What they’re saying: NBA draft week projections for Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis

  • 06/19/2023 9:47 am in

The 2023 NBA draft takes place Thursday at the Barclays Center and Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis will learn where they’ll begin their pro careers.

Hood-Schifino was invited to the NBA draft Green Room and is a potential lottery pick. Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, could go as early as the late first round.

Here’s an updated look at where Hood-Schifino and Jackson-Davis stand in numerous updated mock drafts as of Monday morning:

Jalen Hood-Schifino

• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 13 to Toronto

Many around the NBA are curious to see if the Raptors will move up on draft night, as there’s a sense that they could be significant trade players depending on how aggressively they want to get involved with the likes of Pascal Siakam and others. Should they stand pat, targeting a guard with considerable upside as a shot-creator — such as Hood-Schifino — makes sense. However, adding shooting to this roster will also be another significant priority. There’s a big glut of players in this range (Dick, Bufkin, Cason Wallace, Nick Smith Jr., Jett Howard), but Hood-Schifino’s terrific physical traits along with the potential star power he offers could make him very attractive at this slot. — Givony

• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 13 to Toronto

The Scout: Hood-Schifino is a well-rounded, young prospect who won the Big Ten’s Rookie of the Year award this past season while averaging 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. He’s also a very strong on-ball defender with real size at nearly 6-6 in shoes. He’s shown great unselfishness and comfort in ball screens, with a penchant for knocking down midrange jumpers. However, he’s not a particularly adept shooter off the catch yet and will need some fine-tuning in that regard. If he can improve that and some decision-making questions, Hood-Schifino could get on the court a touch earlier than most one-and-dones. But the shooting needs to improve, as he made just 33.3 percent from 3.

The Fit: The Raptors have a lot of questions forthcoming in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet has said he’ll become a free agent, and Gary Trent Jr. can become one too. There is precious little depth behind them. The team needs to find more answers, even if it envisions Scottie Barnes as a potential primary creator. Hood-Schifino can play a bit on and off the ball, and I think he’s the rare one-and-done who could 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. More of the names I’ve heard involved with the Raptors reside in the backcourt than the frontcourt, although they don’t seem to be expressly looking for guards either.

The Range: No. 10 to 20

• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 14 to New Orleans

Hood-Schifino is earning consideration as high as No. 9 from the Jazz. We’re hearing there has been a significant buildup of buzz on him during workout season, to the point where rival agents don’t anticipating him being on the board outside the lottery.

• The Ringer, Kevin O’Connor: No. 13 to Toronto

Hood-Schifino’s draft stock is all over the place, but the Raptors feel like a solid landing spot for him. Fred VanVleet’s future is in doubt, and if he stays in Toronto he could use some size in the backcourt next to him.

• NBADraft.net: No. 16 to Utah

• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 15 to Atlanta

• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: No. 21 to Brooklyn

The Nets have a ton of wing depth and an emerging young defensive center in Nic Claxton, but they need to add a young playmaker to the mix. While I’m lower on Hood-Schifino than some, his combination of size (6’6), pick-and-roll passing chops, and pull-up shooting potential makes him a worthy pick if he lasts this long.

• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 15 to Atlanta

The Indiana freshman measured with a 6-foot-10.25 wingspan and looks comfortable with the ball in his hands. He averaged 0.24 ball screens per touch while at Indiana, per Stats Perform, which is the most of any projected first-round pick.

• CBS Sports, Kyle Boone: No. 14 to New Orleans

NBA teams are always on the hunt for combo guard/creators like Hood-Schifino, and he flashed enough on both ends at Indiana to push for a potential lottery spot in this year’s draft. Great frame, really good defensively, and knows how to attack and make plays off the bounce. His shot needs to become more developmentally consistent but the tools here are undeniable.

• Sporting News, Kyle Irving: No. 13 to Toronto

The Raptors are facing player options for both Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. this offseason, and they already need guard depth before those decisions. Hood-Schifino could give Toronto insurance as a fluid pick-and-roll ball handler and developing scorer to run their offense if VanVleet goes elsewhere in free agency.

Trayce Jackson-Davis

• ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: No. 34 to Charlotte

• The Athletic, Sam Vecenie: No. 32 to Indiana

• Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman: No. 38 to Sacramento

Jackson-Davis has been shooting jumpers during NBA auditions, something he didn’t do at Indiana. Regardless, he’ll earn consideration for his effectiveness as a post scorer, finisher, passer and rebounder.

• The Ringer, Kevin O’Connor: No. 30 to Los Angeles Clippers

TJD is a highly athletic lob threat who brings defensive versatility, which could be valuable to a Clippers roster that has largely relied on Ivica Zubac.

• NBADraft.net: No. 23 to Portland

• Yahoo Sports, Krysten Peek: No. 32 to Indiana

• SBNation, Ricky O’Donnell: Not projected in top 30 picks

• USA Today, For The Win, Bryan Kalbrosky: No. 45 to Memphis

• CBS Sports, Kyle Boone: No. 29 to Indiana

Big men who don’t shoot 3-pointers don’t pop off the page as definite first-rounders, and yet Jackson-Davis by most measures appears to be an anomaly. He’s a dominant interior scorer and rebounder who shows great touch and makes great plays as a passer, and there is optimism in NBA circles that he will in time develop into a floor-spacer.

• Sporting News, Kyle Irving: No. 29 to Indiana

With their third first-round pick, the Pacers should look to add a more experienced player who could enter their rotation immediately. Playing his college basketball right down the road at Indiana, Jackson-Davis would fill a void in the Pacers’ frontcourt as a capable small-ball five who can score in the pick-and-roll and provide switchability on defense.

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