[2023] NBA Draft - Lottery Picks Midseason Recap

[SageBow]

Pick #1 - SF Joseph Swenson, SAC, 91 OVR - 51 GP, 27 MPG, 8.94 PPG (49.74/33.33/90.63), 4.41 RPG, 3.02 APG, 0.98 SPG, 1.12 BPG. 1.51 TOPG

• The star wing from UGA went #1 overall to the Kings in the past draft in a slight shock. In a draft full of big men, positional concerns took Swenson up to #1. Unfortunately, he's been disappointing so far, Crazy efficient with excellent shooting splits, but 9 points per game is not what Sacramento faithful were hoping for after trading up with the Thunder to get the #1 overall pick. The Kings are a team with excellent players, (4) 90+ starters in Swenson, C Roy Adams (98), PG Victor Gonzales (99), and SG Kevin Henderson (92), but find themselves fighting for a playoff spot currently in 7th place in the West.
• Grade - C-

Pick #2 - PF John Schroeder, TOR, 92 OVR - 51 GP, 28 MPG, 17.16 PPG (51.09/0.00/92.93), 4.37 RPG, 2.24 APG, 1.08 SPG, 0.76 BPG, 1.41 TOPG

• Schroeder is an excellent player to have fall into the #2 pick. The Raptors however, have been terrible this season, sporting a 12-41 record and 14th in the East. Its hard for anyone to shine on such a dysfunctional team. Schroeder has been an excellent offensive post player in the Raptor's double post offense and is second on the team in PPG behind PG John Hall (94). This offense is too reliant on Schroeder and Hall beating their opponent 1v1, attributed to the low assist rate for the Raptors. Defensively this team is awful, and Schroeder is one of the main culprits. No one on this team average more than 6 RPG, and they turn the ball over at an alarming rate compared to their steals, Schroeder is a great piece, but outside of LeBron James no one could save the Raptors this year.
• Grade - B+

Pick #3 - C Richard White, PHI, 90 OVR - 51 GP, 30 MPG, 9.90 PPG (56.94/0.00/82.84), 6.82 RPG, 2.24 APG, 1.33 SPG, 1.18 BPG, 1.31 TOPG

• White has been a solid role player for the Sixers in the post. Unfortunately, that's not what you want in a #3 overall pick. By all means the 6-10 post should be a defensive force and he has been, second on the team in rebounds, blocks and steals. But at this spot, you're hoping for a transformational piece for your team and at least 13 weeks into the season White is not that guy. No threat as a jump shooter, really just a finisher at the rim on offense. Struggles at handling the ball and is much more comfortable being a screener, roller, and on defense. The Sixers are now too dependent on Mark "The Boss" Ross to score (31.92 PPG, next highest on the team is 11.41) and as a whole it is no surprise that they're sitting at a 17-36 record.
• Grade - C-

Pick #4 - C Christopher Toms, LAL, 90 OVR - 51 GP, 31 MPG, 12.24 PPG (55.22/0.00/73.10), 7.78 RPG, 2.76 APG, 1.33 SPG. 1.63 BPG, 1.82 TOPG

• A really good piece on just a god awful team. The two best players on this team (PG Raymond Garcia (112), SG Kenneth Barnes (102)) aren't even playing ball! The team's top scorer is a rookie undrafted guard in Hyun Xu (76) and while he's performing, you just have to wonder why. Hard to even grade this pick as anything, but Toms has made a good pairing with last year's pick PF Raymond Rivera (89), and this in and out duo could be great for the Lakers. Tom's shooting well and playing great defense, just needs to clean up his sloppy ball handling. Its not Tom's fault, its the front office and coaching dysfunction being a big reason why the Lakers are 9-44 and the shame of SoCal.
• Grade - B

Pick #5 - C Christian Babcock, UTA, 92 OVR - 51 GP, 27.47 MPG, 14.14 PPG (54.26/0.00/80.92), 8.27 RPG, 2.00 APG, 1.76 SPG. 0.84 BPG, 1.08 TOPG

• A revelation of a player for a resurgent Jazz team. Babcock is 2nd on the team in points and leads the team in minutes, rebounds, steals, and blocks. He's a huge reason of why the Jazz are sitting with a 43-10 record and an absolute juggernaut of a team to go up against. He can go up with the best of the post players in the league and simply put the sky is the limit for this guy. A top defensive prospect, an excellent rim runner, if he ever gets his shot figured out he is a perennial All-NBA threat. He's already the face of the Jazz.
• Grade - A+

Pick #6 - SG Robert Philby, ATL, 84 OVR - 51 GP, 29 MPG, 23.94 PPG (43.83/45.87/85.45), 4.59 RPG, 3.55 APG, 1.02 SPG, 0.73 BPG, 1.31 TOPG

• Another awesome selection. Atlanta traded up with the Hornets to get Philby and he's been a huge reason of why the Hawks are leading the east with a 46-7 record. Philby leads the Hawks in points, and has been a dynamic force with veteran guard PG Larry Jenkins (110) to be arguably the most dynamic backcourt in the current NBA. Philby needs to work on his efficiency and defense, but his skills as a scorer and playmaker are undeniable.
• Grade - A+

Pick #7 - C Michael Valerio, MIN, 82 OVR - 51 GP, 27.65 MPG, 7.61 PPG (64.20/52.78/69.51), 4.35 RPG, 1.78 APG, 1.04 SPG, 1.02 BPG, 1.37 TOPG

• Frankly, the TWolves suck. 7-46 record is the 3rd worst in the league. They play a variation of small ball and while they're extremely talented in the guards and wings, Valerio is being relied on as the primary defensive stopper on this team and that's just not his game at this point in his career. Its not to say he's not trying, but he doesn't have the tenacity at rebounding or the raw instincts for blocks. Valerio does have excellent shooting splits, but the focus on him being defensive option #1 is hurting him overall. Bad fit in my mind.
• Grade - C+

Pick #8 - PF Thomas Teel, CHA, 87 OVR - 51 GP, 27 MPG, 1.43 PPG (70.21/0.00/100), 5.61 RPG, 2.55 APG, 1.06 SPG, 0.98 BPG, 1.22 TOPG

• Teel is in the unfortunate place where he's the understudy to a dynamic star (PF Philip Taylor (108)), but this is a complete disaster for the Hornets. 27 minutes per game and only this out put? He's out there doing cardio. Things have to change drastically for Teel to avoid being a bust. Not much to say here, he's just a rebounder at this point in his career.
• Grade - D

Pick #9 - PF Edward Furr, PHO, 94 OVR - 51 GP, 28.16 MPG, 1.22 PPG (31.58/0.00/100), 7.10 RPG, 4.04 APG, 1.08 SPG, 0.98 BPG, 1.63 TOPG

• Another disaster pick. Furr by all means should be a scoring threat, but he's extremely inefficient and has been delegated to just being a post distributer and defender. He's excellent at his role, but this is a #9 overall selection. You should be expecting more than maybe a bucket a game for a guy getting the minutes he's been getting.
• Grade - C-

Pick #10 - C Alberto Berganza, MIL, 79 OVR - 2 GP, 11 MPG, 10.00 PPG (60.00/0.00/50.00), 0.00 RPG, 0.00 APG, 0.50 SPG, 0.00 BPG, 0.50 TOPG

• Last pick of the top 10 is a guy that was used as a off the bench microwave scorer for two games before being shut down for the entire season. Can't even crack the rotation nothing to talk about here.
• Grade - F

Pick #11 - PF Scott Munro, CLE, 91 OVR - 51 GP, 30 MPG, 21.35 PPG (47.80/0.00/94.59), 5.57 RPG, 2.82 APG, 1.33 SPG, 0.94 BPG, 1.16 TOPG

• Grade - A+

Pick #12 - C Jeffrey Mccullough, IND, 90 OVR - 51 GP, 8 MPG, 8.29 PPG (51.04/34.57/80.30), 2.35 RPG, 0.49 APG, 0.31 SPG, 0.31 BPG, 0.59 TOPG

• Grade - C

Pick #13 - PF Justin Austin, MEM, 85 OVR - 51 GP, 19 MPG, 10.41 PPG (60.16/0.00/82.30), 3.59 RPG, 1.25 APG, 0.65 SPG, 0.78 BPG, 1.24 TOPG

• Grade - B+

Pick #14 - C Dennis Jackson, SD, 86 OVR - 51 GP, 29 MPG, 17.20 PPG (58.56/0.00/69.05), 5.71 RPG, 1.12 APG, 1.00 SPG, 1.02 BPG, 1.73 TOPG

• Grade - A-

Pick #15 - PF Trent Snowden, DAL, 86 OVR - 51 GP, 22 MPG, 11 PPG (48.70/0.00/85.51), 4.18 RPG, 2.57 APG, 0.92 SPG, 0.86 BPG, 1.06 TOPG

• Grade - B+

Pick #16 - SG William Woodard, OKC, 87 OVR - 51 GP, 22.75 MPG, 20.63 PPG (47.72/47.72/87.04), 3.45 RPG, 2.88 APG, 0.65 SPG, 0.82 BPG, 1.24 TOPG

• Grade - A+