The highly anticipated 2023 NBA Draft had a lot of storylines. A main takeaway was that the vast majority of the top picks didn’t take the traditional college route. Teams are also taking flyers on two-way prospects that are relatively raw yet have all the measurements and athleticism suggesting that the potential is certainly there if they can develop it.
Lastly, the late first-round teams prefer to take the more developed, win-now players that can immediately contribute. In contrast, the early second round was full of raw prospects that needed development.
That being said, these three teams particularly stood out as the draft day winners based on the prospects and how they align both in terms of roster needs and timelines.
2023 NBA Draft: 3 Draft Day Winners
NBA Draft Day Winner No. 1: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs ended up trading their No. 33 overall pick (which turned out to be Leonard Miller) to the Timberwolves in exchange for future second-round picks. As a result, their lone selection in this year’s draft was the number one overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
The Frenchman is all the Spurs need to make this list as an NBA Draft winner. He’s a generational prospect with a unique skill set that we have never seen before with his 7-foot-4 frame. With Metropolitans 92, Wembanyama averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game on 47/28/83 shooting splits.
His game should translate exceptionally well in the NBA, which has more spacing and room to operate. His defensive skills will be impactful as a rim protector and help defender on day one. Given his height, he’s versatile in his agility and ability to switch out onto the perimeter.
Offensively, Wembanyama is more of a guard with a very tall body. He can play out on the perimeter, is a solid ballhandler, and is a better shooter than his 28 percent shooting from three suggests. The sky is the limit for the Spurs’ number-one pick as long as he can stay healthy.
NBA Draft Day Winner No. 2: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks traded down from pick No. 10 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had the No. 12 pick. They ultimately selected Dereck Lively II out of Duke at No. 12, who was projected to be taken by them at ten in several NBA Draft mocks. They managed to get the rim-protecting center they wanted while clearing cap space by sending out Davis Bertans.
The Dallas Mavericks will generate a $17M trade exception from salary dumping Davis Bertans.
They project to be $74M below the luxury tax with 7 players. They'll use that flexibility toward re-signing Kyrie Irving, utilizing their new $17M TPE, and the $12.2M non-tax MLE. https://t.co/doeow5Sj6v
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 23, 2023
That will help as they attempt to re-sign Kyrie Irving and attract other free agents to pair with Luka Doncic. Lively II should be a great fit next to Luka as someone that can benefit from Doncic’s elite playmaking, particularly in the pick and roll.
Then they took on Richaun Holmes‘ contract in a trade with the Kings to acquire their No. 24 overall pick, which ultimately ended up being Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper. He’s a long, athletic, and defensive-minded wing. In addition, Prosper’s also an upperclassman ready to contribute immediately. He is an excellent replacement for the missing Dorian Finney-Smith void.
Overall, the Mavericks did a great job of addressing their two pressing weaknesses by selecting a defensive-minded center and wing.
Draft Day Winner No. 3: Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik is only going into his second year with the franchise but has already made significant moves to rebuild this team. This offseason, the Jazz are off to a great start in continuing to reshape the team’s identity through the NBA Draft. Here’s a summary of their first-round selections:
Taylor Hendricks, F, Central Florida – No. 9
Keyonte George, G, Baylor – No. 16
Brice Sensabaugh, G/F, Ohio State – No. 28
These are a great combination of players that were excellent value as draft prospects and in terms of roster fit with Utah. Hendricks is a great modern-day forward as a rim-protecting 3-and-D forward to play alongside center Walker Kessler and forward Lauri Markkanen. This trio will give the Jazz ideal size, rebounding, rim protection, and versatility.
George and Sensabaugh made a ton of sense as picks, too. Jordan Clarkson, in particular, has a murky future with Utah – at 31 years old, he doesn’t fit the Jazz’ roster timeline. As a result, they could end up trading the veteran guard to a contending team in exchange for future assets. George would be an excellent replacement for Clarkson as a dynamic scorer capable of creating his own shot.
Sensabaugh is one of the best shooters in the entire draft class, connecting on 40.5 percent of his threes at Ohio State. His floor is as someone that can stretch the floor for their other talented players previously mentioned.
Another reason to love the Jazz draft is that Hendricks, George, and Sensabaugh are all freshmen yet to maximize their potential. Utah is in no rush to win anytime soon, so it made sense that they drafted players they can be patient with.
