6 things to know about tonight’s NBA draft, including names to watch — including Victor Wembanyama — and if trades could pop up

The NBA will host the 2023 draft Thursday night, ringing in one of the most anticipated nights in recent league history as fans and teams await a potentially game-changing first-overall pick.

Here are six things to know about this year’s draft.

1. Who will go No. 1?

This is the easiest answer in this year’s draft. This is one of the most-hyped drafts in recent history for one reason only: French 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama, who has been touted as the clear-cut first overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Wembanyama offers a unique meld of talents — a sprawling eight-foot wingspan combined with fluid ball handling and an effortless range from behind the 3-point arc. He went pro at age 14 and began receiving high-level draft interest at 16 as he made a name for himself in the top French league.

While Wembanyama’s towering 7-foot-3 height creates a clear advantage around the rim, his slender frame has been a source of concern for his durability against the physical competition of the NBA. But during an appearance on ”Good Morning America,” Wembanyama shrugged off this concern and offered his own joking retort: “You should tell others to skinny up.”

The San Antonio Spurs received the No. 1 overall pick through the draft lottery in May. Since then there has been an unwavering expectation that Wembanyama will wear a Spurs jersey for his debut in the NBA — and start his career under legendary coach Gregg Popovich.

2.Which other names are important?

The top of the 2023 draft class is stacked with talent that could quickly reshape programs like the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.

Guard Scoot Henderson made a name for himself with G League Ignite, building his profile against NBA-caliber competition over the past two seasons. He could be a lock for the No. 2 pick by the Charlotte Hornets, but the front office is also carefully studying Alabama product Brandon Miller.

Twins Amen and Ausar Thompson could also make history by becoming the first brothers to be selected in the first round of the same NBA draft after starting their careers with Overtime Elite. Ausar Thompson is the sharper shooter while Amen Thompson is the more explosive playmaker, but both guards have been touted as top-10 talents in this draft.

3. What’s different about this draft?

In a continuation of recent trends, two of the top three picks could be non-NCAA players as teams continue to mine the G League and international talent rather than relying solely on college ball for development.

Wembanyama, Henderson and the Thompsons are only the top of this trend. This doesn’t mean college basketball is any less important. But only weeks after European product Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to an NBA title, it’s clear that non-NCAA prospects are making an even bigger splash in the NBA.

4. Will there be any major trades?

The Portland Trail Blazers have set themselves apart as the team most apparently ready to deal a top-four draft pick — but that will come at a steep price. The Blazers are spending yet another offseason working to build a stronger system around Damian Lillard — and given his veteran standing, it could make sense to reinforce Lillard with a current league player rather than trusting young talent.

But the Blazers aren’t letting that No. 3 pick go without a considerable payoff. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday the Blazers could stick with either Henderson or Miller — whichever Charlotte doesn’t select at No. 2 — if they can’t land a satisfactory package before they are on the clock.

“In discussions with teams in the last couple of days, the Blazers have started to maybe indicate that they won’t trade the No. 3 pick,” Windhorst said. “They may end up deciding to draft the player there, whether it be Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller because they aren’t necessarily in love with the options they’re getting offered for No. 3.”

5. Who will the Bulls pick this year?

Potentially no one — the Bulls don’t have a single pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which means they’ll be stuck on the sideline on Thursday night unless the front office deals a last-minute trade to secure a selection.

The Bulls could have had a first-rounder and two second-round picks this season. They conveyed their first-round pick to the Orlando Magic as the last piece in the 2021 trade for Nikola Vučević and previously gave up their second-rounder as part of a 2019 trade. The Bulls also forfeited their additional second-round pick due to tampering in the sign-and-trade acquisition of long-injured point guard Lonzo Ball.

There is still time left for the Bulls to make a last-ditch effort to get on the board, but the franchise hasn’t been tied to any major deals to move into the first round.

6. How to watch the draft?

The 2023 NBA draft will begin at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday with live broadcasts on ESPN and ABC.

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