The Best Picks in the 2023 NBA Draft
Unearthing Future Stars: The Best Picks of the 2023 NBA Draft
Double Article Day! Enjoy this second piece!
Last night came with so many picks that were just perfect all around, in my opinion. There's a multitude of ways I could go with this too. Hell, I could say Wemby was the best pick of this Draft, and he was, but that's boring, and that's not what I'm here to do.
So, without further adieu, here are the best picks of the 2023 NBA Draft:
Jaime Jacquez Jr.
Jacquez to the Heat is a pick we all should've seen coming from a mile away. I even saw someone tweet on Twitter that "Jacquez to the Heat is way too on brand," and I couldn't agree more. Jacquez will never be the most talented or physically gifted guy, but he will forever be a competitor and a dog.
The Heat and Nuggets are taking the same approach this offseason as they attempt to reembark on another journey to the Finals. Targeting older NBA-ready guys that can contribute from Day 1 will benefit both teams immensely, especially since they're in their championship windows from Day 1. That's what the Heat did with Jacquez here, and the Nuggets did by getting Strawther, Pickett (great pick here and leaves me wondering if he's Bruce Brown's replacement), and Tyson, who will come in and be a knockdown shooter.
Kobe Bufkin
Where do I start? Atlanta got their future star right here. With rumors of the Hawks wanting to move on from Trae Young, Bufkin could be the perfect replacement for him or Murray. As many of you know, I'm incredibly high on what Bufkin can be. Bufkin oozes potential with his dynamic 2-way ability as a tenacious defender with SGA-like qualities offensively. There's so much to like with this pick all around. All of the abovementioned stuff goes without saying that both guards possess knowledge that can be passed onto Bufkin.
If I were GM Landry Fields, I'd have to acknowledge that as currently constructed, my team (the Hawks) isn't built to win a championship. And as people know by now, the worst place to be in the NBA is in the middle, and that's where the Hawks are at the moment. I would get rid of one of the current guards, preferably Young, and move on to Bufkin and give him the keys to the offense. If you build the situation around him, Bufkin will thrive, so time will tell, like all in this situation brewing in ATL.
Brice Sensabaugh
Finally, Brice Sensabaugh is the player I'd been waiting to be selected for the whole night before Danny Ainge pulled the trigger near the end of the First Round. I'll tell you what, I've never been more sure of a player's talent than Sensabaugh's. I hope that says something and he'll prove my words to be true. But as for now, the Jazz are getting an injection of youth with Sensabaugh, the best scorer in the Draft alongside High School AAU teammate Taylor Hendricks and another prolific scorer in Baylor's Keyonte George.
Opportunity awaits in Salt Lake City for Sensabaugh as the Jazz project to have a down year as they fully immerse themselves in the rebuild. I expect Sensabaugh to have a solid rookie season, as his scoring ability is really translatable with how he picks his spots. Despite the scoring proficiency expected of him, I also expect Sensabaugh to be outed defensively on a nightly basis being the target of opposing team's offensive game plans. He'll have to get better on that end and improve his playmaking if he wants to make it big in this league, but I believe in the talent and worker that Sensabaugh is.
Wrap-Up
Last night's NBA Draft was a gold mine of talent, with teams unearthing some real treasures. From gritty competitors to explosive scorers, there were a few picks that left me buzzing with excitement for the future. The Heat's pick at #18 of Jaime Jacquez Jr. had me grinning. His relentless competitive spirit and determination make him a perfect fit for the Heat's culture. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks struck gold with Kobe Bufkin, a dynamic talent with a two-way game that could potentially fill the shoes of their current star guards. These players, along with others from the Draft, have the potential to reshape the league and become future stars.
Amidst the excitement, let's not overlook Brice Sensabaugh, who was wisely selected by the Utah Jazz. Sensabaugh's scoring prowess is unmatched, and his arrival injects a much-needed dose of youth and offensive firepower into the Jazz's roster. With these exceptional talents leading the way, the future of the NBA looks incredibly bright. So, fans, get ready to witness the rise of these gems as they carve their names in basketball history.