2023 Mock Draft: Cavaliers trade in, Pelicans trade up in lottery
NBA Mock Draft: Picks 11 and 12
11. player. 38. . Guard. Orlando Magic. Cason Wallace
The NBA Draft teachers us every year to draft Kentucky guards higher than we think they should, and the Orlando Magic put that to action here in taking Cason Wallace 11th overall. They need to inject more talent into the backcourt, and Wallace is an elite guard defender who can score at all three levels and loves to have the ball in his hands conducting the offense.
The questions for Wallace are how good of a shooter he ultimately is, and how he gains separation at the next level as merely an average athlete. If the shooting comes through, however, he could be an excellent fit alongside any other type of guard in the Magic backcourt.
149. . Guard. Oklahoma City Thunder. Kobe Bufkin. 12. player
Michigan’s Kobe Bufkin is a sophomore but younger than many of the freshmen already drafted, and his upside as an offensive weapon is immense. He exploded in the second half of the season for the Wolverines, scoring at all three levels and able to generate shots for himself and others. He’s also a good defender, with good instincts and quick hands.
The Oklahoma City Thunder love to take high-feel players, and with a need for more scoring and shooting to fill in around their stars Bufkin gets the nod here over an athletic project like Bilal Coulibaly. Bufkin is thin but has great length and fast hands, and the high motor the Thunder love.