Happy Victor Wembanyama Day to all who celebrate.
The 2023 NBA Draft has finally arrived, and it will be remembered because of the wondrous French prospect and a loaded top 10 that experts have been raving about for years.
The Post gets you ready for the festivities with Mock Draft 3.0:
1. San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama, France (F, 7-4, 230 pounds)
This is the one stone-cold lock of what could be a wacky and unpredictable draft. Wembanyama will go No. 1.
That has been expected for a few years, since this true unicorn began to establish himself as a generational and potentially franchise-changing talent.
His presence makes this draft unique, a can’t-miss event.
He’s absurdly hyped, with some experts calling him the best prospect ever — even better than LeBron James — but the Frenchman has the overwhelming talent to live up to it.
2. Charlotte Hornets
Scoot Henderson, G-League Ignite (F, 6-2, 196 pounds)
A gifted athlete, Henderson has drawn comparisons to Derrick Rose. Alabama’s Brandon Miller, the prototypical NBA wing — long, supremely skilled and able to score at all three levels — fits the Hornets better, due to the presence of point guard LaMelo Ball.
But Charlotte has to think bigger, think of the long-term impact of this pick. After bringing both players back for an additional workout, the Hornets will go with the one with the higher upside, Henderson.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
Brandon Miller, Alabama (F, 6-9, 200 pounds)
The smoke screens involving the Trail Blazers’ plans rival the Canadian wildfires.
Will they trade the pick to appease Damian Lillard and keep the superstar in Portland by doing so?
Will they keep it and rebuild, and trade Lillard instead?
One report even suggested Portland was trying to use this pick to land Bam Adebayo from the Heat.
There may not be a more fascinating team to follow Thursday night. Whatever happens, Miller won’t last past this pick.
4. Houston Rockets
Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite (G, 6-7, 215 pounds)
His jump shot is a major concern, but nothing else about his game is lacking.
Thompson is that good of a prospect from a playmaking and defensive standpoint.
The Rockets certainly can use a versatile guard who will make others around him better, and add to an impressive young core that features Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green and Jamari Smith Jr.
5. Detroit Pistons
Gradey Dick, Kansas (F, 6-8, 205 pounds)
One of the early surprises of the draft, as the Pistons will go with this class’ top shooter over higher-upside possibilities Cam Whitmore and Ausar Thompson.
Detroit needs to surround Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey with shooters, and Dick makes the most sense with that in mind.
6. Orlando Magic
Cam Whitmore, Villanova (F, 6-7, 235 pounds)
The Magic made a leap this year, going from 22 to 34 wins.
They have the making of a team on the rise, led by Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and dynamic wing Franz Wagner.
Orlando could use more physicality and shooting, two of Whitmore’s best qualities, making this a no-brainer selection for the one-and-done Villanova forward.
7. Indiana Pacers
Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite (G, 6-7, 215 pounds)
Thompson is ideal for the defensively challenged Pacers, who are determined to surround All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton with better pieces.
He shoots it better than his brother Amen, and has similar athletic tools that have led some experts to value him more.
8. Washington Wizards
Taylor Hendricks, Central Florida (F, 6-9, 215 pounds)
Hendricks is one of the best stories in this draft, taking the route less traveled as a top-100 recruit who went to Central Florida rather than a major power.
He was given the opportunity to flourish there, showcasing two-way ability as a 3-point shooter and rim protector, and is one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft.
One scout said the hype about him is “absolutely valid.”
The rebuilding Wizards land a long-term frontcourt option to make up for the loss of Kristaps Porzingis, who is headed to the Celtics after a three-team trade late Wednesday night.
9. Utah Jazz
Jarace Walker, Houston (F, 6-8, 245 pounds)
In time, the Jazz will be remembered as one of the big winners of this draft, scooping up the defensive-minded and sculpted Walker so late.
He’s better than advertised on offense and can make an impact immediately on defense as a complement to Lauri Markkanen up front.
10. Dallas Mavericks
Cason Wallace, Kentucky (G, 6-4, 195 pounds)
I’ve mocked Wallace to the Mavericks in all three of my drafts.
The combination of fit and ability is too perfect, no matter what happens with Kyrie Irving.
Some scouts believe Wallace is the best perimeter defender in this draft — the Mavericks’ defensive deficiencies cost them a playoff spot prior to them tanking the last few games — and there is untapped offensive potential with the Kentucky standout.
11. Orlando Magic
Kobe Bufkin, Michigan (G, 6-5, 190 pounds)
More shooting for the Magic comes in the form of this well-rounded Wolverine, who opened eyes at the scouting combine and went from a back-end-of-the-first-round guy to the lottery.
His ability to finish at the rim against bigger defenders is appealing, as is his perimeter shotmaking skill-set, which enabled him to shoot 48.2 percent from the field as a sophomore.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Bilal Coulibaly, France (G, 6-7, 190 pounds)
One of the big risers through the draft process, Wembanyama’s teammate might be the best athlete in the draft.
He projects as a defensive dynamo, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, who plays above the rim. He also has displayed growth as a perimeter shooter.
13. Toronto Raptors
Anthony Black, Arkansas (G, 6-7, 210 pounds)
A dynamite defender with playmaking potential, Black fell out of the top 10 because of a jump shot that needs work.
But he does everything else well, averaging 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals as a freshman at Arkansas.
His presence will enable the Raptors to trade OG Anunoby entering his final guaranteed season of a four-year deal.
14. New Orleans Pelicans
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana (G, 6-6, 215 pounds)
There isn’t any one thing Hood-Schifino does extraordinarily well, but there is no clear weakness, either.
With his 6-foot-10 wingspan, he can defend multiple positions, is adept at finishing around the basket and his decision-making is held in high regard.
He’s one of the most complete guards in this draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks
Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State (G, 6-6, 235 pounds)
The Hawks have holes on the wing, and while there are defensive concerns regarding Sensabaugh, it’s easy to foresee him stepping in right away as a microwave scorer off the bench for Atlanta.
Remember, he shot better than 48 percent from the field in his lone season in the Big Ten — no easy feat for a 19-year-old.
16. Utah Jazz
Colby Jones, Xavier (G, 6-6, 200 pounds)
The mood will turn somber in the Lakers’ war room after this pick.
The Lakers are hoping Jones, a do-it-all guard with wing size who got better in each of his three seasons of college, will fall to them.
After stealing Walker at nine, Danny Ainge makes another shrewd selection that sets up Utah not only for next season, but also for the future as well.
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17. Los Angeles Lakers
Jordan Hawkins, Connecticut (G, 6-5, 190 pounds)
LeBron James isn’t getting any younger.
He wants to win, and that means more guys who can make the opposition pay for double-teaming the self-described King and Anthony Davis.
Hawkins brings that skill, and after winning a national championship at UConn, pressure doesn’t bother this tough, sharpshooting guard.
18. Miami Heat
Dereck Lively II, Duke (C, 7-1, 230 pounds)
The Heat have to get better inside behind Adebayo, and Lively can be their answer there.
In the mold of Tyson Chandler as a shot-blocking demon with a limited offensive game, Lively improved as his one season at Duke wore on.
There is a belief he has offensive skills that weren’t apparent in college, but at least he can contribute as a rim-running shot-eraser.
19. Golden State Warriors
Keyonte George, Baylor (G, 6-4, 185 pounds)
The Warriors’ lack of depth hurt them in the postseason, particularly as Jordan Poole regressed after receiving a $140 million contract extension.
George can be an answer as a reserve, at least on the offensive end, since he shines in pick-and-roll situations.
20. Houston Rockets
GG Jackson, South Carolina (F, 6-8, 214)
At one point, Jackson was considered a no-doubt top-10 pick, before an underwhelming and offensively inefficient freshman season at South Carolina. But there is still an enormous amount of raw talent in the big and athletic wing who won’t turn 19 until December. This late in the draft, Jackson is worth a swing.
21. Brooklyn Nets
Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas (G, 6-5, 185 pounds)
The Nets have to upgrade their roster, and the ultra-talented Smith provides terrific value at this spot despite an injury-plagued, uneven one season at Arkansas.
Once considered a top-of-the-lottery selection, Smith will arrive in Brooklyn with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder.
22. Brooklyn Nets
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA (F, 6-7, 225)
He will make the right play. He will work incredibly hard at both ends of the floor. He will find a way to make winning plays. Basically, the high-character Jaquez is everything the Nets have said they want to be about — before they went star-chasing.
23. Portland Trail Blazers
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette (F, 6-8, 215 pounds)
From averaging 2.5 points as a freshman at Clemson to transferring to Marquette and developing into a first-rounder with a green room invitation, the arrow is clearly pointing up for Prosper.
The physical wing is capable of being used as a small-ball four, and his improvements as a shooter make him the kind of versatile player that is all the rage in the modern game.
24. Sacramento Kings
Kris Murray, Iowa (F, 6-8, 215 pounds)
The Kings reunite the Murray brothers, drafting Kris to play alongside his brother Keegan, the fourth-overall selection in the 2022 draft.
Kris doesn’t shoot the 3 quite as well as his brother, but he possesses similar qualities in his ability to play either forward position and score inside and out.
25. Memphis Grizzlies
Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara (G, 6-5, 205 pounds)
The contending Grizzlies need a ready-to-contribute guard in lieu of the Ja Morant suspension, and it’s not a stretch to say Podziemski can at least play minutes on the second unit as a rookie capable of making shots from distance.
26. Indiana Pacers
Dariq Whitehead, Duke (G, 6-7, 215 pounds)
Whitehead is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect in this draft.
There are legitimate concerns about a right foot that has been surgically repaired twice, yet he was the third-ranked high school prospect in this class for a reason and still shot 42.9 percent from distance in his injury-plagued freshman season at Duke.
27. Charlotte Hornets
Jett Howard, Michigan (F, 6-8, 215 pounds)
The Hornets have to add shooters to space the floor around Henderson and Ball.
If there is one certainty with Howard, it is his touch from beyond-the-arc after he shot 36.8 percent on 7.3 attempts as a freshman at Michigan.
28. Utah Jazz
Ben Sheppard, Belmont (G, 6-6, 190 pounds)
The Belmont star’s shooting was established, but his ability to do more than just spot up opened eyes during the combine.
He can step in right away and help Utah’s second unit as a secondary ball-handler who is able to space the floor and make shots from deep, as his 41.5 percent 3-point shooting this past season would suggest.
29. Denver Nuggets
Rayan Rupert, France (G, 6-7, 195 pounds)
The champions traded into the first round on Wednesday, and will land the intriguing Frenchman with eye-popping measurables.
Rupert may have trouble cracking the Nuggets’ loaded rotation initially — he is raw offensively — but his defensive upside is tantalizing and he’ll be afforded time to develop in Denver.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (F, 6-9, 240 pounds)
A college star who stayed for four years, is already 23 years old and will hear his name called in the first round?
Jackson-Davis is about as rare as a winning lottery ticket.
In the age of big men shooting 3-pointers and teams being turned off by prospects legally able to drink, the Indiana standout is cut from a different cloth.
But his rim protection, high IQ and potential as a front-court playmaker provide value that will allow him to stick in the league for years to come.
