The 2023 NBA draft is less than one week away.
The action starts at 7 p.m. Central on Thursday, June 22, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
After landing at No. 4 in the draft lottery, the rebuilding Rockets will not be drafting Victor Wembanyama, the historically talented French big man who will go to San Antonio at No. 1. However, general manager Rafael Stone will have several talented options to choose among once Houston is on the clock.
At fourth, the list of candidates for the Rockets is presumably led by guard Scoot Henderson of the NBA G League Ignite, guard Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite and forward Brandon Miller of Alabama. Other options include Ausar Thompson, Amen’s twin brother from Overtime Elite, and Villanova forward Cam Whitmore.
Houston also owns the No. 20 pick in the first round, which it acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Eric Gordon trade. Here’s a look entering draft week at who experts have going at No. 4 and No. 20 in their latest mock drafts.
Projections for No. 4 in 2023 first round
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report (6/16), No. 4: Cam Whitmore (Villanova: Forward, 18 years old, 6-7)
- Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
- Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (6/15), No. 4: Cam Whitmore (Villanova: Forward, 18 years old, 6-7)
- Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, ESPN (6/14), No. 4: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
- Kelly Iko, The Athletic (6/15), No. 4: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
- Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer (6/15), No. 4: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
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Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation (6/12), No. 4: Brandon Miller
(Alabama: Forward, 20 years old, 6-9) - NBAdraft.net (6/12), No. 4: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
- Gary Parrish, CBS Sports (6/7), No. 4: Cam Whitmore (Villanova: Forward, 18 years old, 6-7)
Check out Tankathon’s latest 2023 NBA draft big board for statistics and additional information on these prospects and beyond.
Projections for No. 20 in 2023 first round
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report (6/16), No. 20: Ben Sheppard (Belmont: Guard, 21 years old, 6-6)
- Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/16), No. 20: Leonard Miller (NBA G League Ignite: Forward, 19 years old, 6-10)
- Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (6/15), No. 20: Noah Clowney (Alabama: Big, 18 years old, 6-10)
- Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, ESPN (6/14), No. 20: Noah Clowney (Alabama: Big, 18 years old, 6-10)
- Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer (6/15), No. 20: Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas: Guard, 19 years old, 6-5)
- Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation (6/12), No. 20: Dereck Lively II (Duke: Center, 19 years old, 7-1)
- NBAdraft.net (6/12), No. 20: Leonard Miller (NBA G League Ignite: Forward, 19 years old, 6-10)
- Gary Parrish, CBS Sports (6/7), No. 20: Bilal Coulibaly (France’s Metropolitans 92: Wing, 18 years old, 6-6)
Check out Tankathon’s latest 2023 NBA draft big board for statistics and additional information on these prospects and beyond.
2023 NBA draft lottery results
The 2023 NBA Draft order is set 👀
🏀 The Hornets will pick in the Top 3 for the 2nd time in 3 years.
🏀 The Blazers hold their highest draft position since taking Greg Oden in 2007. pic.twitter.com/8bKw7EUQ4R
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 17, 2023
2023 pre-draft workouts, interviews for Rockets
As the calendar turns to June, here’s our latest list of prospects who have reportedly interviewed or worked out with the #Rockets during the NBA’s 2023 pre-draft process. https://t.co/9LDL9xwVf4
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) June 12, 2023
