10 players most likely to succeed from 2023 NBA Draft

4:  Brandon Miller (Alabama) – Charlotte Hornets

Brandon Miller’s ability to shoot from anywhere at his size stands out the most. Despite having terrific athleticism and length, he did not shoot well inside the paint at the start of the 2022-23 season. Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and shot 43 percent from the field with Alabama.

While he improved offensively at the rim throughout the season, his ability to create shots in transition and his elite defense allowed him to gain national recognition as the Crismon Tide’s first-ever freshman to be named SEC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year.

There will be a lot of pressure on Brandon Miller to perform at a high level quickly as he will be remembered as Michael Jordan’s last lottery pick as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. The second-overall pick should fit in nicely in Buzz City; however, I believe the Hornets missed out on a generational talent in Scoot Henderson.

3: Jarace Walker (Houston) – Indiana Pacers

We saw the first trade of the 2023 NBA Draft early on when the Indiana Pacers (seventh pick) swapped picks with the Washington Wizards (eighth pick). The Pacers drafted Bilal Coulibaly, who was sent to Washington in exchange for Jarace Walker.

Jarace Walker makes sense for the Indiana Pacers, who sought that last piece to round out their starting five. The 6-foot-8 power forward will shadow center Myles Turner, eventually making for one of the best frontcourts in the Central Division.

As a freshman at Houston this past season, he earned AAC Freshman of the Year honors, Second-team All-AAC, and AAC All-Freshman Team. In 36 games with the Cougars, Walker averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and shot 46.5 percent.

With the right development in Indiana, I am confident that Jarace Walker will make big strides as a dynamic big for the Pacers.