NBA Draft LIVE: Team 'all-in' on divisive No.2 pick; phenom's ...
A new era for basketball gets under way on Friday (9.30am AEST) with French prodigy Victor Wembanyama chosen by the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick in the NBA draft.
But first, there have been some major trades and there could be more to come.
Follow along for all the latest news ahead of the draft!
WEMBY EMOTIONAL AS HORNETS ‘ALL-IN’ ON DIVISIVE NO. 2 PICK
The draft, as expected, kicked off with the San Antonio Spurs selecting French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick.
The French star has the size and strength to dominate defensively mixed with the ballhandling skills and passing talent of a guard, providing a unique package that has analysts calling him the best prospect since LeBron James joined the NBA two decades ago.
Even though he knew this moment was coming, Wembanyama was highly emotional after officially having his name called.
The ‘real’ draft, however, began with Charlotte and the No. 2 overall pick as the Hornets decided to prioritise fit over talent by drafting Alabama forward Brandon Miller.
Charlotte was genuinely “torn” on which prospect to take on draft day according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, with meetings held on Friday before the Hornets eventually settled on Miller over Scoot Henderson.
That came after ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier in the week that Miller had made the bigger impression of the two in the second workouts and meetings with Hornets officials.
“This is the first time Michael Jordan had the chance to watch Miller in person to sit down and meet with him,” Wojnarowski said.
“Both Miller and Scoot Henderson came back to Charlotte for second workouts, second meetings. I’m told Miller was better the second time around in that environment than he had been the first time.
“Certainly positionally Miller’s advantage over Scoot Henderson in Charlotte is that they’ve got a point guard in LaMelo Ball, who they believe is a franchise-level point guard, and right now Brandon Miller continues to be the focus for the Hornets at No. 2.”
Wojnarowski later reported on Friday that Charlotte had been “all-in” on Miller “all along”, believing he is a “perennial future All-Star player”.
Brandon Miller arrives prior to the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesIn Miller, the Hornets are receiving a switchable score-first wing that fills a glaring team need while also being a more natural fit alongside rising point guard LaMelo Ball – the focal point of the offence.
The 20-year-old also clearly isn’t lacking in competitive fire, at least if a story from his pre-draft workout in front of outgoing Hornets owner Michael Jordan is anything to go by.
“He told me I was just a shooter,” Miller told Sirius XM.
“I was just shooting threes. ... I know my talents and my abilities. Can’t really let Jordan get in your head. It might make him feel good and make you feel bad. I kind of talked some trash back to him. I witnessed him airball a free throw too. I always have that up against him.”
It meant that Henderson fell to Portland, giving the young guard an opportunity to learn from one of the best in the position in veteran Blazers superstar Damian Lillard.
Henderson averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season for Ignite.
Scoot Henderson is off to Portland. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesIt comes after Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday that the Pelicans received a meeting in recent days with Henderson.
New Orleans was said to have pursued the second or third overall pick in the draft, which would have likely involved trading either Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram.
Importantly though Charania reported that Charlotte and Portland were “so far expressing no interest” in moving the pick and that proved to be the case.
While Miller and Henderson were expected to have their names called after Wembanyama, what happened from beyond that point was largely a mystery.
In the end it was the first of the Thompson twins who was taken by Houston with the fourth overall pick, with the Rockets drafting 20-year-old guard Amen.
It didn’t take long for brother Ausar to have his name called though, with the Detroit Pistons taking the Overtime Elite Finals MVP with the No. 5 pick.
The Orlando Magic were up next and took arguably the best playmaker in the class Anthony Black, who said he sees a “little bit of himself” in Australian Josh Giddey.
The first real surprise of the draft came at No. 7 as the Washington Wizards moved up, trading with the Indiana Pacers to take a swing at Wembanyama’s teammate Bilal Coulibaly.
Metropolitan 92's French forward Bilal Coulibaly dunks the ball. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)Source: AFPAt just 18 years old Coulibaly is far from the finished product on the offensive side of the ball in particular, needing to develop a tighter handle and refine his jump shot.
ESPN’s draft expert Jonathan Givony put Coulibaly forward as the player he believes could be one of the biggest steals from this year’s class.
“He had a phenomenal showing in the French league playoffs... 6-foot-8 in shoes, 7-foot-2 wingspan and an impressive frame,” Givony said on SportsCenter earlier in the week.
:He played a lot of pick-and-roll in this series, he’s a point of attack defender. You can stick him on point guards, he’s increasingly improved his 3-point shooting, outstanding in the open court and has Mikal Bridges-type physical tools.”
Indiana received the eighth pick in this year’s draft and two future second-round picks in return, meaning the Pacers were immediately on the clock and selected Jarace Walker.
The Jazz were up next and took UCF forward Taylor Hendricks with the ninth overall pick.
FULL NBA DRAFT ORDER
Round 1
1. Spurs — Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92
2. Hornets — Brandon Miller, Alabama
3. Trail Blazers — Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
4. Rockets — Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
5. Pistons — Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
6. Magic — Anthony Black, Arkansas
7. Wizards (via Pacers) — Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92
8. Pacers (via Wizards) — Jarace Walker, Houston
9. Jazz
10. Mavericks
11. Magic (via Bulls)
12. Thunder
13. Raptors
14. Pelicans
15. Hawks
16. Jazz (via Timberwolves)
17. Lakers
18. Heat
19. Warriors
20. Rockets (via Clippers)
21. Nets (via Suns)
22. Nets
23. Trail Blazers (via Knicks)
24. Kings
25. Grizzlies
26. Pacers (via Cavaliers)
27. Hornets (via Nuggets)
28. Jazz (via 76ers)
29. Nuggets (via Pacers)
30. Clippers (via Bucks)
Round 2
31. Pistons
32. Nuggets (via Pacers)
33. Spurs
34. Hornets (via 76ers)
35. Celtics (via Trail Blazers)
36. Magic
37. Nuggets (via Thunder)
38. Kings (via Pacers)
39. Hornets (via Jazz)
40. Lakers (via Pacers)
41. Hornets (via Thunder)
42. Wizards (via Bulls)
43. Trail Blazers (via Hawks)
44. Spurs (via Raptors)
45. Grizzlies (via Timberwolves)
46. Hawks (via Pelicans)
47. Pacers (via Lakers)
48. Clippers
49. Cavaliers (via Warriors)
50. Thunder (via Heat)
51. Nets
52. Suns
53. Timberwolves (via Knicks)
54. Kings
55. Pacers (via Cavaliers)
56. Grizzlies
57. Wizards (via Celtics)
58. Bucks
Follow all for all the latest news from the 2023 NBA draft with live updates in the blog below! Can’t see it? Click here!
PLUS... read on for all the latest trade news from earlier in draft day!
TRADE STUNNER AS WARRIORS MAKE MOVE FOR CHRIS PAUL
Earlier, the first major trade domino of 2023 NBA Draft day has fallen.
The Wizards and Warriors have agreed on a trade that would send Chris Paul to Golden State in exchange for Jordan Poole and future draft assets back to Washington, according to multiple reports.
The deal has been “agreed on” though not necessarily finalized, according to Wojnarowski.
Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the draft compensation will be a protected first-rounder in 2030 and a second-rounder in 2027.
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Chris Paul is off to Golden State. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFPWashington will also get 2022 second-rounder Ryan Rollins in the deal.
Paul has already been a part of another blockbuster NBA trade days ago, when the Phoenix Suns sent him to Washington as part of a package for star guard Bradley Beal.
Now, the 12-time All-Star is headed to the team that has won four championships since 2015.
In exchange, the Wizards get Poole, who averaged 30 minutes and 20.4 points per game for Golden State in 2022-23.
Paul, despite playing the same position as Steph Curry, figures to take over Poole’s minutes as a third guard alongside Curry and Klay Thompson.
— Jeremy Layton, New York Post
KNICKS CONTACT CLIPPERS ABOUT STUNNING PG TRADE
In the Knicks’ quest to build upon last year’s strong season, they are targeting stars to complement Jalen Brunson, and one such player they are interested in is Paul George.
The Knicks have had contact with the Clippers about the 33-year-old wing, according to multiple reports, although it is uncertain if Los Angeles is willing to move George.
The Clippers nearly acquired Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon in a three-way deal with the Celtics and Wizards before the talks fell apart on Wednesday, so they may be interested in adding and not subtracting from their roster.
However, NBA reporter Marc Stein reported earlier this week that the Clippers had given teams the impression that they were exploring George’s trade value.
The 6-foot-8 George is an eight-time All-Star, but only has one year left on his contract.
He appeared in just 56 games last year and missed the postseason due to a sprained knee, and has battled injuries in recent years.
But he is a difference-maker still, a terrific all-around player who averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists this past season while shooting 37.1 percent from 3-point range.
The Knicks have also been linked to Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns and Bulls guard Zach LaVine in potential trades.
With extremely limited cap space, a trade is the team’s avenue to improving the roster.
— Zach Braziller, New York Post
The Knicks may be interested in Paul George. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFPWIZARDS TRADE PORZINGIS IN BIG THREE-TEAM DEAL
Earlier, Kristaps Porzingis was traded from Washington to Boston in a three-team deal that will send Celtics talisman Marcus Smart to Memphis, ESPN reported.
Hours before the draft was set to confirm Wembanyama’s arrival at San Antonio, teams around the league were starting to move talent.
Part of the deal has the Memphis Grizzlies sending their first-round pick in the draft -- the 25th overall pick -- to Boston, while the Celtics send the 35th pick in the draft to the Washington Wizards.
Boston will also send forward Danilo Gallinari and center Mike Muscala to Washington as part of the trade, ESPN reported.
The three-team deal came together on Thursday, shortly before the deadline for Porzingis to opt in to his $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season.
ESPN, citing unnamed sources, said that once the deal was made he did opt in.
