

2. Phoenix Suns: Scoot Henderson (G League)

Scoot Henderson, 2023 NBA Draft, G League Ignite — Lucas Peltier / USA TODAY Sports

3. San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)

4. Washington Wizards: Brandon Miller (Alabama)

Brandon Miller, Alabama Crimson Tide — Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

5. Houston Rockets: Cam Whitmore (Villanova)

Cam Whitmore, Villanova Wildcats — Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

6. Charlotte Hornets: Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)

7. Detroit Pistons: GG Jackson (South Carolina)

8. New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL): Jarace Walker (Houston)

Jarace Walker, Houston Cougars — Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

9. Orlando Magic (via CHI): Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas)

10. Toronto Raptors: Anthony Black (Arkansas)

Anthony Black, Arkansas, 2023 NBA Draft — Steph Chambers/Getty Images

11. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jett Howard (Michigan)

Jett Howard, Michigan Wolverines — Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

12. Portland Trail Blazers: Dereck Lively (Duke)

Dereck Lively, Duke Blue Devils — © Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

13. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Keyonte George (Baylor)

Keyonte George, Baylor Bears — © Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

14. Atlanta Hawks: Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)

15. Utah Jazz: Gradey Dick (Kansas)

Grady Dick, Kansas — Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

16. Golden State Warriors: Cason Wallace (Kentucky)

Cason Wallace, Kentucky Wildcats — Grace Hollars/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK

17. Indiana Pacers: Dariq Whitehead (Duke)

Dariq Whitehead, Duke, 2023 NBA Draft — Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida-USA TODAY NETWORK

18. LA Clippers: Taylor Hendricks (UCF)

19. New York Knicks (via DAL): Kyle Filipowski (Duke)

20. Miami Heat: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State)

Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State Buckeyes — Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

21. New York Knicks: Baba Miller (Florida State)

Baba Miller, Florida St., NBA Draft — FIBA Image Directory

22. Sacramento Kings: Rayan Rupert (NBL)

Rayan Rupert, NBL, New Zealand Breakers, 2023 NBA Draft — David Grau/Getty Images

23. Los Angeles Lakers (via NOP): Kel’el Ware (Oregon)

Kel'el Ware, Oregon Ducks — Chris Pietsch/The Register Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK

24. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): Dillon Mitchell (Texas)

25. Brooklyn Nets (via PHI): Terquavion Smith (NC State)

Terquavion Smith, NC State, 2023 NBA Draft — Bob Donnan / USA TODAY Sports

26. Houston Rockets (via MIL): Leonard Miller (G League)

Leonard Miller, 2023 NBA Draft, G League Ignite — Lucas Peltier / USA TODAY Sports

27. Utah Jazz (via BKN): Nikola Djurisic (Serbia)

Nikola Djurisic, 2023 NBA Draft — David Grau/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Noah Clowney (Alabama)

Noah Clowney, Alabama Crimson Tide — Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK

29. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN): Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan)

Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan Eagles — Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

30. Indiana Pacers (via BOS): Jordan Hawkins (UConn)

31. Indiana Pacers (via HOU): Kris Murray (Iowa)

32. Philadelphia 76ers (via CHA): Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)

33. Detroit Pistons: Ricky Council IV (Arkansas)

34. San Antonio Spurs: Colby Jones (Xavier)

35. Orlando Magic: Julian Phillips (Tennessee)

36. Oklahoma City Thunder (via WAS): Jordan Walsh (Arkansas)

37. Los Angeles Lakers: Chris Livingston (Kentucky)

38. Los Angeles Lakers (via CHI): Jalen Wilson (Kansas)

39. Toronto Raptors: Arthur Kaluma (Creighton)

40. Phoenix Suns: Julian Strawther (Gonzaga)

41. Denver Nuggets (via OKC): Sidy Cissoko (G League)

42. Boston Celtics (via POR): Marcus Sasser (Houston)

43. Atlanta Hawks: DaRon Holmes II (Dayton)

44. Memphis Grizzlies (via MIN): Adem Bona (UCLA)

45. Charlotte Hornets (via UTA): Judah Mintz (Syracuse)

46. Cleveland Cavaliers (via GSW): Amari Bailey (UCLA)

47. LA Clippers: Tyrese Proctor (Duke)

48. Denver Nuggets (via MIA): Jaylen Clark (UCLA)

49. Minnesota Timberwolves (via NYK): JJ Starling (Notre Dame)

50. Sacramento Kings: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)

51. Boston Celtics (via DAL): Harrison Ingram (Stanford)

52. Sacramento Kings (via IND): Terrance Arceneaux (Houston)

53. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): James Nnaji (Spain)

54. Milwaukee Bucks (via CLE): Zach Edey (Purdue)

55. Milwaukee Bucks: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)

56. Memphis Grizzlies: Reece Beckman (Virginia)

57. Brooklyn Nets: Isaiah Wong (Miami)

58. Boston Celtics: Matthew Cleveland (Florida State)

Note: There are only 58 picks in the 2023 NBA Draft with the Sixers and Bulls forfeiting their second-rounders.

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Published Jan 17, 2023

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