Amen Thompson is one of the most intriguing 2023 NBA Draft prospects. The forward opted to play for Overtime Elite over the past two seasons rather than go the college route. He joined his brother, Ausar, in suiting up in the Atlanta-based basketball league.
What we do know is that some have Thompson as the fourth-best prospect in the entire draft behind the big three. His athleticism, frame and skillset are certainly on the radar of teams heading into the annual event.
With the 2023 NBA Draft set to get going on Thursday, let’s check in on Amen Thompson’s scouting profile and his three-best potential landing spots in the annual event.
Related: Sportsnaut’s updated 2023 NBA mock draft
Amen Thompson measurables
- Height: 6-foot-7
- Wingspan: 6-foot-11
- Weight: 200 pounds
Amen Thompson scouting report
- Positives: Freak athlete. Rim runner. Can soar for dunks. Open floor speed coupled with great transition ability. Dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. Very fluid passer who sees the entire court. His defense is already pro-ready from the perimeter.
- Negatives: Struggles as a perimeter shooter and is inconsistent from the mid-range game. Turned the ball over too much for Overtime Elite. Is seen as a major project on the offensive side of the court.
Related: Top 100 2023 NBA Draft prospects
Best fits for Amen Thompson in the 2023 NBA Draft
Teams are going to be intrigued by the athleticism and flexibility Thompson brings to the table. His upside from the frontcourt is only behind Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller as it relates to 2023 NBA Draft prospects.
In fact, we envision a scenario where teams picking a bit later in the lottery (Toronto Raptors) look to trade up for the forward. Here’s a look at the ideal landing spots for Thompson in the draft.
- Amen Thompson stats (Overtime Elite): 16.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.9 APG, 57% FG, 25% 3-point
Detroit Pistons (5th pick)
With Monty Williams now aboard as Detroit’s head coach, it will be interesting to see what general manager Troy Weaver does at five. The Pistons have to be disappointed by the outcome of the NBA Draft Lottery. They could very well look to flip this pick for a proven asset and expedite the rebuild given the cost to hire Williams.
If not, getting frontcourt help to go with young guards Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey has to be the name of the game. Thompson can play both forward positions. His initial ability on defense and in transition will help when it comes to Williams’ fast-paced scheme. It’s an ideal fit should Thompson last past the fourth pick.
Related: 2023 NBA trade tracker with grades
Indiana Pacers (7th pick)
Indiana would likely have to trade up from the seventh spot to land Thompson. The good news? This team has the assets to do that. Former first-round pick Chris Duarte could be one of those assets to entice a team selecting within the top five.
What we do know is that Indiana seems to be an ideal fit for Amen Thompson. He’d team up with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton and stud young wing Bennedict Mathurin to form an elite young trio. A move of this ilk would also likely enable the Pacers to move forward Jalen Smith and even big man Isaiah Jackson to create a more well-rounded roster moving forward.
Utah Jazz (9th pick)
Do we expect the Jazz to stand pat at nine? It seems highly unlikely given the assets front office head Danny Ainge added in separate trades of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert last summer. The idea has to be to get a potential franchise cornerstone in the 2023 NBA Draft. Given how the board is going to play out, this is unlikely at nine.
Coming off a surprisingly competitive 2022-23 season, Utah has some building blocks in place. That includes stud young center Walker Kessler. Imagine bringing in Thompson to team up with him in the frontcourt. At least initially, that’d make for an absolutely elite defensive pairing for Will Hardy and Co.