NBA Draft Articles - Page 49

The Portland Trail Blazers appear to be a franchise without a clear path forward this offseason. Under both external and internal pressure to put themselves in championship contention next season, it’s important to remember that seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard is under contract with the Blazers through the 2026-27 season, with a $63.2 million player option […]

It now feels like a lifetime away since Paolo Banchero was selected by the Orlando Magic as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. So much has happened since that faithful night, which also includes the former Duke standout bagging the coveted Rookie of the Year award. At this point, it is […]

The second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs is officially underway, with organizations being a step closer to the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Clippers, that is not the case anymore. They were recently eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, meaning their season is over. Now, likely with eyes […]

The San Antonio Spurs had a horrific season, finishing 22-60, dead last in the Western Conference. The good news is the Spurs’ draft pick will now be high in the 2023 NBA Draft. If the ping pong balls of the NBA Draft Lottery leave the Spurs at the No. 3 spot — where their 2022-23 […]

This is the end of the beginning for the Sacramento Kings. Whereas this year was the surreal romp of an underdog miraculously realizing that they’re as good as just about any overdog, the Kings will feel the burden of expectations going forward. Losing to the Warriors in seven hotly contested games feels like a pyrrhic […]

The 2022-23 season was supposed to be some sort of turning point for the rebuilding Detroit Pistons. After all, they decided to give Cade Cunningham, the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, a reliable floor-spacing veteran in Bojan Bogdanovic. However, it’s clear that with the youth of the Pistons’ roster, rising above the […]

The NBA Draft Lottery is right around the corner. In less than two weeks — May 16th, to be exact — teams who missed out on the postseason will figure out which of the top-14 picks belong to them. It’s a time of great excitement but also anxiety for these organizations, as teams’ futures can […]

Will the Indiana Pacers be able to fight their way into playoff contention during the 2023-24 season? Indiana finished with a record of 35-47, good enough for fourth in the Central Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers ended last year’s draft with Arizona forward Bennedict Mathurin, Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard and French […]

The Sacramento Kings were right there. Maybe they got a bit too ahead of themselves, lacked enough experience, or were just short on talent. Maybe they just had bad injury luck. More than likely, the truth is all of these things but because experience is the best teacher, Sacramento should come back better and more […]

After a pleasantly surprising 2022-23 campaign that saw them snap a 17-year postseason drought, the Sacramento Kings had their run come to a blistering halt Sunday afternoon in a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors. While seeing this inexperienced team take the defending champions to seven games is undoubtedly a positive sight to see, […]

The Memphis Grizzlies have a couple of positions that they could look to address in the 2023 NBA Draft as a team with depth and durability issues in the backcourt and at the pivot. Furthermore, with questions regarding their desire to re-sign defensive-minded Dillon Brooks, the Grizzlies could be enticed to look for an athletic […]

With two first round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft and $41.2 million in projected cap space, the Utah Jazz have an opportunity to add a solid collection talent to their roster this offseason. Finishing the 2022-23 regular season at 37-45, the Jazz were 3.0 games outside of a spot in the Play-In Tournament. This […]

The Rockets are readying themselves for take off. Since Harden coerced his way to Brooklyn in 2021, the team has been bad and made no qualms about it. Winning didn’t matter as much as shoveling possessions and shots down the throats of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and (to a lesser extent) Alperen Sengun. But, […]

The Atlanta Hawks are going to be monitored closely throughout the 2023 offseason thanks to questions surrounding the playing futures of multiple veterans. That said, the offseason is always a chance for franchises to make necessary adjustments as they gear up for the future. Whatever the fate of Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela or […]

Paolo Banchero would definitely love it if he and Victor Wembanyama can pair up in Orlando. For the NBA Rookie of the Year, Wembanyama’s addition will surely take the Orlando Magic to a whole another level. The Magic rising star said as much in a recent interview with Malika Andrews on NBA Today, noting that the […]

Will the Washington Wizards be able to select a home-run pick with their potential No. 8 spot in the 2023 NBA Draft? Guard Bradley Beal, center Daniel Gafford and guard Monte Morris are locked down for the 2023-24 season, while forwards Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma have player options, according to Spotrac. Some of Washington’s […]

Where can the Indiana Pacers go once the NBA Draft Lottery decides its draft spot in May? Indiana finished its 2022-23 season with a record of 35-47, good enough for 11th in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Central Division behind the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana finished with its highest […]

The Toronto Raptors ended their 2022-23 campaign with a 41-41 record that seemed to have to fight to get. This despite having one of the most productive players in team history in Fred VanVleet, a perennial All-Star candidate in Pascal Siakam, a perennial All-Defensive candidate in OG Anunoby, dynamic young forward Scottie Barnes and a […]

Emoni Bates, the wunderkind turned cautionary tale, is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. As a high schooler, Bates looked like the future, a budding Kevin Durant clone who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2019 and became the first sophomore to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2020. For years, […]

Missouri basketball guard Kobe Brown declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his last year of college eligibility, the senior announced in a Sunday tweet. “It’s crazy to think how much a kid from the ‘ville can move away and gain the love and support of so many,” he wrote. “To all of my coaches, […]

With the Brooklyn Nets now officially in offseason mode, it’s time to look at the decisions may make in one of the most exciting times of the year: the NBA Draft. Possessing two picks (No. 21 & No. 22) in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, the Nets have an opportunity to add […]

Creighton basketball forward Arthur Kaluma declared for the 2023 NBA draft, he announced in a Sunday tweet. “After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the 2023 NBA Draft,” Kaluma wrote. “I am excited to take this next step in my basketball journey and look forward to what the future holds.” A former 4-star recruit […]

More and more players across the country are declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft in recent months since March Madness concluded. The latest two to make big decisions on their futures are Overtime Elite stars Amen and Ausar Thompson, also known as the Thompson Twins. They’re both projected to be lottery picks and officially made […]

In the most unsurprising news of the year, Victor Wembanyama has decided to head for the 2023 NBA Draft. The French superstar announced his decision in an interview with Malika Andrews, and the projected No. 1 pick surprised absolutely nobody with this decision. Victor Wembanyama has officially entered his name into the NBA Draft 🔥pic.twitter.com/F7oQDmIMGq […]

The UCLA Bruins 2022-23 season ended on a bittersweet note after a very successful regular season. A team that looked like a national championship contender suffered key injuries and ended up falling to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. It appears as if this season might have been UCLA’s best shot at a title as next […]

As far as Scoot Henderson is concerned, he should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft over Victor Wembanyama. The G League Ignite top prospect is widely expected to be a top three pick in this year’s NBA Draft at the very least and he is is certainly worth the hype. […]

Rayan Rupert is probably one of the five best French NBA Draft prospects ever. The son of a former pro basketball player and the star of France’s youth international teams, Rupert has the stats and pedigree to show he’s every bit as talented as recent highly touted young guys like Ousmane Dieng, Killian Hayes and […]

The Houston Rockets have drafted well over the past couple of seasons, but they still need to find a connector piece that can help the offense get easy buckets. In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Rockets should be able to do just that with their odds to land the second overall pick. However, though it […]

UConn basketball junior Andre Jackson Jr. plans to enter the NBA draft, but has retained his college eligibility, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Andre Jackson Jr. was a huge part of UConn basketball’s run to the national championship in 2023. Jackson Jr., Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo were seen as the Huskies’ ‘big three’ […]

Purdue Boilermakers superstar Zach Edey has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, he announced on social media on Tuesday. “My basketball journey has been unorthodox to say the least, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it,” the AP College Basketball National Player of the Year said in a tweet. “From ranked 437 in my class […]

Most NBA fans’ attention right now is going towards the NBA Playoffs, and rightfully so. Over the next two months, 16 teams will battle it out in the quest for the ever-elusive championship. However, it’s also important to remember that 14 teams have already entered the offseason. Some teams were never in the playoff race, but […]

The San Antonio Spurs are in rebuild mode. However, armed with a Hall of Fame head coach and an elite player development group, they have as much reason to look forward to the 2023 NBA Draft as any team. Not in the least because, with the third overall pick, the Spurs are in position to […]

After an outstanding four-year career with the Miami Hurricanes, 22-year-old point guard Isaiah Wong will declare for the 2023 NBA Draft, per FOX’s John Fanta. Wong, who averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game this past season while helping lead the Hurricanes to the Final Four, is fourth in school history with […]

Sam Hinkie walked so that the Oklahoma City Thunder could run. And run they have. Building their team primarily through the draft, the Thunder have managed to put an affordable yet ultra-competitive roster together. To that point, all it takes sometimes is one or two lottery picks to display real star potential. Most teams aren’t […]

The NBA announced the results of six tiebreakers for the NBA Draft Lottery tiebreakers, with some notable ones near the top. Let’s dive into each of the tiebreakers and the implications each of them have with teams hoping to win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. All of the information is via Joe Mussatto of Oklahoman Sports. […]

With the 2023 NBA Draft edging ever closer, Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler has decided it’s time to take the next step in his basketball journey, declaring for the draft on Monday (h/t ESPN’s Jonathan Givony). Flagler, who won a championship with the Bears in 2021, was a two-time All Big-12 player who finished his […]

The Charlotte Hornets are in a strange position. Not because their team owner – – living legend and NBA icon Michael Jordan — is preparing to sell the franchise as soon as this summer. Not even because LaMelo Ball — a dynamic point guard and the face of their franchise — had a season-ending ankle […]

The Dallas Mavericks‘ offseason is likely going to revolve around the free agency period and whether they’re able to re-sign All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. However, this shouldn’t distract them from the 2023 NBA Draft, a day that they’ll make a major decision for the future of the franchise. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say the Mavericks […]

The Detroit Pistons didn’t enter the season expected to be in the running for the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, with Cade Cunningham — the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft — sustaining a season-ending shin injury just 12 games into his 2022-23 campaign, the Pistons were suddenly upstream with […]