Underrated on-court fits from the 2023 NBA Draft

After digesting the 2023 NBA Draft, it’s time to start thinking about some of the best fits on the floor. We’re not going to get into why a generational prospect like Victor Wembanyama should excel with the San Antonio Spurs, as the reality is that the French phenom would have been likely to play well anywhere. Instead, we’re looking at some of our favorite prospect-team matches from draft picks outside of the top five who might supercharge their careers due to being in great situations. 

Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder (10th overall)

While the Thunder were able to get Wallace with the 10th pick in this draft, I had the Kentucky product as my sixth-ranked prospect overall. I simply feel that a player with his all-around skill set is extremely valuable in today’s game, and it’s especially valuable to a team like the Thunder.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams, Sam Presti has assembled a team full of bigger guys who can handle the ball. Wallace should fit in perfectly there, as he has legitimate playmaking chops as a combo guard with a long wingspan. In lineups with Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Giddey, Williams and Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City is going to have a daunting combination of length and versatility.

Offensively, Wallace will be able to give Gilgeous-Alexander some breathers with his ability to run the offense in spurts, but he’s also capable of thriving off the ball. While Wallace’s shooting numbers weren’t all that impressive last year, he did shoot very well from deep when he played as more of an off-ball option next to Sahvir Wheeler. I expect his jumper to translate nicely to the pros. Wallace should also be good at applying some rim pressure for Oklahoma City, as he’s a tough guy to stop when he puts his head down and goes to the basket. A bonus is that Wallace is yet another player in this lineup who should be able to draw fouls. That’s very valuable late in games.

Defensively, Wallace has the potential to be flat-out special for Oklahoma City. This is already a team that has Luguentz Dort hounding opponents on the perimeter, and Wallace just might join him to make up something of a “Bash Brothers” combination. Wallace really gets up on his man and uses his outrageous upper-body strength to bump people and make them uncomfortable.

This is the exact type of player who should help the Thunder make an enormous leap in the '23-24 season. I think he’ll contribute in a big way right off the bat, as the things he does well give him a very high floor and should make him a valuable piece of the rotation. I also think he’ll grow into a borderline All-Star in this ecosystem.

Keyonte George, Utah Jazz (16^th overall) 

The Jazz ended up coming away with Taylor Hendricks, George and Brice Sensabaugh in the first round. While Hendricks was the team’s ninth overall pick, I think I’m most excited about seeing what George can do in Salt Lake City. George’s freshman-season numbers at Baylor weren’t all that inspiring, as the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 15.3 points per game on only 37.6% shooting from the floor and 33.8% shooting from three, but George’s shooting is a lot better than his numbers suggest. This is a player who really should bring some excitement to the Jazz, especially on the offensive end.

Lauri Markkanen emerged as an All-Star for Utah, which really changed the outlook of the franchise, and while Jordan Clarkson did play well out of the backcourt for the Jazz, the team now has a guard it can be legitimately excited about for the future. George is one of the best shot creators in this entire class, as he has the ability create off the dribble for himself at will. That allows George to get himself right into the paint, while also being able to create space to get his jumpers off. He should immediately give the Jazz a little juice as a scorer, and he also has good feel as a pick-and-roll playmaker.

George isn’t a perfect prospect by any means, which is why he did last until the 16^th pick. He’s not the best athlete in the world, and he also isn’t a shutdown defender. I still envision him being a guy who can eventually give the Jazz 18 or so points on a consistent basis, and Will Hardy is a remarkable head coach, so he should be able to help George mask some of his weaknesses.

Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks (12^th overall)

Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Dallas Mavericks (24^th overall)

The Mavericks were just 25^th in the NBA in defensive rating last year, so they went into the draft targeting defense. I think Dallas landed two players who should fit very well next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Duke’s Lively was the second-best rim protector in the class, and he can step out and guard perimeter players in a pinch. Once he matures a bit and learns the nuances of the pro game, Lively has the potential to be one of the better defensive centers in the entire league. That’s exactly what Dallas needs with Doncic and Irving being two of the weaker defenders in the league. The two of them will simply funnel their men in Lively’s direction, and he’ll focus on defending the rim from there. He’ll also make Dallas a little harder to exploit in pick-and-roll scenarios.

As for Prosper, it isn’t hard to see the Marquette product being a plus-level wing defender right off the bat. With Dorian Finney-Smith shipped off in the Irving trade, that’s exactly what the Mavericks needed to add this offseason. Prosper can guard multiple positions on the perimeter, and he’s also a feisty competitor. Both players should help Dallas make some strides defensively in '23-24.

These prospects also happen to bring a little offensively. Lively is going to be a very good pick-and-roll finisher for this Mavericks team, as he’s very good around the basket. Lively also happens to have a nice-looking jumper, making him a potential pick-and-pop threat down the road. In some ways, Prosper isn’t all that different from Lively, as he mostly uses his athleticism to help him do offensive damage as a slasher and transition finisher, but he has improved drastically as a shooter over the years. He should eventually be a very good three-and-D option.

Jalen Hood-Schifino, Los Angeles Lakers (17^th overall)

Maxwell Lewis, Los Angeles Lakers (40^th overall)

Hood-Schifino is a nice get for a Lakers team that has quietly done as well as anyone when it comes to adding talent through the draft (and undrafted free agency). The former Hoosier has an old-school offensive game, as he does a lot of work with his mid-range jumper. He should instantly be a nice microwave scorer off the bench for Los Angeles, but he should also improve as a playmaker down the road. That makes him a guy who can help the Lakers now, while also developing into a key member of the team’s young core for the post-LeBron James era. On top of all that, Hood-Schifino is a plus-level defender on the perimeter, giving Los Angeles a nice young player who can probably play some key minutes in the postseason next year.

In Lewis, the Lakers were able to grab a guy who flashed a ton of three-and-D potential at Pepperdine. He’s a 6-foot-7 wing with a 7-foot wingspan, and he really gets after it on the defensive end. That should allow him to defend a few different positions for the Lakers. On offense, Lewis shot only 34.8% from deep last season, but he was the focal point of opposing defenses. More importantly, Lewis shot 43.3% from deep on catch-and-shoot opportunities last year, and he should get a lot of clean looks playing off the Lakers’ star-studded lineup.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat (18^th overall)

I had Jaquez as my 17^th-ranked prospect in this draft, so he went right around where I expected, and landing in Miami is perfect for a player like Jaquez. He’s the epitome of “Heat Culture” and should be a fan favorite in South Beach from the second he first steps on the floor.

Jaquez was a great defender throughout his time with UCLA, despite not being the best athlete on the planet. He’s just a heady player who knows how to play the angles and make life hell on his opponents. Jaquez should be able to slot in to this rotation and immediately hold his own as part of an impenetrable Heat defense.

Jaquez also happens to be a special offensive player, even if he lacks bounce and isn’t exactly a deadeye three-point shooter. He simply has next-level footwork for a perimeter player, which made him impossible to guard as an isolation player at the collegiate level. He’s also a very good playmaker out of the mid-post, making him a player who can beat defenses in several different ways.

If Jaquez can just continue to improve as a three-point shooter, he should turn into a long-term starter for the Heat, and I think he’ll eventually be respectable from deep, as he has good mechanics and a killer work ethic.

Dariq Whitehead, Brooklyn Nets (22^nd overall)

I liked that the Nets drafted Noah Clowney with the 21^st pick in the draft, but I absolutely loved Brooklyn being the team to swing on Whitehead. The Duke wing was the second-ranked recruit in his class before arriving in Cameron, but he has had some significant injury issues and never found his footing in his lone season with the Blue Devils. Teams like the Nets need to swing on upside, and there’s a chance Whitehead can turn into a special player down the road.

This pick reminds me of Brooklyn drafting Caris LeVert in 2016. LeVert similarly had injury concerns coming out of school, but the Nets were patient with him and able to get him healthy. If they can do the same with Whitehead, people will be calling this a steal one day. Whitehead is a very impressive shot creator, with the ability to pull up and drill jumpers over his defenders and attack the basket. He’s also a rock-solid on-ball defender, making him a player who could fit very nicely next to Mikal Bridges in a couple of years.

Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons (25^th overall)

I’m not sure Sasser could have ended up in a better situation. This reminds me of the Jaquez pick in that the prospect landed in a dream spot. Sasser is more of a scorer in a point guard’s body, so you don’t want him to be your primary on-ball option. Luckily for him, the Pistons have Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to handle the rock. That means that Sasser can focus on doing what he does best, which is drilling triples and using his handle to get defenses scrambling a bit.

The beauty of this fit is that Sasser can now guard opposing teams' ball-handlers. Sasser is an absolute pest at the point of attack, so he should make this defense a heck of a lot better. Now, Ivey can go out and guard the weakest perimeter scorer on the floor, and Cunningham can focus on defending wings.

With all of that in mind, Sasser landed in a spot in which he’ll be able to completely focus on his strengths. His weaknesses as a prospect shouldn’t matter at all with the players surrounding him. Sasser’s also playing for a head coach in Monty Williams who should really value his leadership and winning pedigree from Houston.

Julian Strawther, Denver Nuggets (29^th overall)

Hunter Tyson, Denver Nuggets (37^th overall)

Gonzaga’s Strawther and Clemson’s Tyson are two players who won’t be capable of consistently creating their own offense in the NBA, but they are going to be lethal as spot-up shooters. Strawther shot 40.8% from three last year, and Tyson shot 40.5%. They just so happen to be playing with the best passer in basketball in Nikola Jokic — and another pretty darn good one in Jamal Murray. With that said, I like their chances of being rotation players for the Nuggets sooner rather than later.

It only helps that both snipers have good size. Strawther is a 6-foot-7 wing with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, which should make him a nice option as a small forward for Denver, while Tyson is 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and can probably play minutes at both the three and four. Neither player is particularly impressive when it comes to the defensive end, but size should help quite a bit there. If the two of them just compete, they shouldn’t be too detrimental on that end of the floor.

I should also mention that I don’t hate Jalen Pickett as a prospect. There’s a path toward Pickett being Denver’s backup point guard rather quickly, but getting Strawther and Tyson just seems outrageous for a team that consistently creates good looks from three.

Leonard Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves (33^rd overall)

Jaylen Clark, Minnesota Timberwolves (53^rd overall)

Other than Scoot Henderson, Miller was the best prospect to play for the G League Ignite last season, and I think he can eventually be a big-time player for Minnesota. Miller is very raw and will need some time to develop, but he’s a former guard who had a significant growth spurt. Now, Miller is a player who can play both power forward and center while also having on-ball creation skills because of his past as a perimeter player. Miller’s drives can look extremely awkward, but he constantly showed an ability to get to the rim off the bounce with the Ignite. When you combine that with a decent jumper, you’re looking at a guy who can one day be a very good player in the future, and I think his skill set will fit nicely next to both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels.

Clark has some work to do with his jumper, but he was the best perimeter defender in all of college basketball last year. If he ever recovers from the Achilles injury he suffered in his final year with UCLA, Clark’s defense should get back to being his calling card. Having one elite skill is an easy way for a second-round pick to make an impact in the NBA, but I buy his jumper becoming respectable, as he got a lot better with it in his time with the Bruins. If he is ever able to consistently knock threes down, he’ll be a good role player for Minnesota.  

Jordan Walsh, Boston Celtics (38^th overall)

I was a lot higher on Walsh than a lot of other draft analysts, as I had the Arkansas forward as my 23^rd-ranked prospect in the class. I just love his combination of size, instincts and competitiveness. Walsh plays hard every minute he’s on the floor, and he genuinely wants to be great at the little things. His scrappiness always popped when I watched the Razorbacks last year, whether it was him coming up with loose balls or unexpectedly pulling down offensive rebounds. In fact, I see him endearing himself to Celtics fans rather quickly, and his hustle just might make the loss of Marcus Smart easier on Boston.

Walsh should be a very nice defensive piece for the Celtics, with his length and athleticism giving him the chance to effectively guard four positions. Next to guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, he could make it impossible on opponents to score on Boston.

Offensively, Walsh is a jumper away from seriously outplaying his draft spot. If he ever starts to knock shots down consistently, he’s going to be a guy who makes a ton of money in this league, and I think he’ll be a decent shooter eventually, as I don’t really see anything too messy with his mechanics.