Hoops Habit

It’s hard to foresee what the NBA draft will look like, especially as the lottery won’t take place for a few months. While some draft prospects will rise during March Madness and pre-draft workouts, others will fall out of favor and slip down the boards. Even as the draft cycle has spun around, however, the consensus on the 2023 class is that it has a franchise-changing star at the top, a second tier chock full of star prospects, and some hidden depth pieces from older college and international players. Although it doesn’t hold the chance to get LeBron James as well, a lottery pick this year can change a team’s fortune for a decade. Throughout the draft season, a number of less-heralded freshman like Taylor Hendricks and Jalen Hood-Schifino have risen in the rankings due to standout campaigns, while others like Dereck Lively II and Jordan Walsh have seen their draft stock take a hit.