NBA Mock Draft 8.0: Raptors take a high-risk prospect; Lakers get a steal in round 1

NBA Draft prospect Anthony Black (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA Draft prospect Anthony Black (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
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In the latest edition of our NBA Mock Draft, the Toronto Raptors take a chance on a high-risk prospect and the Los Angeles Lakers get a steal. 

The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery is less than a month away. And the 2023 NBA Draft is now officially less than two months away. Before we know it, it’ll be here and the speculation will end. However, until then, there is still much to wonder about and project heading into this year’s NBA Draft.

We are getting some clarity as prospects begin to officially declare and pull out of this year’s NBA Draft class.

Our latest NBA Draft Lottery simulation

For this edition of our NBA Mock Draft, we simulated the lottery in which the Detroit Pistons took the No. 1 spot, the Washington Wizards jumped into the top 3, and the Houston Rockets fell outside the top 4. Let’s jump into our latest NBA Mock Draft.

1. Detroit Pistons – Victor Wembanyama, C, France

Once again, there is no chance atop this NBA Mock Draft. The Detroit Pistons end up winning the lottery this time around and run to turn in the draft card to officially begin the Victor Wembanyama era for the Pistons.

Detroit gets a face of the franchise that they can officially market and the NBA’s next potential generational talent that is going to take the league by storm. With a strong core already in place, the Pistons may be one of the most ideal potential landing spots for Victor.

In Detroit, you can make the argument that is a team that just needs to find a star to truly make a tangible move up the Eastern Conference standings. The question is, could Victor end up being that star for them?