My Favorite Picks From the 2023 NBA Draft
Pacers: Jarace Walker
Jarace Walker is a perfect fit in Indiana. Standing at 6’8” with a 7'2.5” wingspan, he has the size to play NBA defense at a high level right away. He's got a jacked frame and sits in the 240-250 lb range, so he won’t have any problems guarding NBA bigs and larger forwards. He uses his body really well on both ends, specifically when talking about his ability to guard and grab rebounds.
The physicality pops off the screen when you watch him play. Walker will make his money on the defensive end to start his career, as his will to defend is evident and he showcased really great instincts when it comes to blocking shots and sliding over to play help defense in his lone season at the University of Houston. He also showcased the ability to use his wingspan in the passing lanes for steals. The numbers back up the eye test when it comes to his impact on the defensive end, as he averaged 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
The main reason I'm confident that Walker will be a great pro is simple: he’s versatile on both sides of the basketball. We've already talked about his mix of abilities and tools on defense, but I also love what I see on the offensive end. He was the second leading scorer (11.2 points per game) on a loaded Houston team and showcased legitimate three-level scoring ability. You can put him in the dunker's spot to finish off plays. He's comfortable operating in the mid post and has good touch in the midrange area. He can put the ball on the floor for straight drives to the rim. He's comfortable spotting up from three and shot a decent clip (34.7 percent) from long range with simple catch and shoot mechanics. His frame and motor make him a factor on the offensive boards. Not to mention he also showed some potential to set up teammates, specifically as a short roller. All in all, with what Walker showed in college, I believe that he has the potential to be a three-level scoring player while playing off the ball.
The versatility you get with Walker is so vital because he can impact winning without needing the basketball. Since this is the case, I can see him having an Aaron Gordon type of role on a really good team: A big forward with a really high motor and can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball.
The fit on the Pacers has great potential. He can slide in and start at the 4 right away. A frontcourt of him and Myles Turner is a nightmare to score on. It's also ideal that he's paired with a center that can shoot it from deep and stretch the floor, considering Walker might take some time to be a legitimate threat from the NBA three point line. Walker also brings some much needed size to the Pacers. Their most common starting lineup had a 6’5” Aaron Nesmith at the 4 and they lacked productive big forwards. Indiana also acquired two second round picks for simply trading down one spot. Great draft night for the Pacers.
Thunder: Cason Wallace
When I watch Cason Wallace play, two words pop into my head: productive pro. He's got a solid build to play combo guard in the NBA, as he's around 6’4” in shoes and measured a wingspan of 6’8.5” at the combine. Similar to Walker, I think that Wallace can step in and play NBA defense at a high level right away.
His defensive instincts jump off the screen when you watch him. His hands are lightning fast and he uses them to pick off passes or dig out steals from ball handlers. He averaged 2.0 steals a game in his one season with Kentucky. He can really shuffle his feet to stay squared with the ball handler on defense and he uses his strong frame to play physical on the ball.
The way he flows around the court on defense and knows where to be is hard to teach. Once he gets used to the speed of the NBA, he will be a disruptive force as a point of attack defender. I can se Wallace making some NBA All-Defensive Teams at some point.
Wallace brings a lot to the table on offense as well. He uses his sturdy build well when attacking the basket, helping him put a good amount of pressure on the rim. He may not be an extremely bouncy athlete but he has a good mix of crafty finishes. One aspect of his game that really stood out on tape is how in control he is when maneuvering the pick and roll. He is rarely in a rush with the ball in his hands, which helps him see playmaking opportunities while also being a threat to score. He averaged a solid 4.3 assists in his freshman season while also leading Kentucky in total assists.
I could see him being above average at setting up teammates at the NBA level once he really gets used to the speed of the pro game. He might not have many breathtaking assists that you see from elite playmaking prospects, but there is great value in a player that can make the simple pass consistently without taking too many risks.
I am also a big believer in Wallace’s jumpshot, despite him not shooting an amazing percent from three (34.5%). His mechanics are very simple with little wasted movement, and I like how his jumper looks off of catch and shoot opportunities. He keeps his hands ready and stays squared to the basket while not bringing the ball down much. This helps him get his shot off fairly quick. He also showed some flashes of movement threes. His mix of driving, passing, and three-point potential is what you look for in a combo guard prospect.
Wallace paired next to Shai is a match made in heaven for the Thunder. On the offensive end, Cason will be able to take on some of the ball handling duties to ease the load for Shai and Josh Giddey. I really like the potential he has as a secondary/tertiary playmaker in this role. The amount of attention that Shai draws from defenses will also help Wallace make easier decisions when playing off the ball. This could be key for Wallace’s development, as one of his bigger knocks as a prospect is his self creation.
Shai is a very iso-heavy player, ranking top 4 in isolation frequency in the whole league this past year. This is important as I think Wallace will slide in nicely as an off-ball guard next to Shai, as his aforementioned catch and shoot potential could really flourish.
Shai and Giddey are serviceable but not amazing defenders, so Wallace's impact on this end is the driving factor when talking about how great of a pick this was. Based on his measurables, tape, and numbers on the defensive end I really think he can be one of the top perimeter defenders in the entire league at some point. If Wallace ever gets to a Marcus Smart or Jrue Holiday level of defensive impact, which I don’t think is out of the realm of possibility, Wallace could be the player that takes the Thunders young core from good to great.
Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh
Danny Ainge killed it on draft night. The Jazz had three first round picks, and I'm a big fan of how they used each one. Let's start by talking about who they picked at number 9 overall, Taylor Hendricks. Hendricks was one of my favorite prospects going into this draft for a number of reasons. Firstly, he's got great measurables to play forward in the NBA. He's close to 6’10” in shoes and measured a 7’0.5'“ wingspan. This length is evident on the defensive end as he's a really great rim protector, blocking 1.7 shots per game. His shot blocking instincts jumps off the screen. He's also fairly mobile for his size, so I'm not too worried about him being taken off the dribble by opposing forwards. His mix of length, shot blocking ability, and mobility make me think he will be a huge plus on the defensive end.
Hendricks has a very enticing skillset on offense as well. He's got a very smooth shooting stroke that is nearly impossible to block because of the elevation and high release. The numbers back up the film, as he shot an impressive 39.4% from deep while shooting 4.6 threes a game. He also shot 78.2% from the free throw line, making me even more confident in his shooting touch translating to the NBA.
Hendricks also showed that he can finish off lobs and putbacks. He might not have much potential when it comes to creating for himself on offense, but I love the fact that a huge portion of his scoring comes off of efficient looks. Having a forward that can play off the ball and be deadly on catch and shoot looks and easy finishes at the rim adds another dimension to an offense. He won't need the ball much to impact the game on both ends, so I love the pick for the Jazz.
Utah used their remaining first round picks on two guys that can straight up put the ball in the basket: Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh. George is a big guard (6’4” 200 lbs) that oozes scoring potential. He averaged an impressive 15.3 points per game in his freshman season, and he showed that he can score from all three levels. He was far from efficient (37.6% from the field and 33.8% from three) in his one college season, but I don't see the harm in taking a swing on a guy with Georges scoring potential at this point in the first round. He's got some impressive isolations scoring and tough shot making ability that is hard to teach. If Utah can help George develop in terms of setting up teammates and defending, you are looking at the potential steal of the draft.
Brice Sensabaugh is another player that is just wired to score. He was extremely productive and efficient in his one year at Ohio State. Sensabaugh led OSU in the scoring at 16.2 ppg with some of the best shooting splits you'll see out of a freshman at 48.2/40.5/83. Sensabaugh is a sturdy 6’6” 235 lbs, so I can see him playing the 3 and 4 at the NBA level. He's a legit three level scorer with a pure shooting stroke and a solid build to get into the paint and score. He also led the buckeyes in rebounds per game at 5.4. He may not be a supreme athlete or have ideal length for an NBA wing, but I see nothing wrong with using the 28th pick to take a swing on a one and done that was this productive in the Big Ten Conference.
