Replacing Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo was a lateral move and the Raiders waited until the 135th pick to draft a quarterback (Purdue's Aidan O'Connell), so it wouldn't surprise me if the Silver & Black were to re-enter the QB market in 2024. Ewers flashed the big-time skill set that earned him the top spot in his recruiting class. Ewers has had a good spring and if that carries over to a more consistent junior season, he could go much earlier than this.
One Penn State cornerback was just drafted early (No. 32) last week, and the other could be a top pick in 2023. But whereas Joey Porter Jr. is long and physical, King is more fluid and an easy mover. His movements appear effortless. And King is a pure cover man, breaking up 15 passes (tied for fifth in the FBS) and picking off three more last season. At 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, he isn't the biggest corner in the class, but he has the quickness, instincts and smoothness to make plays. I could see him bumping inside, too, if needed. I was surprised Las Vegas didn't draft a cornerback early this year, so I'd expect it to look closely at the position next time around.
The fourth quarterback drafted in this mock, and you don't need to squint to see the talent with McCarthy. He is a loose athlete for his size with NFL-level arm strength and the poise to make plays.
The decision to sign injury-prone quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo requires that the Raiders protect him. Lathan excelled in his first season as Alabama's starting right tackle a year ago and looks like their next first-round pick up front.
The Las Vegas Raiders added Jakorian Bennett (scouting report) from Maryland in the 2023 draft, but need to keep re-tooling their secondary. Kool-Aid McKinstry has been productive for the Crimson Tide, with 18 career pass breakups, two interceptions and 65 total tackles. In an AFC West with elite passing attacks in Kansas City and Los Angeles, the Raiders know how important it is to get guys who can defend down the field.
Jimmy Garoppolo isn't the long-term answer for the Raiders. Penix led the Power Five this past season with 4,641 passing yards while his 1.3% turnover-worthy play rate was the fifth-lowest in the country.
Las Vegas resisted the temptation to trade up in the first round of the 2023 Draft for a quarterback. That'll give Jimmy Garoppolo one year to prove he's more than a stopgap option. If the Raiders struggle their way to a top five selection, a new QB will be in the cards.
In this scenario, luck falls in the team's favor and the second-best prospect slides all the way to No. 5. Maye will have to avoid the late-career slump that pushed Sam Howell to the fifth round after emerging as a stud, but if he can build on his 2022 he'll be Vegas's huckleberry.
Scraping by on the interior with the likes of Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols and third-round rookie Byron Young likely will prove problematic for the Silver and Black. An ascending talent, the 6-3, 305-pound Taylor flashes impressive pass-rushing tools that should put him in high demand.
The Panthers finished near the bottom of the NFL in Total QBR the past two seasons using four different starters. Their numbers when pressured are particularly bad. While Bryce Young hasn't played an NFL down, he had a Total QBR of 30.1 the past two seasons when pressured -- that compares to what Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence did in college. He ranked first in passing yards, touchdowns and completions of 20-plus yards and his QBR was 89.9 when blitzed. Unless Young is a bust, he can't help but be a major upgrade.
The Panthers finally got their man. After several years in the QB wilderness that featured multiple highly publicized swings and misses, Carolina got the fresh start it wanted with Bryce Young. Concerns about the size and durability of the Alabama star are not to be dismissed, but there is plenty of reason to believe Carolina just imported a franchise-shifting player at the game's most important position with the No. 1 overall pick. Young won't be able to do it alone, of course. The Panthers hope they can fill the hole left by D.J. Moore (sent to Chicago in the trade that ultimately allowed them to land Young) with Ole Miss wideout Jonathan Mingo, selected with the eighth pick of the second round. If Young can make quick strides as a rookie, there's no reason why the Panthers can't contend in the wide-open NFC South.
Bryce Young will be the quarterback, which should be an upgrade over recent years. If he's really good, they will win the division. That's a big if for a rookie.
Fun fact — Carolina's single-season passing records for yards (4,436) and TDs (36) belong to ... Steve Beuerlein, not Cam Newton. Until No. 1 pick Bryce Young claims both, that is.
Draft takeaway: We'll see if the boldness pays off, but the Panthers got their man. The future lies on Bryce Young's itty-bitty shoulder.
Hype man: With Frank Reich and Josh McCown mentoring the best quarterback in the draft, we're not only set up for years to come, but to make a run in 2023, too.
Damiere Downer: The only downside to misevaluating Young as the top quarterback in the draft over C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson is a lifetime of embarrassment and a franchise-crippling outlay of assets. No biggie.
The Panthers used free agency to add solid players in tight end Hayden Hurst and running back Miles Sanders. They also improved upon a safety unit that ranked 30th last season in PFF grade by signing Vonn Bell.
The last time Carolina had a quarterback with a passing grade of at least 70.0 was in 2018 with Cam Newton and Kyle Allen. Bryce Young, who the Panthers drafted No. 1 overall, may be a game-changer after he earned a 91.3 passing grade at Alabama in 2022. And he has a fellow rookie weapon in Jonathan Mingo, who the team selected in Round 2.
Arguably the biggest reason for optimism about the Panthers finally righting the ship is the coaching staff they've assembled. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero excelled in Denver in recent years, and senior offensive assistant Jim Caldwell and senior defensive assistant Dom Capers both have head coaching experience.
I don't expect it to take long for Bryce Young to get up to speed in the Carolina offense, but what no one knows is if Young will be sturdy enough to make it through an 18-week NFL campaign.
Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, we will update our Golden State Warriors Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Golden State Warriors from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Warriors:
Howard, the son of Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard, is considered a first-round pick this year given his ability as a scorer and shooter. He has a great shooting form and can launch quickly, which will certainly be something the Warriors could use. His shooting will be what draws teams in but he has shown the ability to penetrate the paint and finish. He is projected to be a mid-to-late first-rounder this year and the Warriors could be a potential destination for him.
Lively's one season at Duke got off to a rough start and was statistically unimpressive. But he showed enough as a rim-protecting big down the stretch to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
The Warriors need more perimeter shooting around Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and Sensabaugh is one of the best pure scorers in this draft class.
He is a three-level threat who is capable of knocking down everything from pull-ups off the dribble, to catch-and-shoot 3s off of screens, to fadeaways out of the post. He would excel as a floor-spacer for Golden State's playmakers, spotting up on the wing or in the corner to make opponents pay for helping on guys like Curry.
While the freshman may not be the immediate contributor Golden State is looking for, there is no doubt that his skillset fills a void and could provide some scoring depth on its second unit.
The Scout: Hood-Schifino is a well-rounded, young prospect who won the Big Ten's Rookie of the Year award this past season, carrying the Indiana perimeter while averaging 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. He's also a very strong on-ball defender with real size for a ballhandler at 6-6. He's shown great unselfishness and comfort in ball screens, with a penchant for knocking down midrange jumpers. However, he's not a particularly adept shooter off the catch yet and will need some fine-tuning in that regard. If he can improve that and some decision-making questions, Hood-Schifino could get on the court a touch earlier than most one-and-dones. But the shooting needs to improve, as he made just 33.3 percent from 3.
The Fit: It's three-fold. First, the Warriors tend to like well-rounded prospects who contribute in multiple capacities. Second, the team has tended to draft younger in recent years. All of Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Patrick Baldwin, James Wiseman, Nico Mannion, Alen Smailagić and Ryan Rollins were teenagers when the Dubs picked them, and Jordan Poole turned 20 one week before being picked. Speaking of Poole, the team needs to make a real decision on him this summer. But if he's gone, there is a real question of ballhandling depth behind Stephen Curry. Hood-Schifino would tick that box.
Lively wasn't particularly productive during his one year at Duke and didn't really get a chance to showcase any sort of pick-and-pop variety with the Duke system playing alongside 7-0 Kyle Filipowski. His game translates more to the NBA and he's a prolific shot blocker and rebounder who can contribute right away defensively.
Hawkins' spot-up and movement shooting would fit easily in Golden State. He grades as the most productive off-screen shot-maker in the draft, which should help alleviate concerns about his lack of on-ball creation.
Miller is a big 6'10 forward with a 7'2 wingspan who can handle the ball out on the perimeter, has good touch around the basket, and offers defensive versatility when he's locked in. The Canadian was the prep school mystery man at last year's NBA Draft combine, but decided to join the G League Ignite after a poor showing in scrimmages. He impressed attacking closeouts and getting into his Eurostep, and was able to hit shots with both hands around the basket. Miller's biggest issue is his three-point shot: he has a slow, long release, and his touch around the basket doesn't seem to extend to the perimeter. He's also a bit of an erratic decision-maker with the ball in his hands. There's still plenty of upside here even with more tape on his game, and he makes sense for most teams after the lotto.
I'm not ranking Jackson this high on the Big Board -- he's closer to 30 than 20 for me -- but I won't be surprised if he goes higher than expected and jumps into this range by the draft. The former No. 1 overall recruit in his class reclassified and is one of the youngest players in the class. NBA teams love youth with room to grow, and Jackson presents an intriguing developmental case.
After a tough start to his collegiate career, Duke big man Dereck Lively eventually blossomed into a highly impactful player on the defensive end of the floor.
Opponents were just 14-for-38 (36.8 percent) when he defended them in the restricted area of the paint, per AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform. Meanwhile, via CBB Analytics, the other team was held to shoot just 29.8 percent in the paint during minutes when Lively was on the floor.
While he had a very low usage rate on offense, he was an efficient finisher on his chances.
Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, we will update our Indiana Pacers Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Indiana Pacers from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Pacers:
Like his twin brother Amen, Ausar Thompson measured in with a 7-foot wingspan at the draft combine this week. Add that to his elite athleticism and growing offensive game and there is an elite-level prospect available. He would fill an immediate need for the Pacers on the defensive end of the court as a versatile wing. Indiana is still very much in the talent-gathering business and adding Thompson would be a great pick for years to come.
26. Kris Murray, Iowa
Murray, who is training with his twin brother, looks to be a great option for teams in this range. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points, seven rebounds and one block with at least 65 3-pointers this season and should step in as an athletic wing player at the next level. With three first-round picks this year, the Pacers can fill quite a few needs on draft night.
29. Andre Jackson, Connecticut
Jackson was one of eight players in the country to record at least 225 points, 200 rebounds and 150 assists last season. After shooting just 28.1% from 3-point range, Jackson is working daily to improve his shot and said it is his biggest point of emphasis during his pre-draft training. But it will be his rebounding and potential as a lockdown defender that teams will love at this stage of the draft.
Nothing is more valuable in the NBA right now than wings who can shoot, and Dick is the best shooter in this draft. He made more than 40% of the 5.7 3-pointers he attempted per game for the outright Big 12 regular-season champs and would fit nicely alongside Tyrese Haliburton.
26. Marcus Sasser, Houston
Sasser is a combo guard who played a big role in helping Houston secure a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. His ability to playmake and reliably make jumpers will give him a chance to stick in the NBA even if he is a little on the small side.
29. Terquavion Smith, NC State
Smith already has a strong pull-up game and the athleticism to make big plays on both sides of the court. If he becomes a more efficient version of himself and adds strength, he'll turn out to be very worthy of a late first-round selection.
The Pacers need a power forward and it would be a no-brainer to select Whitmore if he falls into their lap at No. 7.
Whitmore's freshman season was delayed by thumb surgery and he didn't consistently produce at the level that was expected upon his return, but the flashes were bright enough to see his high ceiling of potential. The 18-year-old is a powerful athlete with a blend of size, strength and speed. He's a force around the basket and dunks everything, bullying his way to the rim off the dribble or using his explosive leaping ability to throw down lobs.
He's another versatile forward who fits the mold of a desired archetype in today's NBA and All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton would elevate Whitmore to another level immediately.
26. Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers
The Pacers are in a rebuilding phase and could use some depth on the wing.
A product of the NBL Next Stars program, Rupert comes into the draft with some professional experience playing a limited role for the New Zealand Breakers. At 6-7 with a 7-3 wingspan, Rupert is a versatile defender who has the length to hold his own in the paint but the quickness to keep up with wings. He's a raw product offensively, but he's a willing shooter, shot creator and passer.
29. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
The Pacers may look to add to their frontcourt depth chart, pairing Jackson-Davis with a younger Whitmore (No. 7 overall) to fill that void.
Jackson-Davis was been one of the most productive players in the NCAA, averaging 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He's a non-shooter from the perimeter — which is why you won't see him as a first-rounder in some mock drafts — but his skill, feel for the game, switchability on defense and activity on both sides of the ball should warrant consideration around this range.
It helps his case that Jackson-Davis played his college basketball right down the road at Indiana.
The Scout: Walker is about as well-rounded a forward/big prospect as you'll find. He's 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan. He's a terrific passer and playmaker, particularly as a short-roll weapon out of ball screens. Walker improved a bit as a shooter this past season, making 34.7 percent from 3, albeit on limited volume. But where he really makes his mark is on defense. Walker is a tremendous, instinctive defensive player whose reactivity and basketball IQ makes him a wildly impactful help defender flying all across the court. On top of it, he's switchable as a man-to-man defender who can manage all but the quickest guards (and that includes sliding up onto centers because of his shredded 240-pound frame). There are some questions on how he'll score effectively in the NBA if the jumper doesn't come along, and that could resign him toward being more of a rotation player if it doesn't happen. But Walker will help you win basketball games.
The Fit: The Pacers have a real need for defensive players. They were 26th in defensive rating this season despite getting nearly 2,000 minutes from an elite defensive center in Myles Turner. Realistically, they need guys who can play strong help defense as well as provide switchable, aggressive on-ball defense. Walker would be a strong start in this respect, and he'd be a strong complement next to Turner because of that ability to make plays and pass.
26. Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers
The Scout: Rupert is arguably the first NBL Next Star in Australia to make a positive impact on a winning team. He was terrific as an aggressive, defensive-minded wing for a New Zealand Breakers team that made the NBL Finals this past season. At 6-7 with a 7-3 wingspan, Rupert has immense upside on that end. He's laterally quick and aggressive, plus has strong instincts in help defense for a teenager. How far Rupert goes will be determined by his offense. He's an iffy shooter right now who isn't quite strong enough on the ball to make consistent plays. He has good passing vision from growing up as a guard, but he doesn't really have the handle or burst to pressure the defense yet. He's a project, but the physical tools make him one with very real upside.
The Fit: The Pacers have multiple first-round picks and certainly can afford to take a bit of a risk on talent. The team has its point guard of the future in Tyrese Haliburton and a tremendous pressure wing in Bennedict Mathurin who lived at the foul line this season. Next, with Rupert, they could try to shore up the perimeter defense that was a borderline catastrophe at times this season.
29. James Nnaji, Barcelona
The Scout: Nnaji is a developmental big with prodigious tools. He is 6-11 with an enormous 7-5 wingspan and is one of the few players in this class outside of Wembanyama who will have plus size for the NBA center position. He's an awesome vertical athlete who is an elite catch-and-finish player around the basket because of his catch radius and hands. Defensively, he's pretty OK in drop coverage for a player who is still young in the game. And the tools for contesting around the basket are terrific. He hasn't been wildly productive this season while playing on a loaded Barcelona team, but teams are intrigued by any big this big, this explosive and this coordinated.
The Fit: The Pacers' third pick of the first round, Nnaji would represent an interesting potential developmental option in the middle. As a rebuilding team with an actual option at the center position already in Turner, they can afford to be patient with Nnaji as he develops the intricacies of his game. The team does still have incredibly athletic 2021 first-round pick Isaiah Jackson on the roster as a developmental big, but he has been a bit too hit or miss because of strength issues on the interior and technique issues on the perimeter (he is very jumpy and overaggressive). Year Three will be a make-or-break year, potentially, for Jackson. So it might make sense to have an option in the fold beyond him.
Hendricks continues to be a consistent riser in the draft due to his size and the way he seemingly plays position-less basketball. His versatility in this range might make him more appealing than the other guards because he has multiple skills at different positions and plenty of upside. Because of his length, he's a proficient spot-up shooter, particularly in the corner, and shows signs of being a reliable secondary scorer at the next level.
26. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Jackson-Davis made a strong statement to close out the season and showed how valuable he is in a two-man game off-ball screens and in high-low situations. He might not be the biggest forward in this draft class, but he has crafty footwork around the rim and a much improved midrange game.
29. Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Wilson showed improvement from his sophomore year to junior year and proved to scouts there's still room for growth in his game. He took on more of a leadership role this past season at Kansas and played with more confidence and shot more consistently. The Clippers could use more size at the wing position with both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard suffering injuries this past season.
Hendricks has given off high-floor, high-ceiling vibes with convincing shooting and defensive versatility, plus room/time to build on the flashes of pull-ups and drives past closeouts. Indiana should picture a cornerstone three-and-D forward who'll be valuable, regardless of how much his off-the-dribble game develops.
26. Noah Clowney, Alabama
Clowney can help himself in workouts with the three-ball that flickered on and off throughout his freshman season. Teams ultimately know they'd be getting a project regardless. The Pacers could deem it worth waiting for his three-and-D, power forward archetype to fully take shape.
29. Leonard Miller, G League Ignite
Miller has pushed himself into the first-round mix, showing the type of improvement that will sway teams to bet on more development. The idea of a 6'10", 19-year-old wing who can push the break, attack closeouts, score with touch and potentially make threes will look enticing in the 20s.
The other Thompson twin is a tremendous prospect in his own right. Like his brother, Ausar is an elite athlete at 6'7 with a 7-foot wingspan who wrecks havoc defensively and thrives when the game is in transition. He's a better shooter than his brother, though his jumper isn't exactly a strength yet after hitting 29.8 percent of his threes on 3.8 attempts per game. Ausar is more of a wing while Amen projects as a point guard, and isn't as dynamic off the dribble. Instead, Ausar projects as more of a connective off-ball perimeter player, which could give him a cleaner projection to the league than his brother if his jumper fully comes around.
26. Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut
Hawkins was the perimeter star of UConn's run to the national championship, and his movement shooting ability makes him an enticing fit in the NBA. The 6'5 guard doesn't create much with the ball in his hands, but he can zip around screens and hit threes playing off the ball. His footwork coming off pindowns is pristine, and the way he gathers himself to get off a shot so quickly is impressive. Scouts will wonder about his decision-making after he finished with more turnovers than assists on the year, but the team that drafts will be doing so for his shooting.
29. Bobi Klintman, Wake Forest
Klintman is a 6'10 Swede with a projectable 3-and-D skill set as a modern power forward. While he only averaged 5.3 points per game as a freshman at Wake Forest, Klintman showed off an impressive catch-and-shoot stroke (36.8 percent from three) and moves well in space. He's extremely raw, but the sales pitch is intriguing enough to get him looks at the end of the first.
Walker could go as high as No. 5 to Detroit in this draft so this would be a nice value for the Pacers. He's a physically ready prospect who plays with relentless energy on both ends and projects cleanly as a do-it-all power forward who can stretch the floor.
26. Colby Jones, Xavier
One of my favorite prospects in this class. Jones is one of those players who can fade in and out of games, then you look up and he has 10 points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Impacts winning in a variety of ways.
29. Terquavion Smith, NC State
Smith is a twitchy athlete who I thought was a first-round talent a year ago before withdrawing and returning to NC State. He basically held steady production-wise but his improvement as a passer and decision-maker has unlocked even more upside for him.
Based on the catch-all metric C-RAM, via Cerebro Sports, UCF's Taylor Hendricks trailed only Miller for the best mark among all freshmen.
Hendricks is one of just ten high-major freshmen to record at least 35 dunks and 3-pointers in the same season. Eight of the previous nine were lottery picks and seven heard their name called as one of the first seven picks in their respective draft class.
Although he was not a consensus top-50 recruit coming out of high school, after such an impressive freshman year, it is easy to see why Hendricks may continue to rise during the pre-draft process.
26. Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92
Bilal Coulibaly is climbing up mock drafts and big boards of late, and it's easy to see why.
While he played well as teammates with Wembanyana in France's top-tier division, he was especially productive in the LNB Espoirs for the under-21 age group. Coulibaly averaged 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game across 16 appearances in the LNB Espoirs.
He led all players in pure scoring prowess (PSP) and defensive statistical impact (DSI), per Cerebro.
29. Colby Jones, Xavier
Xavier's Colby Jones is a do-it-all guard who projects well as a very solid contributor at the next level. He nearly had a triple-double during the NCAA men's tournament, recording 10 points and 14 rebounds with 7 assists during a victory over Pitt.
Jones and Podziemski were the only non-seniors in Division I men's college basketball to hold a rating of 65 or higher in each skill of the five-metric suite (5MS), per Cerebro Sports.
Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, we will update our Miami Heat Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Miami Heat from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Heat:
Hood-Schifino is viewed as one of the top point guards in the draft this year given his ability on both ends of the court. He showed great poise throughout the year and dished out the fourth-most assists (117) in program history by a freshman. He also has the length needed to make an impact on the defensive end of the floor, as well. He ascended mock drafts rapidly throughout the year and now looks to be locked in as a mid-first-rounder.
Much like his brother who plays for the Kings, Murray projects as a combo forward who can stretch the floor on offense and guard multiple positions on defense. The Iowa alum won't be a top-five pick like his twin was last year, but he should comfortably go somewhere in the first round.
The Heat could use an additional ball handler and it just so happens that Coulibaly, a big guard with size, length and unlimited upside potential, perfectly fits their "Heat Culture."
Coulibaly has received extra attention as Wembanyama's teammate, and the 18-year-old made the most of that spotlight. Once he declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, his stock skyrocketed up big boards and mock draft boards.
The 6-foot-6 guard is an excellent athlete with relentless energy. He does the majority of his damage off the ball as a cutter but he has shown some flashes as a perimeter shooter. Coulibaly is a versatile defender with quick feet, explosive athleticism and a reported 7-2 wingspan. His growth as a playmaker and shot creator will determine his ceiling at the next level.
The Scout: George is a bit polarizing for scouts. Some love his craft as a ballhandler and playmaker. He's very creative off the bounce and is able to play at this rare cadence that is hard to stay in front of. However, he's also not necessarily the best decision-maker yet, and he's not a particularly high-level athlete for a primary ballhandler. That led to some real inefficiency this past season. He shot just 37 percent from the field and turned it over three times per game despite playing for one of the best, most-well-spaced offenses in the country. Defensively, he has his positive moments, but they're hit or miss. It's hard to find creative guards who are this young and productive, though, so George is likely to hear his name called in the first round.
The Fit: The Heat have had to do a lot of manufacturing offense in the playoffs thus far through creative offensive sets that use their shooters and floor spacers to immense effect. Still, this was the 25th-best offense in the NBA this season even when Tyler Herro was healthy because they have very few creators off the bounce. George would at least bring that.
Howard, the youngest son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, is a dependable outside shooter who is difficult to defend once he gets hot. His athleticism doesn't shine through like other prospects in this draft class, converting on only three dunks this season.
Miami would need to stay patient with the 18-year-old Jackson, but for a 6'9" power forward, his ball-handling and shooting versatility would seemingly fit well between Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat's track record for developing prospects and overall mature roster would be great for a talent like Jackson, who could improve his decision-making and defensive effort.
Smith was a borderline first rounder last year, but decided to come back for his sophomore season at NC State. The whole country got to see his microwave scoring ability on display in March Madness, when he popped off for 32 points in a close first-round loss to Creighton. A thin 6'4 guard, Smith has a quick trigger and deep range as a pull-up shooter that allows him to stockpile points in a hurry. He developed nicely as a playmaker as a sophomore, improving his assist percentage from 14.2 percent to 22.9 percent. It's difficult to see how he positively impacts the game defensively, but he should provide value as a bench gunner.
The stats listed above don't do justice to how impactful Lively was at the end of the season for Duke and how impactful he can be as an NBA player. He's an above-the-rim threat on both ends of the floor who can be a game-changer defensively protecting the basket.
Duke's Dariq Whitehead, who was named Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Prep Player of the Year while taking home MVP honors at the McDonald's All-American Game in 2022, played through injuries as a freshman. He is expected to have surgery on his foot, but he will be prepared to play at the start of next season.
Even while playing through injuries, Whitehead finished his Duke one-and-done campaign shooting 42.9 percent on 3-pointers.
The freshman was 24-for-48 (50.0 percent) on 3-pointers from NBA distance, per AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform. That ranked as the second-best among consensus top-100 prospects with at least 25 attempts tracked.
Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, we will update our Toronto Raptors Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Toronto Raptors from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Raptors:
Smith, who was once viewed as a potential top-five pick, has slipped some after an inconsistent freshman year with the Razorbacks. Of course, he missed time due to injury, and that largely prevented him from having a strong year. However, teams in this range should absolutely take a look at him here.
With some uncertainty regarding their backcourt, the Raptors figure to be a good fit for Smith. He has elite athleticism and is highly touted for his ability as a scorer and passer, traits the Raptors could certainly use. It seems a bit odd to think Smith, a former No. 3 recruit, could be a steal at this stage of the draft, but that looks to be the case here.
The Raptors ranked 28th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, which is among the reasons Hawkins is a sensible option. He made more than 38% of his 3-point attempts this season while helping UConn win the national championship.
With Fred VanVleet facing a player option for the 2023-24 season, the Raptors need some guard insurance. Even if VanVleet picks up that player option, Toronto could still use another lead guard.
Hood-Schifino has skyrocketed up Mock Draft boards after a promising freshman season at Indiana. The 6-foot-6 playmaker is a pick-and-roll maestro, already proving his ability to operate one of the NBA's most-used actions at a high level. He's slithery off the bounce with a great change of pace and he has a confident midrange jumper and floater.
The 19-year-old was extremely inconsistent this year but there are few guard prospects in this class who I am more confident in their potential to be successful in the NBA. He'd be a perfect fit on a team like the Raptors, who have a rich recent history of player development.
The Scout: Wallace is one of those dudes you just trust to be a hooper. He gets how to play and impact winning basketball. He's an elite defensive guard with incredible hands and disruptive hand-eye coordination. He's extremely strong and can slide up the lineup because of how capable he is at getting his chest in front of players and cutting off their momentum. Offensively, you'd like to see more with how Wallace can create off the bounce. But he's good enough in ball screens and is strong as a catch-and-shoot weapon. He suffered a few injuries this past season, so teams want to learn a bit more about those, but Wallace is a very trustworthy player.
The Fit: The Raptors have a lot of questions forthcoming in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. can become free agents, and there is precious little depth behind them. The team needs to find more answers there, even if they envision Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator long term. Wallace can play a bit on and off the ball, and I think he's the rare one-and-done who figures to play early because of how impactful he is as a defender. He would give the Raptors some further flexibility in terms of their offseason decision-making.
Despite a rocky year that was plagued with a knee injury, Smith Jr. returned to the court and NBA scouts saw flashes that were positive and encouraging in his shot-making capability and touch around the rim. There are numerous skilled guards projected at the top and it will all depend on small preferences that differentiate the handful of primary ball-handlers in the lottery.
An inefficient season mixed with injury could cause Smith to fall outside the top 10, where he was initially projected thanks to his 6'5" size, shot-making versatility and playmaking flashes. At No. 13, the Raptors would see too enticing of a buy-low opportunity on a potentially dangerous three-level scorer.
Whitehead had a reputation as a big guard who could put pressure on the rim with tremendous speed and leaping ability when he entered his freshman year at Duke. Then he fractured his right foot, missed the start of the season, and had to reimagine his game on a Blue Devils team that already had a stud shot creator in Jeremy Roach. Instead, Whitehead became something of a designated shooter — considered a weakness in his game entering college — by hitting 42.4 percent of his three-pointers on 99 attempts. Add in solid defense with the potential to switch across two or three positions, and there's a lot to like about Whitehead if he can regain the burst as a driver he showed earlier in his career.
Toronto's built a versatile roster full of players who can thrive being used in multiple ways. George projects mostly as a chucker who can create his own offense, but there's some playmaking to his game that reminds of Bradley Beal.
Baylor's Keyonte George will walk into the league as one of the best rebounders at his position. He grabbed 88.7 percent of his adjusted rebound chances, via AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform, which is the best mark among all projected first-rounders regardless of position.
The Big 12 Rookie of the Year also averaged 0.67 points per touch on his drives, per Stats Perform, which ranked near the best among prospects with at least 100 drives tracked.
Per 100 possessions, per CBB Analytics, he was also one of the leaders in unassisted 3-pointers made (1.8) last season.
The big win was re-signing free agent James Bradberry and retaining Darius Slay when a trade or release seemed inevitable. They also signed former Cleveland Brown Greedy Williams to a one-year deal and then drafted Georgia standout Kelee Ringo in the fourth round of the draft to bolster the position further.
All hail Howie. The Eagles GM did it again, nabbing two hugely talented defenders in the first round in Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, before pulling the trigger on a logical, smart trade to acquire running back D'Andre Swift from the Lions on Saturday. The moves make Philadelphia better on both sides of the ball and further entrench the Eagles as the top dog in NFC. NFL Network's Peter Schrager reported on Saturday that GMs across the league are grumbling about the amount of praise Roseman receives from the football cognoscenti. On the playgrounds of my youth, these individuals would be labeled as sore losers.
Their roster is even more loaded than it was after the Super Bowl loss. They killed the draft, which will make them even better. This team is clearly the best in the NFC.
Tempting to elevate a team that appears to have actually improved, largely due to a draft bonanza that included a trade for RB D'Andre Swift, since narrowly losing the Super Bowl — especially given a dearth of competition in the NFC relative to what K.C. faces. Also, QB Jalen Hurts only is motivated by his (already eclipsed) landmark contract.
Draft takeaway: The Eagles' risk tolerance was greater than others in the top 10, as they became the rare team coming off a Super Bowl appearance to add arguably the most talented player in the draft after trading up one spot for Jalen Carter. Time will tell whether that bet pays off.
Hype man: Have you seen the rest of the conference? This might be even easier than last year.
DeVonta Downer: Aside from the stereotypical Super Bowl loser's curse, we're getting ahead of ourselves with the quality of the roster. With free-agent departures and regression for older players, we might be worse than 2022 at defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, safety and offensive line, to say nothing of injury luck.
The Eagles, widely lauded for their draft, picked three defensive players out of Georgia, adding to the two Bulldogs they selected in last year's draft. Jalen Carter will join the defensive line, shoring up their defense with another piece of one of the best defenses in college football history. Philadelphia also filled a hole at safety with Sydney Brown, who earned an 89.4 coverage grade in 2022.
The Eagles averaged 34.7 points per game in the playoffs, have adequately compensated for losses of both coordinators, are not worse at any position (amazing on the defensive line, considering they had a 69-sack year last year and lost Javon Hargrave), have an offensive line that should keep upright a rising superstar QB-of-the-future at the top of his game, and will field two top-15 NFL wideouts entering their age-25 (DeVonta Smith) and age-26 (A.J. Brown) seasons.
Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, we will update our Dallas Mavericks Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Dallas Mavericks from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Mavericks:
Hendricks made a rapid rise up draft boards after a great freshman campaign with UCF. He has the athleticism and ability to guard multiple positions and switch onto smaller players. He boasts a 7-foot wingspan that will help enable him to play the passing lanes and help protect the paint. Offensively, Hendricks can space the floor, after shooting 39.4% from beyond the arc, and help facilitate things on the court.
After some great tanking efforts, the Mavericks managed to hang onto this pick. Dallas appears to be the floor for Hendricks as some believe he can go even higher on draft night. Based on his ascension to this point, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see him go in the 6-8 range after the combine and team workouts. In any case, Hendricks is well on his way to becoming the first Knights player drafted in the first round.
Whether the Mavericks bring back Kyrie Irving or not, having another combo guard to play with Luka Donic [sic] isn't the worst idea in the world. Hood-Schifino has good-enough size and a more-dependable 3-point shot than what he showed in his one season at Indiana.
Given Luka Doncic's ball-dominant style of play, the Mavericks can never have enough shooters around their superstar on the perimeter. Dick would be a dream scenario for Dallas at No. 10.
Dick has elevated his stock into the lottery range, proving to be one of the best — and most consistent — perimeter shooters in this class. He finished the season shooting a blistering 40.3 percent from 3 on 5.7 attempts per game, showing off his limitless range and ability to knock down shots off of the catch, dribble, or flying off of screens. Once he fills out his frame, Dick will be a dependable 3-and-D option.
The Scout: Lively struggled to start the season, but by the end of it, there was not a more impactful defender in college basketball. He's an elite rim protector who averaged 2.5 blocks per game this past season in 20 minutes. He defends ball screens well and can do so in a variety of different schemes. He can hard hedge and recover, he can drop, and he can play at the level. He's mobile and runs the court very well. Offensively, he's extremely limited right now, but Lively has immense tools with a 7-7 wingspan that portends potential to not just be a good defender but a great one.
The Fit: The Mavericks essentially have no long-term answer at the center position right now, and they desperately need rim protection and rebounding to pair with Luka Dončić and potentially Kyrie Irving. Lively would be a tremendous partner for both of them in ball screens on offense, and defensively, he can cover for them if they lose track of their players. This is probably on the early end of Lively's range, but the fit is too good.
The Mavericks keep their pick after tanking the remainder of the season and could add a shooter with good size like Dick on the perimeter. The Kansas guard raised some eyebrows Monday afternoon at the NBA Draft Combine when he elected to participate in every activity, including shooting drills and 3-on-3 competition. Typically, players projected within the lottery skip any sort of competition to avoid exposure or injury. Dick shot 64% and finished with the fourth-best score in the 3-point star drill, and shot 76.7% and was sixth out of all players win shooting off the dribble.
With the New York Knicks' pick, the Mavericks could draft Dick for his shooting and the extra spacing he'd provide for the team's star ball-handlers. There is a guarantee tied to his shot-making and its value/purpose to the rotation and eventual starting lineup.
Anthony Black is a huge guard who should make a significant impact on the defensive end as he figures out his role offensively. At 6'7, 200 pounds, Black is a determined on-ball defender with sharp rotational instincts who could be able to switch across four positions at the NBA level. Black has a strong lower body and quick hands that helps him hold up against bigger matchups, and he's still quick enough to hang with speedy guards most of the time. The question for Black is how much scoring punch he can provide. He's a shaky outside shooter (30 percent from three on 98 attempts), and doesn't generate much rim pressure as a driver. He's more of a connective passer than a true lead guard, but if the shot comes around this is exactly the type of player teams want in the rotation during the playoffs.
Tall wings who have the ability to shoot it -- and do so successfully in the multitude of ways Dick can shoot it -- don't come around every draft. His game is tailor-made for an NBA role player with room to grow into more alongside a superstar in Luka Doncic.
Anthony Black is a swiss-army-knife prospect and prospects with his blend of size, playmaking, and defensive ability tend to hear their name called early in the draft. Black was also able to draw more total shooting fouls (80) than all high-major guards except just Judah Mintz, per CBB Analytics.
The biggest hole in his game is his shooting, the encouraging news is that his jump shot isn't necessarily broken.
Although the SEC All-Freshman point-forward shot only 30.1 percent on 3-pointers, he got his shot to fall when he was open. Black was 18-for-48 (37.5 percent) on his uncontested shots from beyond the arc, per AI-Powered statistics provided by Stats Perform, and 16-for-34 (47.1 percent) on shots from the NBA distance.
The front office was intentional in its offseason additions through free agency and the draft, particularly with the signings of cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, former Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and second-round draft pick Brian Branch from Alabama. Detroit's secondary was a glaring weakness last year, allowing 82 plays of 20-plus yards -- which was the most in the NFL. Also, 23% of opponent plays went for 10-or-more yards, which was the second-highest rate in the NFL, so they needed a major upgrade in that department, and they seem to have the guys in place to take the next step.
With two picks in the first round, the Lions entered the draft with a golden opportunity to significantly improve their defense overnight. While they did use the No. 18 pick on linebacker Jack Campbell, they actually spent their top pick -- No. 12 overall, following a trade down from No. 6 -- on running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a move that prompted D'Andre Swift's trade to the Eagles two days later. If Gibbs becomes a star, no one will take issue with the choice. But was this the best use of Detroit's assets? They could have paired Aidan Hutchinson with another promising edge rusher, or added elite young talent at cornerback after cutting ties with former first-rounder Jeff Okudah. Not necessarily a bad draft, but a curious one.
This is a team on the rise with a lot of good, young players in a division that isn't great right now. That's usually a formula for success. Watch out for the Lions.
Love their draft or hate it, you probably have to like them as divisional favorites coming off a season when they had the best record (5-1) in NFC North games.
Draft takeaway: The Lions seem to think there's a path to winning with big-boy football while the rest of the league pivots to basketball on grass. Drafting a running back, linebacker and tight end all in the top 34 picks is a risky bet. Let's just hope they left the team facility before making it.
Hype man: We have one of the best offensive lines in the league and now Jahmyr Gibbs gives us the juice to make those holes turn into home runs. Jack Campbell and Brian Branch seem like perfect fits to bite some kneecaps, and now we even have Hendon Hooker to dream on as a long-term option. This is our year, baby.
Dan Downer: We spent the 12th overall pick and almost $9 million guaranteed to upgrade from Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift to Gibbs and David Montgomery, which might not even be that much of an upgrade. We couldn't have used Lukas Van Ness or Christian Gonzalez more?
Brian Branch primarily played nickel back in his time at Alabama, and following the trade of Jeffrey Okudah, it seems as if that role in Detroit is his for the taking. This would allow Emmanuel Moseley to stick outside and provide Detroit with a versatile group of defensive backs between Branch, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph.
Loved 'em with their 8-2 record after Halloween. I still find myself smitten with the Lions. But curious move this offseason. The Lions took what wasn't broken and tried to fix it. Jamaal Williams/D'Andre Swift last year: 1,608 rushing yards, 4.5 per rush, 22 rushing touchdowns. Now both are gone. That's pressure on Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, particularly when the head coach is a big-time running guy.
After releasing left tackle Taylor Lewan and center Ben Jones, the offensive line was one of Tennessee's biggest areas of focus. That's why it is the one position where the Titans made moves both in the draft and free agency. Former Eagles tackle Andre Dillard and former 49ers interior lineman Daniel Brunskill were signed to likely be starters. Tennessee also grabbed one of the top offensive line prospects in the draft when they selected Peter Skoronski with the No. 11 overall pick. The Titans doubled down on the offensive line when they selected Jaelyn Duncan in the sixth round. Skoronski figures to be an immediate starter at either left tackle or left guard while Duncan will provide depth.
The Titans made a sensible move on Thursday night, selecting versatile Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski with the 11th overall pick. One night later, they pulled the trigger on a trade that ended the draft-board freefall of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis two picks into the second round. Ryan Tannehill remains on the roster, and he might stay there as coach Mike Vrabel and GM Ran Carthon attempt to balance contending in the present with developing for the future. The decision to import Levis says all you need to know about the team's thoughts on Malik Willis, a third-round pick last year who appears to very suddenly be the odd man out in the quarterback room.
They will always be tough, feisty and play hard, which is the Mike Vrabel way. But do they throw it around well enough with Ryan Tannehill? When does Will Levis play? It's always the same story about their passing game.
Apparently they're running it back one more time with QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry ... and running it forward and laterally, as it's still not clear what kind of production they'll get from this receiving corps.
Draft takeaway: The clock is ticking on Ryan Tannehill's future in Tennessee after the second-round selection of Will Levis. And with running back Tyjae Spears drafted in Round 3, Derrick Henry might not be in Nashville much longer either.
Hype man: It's hard to focus on the field when there's so much backdoor drama, so throw away the second half of last season. We're still the biggest, baddest team in the division, and Peter Skoronski's gonna help us push the AFC South around. Again.
Derrick Downer: They haven't outlawed the forward pass, correct? And this is the roster you put together?
The Titans signed tackle Andre Dillard, who may have potential but hasn't proven himself due to a limited workload with the Eagles. Despite fielding a top-10 defense already, the additions of Arden Key, an elite edge rusher, and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will improve Tennessee's unit.
The Titans ranked last in the league during the 2022 regular season in pass-blocking grade (53.7) and allowed the fifth-most sacks in the league (33). As Northwestern's starting left tackle this past season, Skoronski allowed just six total pressures on 474 pass-blocking snaps.
