Where Cason Wallace stands in Post-Draft Lottery Mock Drafts

The ping pong balls have settled and the order is set for the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22. The internet is flooded with new mock drafts following last night’s Draft Lottery. As of now, only one Kentucky Wildcat is included in them, Cason Wallace. Wallace is widely expected to be a lottery pick, with only one expert projecting him to go outside the Top 14.

Before we get into where those experts think Wallace may go, here’s a look at the lottery order and which fellow former Cats Wallace may team up with at the next level.

1. San Antonio Spurs (Keldon Johnson)
2. Charlotte Hornets (Nick Richards, PJ Washington)
3. Portland Trail Blazers (Shaedon Sharpe)
4. Houston Rockets (TyTy Washington)
5. Detroit Pistons (Hamidou Diallo)
6. Orlando Magic
7. Indiana Pacers (Isaiah Jackson)
8. Washington Wizards
9. Utah Jazz
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
13. Toronto Raptors
14. New Orleans Pelicans

Here’s where Wallace stands in all the updated NBA Mock Drafts available on the internet this morning:

• Jamie Shaw (On3): No. 8. – Washington Wizards
• Kevin O’Connor (The Ringer): No. 9 – Utah Jazz
• Kyle Boone (CBS Sports): No. 11 – Orlando Magic
• USA Today panel: No. 11 – Orlando Magic
• Jonathan Givony (ESPN): No. 12 – Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report): No 12 – Oklahoma City Thunder
• Sam Vecenie (The Athletic): No. 13 – Toronto Raptors
• Gary Parrish (CBS Sports): No. 14 – New Orleans Pelicans
• Krysten Peek (Yahoo Sports): No. 15 – Atlanta Hawks

Here’s a sampling of their comments:

Jamie Shaw (On3): No. 8 – Washington Wizards

Cason Wallace is an intriguing fit beside Brad Beal, someone who can play on or off the ball and take on the responsibility of defending the opposing team’s top perimeter threat. Washington needs to overhaul the overall talent on the roster, as well as stay healthy. Each of the Wizards’ best three players, Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis, missed at least 20 percent of the season. Wallace is one of the higher-floor prospects in this draft class.

Kevin O’Connor (The Ringer): No. 9 – Utah Jazz

Kris Dunn’s production gives the Jazz an idea of what their point guard position could look like with someone like Wallace, who is a defensive-oriented player with size, playmaking ability, and downhill creation. Wallace faced cramped spacing at Kentucky, but he could thrive next to Utah’s shooters.

Kyle Boone (CBS Sports): No. 11 – Orlando Magic

The Magic have two lottery picks, No. 6 and No. 11. Boone has them taking Arkansas freshman Anthony Black at No. 6 and likes the pairing with Wallace.

Perhaps Orlando looks elsewhere here after going guard with its first pick in this mock, but Wallace’s skill set is so different and complementary to Black that the two could coexist successfully. One of the best playmaking defenders in this class.

Jonathan Givony (ESPN): No. 12 – OKC Thunder

The Thunder are in an enviable situation, with a stockpile of picks and a tantalizing amount of young talent, including the imminent return of Chet Holmgren next season. Wallace’s combination of toughness, feel for the game, spot shooting, unselfishness and defensive versatility gives him a high floor as a prospect, making him a potentially attractive option for a team like the Thunder, who already have building blocks in place.

Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report): No. 12 – OKC Thunder

Ignoring needs based on who’s available at No. 12, the Thunder could view Wallace’s shooting, passing IQ and defensive pressure as an easy-fit combination and lock to strengthen or deepen the rotation. Oklahoma City could also look to move down for a rim protector like Dereck Lively or trade out for a more instant-impact veteran.

Sam Vecenie (The Athletic): No. 13 – Toronto Raptors

Vecenie sets Wallace’s range from No. 7 to No. 20 but likes the fit in Toronto.

The Raptors have a lot of questions forthcoming in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. can become free agents, and there is precious little depth behind them. The team needs to find more answers there, even if they envision Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator long term. Wallace can play a bit on and off the ball, and I think he’s the rare one-and-done who figures to play early because of how impactful he is as a defender. He would give the Raptors some further flexibility in terms of their offseason decision-making.

Gary Parrish (CBS Sports): No. 14 – New Orleans Pelicans

Parrish ranks Wallace as the eighth-best prospect and second-best point guard in the draft behind Scoot Henderson. He has Wallace just making the cut of the lottery, heading to New Orleans.

The Pelicans have a lot of interesting pieces but still need a starter-level point guard. Wallace is a nice option at the bottom of the lottery as a playmaker who has a chance to be above average on both ends of the court given the way he enthusiastically takes on the role as an on-ball defender.

Krysten Peek (Yahoo Sports): No. 15 – Atlanta Hawks

Peek was the only media member to have Wallace outside of the lottery. She sees a fit for him in Atlanta should the Hawks want to trade Trae Young. Note the line about Kentucky’s system, a common theme among NBA writers when it comes to evaluating John Calipari’s players in recent years.

The Hawks could be looking to move Trae Young and this could open up the possibility of drafting a primary ball-handler this year. Wallace is the best on-ball defender in this draft class, but playing in Kentucky’s system gave scouts little insight to the depth of his offensive game. He can easily guard both backcourt positions at the NBA level and the added pressure on guards could turn to easy offense and disrupt the flow of the opposing team. His size and high overall basketball IQ will make it hard for teams to pass on him in the late lottery to mid-first round.