Who are the winners and losers of the 2023 NBA draft?

The 77th edition of the NBA Draft has concluded, leaving fans excited for the upcoming 2023/24 season. The top pick, Victor Wembanyama, and his sister made headlines as the Barclays Center in Brooklyn hosted the Draft. As expected, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama first overall in the NBA Draft on Thursday.

Although everyone, including Wemby himself, knew he would be drafted first, he still couldn’t help but get emotional when the reality hit. While there are only a few game-changers in any draft class, it’s interesting to speculate who the winners and losers of the Draft were. Some of them, however, won’t be known for a few months or at least until the Vegas Summer League. We know that the Thompson twins’ family had a fantastic night and that Wizards fans may have a challenging 2023-24 season ahead of them.

One of the top prospects, Cam Whitmore, experienced a significant drop in his draft stock and ultimately ended up being picked by the Houston Rockets at number 20. Despite being ranked as high as fifth in the 2023 NBA Draft, rumors of knee issues caused a decrease in interest from other teams. The Houston Rockets, as did the Utah Jazz, had an impressive draft, which benefited from trades involving Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert from the previous summer. However, it’s unclear what the Washington Wizards are trying to accomplish after trading Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal.

Let’s try to dissect the Draft’s winners and losers on Thursday.

Winners

San Antonio Spurs

The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery brought great success to San Antonio, making them one of the event’s big winners. Victor Wembanyama, a talented French big man, was a top selection due to his impressive skill set. At 7-foot-3, he displays electric athleticism, consistent outside shooting, the ability to create his shot, solid finishing abilities, and a strong presence on defense. The Spurs have a long-term strategy, and this pick is part of their plan. Additionally, coach Popovich signed a new 4-year contract extension, allowing him to develop another potential franchise player, following in the footsteps of Robinson and Duncan.

Overtime Elite and Thompson twins

Two brothers, Amen, and Ausur Thompson, were drafted in the 2023 NBA draft as the fourth and fifth picks. However, it’s important not to make assumptions about their future success. The Thompson family had an incredible night, with Amen going to Houston and Ausur headed to Detroit. They are the first brothers to be drafted since Markieff and Marcus Morris in 2011. That two of the top five NBA Draft picks came from the same family is impressive and great for the league’s publicity. This event put OTE in the national spotlight for casual fans on Thursday night. Both players had an outstanding pre-draft process, and OTE coaches claimed they spent over 10 hours in the gym daily in the last year. Amen’s passing ability is highly regarded, while Ausar is considered one of the best defenders in this class.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets had a successful Thursday night, making some excellent choices. They started by picking former Alabama forward Brandon Miller at number two. Miller is a top prospect with outstanding athleticism and a fantastic shot. He has the potential to be a vital player alongside star LaMelo Ball in Charlotte. However, the Hornets made an even more impressive move later in the 2023 NBA Draft. They picked up the 27th selection, which happened to be our No. 11 prospect, guard Nick Smith Jr. Although Smith struggled last season at Arkansas, he has tremendous untapped potential and is an excellent complement to all in the backcourt.

Losers

Cam Whitmore

The night took a surprising turn when the Villanova wing, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 235 pounds, experienced a sudden drop in his NBA Draft prospects. He had gained attention for potentially being selected in the top four earlier. However, rumors about conflicting reports on Whitmore’s medicals related to a knee issue began circulating. This is a significant setback for the highly skilled prospect, considered one of the most capable rookies outside of Wembanyama. Nevertheless, Whitmore will be able to prove himself with the Rockets team in 2023-24.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic had the advantage of having two top-11 picks in the Draft, but their selection was not entirely convincing. We were particularly impressed with Anthony Black, a 6-foot-6 player from Arkansas with exceptional passing abilities and an excellent feel for the game. However, there are concerns about his shooting mechanics, an area where Orlando needs to improve. As for Jett Howard, while he is a productive 3-point shooter at 6-foot-8, he lacks explosiveness and needs to work on his defensive skills.

Portland Trail Blazers

Wembanyama’s presence in the Draft prevented Scoot Henderson from being the top prospect. However, Henderson still has excellent potential and could become an All-NBA player. Unfortunately, Portland could not acquire another star to join forces with franchise legend Damian Lillard. Pre-draft rumors had suggested this might happen, and Lillard may now consider requesting a trade. Lillard has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild, which is the current state of Portland’s team.