Cole’s Corner: 2023 NBA Mock Draft

Round 2

31. Detroit – PG/SG, Brandin Podziemski, 6’5”, Santa Clara 
32. Indiana (from Houston) – PF/C, Tristan Vukcevic, 7’0”, Serbia
33. San Antonio – PG/SG, Terquavion Smith, 6’4”, NC State
34. Charlotte (from Charlotte via Philadelphia and Atlanta) – SG/SF, Jaime Jacquez Jr., 6’7”, UCLA
35. Boston (from Portland via Atlanta, LA Clippers, Detroit, and Cleveland) – PF, Gregory “GG” Jackson II, 6’9”, South Carolina
36. Orlando – SG/SF, Andre Jackson Jr., 6’6”, UConn
37. Oklahoma City (from Washington via New Orleans) – SF, Sidy Cissoko, 6’8”, G League Ignite
38. Sacramento (from Indiana) – SG/SF, Rayan Rupert, 6’7”, France
39. Charlotte (from Utah via New York) – SF/PF, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, 6’8”, Marquette
40. Denver (from Dallas via Oklahoma City) – PF/C, Drew Timme, 6’10”, Gonzaga
41. Charlotte (from Oklahoma City via New York and Boston) – PF/C, Azuolas Tubelis, 6’11”, Arizona
42. Washington (from Chicago via Los Angeles Lakers and Washington) – PG/SG, Isaiah Wong, 6’4”, Miami FL
43. Portland (from Atlanta) – SG/SF, Emoni Bates, 6’10”, Eastern Michigan
44. San Antonio (from Toronto) – SF, Julian Phillips, 6’8”, Tennessee
45. Memphis (from Minnesota) – PG/SG, Jalen Pickett, 6’4”, Penn State
46. Atlanta (from New Orleans) – SF/PF, Jordan Walsh, 6’7”, Arkansas
47. Los Angeles Lakers – SG/SF, Julian Strawther, 6’7”, Gonzaga
48. LA Clippers – PG/SG, Marcus Sasser, 6’2”, Houston 
49. Cleveland (from Golden State via Utah and New Orleans) – SF/PF, Chris Livingston, 6’7”, Kentucky                                                             

Cavs fans have been clamoring for a small forward for a while. Isaac Okoro is the defensive specialist but does not add much scoring value. Caris LeVert can score but he is a defensive liability at times and not really a true small forward. Selecting Livingston may not be the perfect answer because he only averaged 6.3 points per game during his freshman season at Kentucky but he will offer some size and strength. 

The other fitting part of this selection would be that Livingston is from Akron. Bringing him back to Northeast Ohio seems quite possible after he had a pre-draft workout with the Cavs recently. 

50. Oklahoma City (from Miami via Boston, Memphis, and Dallas) – SG, Ben Sheppard, 6’6”, Belmont
51. Brooklyn – PG, Adam Flagler, 6’3”, Baylor
52. Phoenix – C, Liam Robbins, 7’0”, Vanderbilt
53. Minnesota (from New York via Charlotte) – SG, Colby Jones, 6’6”, Xavier
54. Sacramento – SF/PF, Jalen Wilson, 6’8”, Kansas
55. Indiana (from Cleveland via Milwaukee and Detroit) – SG/SF, Keyontae Johnson, 6’6”, Kansas State
56. Memphis – SG, Ricky Council IV, 6’6”, Arkansas

— Chicago (from Denver via Cleveland; forfeited by Chicago)

— Philadelphia (forfeited)

57. Washington (from Boston via Charlotte) – PF/C, Oscar Tshiebwe, 6’9”, Kentucky
58. Milwaukee – SG/SF, Kobe Brown, 6’7”, Missouri