The draft has concluded and for now, we know where these young men will begin their nba careers. Just like last year, I want to give my predictions on what each player will look like as a rookie and try and contextualize why. If there are any trades I missed please let me know so I can correct them.

1. Victor Wembanyama - San Antonio Spurs
2. 20.3ppg 8.5rpg 2.1apg 0.6stl 2.1blk 29mpg
3. 43.2/28.3/77.4

Wemby is the greatest prospect ever imo. I think his rookie season will be very similar to Paolo’s this season. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think the spurs are going to try and protect him. He’s gonna play as many games as he’s available for. I expect around 70 games played and around 12 he'll miss due to small things. I almost guarantee he’ll be an All-Star and in contention for an All-Defense team as a rookie. Very good chance he’s an All-Star starter due to votes.

1. Brandon Miller- Charlotte Hornets
2. 13.4ppg 5.4rpg 1.7ast 0.6stl 0.5blk 26mpg
3. 38.7/32.7/81.3

Brandon fills a position of need by(thankfully) taking the ball out of Kelly Oubre’s hands. I fully expect him to struggle with efficiency due to having to adjust his jumpshot to the nba, similar to Jabari smith Jr. He’ll be a starter day one, and have a pretty awful first month or two before heating up down the stretch of the season and being an all rookie candidate.

1. Scoot Henderson - Portland Trailblazers

Scoot has two scenarios, with Dame or without

With Dame - 13.2ppg 3.6rpg 3.4apg 0.7stl 0.2blk 25mpg - 45.5/32.9/73.1

Without Dame - 17.6ppg 4.6rpg 5.4apg 1.0stl 0.5blk 31mpg - 42.4/27.2/74.6

Contextualizing two very different scenarios, whether Dame or Scoot are traded, is important. If Scoot plays with Dame in Portland, he’ll have to play off the bench. Scoot will be an impact player even in “limited” minutes. I think he’ll be a very good off-ball player when he’s on the floor with Dame. But if him or Dame find themselves on a different team opening night, Scoot will be fully in contention for ROTY depending on how much Wemby plays this season. Should have the ball in his hands full time on whichever team that is. He, Simons and Sharpe would be a dynamic trio that play really well off of Scoot.

1. Amen Thompson - Houston Rockets
2. 12.3ppg 5.4rpg 5.2apg 1.2stl 0.8blk 27mpg
3. 43.4/19.6/67.4

I think Amen Thompson is gonna have a Ja Morant level highlight reel by season end. Yes, the percentages say 19% from 3. I think it’ll be a similar experience to Ben Simmons, but just on low attempts instead on 0. I fully expect him to lead the league in turnovers as long as Udoka keeps him on the floor.

1. Ausar Thompson - Detroit Pistons
2. 11.4ppg 5.2rpg 3.2apg 1.0stl 0.7blk 23mpg
3. 42.9/33.4/72.3

I expect him to slot in as a 6th man as long as Bogdanovic is still on the team. I think his shooting will be very solid considering he’ll be training to be an off-ball player.

1. Anthony Black - Orlando Magic
2. 9.4ppg 4.6rpg 3.7apg 1.0stl 0.4blk 24mpg
3. 41.8/27/73.1

I think that the magic really believe that Fultz’s shooting is gonna make a comeback this year if this is the pick. He’ll be a part time starter and control the second unit quite often.

1. Bilal Coulibaly - Washington Wizards(via Pacers)
2. 6.1ppg 3.4rpg 0.6apg 0.6stl 0.3blk 13ppg
3. 47.6/32.5/59.5

I think Bilal is gonna live on the Go-Go for at least half the season. By about February he’ll be back on the Wiz full time and I think he’ll be a solid bench guy.

1. Jarace Walker - Indiana Pacers(viz Wizards)
2. 11.8ppg 7.1rpg 2.9apg 0.7stl 0.7blk 27mpg
3. 46.5/36.7/67.9

I think he’ll be a 1st team all rookie player, despite almost identical stats to his college season. I think playing off of Halliburton will be great for his shooting numbers, and playing with Mathurin and Hield will have him slot in as more of a 2way playmaker. Similar to Draymond Green.

1. Taylor Hendricks - Utah Jazz
2. 8.4ppg 5.2rpg 0.5apg 0.4stl 1.0blk 26mpg
3. 48.1/37.3/79.4

Taylor will probably be a very solid rotation piece off rip for the Jazz. I expect a high volume of 3’s and dunks this season.

1. Cason Wallace - OKC Thunder(via Mavs)
2. 6.5ppg 2.1rpg 2.3apg 1.1stl 0.3blk 17mpg
3. 44.8/35.6/75

The Thunder essentially run a 4 guard lineup as is, so I think Cason will spend a lot of time on the bench. Had he gone to a team in need of guards, we could be looking at a potential All-Rookie guy. He’ll be productive defensively right away and his scoring will be solid in small stretches.

1. Jett Howard - Orlando Magic
2. 7.3ppg 1.8rpg 1.6apg 0.4stl 0.1blk 16mpg
3. 37.1/34.7/81.2

Magic got their bench shooter for the year. Think he’ll be fine in limited minutes.

1. Dereck Lively II - Dallas Mavericks(via Thunder)
2. 7.8ppg 7.5rpg 2.1apg 0.4stl 1.9blk 22mpg
3. 67.4/23.6/71.4

The rim protector that the Mavs needed. I think he’ll have a Walker Kessler-esque season for the Mavs. I think he’ll land somewhere between Jaxson Hayes and Walker Kessler statistically. Should be an All-Rookie candidate.

1. Gradey Dick - Toronto Raptors
2. 12.4ppg 3.8rpg 2.2apg 0.6stl 0.3blk 26mpg
3. 43.6/37.5/82.3

I got a feeling OG Annunoby is on the move, which opens up a spot for Gradey to take over. I think he’ll be an offensive weapon and truly show how full his skillset is. 1st team all rookie for Gradey.

1. Jordan Hawkins - New Orleans Pelicans
2. 7.4ppg 1.7rpg 1.2apg 0.5stl 0.1blk 14mpg
3. 38.4/36.8/85.4

He gonna run around a lot of screens and shoot a lot of 3’s.

1. Kobe Bufkin - Atlanta Hawks
2. 5.4ppg 1.8rpg 1.4apg 0.5stl 0.1blk 12mpg
3. 45.1/33.7/73

Kobe will get spot minutes as an off-ball player with either Trae or Dejounte.

1. Keyonte George - Utah Jazz
2. 9.8ppg 2.2rpg 1.9apg 0.5stl 0.2blk 21ppg
3. 41.7/34.5/80.4

Jazz secret new bucket getter behind Collin Sexton. Microwave has been an overused term but it’s pretty accurate here. He’ll be very hot and cold very often.

1. Jalen Hood-Schifino - Los Angeles Lakers
2. 5.2ppg 2.0rpg 2.1apg 0.4stl 0.1blk 13mpg
3. 36.3/26.8/72.1

I don’t think he’ll get any real rotation minutes. Might have a stretch in the middle of the regular season that they might give him decent minutes but otherwise, he’s a G-League guy.

1. Jaime Jaquez Jr. - Miami Heat
2. 6.6ppg 3.1rpg 1.5apg 0.7stl 0.6blk 18mpg
3. 43.2/34/76.4

Most Miami heat pick imaginable. Dudes gonna get good minutes just roughing dudes up and doing tomfoolery with Jimmy Butler.

1. Brandin Podziemski- Golden State Warriors
2. 5.3ppg 1.7rpg 1.9apg
3. 46.9/41.5/83.1

Very solid in some spot minutes. Fits into the warriors unselfish system pretty well.

1. Cam Whitmore - Houston Rockets
2. 11.5ppg 4.3ppg 0.4apg 0.2stl 0.4blk 23mpg
3. 46.2/32.5/74.6

There’s no reason he should’ve fallen this far. Whether he’s a starter or off the bench, dude is gonna have a very productive rookie season. All rookie potential.

1. Noah Clowney - Brooklynn Nets
2. 4.2ppg 4.5rpg 0.8apg 0.4stl 0.8blk 19mpg
3. 45.9/34.1/67.4

I think he’s gonna take all of Day’Ron Sharpe’s minutes and just be a decent forward/small ball C.

1. Dariq Whitehead - Brooklynn Nets
2. 7.3ppg 2.0rpg 1.6apg 0.4stl 0.4blk 18mpg
3. 41.4/36.7/84.2

I think we’ll see more of what we expected from Dariq coming out of high school. Should be healthy enough to get real rotation minutes.

1. Kris Murray - Portland Trailblazers
2. 7.4ppg 3.6rpg 1.0apg 0.4stl 0.7blk 20mpg
3. 42.8/35.9/74.8

Blazers will need some forward depth and I think he can get minutes behind Jerami Grant.

1. Olivier-Maxence Prosper - Dallas Mavericks(via Kings)
2. 4.0ppg 2.3rpg 0.8apg 0.2stl 0blk 10mpg
3. 45/28/69

Honestly don’t know what to expect. Don’t think he’ll see the court much.

1. Marcus Sasser - Detroit Pistons(via Griz)
2. 6.8ppg 1.2rpg 1.2apg 0.5stl 0blk 18mpg
3. 41.4/40.3/88.6

I think he’ll fit in as a very good shooter off the bench. He’ll keep doing his thing as a deep range floor spacer.

1. Ben Sheppard - Indiana Pacers
2. 4ppg 1.3rpg 0.5apg 0.3stl 0.1blk 10mpg
3. 42.7/35.6/65.8

The pacers have 4 very similar players. Ben is one of them.

1. Nick Smith Jr. - Charlotte Hornets
2. 6.9ppg 1.2rpg 1.5apg 0.5stl 0.1blk 12mpg
3. 43.6/35.4/80.3

I personally think it’s a War Crime that he fell out of the lottery, let alone to the 27th pick. I think he’s got a career arc that starts similar to Lou Will. He’s gonna get bench buckets for the first few years, and I’m confident he’ll be the starting SG by year 3, if not earlier.

1. Brice Sensabaugh - Utah Jazz
2. 8.5ppg 2.1rpg 0.5apg 0.3stl 0.1blk 16mpg
3. 45.5/38.6/80.2

He’s gonna do the same thing he did in college. Get buckets in small amounts of time. This might be a Keldon Johnson experience all over again.

1. Julian Strawther - Denver Nuggets
2. 6.3ppg 1.9rpg 0.7apg 0.5stl 0.2blk 18mpg
3. 41.2/38.4/76.8

Nuggets got another that can get rotation minutes and make an impact with his shooting.

1. Kobe Brown - Los Angeles Clippers
2. 5.7ppg 2.9rpg 1.5apg 0.6stl 0.3blk 15mpg
3. 46.9/29.5/73.5

I think he’s versatile enough to fit into a lot of lineups for the clips. Don’t think the shooting translates right away tho.

2nd Round Guys who could get rotation minutes

• Leonard Miller - Minnesota Timberwolves

Wolves need wing defenders and I think he will play a similar role to Jaden McDaniels off the bench. - Colby Jones - Sacramento Kings

He's gonna do his thing and fill whatever need the Kings need from him as a versatile player. - Andre Jackson Jr. - Milwuakee Bucks

I'm curious as to what the bucks are gonna do with Jackson this season. He can step in and play minutes right away, but I doubt he averages more than 5ppg regardless of his minutes. - Maxwell Lewis - Los Angeles Lakers

Him falling to the second round is ridiculous. His scoring skillset alone should've put him in lottery contention. And I don't think his defense will be bad in the nba. Might be an All-Rookie player by season end. - Seth Lundy - Atlanta Hawks

He's gonna space the floor on a low contract. Hawks should be very happy. - Jordan Miller - Los Angeles Clippers

I think his versatility will be great for the clips who've gotten two guys this draft who can play multiple roles for them. - Emoni Bates - Cleveland Cavaliers

Genuinely have no clue how his nba arc is gonna go. He might be the wing piece the Cavs needed. Or he'll live with the Charge. - Trayce Jackson-Davis - Golden State Warriors

I honestly thought they would've selected him at 19. Bro SCREAMS Warriors pick. He does everything Kevon Looney does, but he's much more athletic. I expect him to be in the rotation full time on the season.