It is officially NBA Draft week, and we look forward to all the exciting talent coming into the league next season. This draft class has about everything teams might need and is the most well-rounded group of prospects in a long time. This is not a great year to be missing your first-round pick. Luckily for the Sacramento Kings, they have the 24th overall pick but don’t get fooled by the late first-round pick this year, as loads of talented prospects will fall.
Sacramento had some draft luck recently, with two of their last three first-round selections earning All-Rookie 1st Team honors. The Kings will try to continue their recent trend this year as we will get to our prediction of what talented prospect will be moving to Sacramento next weekend.
The 2023 NBA Draft is Thursday, June 22nd, so there is no time to wait.
Here is A Royal Pain’s 2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0:
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
The most significant prospect we have seen since LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama has a lot to live up to. The Spurs won the Wembanyama sweepstakes, so we will get a chance to see what the best coach of this generation can do with the talented 7’5″ big man. The last time the Spurs had the number one overall pick, they drafted Tim Duncan.
2. Charlotte Hornets: Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite
The first split decision of the draft comes at pick 2, where the Hornets have to decide between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller. Recently, teams in the top five have had bad luck picking for fit rather than the best player available. Henderson is the clear-cut number-two guy in this draft, so Charlotte should not make the same mistake. While the fit next to LaMelo Ball is the biggest question here, the two talented guards should be able to play next to each other.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama
With reports of multiple teams trying to trade for a top-three pick, the Trail Blazers are potentially shipping this pick away. Either way, whether it is the Blazers or another team picking third overall, Brandon Miller will be selected. The versatile 6’8″ forward fits practically any lineup and would be a great fit alongside Damian Lillard if Portland keeps the pick. The fantastic scorer could help a healthy Blazers team return to the playoffs.
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, PG, Overtime Elite
Amen Thompson fills a much-needed hole in the Rockets’ lineup as they get their franchise point guard. The super athletic 6’6″ guard is an elite playmaker with shot-creating abilities. His 7’0″ wingspan help make him the most versatile point guard in the draft, as he can become an elite two-way presence.
5. Detroit Pistons: Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova
The Pistons have a top-five pick once again, as they can use a talented wing in Cam Whitmore to build on their young core. The athletic 6’6″ forward has many tools to develop into the best wing in this class, as the Pistons are drafting for his upside. He is an impressive slasher who uses his strong build and athleticism to get to the rim and finish with force.
6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, SG, Overtime Elite
The Magic have had trouble finding a secured backcourt, so that is the direction they will be heading at pick 6. Ausar Thompson is not only the best player available, but his elite two-way ability will also be a perfect fit next to reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero. Ausar is more versatile than his brother and can play the one through three with elite upside on both sides of the ball.
7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, PF, Houston
The Pacers look to fill their biggest hole by drafting an impressive two-way power forward. The 6’7″ big man has a 7’3″ wingspan and is what people call a beast. Walker is very skilled on offense, especially for his size, and has elite defensive traits. He is a great fit for a rebuilding Pacers team to surround All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black, CG, Arkansas
With the Wizards entering a rebuilding phase after trading Bradley Beal to the Suns, they look to take a talented guard with elite playmaking ability. The 6’7″ guard has great size that will translate to the next level. Even with a lack of shot-creating ability, his defensive upside and tools to develop his scoring give him the potential to be a franchise player for the Wizards.
9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, PF, UCF
While a power forward is not a strong desire for a Utah Jazz team coming off a breakout Lauri Markkanen season, the Jazz have no reason to pass on the best player available. Hendricks is a 6’8″ forward with elite two-way versatility. He is an impressive on-ball defender with a jump shot that is developing quickly. Hendricks is an incredible athlete and should be valuable on a Jazz team holding three first-round draft picks.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Bilal Coulibaly, SF, France
Playing on the same team as Victor Wembanyama, it took a while for scouts to see the impressive skill of Coulibaly. The Mavericks have had amazing luck with international prospects in the past, so why not take the chance here? Coulibaly is possibly the best on-ball defender in the draft, with the tools to become a complete two-way player. Playing next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would bring the best out of Coulibaly.
11. Orlando Magic (via CHI): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
After drafting Ausar Thompson with the 6th pick, the Magic go a different direction with 7’1″ Dereck Lively at pick 11. Instead of loading their backcourt depth even more, the Magic snag the undisputed 2nd best center prospect in the draft to add size to an already tall lineup. Although Lively struggled to get comfortable on offense at Duke, he has shown flashes of a shooting touch through pre-draft workouts.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Gradey Dick, SG, Kansas
Oklahoma City was up there with Sacramento for the two most surprising teams last season. The Thunder have a very young roster with loads of future draft picks. The future is bright in Oklahoma City, but for now, they need to address their biggest need: shooting. Gradey Dick is the best shooter in the draft but has more versatility than people realize. The 6’6″ guard can play multiple positions and possesses a playmaking ability that makes him much more than a sharpshooter.
13. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana
The Toronto Raptors have many roster questions going into next season, but the need for a point guard remains the same. There are many point guard options for Toronto here, but the high upside of Jalen Hood-Schifino puts him ahead of the rest. The 6’4″ guard has a 6’10” wingspan and is an incredible two-way player with elite playmaking and scoring potential.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Cason Wallace, CG, Kentucky
With rumors of the Pelicans looking to trade up into the top three to draft Scoot Henderson. If they do not get that deal done, they can go for an NBA-ready point guard in Cason Wallace, who would give flashbacks from when Jrue Holiday was in a Pelicans jersey. The 6’2″ guard possesses a versatile skillset of elite defense with playmaking and shooting upside.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Keyonte George, CG, Baylor
The Hawks have their starting backcourt in Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but the duo of two true point guards has not worked out. Selecting Keyonte George here gives them backcourt depth with the potential for George to take the reigns of the starting shooting guard position eventually. George is an incredible offensive talent who can score from all three levels.
16. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Nick Smith Jr., CG, Arkansas
The Utah Jazz find themselves in a dream scenario where they draft Taylor Hendricks with the 9th pick, and then a talented guard falls to them at 16. Smith is a talented scorer with an impressive skillset that gives him the potential to be a franchise point guard in Utah. An offensive duo of Smith and Lauri Markkanen would be fun to watch, as Smith would thrive in Utah’s system.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Hawkins, SG, UCONN
Free agency is about to hit the Lakers hard, shrinking their backcourt depth severely. Hawkins provides impressive shooting and championship experience to a Los Angeles team unsure about LeBron James’ future. Whether the Lakers are ready to run it back or they are starting fresh, Hawkins is NBA-ready.
18. Miami Heat: Kobe Bufkin, PG, Michigan
The Miami Heat are entering next season with point guard problems. With Gabe Vincent pending unrestricted free agency and an aging Kyle Lowry, Miami needs to focus on point guard depth with this pick. Kobe Bufkin is an impressive two-way presence and great with the ball in his hands. The 19-year-old spent two seasons at Michigan, where we saw an improvement in his jump shot. If he keeps improving his game, Bufkin has an elite upside.
19. Golden State Warriors: Kris Murray, PF, Iowa
The Golden State Warriors are still in win-now mode, regardless of Draymond Green’s future with the team. Kris Murray is an NBA-ready forward who possesses the skills to be an immediate impact on the Warriors. The 6’8″ forward can play multiple positions with defensive versatility. He is a prototypical 3-and-D prospect with the potential to be much more.
20. Houston Rockets (via LAC): Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State
After drafting an athletic guard in Amen Thompson with the 4th overall pick, the Rockets go a different direction here and aim for a smart, scoring forward in Brice Sensabaugh. Houston is full of guys that know how to create their own shots, so selecting someone who can make shots but does not necessarily create for himself could be a nice change of pace. Sensabaugh is an impressive scorer who does not need elite athleticism to get to his spots.
21. Brooklyn Nets (via PHX): Jett Howard, SG, Michigan
The Nets are in a weird phase where it is hard to tell if they are rebuilding or trying to win. Either way, they go for a sure-fire scorer with a knack for getting the ball in the basket. Jett Howard is a 6’8″ SG/SF who can create his own shot while playing off others as a catch-and-shoot threat. Howard adds some much-needed scoring to the Nets lineup.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Leonard Miller, SF, G League Ignite
With back-to-back picks, the Nets took an NBA-ready scorer in Jett Howard and now look toward a potential project player with a high upside in Leonard Miller. The 6’10” forward has guard-like skills and impressive movements for his size. With a 7’2″ wingspan, Miller has the potential to be a great defender but is still improving. If he can develop an outside shot, he would be a scarier threat on offense, but he is still a high-potential prospect with his size and skill.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (via NYK): James Nnaji, C, Nigeria
Due to a lack of elite center options in this class, James Nnaji has a wide draft range. After drafting Brandon Miller 3rd overall, they find some frontcourt depth in Nnaji, the third-best center prospect in the class. The 18-year-old, 6’10” big man has a 7’7″ wingspan with the potential to be an elite paint defender with flashes of interior scoring ability. Nnaji is a project player, so playing behind Jusuf Nurkic to start his NBA career would be ideal.
24. Sacramento Kings: Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama
The Sacramento Kings can continue their draft success by selecting Noah Clowney. The Kings’ roster heading into next season consists of a loaded backcourt, minimal wing depth, and a big man shortage. With Harrison Barnes, Trey Lyles, and Terence Davis pending free agency, the Kings might ultimately focus on drafting a wing to replace at least one, assuming they do not all re-sign.
With this pick, Sacramento can draft a player versatile enough to primarily play wing but can stretch to fill in for big man depth as well. Noah Clowney is an 18-year-old, 6’10” big man with a 7’2″ wingspan. In his freshman season at Alabama, Clowney averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game on 48/28/65 shooting splits.
Noah Clowney is a premier two-way talent in this class. His defense makes him stand out, as his length allows him to be elite on that end of the ball. His wingspan and athleticism make him an incredible shot blocker. He is an impressive on-ball defender that can switch onto perimeter ball handlers.
For being a 6’10” power forward, Clowney moves like a guard. He is quick and athletic, and combined with being a smart player with good court awareness, Clowney always finds himself in the right spot on the court.
While his 28% from deep suggests he is a horrendous shooter, his pre-draft workouts have proven otherwise. He is comfortable with his jump shot and has used these workouts to show teams he is better on offense than they might think.
Noah Clowney is precisely what the Kings should look for in a big man if they decide to go that route in the draft. He is a 6’10” forward who plays elite defense, can rebound the ball, run the floor, and has shown glimpses of a jump shot. If Clowney is the guy that is packing his bags for Sacramento next weekend, Kings fans should be thrilled.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, PF, Marquette
With the Ja Morant suspension being 25 games and not longer, the Grizzlies do not need to focus on guard play in the draft. Instead, they can focus on gaining wing depth, especially with Dillion Brooks hitting free agency. Prosper is a 6’7″ forward with a great defensive game and the tools to be an impressive two-way player.
26. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): Colby Jones, SG, Xavier
After drafting Jarace Walker with the 7th overall pick, the Pacers can target some backcourt depth at pick 26. Colby Jones is an NBA-ready guard with an all-around game. He is an impressive shooter with playmaking qualities that will complement the Indiana lineup well. A high-energy player with all the right tools is exactly what a young Pacers team needs.
27. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN): Rayan Rupert, SG, France
With their starting backcourt now cemented with Scoot Henderson and Lamelo Ball, the Hornets take a lock-down defender who should fit right into the Charlotte lineup. His offensive flashes prove him to be more than a defender, but his tenacious defense will allow him to contribute immediately on a young Hornets squad.
28. Utah Jazz (via PHI): Dariq Whitehead, SG, Duke
With their third first-round pick of the draft, the Jazz take a chance on a high-upside prospect like Dariq Whitehead. Going into last season, Whitehead was regarded as a top-five NBA prospect. Due to injuries, his stock has plummeted, but Whitehead still has the potential to be great. If he can get into a groove in Utah and stay healthy, the Jazz might be getting the steal of the draft.
29. Indiana Pacers (via BOS): Sidy Cissoko, SG, G League Ignite
The Pacers have three first-round picks, and after playing it safe with NBA-ready prospects Jarace Walker and Colby Jones, they can take a risk with Sidy Cissoko. The 19-year-old is an impressive defender with elite athleticism and playmaking ability. He has the tools to become an impactful two-way presence but needs time to develop.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via MIL): Trayce Jackson-Davis, PF, Indiana
With the last pick of the first round, the Clippers get a proven NCAA star in Jackson-Davis. The versatile 6’8″ forward has elite athleticism and is a force on both ends of the court. While he struggles to find an outside shot, the Clippers could use some interior presence on offense and defense.
4 Game-changing forwards the Sacramento Kings must target with the 38th pick
The 2023 NBA Draft is one week away and it is loaded with talent. Here we look at four forwards the Sacramento Kings can target with the 38th overall pick.