In CBS Sports’ most recent top five for the 2023 NBA Mock Draft, Arkansas’ Nick Smith and Alabama’s Brandon Miller have made significant appearances.
With the NBA Draft looming just over five months away, the top prospects are beginning to take shape. The recent passing of the NBA trade deadline could provide insight into which teams may be aiming for a high draft pick through tanking or pushing for a playoff berth.
In CBS Sports’ latest mock draft by Gary Parrish, the San Antonio Spurs are projected to select Victor Wembanyama from France as the No. 1 overall pick. Wembanyama is widely regarded as one of the most promising prospects in recent memory and is virtually guaranteed to be chosen first regardless of the selecting team.
Wembanyama is among four non-collegiate players predicted to be selected in the top 10. The others include Scott Henderson from the G League Ignite team, as well as Amen and Amar Thompson from Overtime Elite.
The anticipation surrounding Wembanyama’s arrival in the NBA is unparalleled, with tanking strategies likely to reach unprecedented levels among fans eager to see him in action. Regarded as a once-in-a-generation talent, Wembanyama has the potential to single-handedly transform a struggling franchise. Securing him in the draft will undoubtedly feel like winning the jackpot for whichever team manages to land him.
According to CBS Sports, LeBron James likened Wembanyama to an “alien,” while Stephen Curry described him as akin to a “cheat code.” Many experts, including myself, consider him the undisputed top prospect in this class by a significant margin. One scout even compared him to a “giraffe,” emphasizing his exceptional physical attributes and skill set. Witnessing him play in person during scouting sessions evokes fantasies of his immense potential and upside.
