Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023 Rankings

Where the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and more rank as we rank the best NBA Teams 2023 Draft Picks

By admin | April 22, 2024

The 2023 NBA Draft delivered some big-time fireworks from the pre-draft NBA trades to Victor Wembanyama being selected with the number one overall pic to a long list of draft night trades.

All of it comes together to deliver another exciting NBA Draft that has the potential to continue reshaping the future of the NBA while NBA teams rebuild for the upcoming 2023-23 NBA season as well as the future.

After selecting one of the top NBA prospects seen over the past 10-20 NBA Drafts, the San Antonio Spurs land atop the Top 20 NBA Draft Grades 2023 rankings.

In addition to landing Wembanyama, the Spurs landed Sidy Cissoko in the 2^nd round of the 2023 NBA Draft while also acquiring future draft picks to continue their rebuilding efforts.

As the Spurs headlined the top drafts from this year’s draft, other teams joining them with top tier draft day grades include the Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Dallas Mavericks.

Each of these five teams put together impressive drafts while building to compete during the upcoming NBA schedule as well as into the future. Here is a look at the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023 Rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Brooklyn Nets

NBA Draft Picks: #21, #22, #51

NBA Draft Grade: B-

Players Drafted: Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead, Jalen Wilson

Landing just outside of the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023 Rankings list is the Brooklyn Nets who added three talented players during the 2023 NBA Draft.

Just a few months after deciding to completely rebuild following the trade of Kevin Durant, the future looks promising after acquiring three players during the draft. Rewind before the 2022-23 NCAA Basketball schedule is Dariq Whitehead was one of the top young players in the country with a potential to be a top 10 draft pick, injuries derailed that hope, but the talent and upside is there.

In addition to the former five-star recruit, Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson add athleticism and playmaking potential to a team rebuilding.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Draft Picks: #10, #50

NBA Draft Grade: B-

Players Drafted: Cason Wallace, Keyontae Johnson

For one of the up-and-coming young NBA teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to add talent and depth to their roster. After drafting Chet Holmgren who did not play last season due to an injury and Jalen Williams, the Thunder added Cason Wallace through a trade along with Keyontae Johnson during the late picks of the second round.

As the team looks to fill out their roster Wallace provides an additional option at the guard position alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

Despite lacking the same playmaking ability of those two, Wallace provides the team a tough defender who can slow down opposing guards.

Meanwhile Johnson adds a player who can attack the rim, find ways to put the basketball in the hoop while also playing solid defense on the opposite end of the hardwood.

Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023

10. Denver Nuggets

NBA Draft Picks: #29, #32, #37

NBA Draft Grade: B

Players Drafted: Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023 Rankings list is the reigning NBA Champions the Denver Nuggets. It’s hard to find a hole in their entire roster while potentially losing none of their top talent from this years team.

Nonetheless the Nuggets who only had an initial one pick in the second round, found a way to add three young weapons to that talented team through a trade.

The team was able to acquire a proven three-point threat in Julian Strawther, a reliable and potential talented guard who can backup Jamal Murray in Jalen Pickett, and a potential project in Hunter Tyson who can score and attack the rim.

9. Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Draft Picks: #17, #40

NBA Draft Grade: B

Players Drafted: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis

All eyes have been on the Los Angeles Lakers since their elimination from the NBA Playoffs. While the team’s success will revolve around LeBron James, the future success of this team required some young talent to compliment James and Anthony Davis after former young talented draft picks had been traded over the past few seasons.

With questions marks at the point guard position with both D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder potentially not returning, the addition of Jalen Hood-Schifino fills a void while providing the team with a guard with size who can score, attack the rim, and find open players.

In addition, the decision to move up to land Maxwell Lewis added another player who can fill out the roster with solid size who can attack the rim but also shoot from behind the three-point line.

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA Draft Picks: #33, #53

NBA Draft Grade: B

Players Drafted: Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a solid roster built around the likes of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert. However outside of their starting five, the team lacked depth while the addition of Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark provides that flexibility alongside potential to both slide into the starting rotation.

Miller who was finished out the G-League season strong had a mid to late first round draft grade but fell to the early second round. The former G-League standout has tremendous size to compliment those other big man while adding another player who can score, attack the rim, rebound but also play tremendous defense.

Clark who will be coming back from an injury will slow his progression but has toughness and defensive abilities to make him a threat for the Timberwolves.

7. Orlando Magic

NBA Draft Picks: #6, #11

NBA Draft Grade: B+

Players Drafted: Anthony Black, Jett Howard

Another team that continues to build around past NBA drafts including former number one overall pick Paolo Banchero is the Orlando Magic.

The addition of Anthony Black and Jett Howard within the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft adds two proven players who have the ability to play both end of the floor.

However, their ability to score, attack the rim and shoot from behind the three-point line should add value to a team that struggled to score at times while showing little offensive efficiency.

Black has the talent to play with the ball in his hands while racking up nearly four assists per game while also being as aggressive as any player in attacking the rim. Howard meanwhile adds another shooter who has solid size while shooting 36.8 percent from behind the three-point line.

6. Indiana Pacers

NBA Draft Picks: #8, #26, #47, #55

NBA Draft Grade: B+

Players Drafted: Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, Mojave King, Isaiah Wong

When you look at a team loaded with young talent the Indiana Pacers rank up their with nearly every team in the league. Prior to the NBA Draft, the Pacers roster included 10 players all under at or under the age of 27 years old.

Add in four more young pieces include Jarace Walker who the team traded for during draft night. Walker will add a much-needed piece to the team while delivering a player who will provide a defensive spark while helping to improve a defense that allowed the second most points in the NBA last season at 119.5 points per game.

Walker has the size, wingspan, and athleticism to be one of the best players within this draft class all at the age of 19. In addition, lesser-known college prospect Ben Sheppard adds a solid shooting option to the roster after finishing last season shooting 41.5 percent from behind the three-point line. Meanwhile Mojave King and Isaiah Wong both provide depth with upsides that can contribute during their rookie seasons.

5. Dallas Mavericks

NBA Draft Picks: #12, #24

NBA Draft Grade: A-

Players Drafted: Dereck Lively II, Oliver-Maxence Prosper

Round out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2023 Rankings list is the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks who are looking to build a contender around Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

After being busy working the phones and landing a trade the Mavericks were able to land Derek Lively II with the 12^th overall pick while providing the team a potential stud big man who can become a scoring threat as well as rim protector on the defensive end of the floor.

Meanwhile Oliver-Maxence Prosper adds another defensive weapon who can also add value on the offensive end of the floor. For a team having just one pick entering the draft, the Mavericks were able to add two talented pieces without giving up much of the talent they need to compete.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

NBA Draft Picks: #3, #23, #43

NBA Draft Grade: A

Players Drafted: Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert

It is hard not to like the moves made by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2023 NBA Draft. The addition of Scoot Henderson provides a young talented athletic guard who can compliment Damian Lillard if the team elects to keep the proven All-Star.

Henderson who has been high on draft boards after a strong performance during the G-League while showcasing his ability to attack the rim which should open up scoring opportunities for Lillard as well as other players.

Meanwhile the addition of Kris Murray adds a versatile experience college player who can add a scoring threat at the forward position while providing a solid three point shot threat to compliment Lillard. In addition, the Trail Blazers added Rayan Rupert who is lesser known of the three who has shown flashes during his time playing France.

3. Houston Rockets

NBA Draft Picks: #4, #20

NBA Draft Grade: A

Players Drafted: Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore

Like many of the teams landing among the lottery picks during the NBA Draft 2023, the Houston Rockets made use of their picks while continuing to reshape their organization.

Just a year after the team was able to add Jabari Smith Jr and TyTy Washington, the team added Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore to their young roster. Whitmore who is just 18 years old has the potential to be the steal of the draft after sliding to the Rockets with the 20^th overall first round pick.

Thompson provides a potential two-way threat on both sides of the floor while having a huge upside with great athleticism as well as his high IQ for basketball. Meanwhile Whitmore has a huge vertical while providing the team a player who can play down low while also a player who has shown his ability to attack the rim.

2. Charlotte Hornets

NBA Draft Picks: #2, #27, #31, #41

NBA Draft Grade: A

Players Drafted: Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Jr, James Nnaji, Amari Bailey

Looking to build around LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets were busy during the 2023 NBA Draft adding four potential young stars to their roster.

Landing Brandon Miller at the second pick delivers a proven scoring threat who has the talent to find and create his own shots, while also provide a player who can shoot from behind the line while also adding a strong presence on the glass.

Meanwhile Nick Smith Jr is another young star who showcased flashes of his talent potential last season after being one of the top freshman entering college.

Upon those two the team worked out a trade to land James Nnaji who will provide the team a young big man who will need time to develop however has shown a potential to be a solid shooter from the field.

Lastly the addition of Amari Bailey adds a versatile guard who can compliment Ball while allowing Miller to slide into the small forward position and allow the team to play with a smaller athletic lineup.

1. San Antonio Spurs

NBA Draft Picks: #1, #33, #42

NBA Draft Grade: A+

Players Drafted: Victor Wembanyama, Sidy Cissoko

Even before the 2023 NBA Draft started many viewed the San Antonio Spurs draft class as an A+ after winning the NBA Lottery. Landing the top pick guaranteed the Spurs a once in a generation type talent in Victor Wembanyama.

The big man who projects at 7 foot 4 inches will provide the Spurs a big man down low while also a player who can nearly do anything on the floor including having solid ball handling skills and a strong shot.

The team was also able to land 19-year-old forward Sidy Cissoko who was a teammate of Scoot Henderson within the G-League.

Cissoko has a proven track record of success while being a solid shooter from the field as well as from behind the three-point line. In addition, Cissoko and Wembanyama provide the team two athletic players who can play and defend on the defensive end of the hardwood.

How would you rank these NBA teams for the 2023-2024 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the NBA Power Rankings..