SPINNING A WEMB’

Touted big man a no-brainer for Spurs with top pick

By ZACH BRAZILLER zbraziller@nypost.com

11 Jun 2023 - New York Post

ONE OF the more intriguing NBA drafts in memory is less than two weeks away. To get you prepared for the festivities at Barclays Center, The Post’s Zach Braziller takes a swing at how he sees the first round going:

Spurs 1 - Victor Wembanyama, France (F, 7-4, 230 pounds)

Some experts have declared Wembanyama the best draft prospect ever — unprecedented hype in which anything but a Hall of Fame career would be a letdown. At the least, he’s the best since LeBron James broke into the league two decades ago.

Hornets 2  - Brandon Miller, Alabama (F, 6-9, 200)

There really is no wrong choice here for the Hornets. Scoot Henderson and Miller would be No. 1 picks most years. All the buzz has Charlotte going with the better fit in the uber-talented 6-foot-9 Miller, since LaMelo Ball is already entrenched as the franchise’s point guard.

Trail Blazers 3 - Scoot Henderson, G-League Ignite (F, 6-2, 195)

Portland wins big here. Either the extremely gifted Henderson will be the new face of the franchise if the Trail Blazers choose to trade Damian Lillard, or the future star will be able to learn from Lillard and provide immediate backcourt help. Scouts have compared the G-League Ignite standout to Derrick Rose.

Rockets 4 - Jarace Walker, Houston (F, 6-7, 249)

It’s not a sexy pick, but it would be a smart one. The Rockets need to complement young offensive talents Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr., not to mention potential free-agent addition James Harden, with a physical forward such as Walker.

Pistons 5 - Cam Whitmore, Villanova (F, 6-6, 235)

The Pistons are loaded with slashing playmakers, but they are short on shooters up front. Whitmore can stretch the floor, creating space for Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

Magic 6 - Gradey Dick, Kansas (F, 6-6, 204) 

The premier shooter in this draft, Dick possesses the length NBA teams look for in marksmen, and he has the body of work, too. He shot 40.3 percent on 5.7 attempts in his one year at Kansas.

Pacers 7 - Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite (F, 6-6, 218)

Ausar shoots it better than his twin brother, Amen, and has the same length, explosive athleticism and upside teams desire on the wing. He profiles as more of a secondary playmaker.

Wizards 8 - Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite (F, 6-6, 214)

There are major concerns about his jump shot, which is considered by some to be broken, with a noticeable hitch. Thompson brings the ball down close to his waist before he releases it. That is a red flag for an impressive wing prospect who has extensive potential as a playmaker and defender.

Jazz 9 - Anthony Black, Arkansas (G, 6-6, 210)

Teams covet defensive versatility, and Black brings the ability, with his 6-foot-10 wingspan, to guard several positions. His offensive repertoire, particularly his iffy jump shot, needs work.

10 Mavericks - Cason Wallace, Kentucky (G, 6-4, 193)

Whatever happens this offseason with Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks have to improve defensively, and Wallace would be a start. He is at worst one of the top three perimeter defenders in this draft.

11 Magic - Taylor Hendricks, Central Florida (F, 6-8, 213)

Last year, it was Jalen Williams, this year it will be Hendricks — a mid-major standout who went from an unknown commodity to a lottery pick in a flash. Unlike Williams, who spent three years at Santa Clara, Hendricks needed just one year at Central Florida, where he shot 39.4 percent from 3 on 4.6 attempts and blocked 1.7 shots per game.

12 Thunder - Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana (G, 6-4, 217)

His numbers weren’t blow-you-away elite. But there is just so much to like, from his 6-foot-10 wingspan for a guard to his well-rounded ability as a shot creator and scorer at just 19.

13 Raptors - Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut (G, 6-4, 186)

There are legitimate defensive and athleticism questions about Hawkins, but the NBA values shooting above all else, and he will provide that instantaneously. He’s adept at running around screens and can create his own shot, qualities the league looks for in wings.

14 Pelicans - Keyonte George, Baylor (G, 6-4, 185)

Like several other freshmen in this draft, George wasn’t as dominant in college as projected. He still put up strong numbers for Baylor, averaging 15.3 points and nearly three assists.

15 Hawks - Bilal Coulibaly, France (G, 6-6, 230) 

The wing-needy Hawks are in search of options to play alongside Trae Young and Dejounte Murray on the perimeter. Coulibaly, a monster athlete with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, the kind that forecasts a defensive dynamo down the line, has impressed scouts with his two-play while teaming up with Wembanyama.

16 Jazz - Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State (G, 6-6, 235)

Post guarantee: Sensabaugh will have a lengthy NBA career. Guys with his kind of offensive repertoire at his age — he won’t turn 20 until late October and shot better than 48 percent from the field in his lone year in the Big Ten — don’t get lost, even if his defensive shortcomings may limit his role initially.

17 Lakers - Nick Smith Jr., Alabama (G, 6-5, 185)

Out of the gate, Smith can be an offensive contributor, and down the line, the Lakers could have a true differencemaker in the one-time projected top-five pick.

18 Heat - Ben Sheppard, Belmont (G, 6-5, 195)

The pick may surprise some unfamiliar with the Belmont sniper, but Max Strus and Gabe Vincent are set to hit free agency, creating the need for a shooter, and Sheppard fits the bill. Not only does he have wing size, but he wowed scouts at the combine after shooting 41.5 percent from deep last season.

19 Warriors - Colby Jones, Xavier (G, 6-4, 199) 

Jordan Poole’s down year and the potential of trading Jonathan Kuminga have the Warriors looking for perimeter depth. Jones is undervalued. He can play either guard spot and has wing size.

20 Rockets - Dereck Lively II, Duke (C, 7-1, 235) 

The shot-blocking specialist progressed as his one year in college went on, showing he has at least one NBA skill: rim protection. He set a freshman record for blocks in an NCAA Tournament game with six in a win over Oral Roberts.

21 Nets - G.G. Jackson, South Carolina (F, 6-8, 214) 

The Nets have limited cap space and an underwhelming roster that isn’t a playoff team on paper unless Ben Simmons magically finds his game. The Nets have two first-round picks, giving them an opportunity to think big. Jackson fits that mold.

22 Nets - Kobe Bufkin, Michigan (G, 6-4, 187) 

The last player the Nets drafted out of Michigan, Caris LeVert in 2016, turned into a quality NBA player.

23 Trail Blazers - Kris Murray, Iowa (F, 6-8, 213) 

Don’t expect immediate production similar to that of his brother Keegan, who enjoyed a quality rookie year for the Kings, because Kris doesn’t shoot as well. But he does possess a similar skill set.

24 Kings - Jett Howard, Michigan (F, 6-8, 215) 

The son of Michigan coach Juwan Howard is one of the better wing shooters in this draft and could crack the Kings’ rotation as a specialist off the bench right away.

25 Grizzlies - Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara (G, 6-4, 204)

Ja Morant’s looming suspension will create the need for added backcourt options in Memphis, and the sharpshooting Podziemski could at least help fill the void.

26 Pacers - Rayan Rupert, France (G, 6-6, 193)

Teams love young players with measurables that suggest room to develop, and Rupert is 19 years old, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. He’s extremely raw offensively, but the Pacers own five picks, so they can afford to take a big swing here on a project.

27 Hornets - Dariq Whitehead, Duke (G, 6-6, 217)

A boom-or-bust prospect, Whitehead was ranked third in this class for a reason, prior to an injury-plagued freshman season at Duke.

28 Jazz - Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (F, 6-8, 240)

His age (23) and limited perimeter skill set (he attempted three 3-pointers in four years at Indiana) are turn-offs. But a smart team like the Jazz will value his ability to score in the post, protect the basket and even create for teammates on occasion, and maximize those strengths.

29 Pacers - Andre Jackson Jr., Connecticut (G, 6-6, 198) Similar to Jackson-Davis, Jackson’s shortcomings as a shooter, particularly on the wing, make him an awkward fit in the modern game. But in every other way, especially on defense, he should be an NBA contributor.

30 Clippers - OlivierMaxence Prosper, Marquette (F, 6-7, 212) Kawhi Leonard and Paul George aren’t getting any younger. At some point, the Clippers have to add youth on the wing. Prosper projects as a strong defender who can guard both forward spots, and he took a leap on offense last year for Marquette, an indication of untapped potential at that end of the floor.