Howard is a pure scorer and one of the best shooters in the draft, however, tends to fall a bit short on the defensive end.
In back-to-back picks, the Nets snag a high-upside player in Jackson who has the potential to be a solid 3&D forward at the next level.
Unfortunately, the Blazers snag Kris Murray in this mock, a pick right before his brother, Keegam Murray’s team in the Kings.
Lively should be able to add some more size, speed, and rim protection to a Kings team who continues to stay on the rise.
Whitehead is a nice athlete and shooter that joined Duke late in the college season this year, now joining Memphis to add even more wing depth.
With their additional first-rounder, the Pacers here can take sort of a gamble on the lengthy, defensive guard.
The Hornets take a swing at one of the youngest prospects in the draft; Couldbaly is an extremely fast and lengthy athlete with a very high ceiling.
With the 28th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz select Sidy Cissoko, SG, G-League Ignite.
With the luxury of three first-rounders, the Jazz can afford to take a swing on an international player with a high upside later in this draft. Cissoko could be a great addition to this young core.
The one trait you’ll hear about Sidy Cissoko is his exceptional playmaking ability. Combining his ball-handling, passing, and decision-making ability, Cissoko could be exactly what the Jazz need in the backcourt.
Cissoko also projects as a good defender at the NBA level. He’s lengthy, fast with his feet, and has a good defensive IQ. Measuring 6’7 with a long wingspan, if Sidy puts some time in the weight room, he could find himself able to guard the 1-4 pretty easily at the next level.
While Cissoko is a bit of a streaky and inconsistent player at the moment, the Jazz have a good track record of developing young talent. Even if the Jazz decide to resign some of their free-agent wings, Cissoko would still be a versatile piece in the team’s rotation.
Lewis is a typical 3&D forward that brings solid size and athleticism to Indiana as a part of their plethora of draft picks.
While a bit undersized, Nnaji can fit a need for the Clippers, who recently have had a trend of loving defensive and rebounding centers.
Mock Draft Summary:
For the Utah Jazz, this draft would be an absolute home run. Adding Gradey Dick, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Sid Cissoko would not only fill areas of need, but all these players also provide a lot of room for growth and development.
All three of these picks give the Jazz solid size and length through the 1-3, and could eventually develop into amazing pairings with the team’s existing bigs. These players provide a great combination of shooting, defense, and playmaking that could set up this Jazz team with a strong young core for success years down the line.