As the dust settles from the 2023 NBA Draft, a handful of teams now stand out as having assembled promising young rosters, positioning themselves for future success. This article explores the five most promising young cores in the NBA following the 2023 NBA Draft and what makes them formidable contenders for the future.
Top 5 Promising Young Cores Post-2023 NBA Draft
No. 5: Houston Rockets
Houston has arguably the most athletic backcourt in the entire NBA after selecting Amen Thompson at pick No. 4 in this year’s NBA Draft. Thompson should complement Jalen Green exceptionally well and provide that pass-first playmaker Houston has been coveting.
Another player that plays well off the athletic guards is Alperen Sengun. Sengun’s game is best described as a poor man’s Nikola Jokic with his ability to pass out of the post and get teammates involved. Sengun and Thompson will change Houston’s identity from a previously isolation-scoring team to one emphasizing ball movement.
In addition, they have plenty of wings that are oozing potential as two-way players, including Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore. They’ve built a young athletic core with pieces that should play well off one another and highlight each other’s strengths.
No. 4: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is the “oldest” team on this list. Nonetheless, they still have an extremely intriguing core in Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, all of which have All-Star-level talent. The big duo of Allen and Mobley is perfect for covering defensively for their undersized guards, Garland and Mitchell.
The only question mark for the Cavs’ starting lineup is their small forward position, but Isaac Okoro has improved his shooting. Okoro could be the missing link if he can become a more reliable floor spacer.
No. 3: Orlando Magic
Orlando has almost an entire roster of promising young players. Their combination of star talent in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero and depth make them No. 3.
With the selections of Anthony Black at No. 6 and Jett Howard at No. 11 in this year’s NBA Draft, the Magic doubled down on their team identity of length and versatility. Black is a 6-foot-7 point guard, while Howard is a 6-foot-8 shooting guard. Defensively, they’re building a team capable of switching and guarding multiple positions, which is essential in today’s NBA.
No. 2: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder won their first play-in tournament game this year against the Pelicans but ultimately fell short to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their second play-in game with the No. 8 seed on the line. Still, it showed what this emerging core is already capable of.
They’re led by First-Team All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA had a career year and took that next step to become an NBA superstar. In addition, they also have excellent complementary pieces that continue to improve in Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams.
This year, they will be adding last year’s No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren and the No. 10 overall pick from this year’s NBA Draft, Cason Wallace. Those years of tanking and trading for future picks are finally paying off.
No. 1: San Antonio Spurs
The past NBA champions, the Nuggets, Warriors, Bucks, and Lakers, all have generational talent on their team. The teams ranked two through five may be deeper, but they don’t have someone with Victor Wembanyama‘s generational potential. As a result, they come in at No. 1.
However, don’t count out the rest of the Spurs’ core. They have some great role players who don’t try to do too much. Jeremy Sochan provides hustle, rebounding, and the ability to impact the game without needing the ball. Devin Vassell is an ideal 3-and-D guard that can stretch the floor for Wembanyama. Keldon Johnson is underrated as both a scorer and a playmaker. Tre Jones maximizes possessions, as evidenced by having one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the league last season (4.1, tied for seventh).
The Spurs are led by No. 1 overall pick Wembanyama, who gives them a championship ceiling. But they also have pieces around him that could contribute to a deep playoff run in the next few years.
