The 2023 NBA Draft likely will forever be known as the year of Victor Wembanyama, but there will be plenty of intrigue to be found elsewhere Thursday night at Barclays Center.
Here are some of the top potential storylines outside of Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French wunderkind who will be chosen by the Spurs with the first-overall pick.
Who’s going second?
The Hornets are essentially on the clock already with the No. 1 pick a certainty ahead of them — unlike last year, when the Magic surprised many with the selection of the league’s eventual Rookie of the Year, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, first overall.
The biggest question at the top of the draft this year is at the No. 2 spot, where Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G-League point guard Scoot Henderson are both getting plenty of love in various mock drafts. (The Post’s Zach Braziller, for instance, lists Henderson as the choice at No. 2 by the Hornets).
Speaking Wednesday at the league’s pre-draft media availability, both players raved about their meetings with Hornets owner Michael Jordan, though the five-time league MVP announced last week that he will sell his majority stake in the franchise.
The Hornets already have LaMelo Ball in place at point guard, so the 6-9 Miller might be a better need-based fit in Charlotte, but the 6-2 Henderson may have too much upside at a premier position to bypass.
Who’s picking third?
The Trail Blazers own this pick for now, but they have been trying hard to use it to land an established player (perhaps Zion Williamson?) to pair with seven-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard.
A trade would represent a blockbuster shake-up to this draft, but perhaps it’s dependent on whether the would-be trade partner covets whichever player — Henderson or Miller — is not taken one selection earlier.
The Blazers also acquired the 23rd pick from the Knicks in the Josh Hart deadline deal, and standing pat also could have major ramifications for the rest of the summer — especially if Lillard decides to be more amenable to a potential relocation.
Multi-tasking
The Nets are one of seven teams controlling multiple first-round picks, potentially dominating the clock for a bit with consecutive choices at 21 and 22 as general manager Sean Marks looks to reload after breaking up the Big 3 of James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving in separate deals before the past two trade deadlines.
In addition to the Nets and the Blazers, the other five teams with multiple picks are the Jazz (Nos. 9, 16, 28), Magic (6, 11), Rockets (4, 20), Hornets (2, 27) and Pacers (7, 26).
That could set up some serious wheeling and dealing, either by those teams moving up or by a team without a pick (hint, hint, Knicks) landing a player they covet.
Draft dodgers
For an organization that has accumulated 10 first-round picks over the next six drafts, the Knicks will be sitting out the event Thursday unless they can swing a trade for a pick in either round.
There has been plenty of talk about the Knicks potentially flipping former lottery pick Obi Toppin or future draft capital to land somewhere late in the opening round.
Leon Rose’s front office enjoyed success at No. 25 with the selections of Immanuel Quickley, in 2021, and Quentin Grimes, in 2022.
Remember, the Knicks were busy shuffling pieces during the 2022 draft, trading out of the first round and dealing Kemba Walker’s contract to create enough cap space to help facilitate the free-agent signing of Jalen Brunson.
More trades!
The Wizards already have dealt Bradley Beal to the Suns, and they were trying to send former Knicks unicorn Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics in a three-team deal that fell apart.
Read the New York Post’s coverage for the 2023 NBA Draft:
- NBA Draft grades for every team
- The most outrageous outfits at the 2023 NBA Draft
- Fans were furious over this top NBA Draft pick
- Analysis of every NBA Draft pick
What already figured to be a busy summer involving some marquee names moving across the league could ramp up further on draft night.