2023 NBA Mock Draft: Mavericks dream draft choice falls, Rockets shock at 4
By Tyler Watts
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28. Utah Jazz (via 76ers) select Maxwell Lewis
Lewis is a 6’6 wing with a seven-foot wingspan that averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 31.4 minutes per game during his sophomore season at Pepperdine. The 20-year-old shot 35.4 percent over his 223 NCAA 3-point attempts, and he could quickly become a versatile 3-and-D wing in the NBA.
Lewis took a tremendous leap this season, so teams could get excited about his potential to continue improving. He projects to blossom into a 3-and-D wing at the next level that has some ball-handling and shot-creation ability.
The Utah Jazz took Bilal Coulibaly and Nick Smith Jr. already in this mock draft. With Lauri Markkanen locked in at the four and Walker Kessler taking over as their starting center, they should be looking to add young guards and wings. Lewis gives them an NBA-ready option with the upside to blossom into something more around their young core.
The Jazz are at the start of their rebuild, so they could gamble on someone with a higher ceiling, but Danny Ainge should be eager to get a quality piece for now with the upside that he blossoms into a key starter for the next decade-plus.