2023 NBA Group Mock Draft

June 15th, 2023

Metropolitans 92’s 7-4 center, Victor Wembanyama recently led his team to the finals in France’s top league, the LNB Pro A, and he is a generational talent that will most likely be the number one overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

(Photo: Getty Images, via CBS Sports)

Yesterday, we held the seventh annual NBA group mock draft. We allowed our teams to both make draft picks and trades, which made this a creative and unique experience that was inspired the old Usenet drafts. Unlike in previous years, there were far fewer mock draft trades, but they were still impactful ones that made waves regardless. We then held the draft amongst us, and it was a fun and eventful night. Here are how the picks and trades turned out.

This is a screenshot of the Jamboard that was used to track picks during the live portion of the 2023 NBA Mock Draft. In case if you were wondering, this mock draft looks different than the actual order because we allowed trades, two seismic trades were made in this mock draft.

2023 NBA Group Mock Draft

Utah Jazz (via SAS) (Richard Lu) – Victor Wembanyama, C, Metropolitans 92 (France)

In our group mock draft, San Antonio surprisingly and unexpectedly was willing to deal the first overall pick, and immediately there was a bidding war. Utah won the trade auction, and they ended up giving a whopping 12 first round picks, along with Walker Kessler to acquire the rights to the first overall pick and Devin Vassell.

The Jazz had a surprisingly solid season, especially as they snuck on people to win plenty of games at the start. Lauri Markkanen had a stellar season, and they also had very good seasons from unexpected sources. They weren’t quite able to win enough games to make the playoffs, but the Jazz seem to be heading in the right track, even after they surprisingly dealt away Donovan Mitchell, Gobert, and Mike Conley in the process.

Victor Wembanyama is a once-in-a-lifetime prospect, and he is a very tall, tremendously athletic and skilled center that has been really productive in high-end professional leagues overseas. He does everything well on the basketball court, as he boasts having impressive handles, explosive athleticism, a solid shooting touch that enables him to make shots from deep, and he is also a terrific defender. He will be a franchise player in the NBA, and he could be a superstar and one of the best players in the league for years to come.

2. Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford) – Scoot Henderson, G, G-League Ignite (USA – Marietta, GA)

The Hornets weren’t very active in the offseason prior to this season. Their season got derailed quickly when LaMelo Ball got injured early in the season. They also didn’t have much help even when he was in the lineup, and they ended up being one of the worst teams in the league. They’ll need to keep building their roster around Ball to give themselves a better chance to move forward for next year.

Scoot Henderson is a very athletic, skilled point guard that can really attack the hoop to score and pass the basketball, and he projects to be a dynamic playmaker that could be an NBA superstar in the future.

3. Toronto Raptors (via POR) (Richard Lu) – Ausar Thompson, G-F, Overtime Elite (USA – Oakland, CA)

In this mock draft, Toronto swung a massive blockbuster trade by dealing Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Precious Achiuwa in a three-team deal with Portland and Oklahoma City to reset their franchise. The Raptors had a disappointing season in which they fired the head coach that won them the NBA championship in 2019 in Nick Nurse. They were around average on both sides of the ball. They have good individual talent but didn’t mesh as a team.

Ausar Thompson is a very athletic swingman that excels at making plays on both sides of the ball. Amongst him and his brother, he is a better shooter than Amen, although his brother is the better athlete. Ausar Thompson is a very good all-around prospect, and he could be a very good player in the NBA.

4. Houston Rockets (Alan Lu) – Brandon Miller, F, Alabama

They are a very young, inexperienced team that didn’t win many games this year, but they’ve managed to find some key players that they can build around. In the meantime, they replaced their head coach and hired Ime Udoka to lead them. The Rockets will need to continue to establish and build around their young core, and establish an identity that can help them win in the future.

Brandon Miller is a tall, smooth scoring forward that can really shoot the basketball. He is a very athletic player that can make shots in a variety of ways, is a rangy defender, and has underrated playmaking skills. There have been persistent questions about his involvement in a tragic, major off-court incident, and he really struggled down the stretch in the NCAA Tournament, but Miller has shown that he could end up being a star in the NBA.

5. Detroit Pistons (Richard Lu) – Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF

Not much went right during the Detroit Pistons’ season this year. Their prized cornerstone player, Cade Cunningham got hurt early and ended up being injured for the season after getting off to a promising start. They did manage to get some fairly solid rookie seasons out of Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, and they also swung a trade to land center James Wiseman from Golden State. Still, the Pistons ended up having the worst record and finishing last in the NBA standings, and they wound up with only the fifth overall pick rather than the first overall pick.

Taylor Hendricks is a very skilled forward that can do a little bit of everything on the court. He is a sharpshooter that can knock down shots from the outside, and he can finish plays above the rim. He also is a rangy defender. He isn’t an elite playmaker, but he is an athletic forward that has the skills to be a very good player in the NBA.

6. Orlando Magic (Ameer Helmi) – Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova

The Magic are quietly establishing a core, as they had a strong season from Rookie of the Year forward Paolo Banchero, and second-year forward Franz Wagner impressed with his versatility and all-around play. They also were able to get a bargain by getting a solid season out of young big man, Bol Bol. The Magic missed the playoffs once again, but they look to be a promising young team that has a bright future ahead of them. In the meantime, they’ll need to build around Banchero and Wagner to continue to allow them to grow as a team.

Cam Whitmore is a strong, very athletic forward that projects to be a high upside player for the NBA. He can score in a variety of ways and defend, but has struggled to be consistent in games and isn’t an elite playmaker. Still, if he plays in the right system, he could reach his maximum potential and develop into a star in the league.

7. Indiana Pacers (Kyle Henderson) – Amen Thompson, G-F, Overtime Elite (USA – Oakland, CA)

The Pacers were surprisingly competitive this season, as they had an All-Star season from guard Tyrese Haliburton, and they also had Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to ensure that they stayed competitive on both sides of the ball. However, they still missed the playoffs, and they still weren’t a very good defensive team this year. In the meantime, they’ll need to keep building around Haliburton, but they also need better defenders for next season.

Amen Thompson is a tremendously athletic swingman that excels at making hustle plays on both sides of the ball. He can score and distribute the basketball, but he will really need to improve his jump shot. He has a vast amount of upside, and if he can be a credible outside shooter, he could end up being a really good player in the NBA.

8. Washington Wizards (Ashwin Kamath) – Gradey Dick, G-F, Kansas

The Wizards had yet another disappointing season that culminated with them missing the playoffs. Beal had an injury-plagued season, and the Wizards didn’t really play nearly as well on either side of the ball as hoped. They’ve committed a lot of dollars to their duo, especially to Beal, but they’ve recently made a management change. At this stage, they can go in any direction. It may make more sense to opt for a rebuild, but time is ticking if they still plan on trying to win in the short-term.

Gradey Dick is a smooth, sharpshooting forward that can really space the floor for a team on offense. He shoots the ball very well, and he also excels at using motion to score on offense. He’ll need to improve his handles and defense, but his strong ability to knock down shots and make plays offensively could make him a solid player in the league.

9. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA) (Ashwin Kamath) – Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas

In this mock draft, San Antonio surprisingly entertained offers for the number one overall pick, and ended up with a massive pick haul in return. This year, it was a trying season for the Spurs, and they didn’t win many games this past season. On the bright side, they do have the legendary head coach, Gregg Popovich. In addition, the Spurs have a solid veteran swingman in Keldon Johnson that was part of team USA’s 2020 Gold Medal Olympics team, and forward Jeremy Sochan had a solid rookie season this year.

Nick Smith Jr. is a very athletic combo guard that can put up points in a hurry. He had an injury-plagued freshman season and he didn’t shoot nearly as well as hoped, but he showed flashes of his ability to take over games early on. He’ll need to stay healthy and be more consistent in games, but he is a very talented prospect that could end up being a better NBA player than in college.

10. Dallas Mavericks (Corban Ford) – Keyonte George, G, Baylor

After reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, the Dallas Mavericks took a couple of steps back this season. They let Jalen Brunson go, which really hurt them. Superstar point forward Luka Doncic was great, but he didn’t have much help in the early going, so they swung a big, risky trade to land the mercurial star point guard, Kyrie Irving, but they dealt away key players that helped Dallas get to the Western Conference Finals last year. As a result, Dallas’ defense took a massive hit, and they ended up missing the playoffs. In the meantime, Kyrie Irving will be a free agent, and could sign elsewhere. In the meantime, Dallas will need to find players that can fit better around Doncic.

Keyonte George is an athletic, skilled combo guard that can make a number of highlight reel-worthy plays on the floor. He can make tough, difficult shots effortlessly, he can run the point if necessary, and he is also a solid defender. However, he doesn’t always make the routine play and can be streaky in games, but he is a very talented prospect that may have the drive and the skills to be a star player in the NBA.

11. Orlando Magic (via CHI) (Ameer Helmi) – Anthony Black, G-F, Arkansas

Anthony Black is an athletic, skilled point forward that excels at making plays on both sides of the ball. He is a smart, aggressive playmaker that can comfortably run the point, and he can make plays in a variety of ways. He’ll need to improve his jump shot, but he’s a very skilled player that could end up being a star in the league.

12. Toronto Raptors (via OKC) (Richard Lu) – Jarace Walker, F, Houston

This pick was involved in a three-team deal involving Oklahoma City and Portland, and Toronto was able to swoop in to get the 12th overall pick in this mock draft by acquiring Anfernee Simons from Portland and negotiating a move to flip him to Oklahoma City in return.

Jarace Walker is a strong, athletic forward that has a variety of skills that could prove to be useful in the league. He can defend multiple positions, and he also is a very athletic player that can make a lot of plays on the ball. On the other hand, he doesn’t project to be an elite shot creator, but his versatility could make him valuable in the association.

13. Toronto Raptors (Richard Lu) – Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

Dereck Lively II is a very tall, athletic big man that projects to be a very good rim protector in the NBA. He is a stout defender that can help his team fortify the interior. He didn’t show a whole lot of offensive skills in college though and was entirely too passive at times, but has been said to have a promising three-point shot in the works. He’s a high-motor big man that can be the anchor of an NBA defense, and he could end up being a solid player in the league.

14. New Orleans Pelicans (Kyle Henderson) – Jordan Hawkins, G, Connecticut

After making the playoffs without Zion being healthy last year, they were supposed to take the next step, especially with Zion starting the season healthy. However, they disappointed because Zion and Brandon Ingram got hurt, and they ultimately missed the playoffs. They lost multiple play-in games, and were eliminated from playoff contention. First and foremost, they’ll need to find ways to stay healthy, and they’ll also need to continue to build around Zion and Brandon Ingram in the meantime.

Jordan Hawkins is an agile, sharpshooting guard that helped UConn win the National Championship this past season. He is one of the best shooters in the draft, and he is a gifted movement shooter that will really make defenders work off the ball. On the other hand, he’s not an elite playmaker, but Hawkins’ athleticism and strong shooting skills would make him a solid player in the NBA.

15. Atlanta Hawks (Ashwin Kamath) – Dariq Whitehead, G-F, Duke

They tried to make a big move by getting Dejounte Murray, but things didn’t work out as planned. There was some discord, because superstar point guard Trae Young may be unwilling to move off the ball, the Hawks had major defensive issues, and John Collins stopped being able to shoot from the outside because of a lingering finger injury that has hurt his shooting. They fired head coach Nate McMillan and hired Quin Snyder, but that was only enough for them to get to the playoffs to win a couple of games before they lost to Boston in their first round series.

Dariq Whitehead is an athletic, sharpshooting swingman that can shoot and score the basketball. He’s been plagued with injuries this past season and recently, but his solid ability to make shots and plays on both sides of the ball could enable him to thrive as a solid role player in this league.

16. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA) (Ashwin Kamath) – G.G. Jackson, F, South Carolina

This pick was acquired in a two-team deal involving Utah in this mock draft trade.

G.G. Jackson is a very athletic combo forward that had an up and down freshman season at South Carolina. He is one of the youngest players in the draft, and he can make a lot of highlight reel-worthy plays to dazzle the crowd, and he is also a rangy defender. He’ll need to improve his outside shot and decision-making skills, but his skill set, versatility, and upside could make him an intriguing pick in the mid to late first round of this draft.

17. Los Angeles Lakers (Corban Ford) – Brice Sensabaugh, F, Ohio State

After getting off to a slow start, the Lakers quietly had a good season this year. They got a strong season out of Anthony Davis, and LeBron James didn’t show much signs of slowing down in his age-38 season. They also had a breakout season from second-year guard Austin Reaves, whose scoring and playmaking prowess really showed. They also made key additions to fortify their roster, and the Lakers were able to get further than expected, but ended up losing in the Western Conference Finals this year.

Brice Sensabaugh is a strong, athletic combo forward that projects into a 3 and D role in the NBA. He is a very good spot-up shooter from the outside, and he is a solid position defender that can stay in front of his man and guard multiple positions. He may not have elite lateral quickness or handles, but his ability to shoot and defend could make him a very valuable role player in the league.

18. Miami Heat (Kyle Henderson) – Jalen Hood-Schifino, G-F, Indiana

The Heat had a really good season after having gotten off to a slow start. They had an injury-plagued regular season, but they managed to have a terrific postseason. A combination of stellar play from Jimmy Butler, hot shooting, and great coaching allowed them to make a surprising run to the 2023 NBA Finals.

Jalen Hood-Schifino is an agile, skilled playmaker that can shoot and pass the basketball. He had some really good, dominant games in his freshman season at Indiana, and he is a terrific mid-range shooter. He can sometimes tend to take difficult shots that may hurt his shooting percentages and isn’t an explosive athlete, but he is a crafty scorer that can elevate a team’s offense, especially when he gets into a rhythm.

19. Golden State Warriors (Corban Ford) – Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky

After having a banner year that culminated with them winning the championship last year, the Warriors got sidetracked due to chemistry issues. The Warriors also chose not to bring back some of their other key role players that helped them win the 2022 championship. Throughout the season, the Warriors were inconsistent all year long. The Warriors still made the playoffs, but they ended up losing to LeBron and the Lakers in the second round this season.

Cason Wallace is a skilled point guard that can reliably run the point and is a pesky defender that can play shutdown defense. He shot the ball very well early in the year, but he struggled to make shots consistently later in the season. Still, he is a smart, savvy playmaker that could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

20. Houston Rockets (via LAC) (Alan Lu) – Jett Howard, G-F, Michigan

Jett Howard is an agile, skilled swingman that can shoot and pass the basketball. He had a very good start to his freshman season, but missed some time due to injuries. There are some questions about his shot-creation ability and defense, but he is a smart, skilled player whose versatility and high basketball IQ could enable him to thrive in the league.

21. Brooklyn Nets (via PHO) (Richard Lu) – Kris Murray, F, Iowa

After last year’s turbulent season, they ran it back with Durant and Kyrie Irving, but it only served to make things even more chaotic. Then, Kyrie Irving demanded a trade, and they decided to pull the plug on the Durant and Kyrie Irving-Brooklyn Nets experiment. They traded them for a bevy of players and picks, and they were able to get a big year out of Mikal Bridges. They also had a strong season from Nic Claxton, who turned into a very good defensive player. The Nets are heading in a new direction, and are building a new culture.

Kris Murray is an agile, skilled combo forward that has a variety of skills that could prove to be useful in the league. He looks to be one of the more polished prospects in this draft, and while his skills may not pop instantly, he is a versatile player that can do a little bit of everything on the floor.

22. Brooklyn Nets (Richard Lu) – Leonard Miller, F-C, G-League Ignite (Canada)

Leonard Miller is a very athletic big man that had a solid season in the G-League. He put up strong numbers for the G-League Ignite, and he can help his team in a number of ways. He’ll still need to improve his outside shot, but his versatility and blend of great size and athleticism could enable him to thrive in the league.

23. Toronto Raptors (via OKC) (Richard Lu) – Bilal Coulibaly, F, Metropolitans 92 (France)

Bilal Coulibaly is a very athletic, energetic swingman that excels at making hustle plays on both ends of the floor. He’s really played well as of lately, and he’s shown an improved jump shot and scoring skills on offense. He is a young forward that may have an immense amount of upside, and while he hasn’t played very much over the years, he is a talented prospect that could end up being a solid player in the league.

24. Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu) – Sidy Cissoko, G-F, G-League Ignite (France)

The Kings made some moves to change their team around, as they hired head coach Mike Brown and acquired Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk. They also drafted Keegan Murray, and these moves provided a significant boost to their team. They got off to a great start and rode an explosive motion offense to make their first playoff appearance since 2006. They had great years from Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. The Kings lost in a tough, seven-game series to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs this year.

Sidy Cissoko is a very athletic swingman that has strong playmaking and defensive skills. He’ll need to improve his jump shot, but he is a high IQ basketball player whose court sense and defensive prowess could enable him to fit into a complementary role well in the NBA.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (Ameer Helmi) – Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan

The Grizzlies had an up and down season that was highlighted by regular season wins, but also negatively impacted by various incidents on and off the court, as well as their surprising first-round playoff exit. They had a good regular season, but they had some drama because of Ja Morant’s antics, as well as Dillon Brooks’. This pretty much carried into the playoffs, and they unexpectedly lost to the Lakers in the first round.

Kobe Bufkin is a very athletic combo guard that thrives at making aggressive plays on both sides of the ball. He really shined in Jett Howard’s absence this past season, and he’s shown that he can take over the lead guard role on offense, but he’ll need to improve his outside shot. Still, he is a talented player that could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

26. Indiana Pacers (via CLE) (Kyle Henderson) – Noah Clowney, F-C, Alabama

Noah Clowney is an athletic, energetic big man that could project to be a versatile role player in the NBA. He’s shown promising defensive skills and is a willing shooter from the outside. He also has shown that he can make a lot of hustle plays on the floor. He’ll need to improve his jump shot and handles, but he could end up being a solid role player in the NBA.

27. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN) (Corban Ford) – Maxwell Lewis, G-F, Pepperdine

Maxwell Lewis is an athletic, smooth swingman that can help his team in a number of ways when he is on the floor. He can shoot and score the basketball and could project well into a complementary role. He also is a rangy defender that has shown the ability to lock up his man. He hasn’t often faced elite competition and can sometimes be reluctant to take outside shots, but he is a skilled player that could end up being a solid player in the league.

28. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA) (Ashwin Kamath) – Trayce Jackson-Davis, F-C, Indiana

This pick was acquired in a two-team deal involving Utah in this mock draft trade.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is an athletic, high-motor big man that had a very productive career at Indiana. He operates well out of the post, and he can score and defend to help his team on the interior. He’ll need to continue to work on his jump shot, but his ability to make plays on both sides of the ball could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.

29. Indiana Pacers (via BOS) (Kyle Henderson) – Rayan Rupert, G-F, New Zealand Breakers (France)

Rayan Rupert is a very athletic, skilled swingman that played in the Australian NBL this past season. He had an up and down season as he struggled to make shots consistently, but he is a gifted defender, and he is a scorer that has shown a promising jump shot and solid handles. He’ll need to improve his jumper and shot selection, but he is a high upside prospect that could really help an NBA team in the long run.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via MIL) (Alan Lu) – Andre Jackson Jr., G-F, Connecticut

The Clippers were expected to make a deep run in the playoffs, but they had trouble staying healthy. Getting Russell Westbrook at the midseason point vid trade was a strong move for them that panned out, but the Clippers disappointed both in the regular season and the postseason, as their title hopes took a major shot when Kawhi Leonard got hurt in Game 2 and missed the rest of the series against Phoenix, and the Clippers lost in the first round in this year’s playoffs.

Andre Jackson Jr. is a smart, skilled playmaking point forward that can really distribute the basketball, and his strong playmaking and defensive skills helped UConn win the National Championship. He is one of the best passers in this draft, and his strong court vision enables him to rack up assists. He’ll need to improve his jump shot and can even be a little too unselfish, but his tremendous playmaking skills combined with his solid defense and athleticism could make him a very solid role player in the NBA.

2023 NBA Group Mock Draft, 2nd Round

This is a screenshot of the Jamboard that was used to track picks during the live, second round portion of the 2023 NBA Mock Draft.

31. Detroit Pistons (Richard Lu) – Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette

32. Indiana Pacers (via HOU) (Kyle Henderson) – Brandin Podziemski, G-F, Santa Clara

33. San Antonio Spurs (Ashwin Kamath) – Tristan Vukcevic, C, Partizan (Serbia)

34. Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford) – Jaime Jaquez Jr., G-F, UCLA

35. Boston Celtics (via POR) (Alan Lu) – Colby Jones, G, Xavier

36. Orlando Magic (Ameer Helmi) – James Nnaji, C, FC Barcelona (Spain)

37. Denver Nuggets (Richard Lu) – Marcus Sasser, G, Houston

38. Sacramento Kings (via IND) (Alan Lu) – Kobe Brown, F, Missouri

39. Charlotte Hornets (via UTA) (Corban Ford) – Amari Bailey, G, UCLA

40. Denver Nuggets (via DAL) (Richard Lu) – Keyontae Johnson, G-F, Kansas State

41. Charlotte Hornets (via OKC) (Corban Ford) – Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas

42. Washington Wizards (via CHI) (Ashwin Kamath) – Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan

43. Portland Trail Blazers (via ATL) (Ameer Helmi) – Adama Sanogo, F-C, Connecticut

44. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) (Ashwin Kamath) – Vincent Valerio-Bodon, F, Sopron KC (Hungary)

45. Memphis Grizzlies (via MIN) (Ameer Helmi) – Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga

46. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP) (Ashwin Kamath) – Terquavion Smith, G, NC State

47. Los Angeles Lakers (Corban Ford) – Ricky Council IV, G-F, Arkansas

48. Los Angeles Clippers (Alan Lu) – Jalen Wilson, F, Kansas

49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via GSW) (Corban Ford) – Jaylen Clark, G-F, UCLA

50. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA) (Alan Lu) – Ben Sheppard, G-F, Belmont

51. Brooklyn Nets (Richard Lu) – Isaiah Wong, G, Miami (Fl)

52. Phoenix Suns (Kyle Henderson) – Julian Phillips, F, Tennessee

53. Minnesota Timberwolves (via NYK) (Ashwin Kamath) – Nadir Hifi, G, Le Portel (France/Algeria)

54. Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu) – Azuolas Tubelis, F-C, Arizona

55. Indiana Pacers (via CLE) (Kyle Henderson) – Mike Miles Jr., G, TCU

56. Memphis Grizzlies (Ameer Helmi) – Hunter Tyson, F, Clemson

57. Washington Wizards (via BOS) (Ashwin Kamath) – Mouhamed Gueye, C, Washington State

58. Milwaukee Bucks (Kyle Henderson) – Drew Timme, C, Gonzaga

Mock Draft Trades Section:

Trade #1, between the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz:

The Utah Jazz traded a total of 12 first round picks (which were 3 from this year’s draft, and 9 from future years accumulated from trades with other teams) along with Walker Kessler to San Antonio to get the rights to draft Victor Wembanyama at number one and Devin Vassell.

(Photo: Fanspo.com)

San Antonio Spurs trades the 1st overall pick (rights to Victor Wembanyama) and Devin Vassell to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler, the 9th overall pick, the 16th overall pick, and the 28th overall pick, and 9 future 1st round picks acquired in the Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and Russell Westbrook trades.

With San Antonio entertaining the idea of the first overall pick being available, immediately this drew very strong interest from other teams. The Utah Jazz came in with a very strong offer that no other team could match, especially in terms of the volume of draft picks. Then when they added a player, it clinched the deal.

Trade #2, three-team trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, and the Oklahoma City Thunder:

This was largely a trade that started off as a two-team deal between Portland and Toronto, and by the time this deal concluded, Oklahoma City decided to enter the trade as the third team, and this saw Pascal Siakam, Anfernee Simons, the 3rd overall pick, and the 12th overall pick all moved to different teams.

(Photo: Fanspo.com)

This was a three-team deal between Portland, Toronto, and Oklahoma City. The Portland Trail Blazers get Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Precious Achiuwa. Oklahoma City Thunder gets Anfernee Simons. The Toronto Raptors get Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, 3rd overall pick, 12th overall pick, 23rd overall pick, and a top-five protected, 2024 1st Round Pick from Utah.

The Portland Trail Blazers go all in to give Damian Lillard as much help as he needs to make them a contender in the West. Oklahoma CIty makes an upgrade that helps them now in the future by getting a dynamic, young scoring guard in Simons. Then, Toronto completely hits the reset button by adding two lottery picks and a couple of extra first round picks to rebuild around Scottie Barnes.

Trades That Were Almost Made:

Proposed and Canceled Trade (from Boston):

The Boston Celtics (Alan Lu) proposed trading Malcolm Brogdon, Payton Pritchard, Mike Muscala, and the 35th overall pick to the Phoenix Suns (Kyle Henderson) for Chris Paul.

This was initially Boston’s idea in an attempt to try to secure a pass-first, playmaking point guard that would play alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown via trade in this mock draft. This move was aimed to give Boston an elite playmaking point guard in Paul, who would get Tatum and Brown easier shots in the flow of the offense. In turn, this would’ve freed up Phoenix from having to pay Paul for an additional two more seasons, who is also aging and injury-prone, and they would’ve gained scoring punch and a skilled playmaking combo guard in Malcolm Brogdon, as well as a solid backup point guard in Payton Pritchard, and a stretch big that can provide spot minutes off the bench in Muscala. Boston would’ve made a big, bold, and also risky move and put their chips in even further while Phoenix gets to add more depth to their roster.

However, shortly afterwards, the Phoenix Suns announced their intentions to trade or waive him, as first reported as going to be waived by Chris Haynes, and somewhat contradicted by other sources. Still, Chris Paul is on a non-guaranteed contract for next season, and Boston figured that they could just wait out Phoenix and sign him outright in free agency while keeping Brogdon, Pritchard, and Muscala, or trade them for other players elsewhere.

If it weren’t for the real life news of Phoenix announcing their intent to trade or waive Chris Paul, then this deal would’ve been made, instead of Boston deciding to cancel it at the last minute due to their belief that they could sign him outright in free agency instead without having to give up key players to get him. With the real life news of Paul being waived as a possibility or probability, Boston decided to cancel the trade, so this trade was not made, and Boston ended up keeping the 35th overall pick in this mock draft.

This is how the events unfolded in our 2023 NBA Group Mock Draft. Thanks for reading.