The 2023 NBA Draft provided what seems to be a generational player in Victor Wembanyama. There were other first round picks that performed well as rookies as well, including Dereck Lively II, who played a large role on a Dallas Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals.
Not every first round pick saw a lot of action with their NBA team in 2023-24 though. There were four players selected within the first 20 picks of the 2023 NBA Draft (two in the lottery), that often found themselves out of the rotation. Are any of those four in line for more playing time in their second season?
Four Top-20 Picks In 2023 NBA Draft Hoping For More Minutes
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (8th Overall)
Taken with the eighth pick, Jarace Walker found himself even further down the depth chart once Indiana traded for Pascal Siakam. Walker played 33 games, averaging 10.3 minutes for the Pacers last season. He often found himself outside the rotation playing behind Siakam and Obi Toppin.
This offseason, the Pacers brought back Siakam on a max deal and Toppin re-signed for $58 million over four years. That would seemingly leave Walker behind both of them in Indiana’s pecking order once again. Perhaps the team will look to provide him minutes at center behind Myles Turner after Jalen Smith left to join the Chicago Bulls. Isaiah Jackson ended the season surpassing Smith in the rotation though, and the Pacers also signed center James Wiseman in free agency. Walker would need to show more in the rebounding department and become a better rim protector for him to become a viable option at center.
Jett Howard, Orlando Magic (11th Overall)
After just one year with Michigan, Jett Howard was selected in the lottery by Orlando. The son of 19-year-veteran Juwan Howard, Jett spent much of his rookie season in the G League. He appeared in just 18 games for a total of 67 minutes for the Magic. Howard totaled 27 points (10-30 from field, 7-25 from three), seven rebounds, and six assists.
Standing at six-foot-eight, Howard is capable of playing both forward positions. The problem is that the Magic’s two best players are Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the team’s two starting forwards. Jonathan Isaac will likely get a lot of reserve forward minutes as Orlando already has centers Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze as backup centers. They drafted Tristan Da Silva 18th overall who is a similar size to Howard, and is more NBA ready at 23 years old. Howard will turn 21 on September 14, and it’s hard to see a role for him on an Orlando team that should remain in the playoff picture.
Kobe Bufkin, Atlanta Hawks (15th Overall)
A teammate of Howard’s at Michigan, Kobe Bufkin played two years for the Wolverines before entering the 2023 NBA Draft. Much like Howard, NBA minutes were hard to come by for Bufkin in his rookie year. The 20-year-old combo guard appeared in 17 games for Atlanta, playing a total of 196 minutes. In his brief playing time, he shot poorly from deep (9-40, 22.4%) but he did dish out 27 assists compared to 10 turnovers.
A shoulder injury kept Bufkin out of the 2024 Summer League where he could have received valuable playing reps. There is definitely a pathway to minutes for the soon-to-be 21-year-old Bufkin though. With Dejounte Murray traded away to the New Orleans Pelicans, there isn’t much depth at the point guard position behind Trae Young. With less expectations for the Hawks heading into this season, they will likely want to see what Bufkin can provide in a larger role.
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Los Angeles Lakers (17th Overall)
Playing one year for the Indiana Hoosiers, Jalen Hood-Schifino entered his name in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old saw his season end prematurely in March after undergoing back surgery, but he wasn’t really playing for the Lakers before that. The six-foot-six guard played a total of just 109 minutes over 21 games for Los Angeles. The shooting numbers in that brief action weren’t pretty: 10-45 from the field, 2-15 from three-point range, and 12-20 from the free throw line. In his 15 G League games, Hood-Schifino did connect on 43.2% of his shots from beyond the arc.
With the Lakers returning much of their roster from last season, it’s hard to see Hood-Schifino cracking the rotation. One of the team’s additions, first round pick Dalton Knecht, is a similar size to Hood-Schifino. Re-signing Max Christie to a four-year, $32 million deal should put him ahead of Hood-Schifino in the quest for minutes. A healthy Gabe Vincent, who has plenty of playoff experience, is another player in line to grab backcourt minutes. Another season spent often in the G League could be in store for Hood-Schifino.
