After months of prediction and speculation, the 2023 NBA Draft is finally over and all 58 picks have been made. The night was relatively drama-free except for the fact that the decisions made will impact the careers of all the involved players and some teams significantly. Below, we review the top winners and losers of the night. Who came out on top and who could have done better?
Both Winners and Losers: The Bettors
The draft is arguably the most pivotal moment for NBA franchises. The decisions made during this window can dictate the trajectory of a club for many years to come. Consider, for instance, how the fortunes of the Portland Trail Blazers would have differed if they had picked Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant over Sam Bowie and Greg Oden over two decades ago.
This slim margin for error is heart-wrenching for franchises but exciting for bettors. Going into the 2023 draft, fans familiarize themselves with the picks and draft betting rules. Many people flocked to top sportsbooks to create betting accounts and learn the bet365 withdrawal and deposit guidelines. So were they winners or losers in this draft? Seemingly both.
Victor Wembanyama was a favorite for the No. 1 draft pick at (-50000) and anyone who made this bet had a good day. On the other hand, Scoot Henderson was slated for a number 2 pick at (+4000) – odds that did not play out so well when the Charlotte Hornets passed him over for Brandon Miller (+10000). And while a win may have come from Amen Thompson (+10000) getting a top-five pick, Cam Whitmore was the biggest disappointment of the night for bettors. Mock drafts predicted Cam Whitmore would at least get the No. 8 pick (+25000) but he closed the night at number 20.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks
Arguably the biggest winners of the night were the Dallas Mavericks. They did not get the No. 1 pick, but they did get what they were always eyeing – Duke center Dereck Lively II. Even better, the Mavericks traded back two spots and dropped Davis Bertans, which allowed them to add Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Richaun Holmes to their roster.
Prosper had a very promising stint at the NBA Draft Combine and punters have noted him as a rapidly-rising forward. Before he entered the 2023 Draft, the Canadian player was bringing it on the field, averaging 0.9 steals, 4.7 rebounds, and 12.5 points as a junior.
Loser: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets won the No. 2 pick of the Draft and their goal was to find someone to play next to LaMelo Ball. So when the team picked Brandon Miller, Alabama’s No. 2, over Scoot Henderson, very few people were pleased. Henderson spent over a year as the projected second-bed Draft prospect and all eyes were on him. And while it can be argued that Miller pairs better with Ball, no one is happy.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs had the No. 1 pick and they did not squander it. The team made away with the much-discussed, most-hyped 7-foot-3 prospect, Victor Wembanyama. With his almost 8-foot wingspan, comfort in different positions, movement, and defensive force, Wembanyama has been hailed as a generational talent and eth best NBA prospect since LeBron James.
Loser: Cam Whitmore
Cam Whitmore had a disappointing night all-round. Previous speculations had him going to at least number five given his talents but he closed the night at No. 20. According to talk on the court, major teams passed on him due to a combination of recent injury concerns and a marked disinterest and lack of focus displayed by Whitmore at the Hoops Summit event.
Winner: Thompson Twins
A lot can be said about the Thompson twins – they are, after all, good. But what stands out is that the draft made them the first twins in NBA history to get drafted together at top five, with Ausar going to the Pistons a No. 5 and Amen joining the Rockets at No. 4.
Wrapping Up: For the Viewers
As we said, the NBA Draft Night was fairly quiet except for some unforeseen decisions here and there. But what may have seemed an uneventful night for viewers will go a long way in dictating the careers of many, if not all, the prospects. It can be argued that, in trying to win, teams need to make sensible moves that improve the position of the franchise rather than sensational picks that don’t.
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