NBA Draft 2023: Overall takeaways and key grades from draft results

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Jordan Hawkins (R) poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted 14th overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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Cam Whitmore (Villanova) with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected twentieth by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Cam Whitmore (and other red-flagged players) slide a bit

Just a few weeks ago, Villanova’s Cam Whitmore worked out for the Rockets and seemed to be in contention to go fourth overall. But leading up to the draft, there was some buzz that Whitmore’s medicals were concerning and he was expected to drop a bit. But, I don’t think anyone thought he’d fall all the way down to 20. Once he fell out of the lottery, the non-lottery teams had not worked out Whitmore, not expecting him to be available.

Those teams are also in win-now mode and seemed to draft for fit. The Lakers took Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schiifino to add to their backcourt depth at 17. The Heat went with UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez at 18, a tough, gritty, winner that seems destined to swing an Eastern Conference playoff game in the near future. The Warriors had been linked to Santa Clara’s Brandin Podziemski, whose dribble-pass-shoot ability, high analytical markings, and toughness make some sense for how they like to play.

Ultimately, the Rockets stopped the slide and were able to grab him at 20. Whitmore, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green form one of the most explosive young cores in the league (on top of frontcourt players Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason). I worry about Whitmore’s fit a bit as he suffered from serious tunnel vision last year and now joins a team that didn’t move the ball well as a collective (Thompson should help in this regard). New head coach Ime Udoka should also bring some much-needed structure. I understand the Whitmore fall to a degree, but 20 seems way too low and this was a great low-risk value pick for the Rockets. Whitmore is an undeniable top-10 talent in this class to me.

Whitmore was not the only medically-flagged player that fell a bit. Former five-star wing Dariq Whitehead went in the early 20’s. As a side note, I love what the Nets did grabbing two super-young guys in Whitehead and Alabama’s Noah Clowney. Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh fell a bit to 28. G-League Ignite’s Leonard Miller, already a divisive prospect, fell to the early second round, but some medical concerns may have taken him out of the first.

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