The 2023 NBA Draft is now a thing of the past. One of the most-heralded classes in modern history, led by new San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, are now professionals.
Fellow top prospect Cam Whitmore saw his draft stock fall big time. He ended up landing with the Houston Rockets at 20. Sportsnaut had the former Villanova forward as its fifth-ranked prospect heading into the 2023 NBA Draft.
Speaking of the Rockets, they knocked the draft out of the ballpark. The same thing can be said about the Utah Jazz, who are now reaping the rewards of the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades from last summer.
On the other end of the spectrum, we’re not 100% sure what the Washington Wizards are doing after trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal. It’s in this that we look at the winners and losers from Thursday’s draft.
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Winner: San Antonio Spurs land franchise cornerstone
Realistically, San Antonio became one of the major winners of the annual event when it won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery during the spring. Everyone knew that French big man and generational talent Victor Wembanyama was going to be the top selection.
We’re talking about a 7-foot-3 big with electric athleticism, consistent outside shooting ability, a great ability to create his own shot, solid finisher inside and a low-post anchor on defense. Yeah, Wemby is the full package. Despite all of the hoopla, this is more of a long-term play for the Spurs.
“Victor’s body is going to be one where they’re going to be very careful with. I would assume they’re not going to throw him out there for 82 games,” an opposing team’s executive told Sportsnaut. “This is a long-term play. He’s got to build up his body. I think he’s going to be terrific. The only thing that could derail him are his lower leg injuries.”
Even then, the Spurs’ ability to add a franchise cornerstone and building block after one of their worst seasons in franchise history can’t go unnoticed.
Related: Can Victor Wembanyama follow Tim Duncan’s successful path with San Antonio Spurs?
Loser: Cam Whitmore’s slide in the 2023 NBA Draft
A top-12 recruit in the class of 2022, most had this former Villanova wing as a top-10 lock. As noted above, we had him as the fifth-best prospect in the annual event. We’re talking about the most pro-ready prospect outside of Wembanyama. Cam Whitmore averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds for Villanova a season ago. He’s seen as a three-and-D wing.
So, why did the Maryland native fall all the way to the Houston Rockets at 20? Speculation during the draft night fall focused on questionable pre-draft interviews and potential injury issues, the latter of which was quickly debunked.
“Different feeling, but then again, it’s the same feeling. I’ve been overlooked a lot of times in my life, so it didn’t really faze me,” Cam Whitmore told reporters from the NBA Draft Green Room. “It motivates me to like 150%. Coming into that organization with a chip on my shoulder, have a lot of motivation on my mind.”
Whitmore will now have to a chance to prove himself with a young Rockets team as a rookie in 2023-24.
Related: Grades for each 1st-round pick in 2023 NBA Draft
Winner: Utah Jazz continue with rebuild by dominating Round 1
Front office head Danny Ainge is clearly expediting the Jazz’ rebuild process. After a surprisingly competitive 2022-23 season, that process continued during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. This included Utah selecting forward Taylor Hendricks with the ninth pick in the draft. The 6-foot-9 forward represents a ton of upside. He hit on 39% of his shots from three-point range last season and can make an immediate impact in that regard.
At 16, Utah took two-guard Keyonte George from Baylor. It’s clear that the team was targeting shooting. The youngster averaged 15.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 34% shooting from distance last season. If that weren’t enough, Utah picked up one of the best pure shooters in the draft, Brice Sensabaugh, with the 28th selection. Three likely long-term contributors brought to Salt Lake City in one night. Not too shabby.
Related: 2023 NBA trade tracker with grades
Loser: What are the Washington Wizards doing?
We have no idea. Obviously, new front office head Michael Winger is going into full-scale rebuild mode after moving Beal and Porzingis. But why draft a major project in forward Bilal Coulibaly at No. 7? Why trade two future second-round picks to just move up one spot for the former Victor Wembanyama teammate in France?
Sure, Coulibaly has a ton of upside. But he’s not going to be able to compete in the NBA for a while. It was an odd decision with the likes of Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks and Cason Wallace on the board. Washington then traded the 35th pick to the Chicago Bulls, because, the team obviously doesn’t need young players. Sarcasm aside, this was not a great first draft for Winger in D.C.
Winner: Charlotte Hornets ace 2023 NBA Draft
In what was the final draft with Michael Jordan as majority owner, the Hornets came out of Thursday night smelling like roses. It started with selecting former Alabama forward Brandon Miller at two. The forward is a tremendous all-around prospect with elite athleticism and a sweet shot. He has a chance to be a franchise cornerstone with star LaMelo Ball in Charlotte.
However, it’s what the Hornets did later in the 2023 NBA Draft that can’t go unnoticed. This included picking up our No. 11 prospect in that of guard Nick Smith Jr. with the 27th selection. Smith struggled at Arkansas last season. But he has untapped potential and is a great fit with Ball in the backcourt.
Loser: Portland Trail Blazers
Sure, Scoot Henderson would have been the consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft if it weren’t for the presence of Wembanyama. He might very well morph into an All-NBA performer. We’re not questioning that pick in a vacuum.
Instead, general manager Joe Cronin failed in landing another star to team up with franchise legend Damian Lillard. Rumors leading up to the annual event suggested that this was going to happen.
It could now lead to Dame potentially requesting a trade in the near future. The seven-time All-Star has made it clear that he doesn’t want to take part in a rebuild. As currently constructed, that’s the process Portland is in right now. And it could lead to some major drama in the Pacific Northwest moving forward.