This year’s NBA draft class features three elite college men — Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. and Paolo Banchero — competing to be named the top pick. As of today, it’s generally agreed upon that Holmgren, Smith and Banchero will make up the top three picks of the draft.
Let’s dive into what we think the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft might look like. We’ll highlight the first 10 picks, then list out the rest of the draft after that.
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1. Orlando Magic: Chet Holmgrem
Holmgren, a freshman forward from Gonzaga University, is an absolute unicorn with his unique combination of height, athleticism and skills. He’s comparable to a more athletic Kristaps Porziņģis with better perimeter skills. The biggest knock against Holmgren is his weight. He’ll need to add some muscle to compete against the big men in the NBA.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jabari Smith Jr.
Smith, a freshman center, could just as easily go No. 1 over Holmgren. As a stretch four with a solid all-around game, he’s reminiscent of Chris Bosh. He knocked down more than two threes per game at a 42% clip at Auburn University.
3. Houston Rockets: Paolo Banchero
Banchero, a freshman forward at Duke University, is a great playmaker at the 4, and he could go No. 1, depending on which skillset the Magic are looking for from a big man.
4. Sacramento Kings: Jaden Ivey
Ivey, a Purdue University’s sophomore guard, is the draft’s best guard. The Kings would be wise to take him after making the (regrettable) decision to trade future All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
5. Detroit Pistons: Keegan Murray
He scored from all over the floor en route to 23.5 points per game as the Big Ten Player of the Year (Murray is a sophomore from Iowa University). As a forward, his proven scoring ability would slot in perfectly next to Cade Cunningham.
6. Indiana Pacers: Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe, a freshman, was the No. 1 recruit in the country coming out of high school, but he ended up not playing a single game at the University of Kentucky. He has the most potential out of any guard in the draft (plus, a ridiculous 49-inch vertical). It’d be a lot of fun watching him catch lobs from Haliburton.
7. Portland Trailblazers: AJ Griffin
Griffin, a freshman forward from Duke University, is a tremendous 3-and-D prospect with the potential to grow into an even more valuable offensive contributor. That’s a massive need for the Trailblazers after they traded away one of the best 3-and-D players in the league (Robert Covington) last season
8. New Orleans Pelicans: Johnny Davis
Davis, a sophomore guard from the University of Wisconsin, has a great all-around offensive game. The Pelicans could use someone like Davis to come in and immediately contribute as a scorer off the bench.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Dyson Daniels
Daniels, an Australian, skipped college but made two savvy moves before joining the NBA draft: he attended the NBA Academy and played in the G League. As a guard, he’s already a star defender and a great passer. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Gregg Popovich take a chance on someone like Daniels with an international star with major upside.
10. Washington: Bennedict Mathurin
The Wizards need to surround Bradley Beal with players who can help them win now. As he showed in the NCAA Tournament, Mathurin — a sophomore guard from the University of Arizona— is a talented offensive player. He’s already relatively polished as a player, but he still has the potential to grow.
11. New York Knicks: Ochai Agbaji
Position: forward
Year: senior
School: University of Kansas
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Mark Williams
Position: center
Year: sophomore
School: Duke University
13. Charlotte Hornets: Jeremy Sochan
Position: forward
Year: freshman
School: Baylor University
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (from New Orleans): Jaden Hardy
Position: guard
School: G league Ignite
15. Charlotte Hornets: TyTy Washington Jr.
Position: guard
Year: freshman
School: University of Kentucky
16. Atlanta Hawks: Malaki Branham
Position: forward
Year: freshman
School: Ohio State University
17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn): Tari Eason
Position: forward
Year: sophomore
School: LSU
18. Chicago Bulls: Jalen Duren
Position: center
Year: freshman
School: University of Memphis
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: E.J. Liddell
Position: forward
Year: junior
School: Ohio State University
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto): Nikola Jović
Position: forward
School: Mega Baket
21. Denver Nuggets: Kendall Brown
Position: forward
Year: freshman
School: Baylor University
22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah): Ousmane Dieng
Position: forward
School: NZ Breakers
23. Philadelphia 76ers: Blake Wesley
Position: guard
Year: freshman
School: University of Notre Dame
24. Milwaukee Bucks: Kennedy Chandler
Position: guard
Year: freshman
School: University of Tennessee
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston): Trevor Keels
Position: guard
Year: freshman
School: Duke University
26. Dallas Mavericks: Christian Koloko
Position: center
Year: junior
School: University of Arizona
27. Miami Heat: Walker Kessler
Position: center
Year: sophomore
School: Auburn University
28. Golden State Warriors: Jean Montero
Position: guard
School: Overtime Elite
29. Memphis Grizzlies: Christian Braun
Position: forward
Year: junior
School: University of Kansas
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix): Jamaree Bouyea
Position: guard
Year: senior
School: University of San Francisco
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