Which player will be the Scottie Barnes of the 2023 NBA Draft?

The Detroit Pistons have the 5th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and hope that the best player falls into their laps.

There have been surprises in the top-5 over the last two seasons, and both times the unlikely pick went on to become Rookie of the Year.

Last year it was Paolo Banchero, who was a somewhat surprising choice for the Orlando Magic with the first pick, as most draft analysts predicted they would go with Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith right up until draft day.

The Magic were right, as Banchero won Rookie of the Year and looks like a star, though some believe Pistons’ pick Jaden Ivey is in the same tier.

The year before that, Scottie Barnes was the surprise pick, as most draft boards had him lower than 4th and had Jalen Suggs as the consensus pick. It worked out for Toronto, as Barnes won Rookie of the Year and is now the centerpiece of the Raptors’ future.

So will there be a surprise pick in the 2023 NBA Draft? There are a few candidates who could be there when the Detroit Pistons choose with the 5th pick.

Detroit Pistons: Which player will be the Scottie Barnes of the 2023 NBA Draft?

It would be surprising if someone other than Victor Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year next season. If he stays healthy, he’s going to have a ton of hype, exposure and will be the focal point of the Spurs’ on both ends.

After Wembanyama things are wide open and you’ll find an array of opinions about who the second-best player in this draft is, though Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller are the favorites.

But there are some talented forwards past the top three and any number of them could be the guy who goes earlier than expected and turns into a top rookie. Cam Whitmore is getting some buzz as the 4th or 5th pick and after strong pre-draft workouts could be the player who goes a little higher than expected and busts out.

My money is on Taylor Hendricks, who could end up going in the top-6, a sharp rise after being absent from draft boards early in the season. If he lands on am up and coming team like Indiana or Detroit, he could land in the perfect role to put up big numbers on both ends.

Nothing is guaranteed in this draft past Wembanyama, and it’s likely that one of the best players ends up coming from outside the top-3.