2022 NBA Draft: Post-lottery mock; and with the first pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic Select...
We now know where teams will draft with the NBA Draft lottery now in our rear-view mirror. Orlando Magic will choose No. 1 and have the daunting task of choosing between Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero. If recent draft history tells us anything, Holmgren fits their archetype.
From mid-first to mid-second, there is a lot of parity in this draft. We wanted to get out a post-lottery mock with the plan to expand through the first round as the combine takes place and teams can zero in on prospects during the workout process.
But for now, here is how we see the NBA Draft lottery playing out – pre-combine.
1. Orlando Magic
7-0 C Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
The storyline here will be the relationship between Jalen Suggs, the Magic first-round pick last year, and Chet Holmgren. While the two did play high school and travel ball together, the fact is, Holmgren fits the Magic’s NBA draft profile. The Magic love long, mobile, and skinny players.
The fit: Holmgren has excellent timing around the basket. He is a vertical player who is tougher than his frail-looking frame may suggest. Holmgren has touch that extends beyond the three and, in time, could slide in beside Wendell Carter. Year one, look for Holmgren to come off the bench in a rotation with Mo Bamba and Jonathan Issac.
2021-22 Stats: 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 3.7 blocks, 39.0% 3P, 60.7% FG
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
6-10 PF Paolo Banchero, Duke
One trait Oklahoma City has drafted toward in recent years has been players with size who can pass. Having positional size with five players on the floor who can create is an advantage. Paolo Banchero is an excellent passer; the former quarterback averaged over three assists per game last season. The Thunder get two lottery picks in this year’s NBA Draft here to continue to build the young core they have.
The fit: The question here will be on the defensive end. Darius Bazely is the incumbent starting four, and he is an average defender at best. Isaiah Roby closed the season starting at the five for OKC; at 6-10 250-pounds, Banchero could easily slide into that role/rotation.
2021-22 Stats: 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 33.8% 3P, 47.8% FG
3. Houston Rockets
6-10 F Jabari Smith, Auburn
Houston falls to number three but possibly walks away with the top talent in the NBA draft. Jabari Smith is a skilled bucket-getter who has shown a smooth jump shot from three and footwork and touch in the mid-post. Smith is also a fluid, high-motor athlete, which lends to some upside on the defensive end.
The fit: The Rockets drafted Alperen Sengun last year, and their second-highest paid (active) player is Christian Wood. However, at No. 3 you cannot pass on the best talent. Houston has played 6-foot-4 Jasean Tate and 6-foot-5 KJ Martin at the four last year. Eric Gordon is their three. Smith walks into the league as a four but could eventually slide down and steal some minutes at the three.
2021-22 stats: 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks, 42.0% 3P, 42.9% FG
4. Sacramento Kings
6-6 SG Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky
The general thought here may be Jaden Ivey; however, the Kings have DeAaron Fox, and there is a lot of redundancy in their skill-sets. Shaedon Sharpe is the biggest unknown in this NBA Draft. WIth Sharpe, you are betting on the upside. He is a smooth shooter with deep range and has a reported vertical of over 45-inches. He will test very well at the combine and should continue to see his stock rise.
The fit: This is a developmental pick, so the current roster makeup does not necessarily matter. However, Sharpe has prototypical NBA wing size with the skill-set.
2021-22 stats: DNP
5. Detroit Pistons
6-4 CG Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Jaden Ivey may be the most explosive guard in this NBA draft. Seeing the numbers he puts in during the combine will be interesting. Ivey was a late first/borderline first-rounder last year. While there are questions with his jump shot and with his decision-making on the ball, he came back to Purdue this year and improved in some parts of his game.
The fit: This fit could be perfect for Ivey, who would pair with last year’s No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. Cunningham acting as the primary ball-handler may help mask some of Ivey’s questions and enhance some of his strengths.
2021-22 stats: 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 35.8% 3P, 46.0% FG
6. Indiana Pacers
6-9 F Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
The thought process with Jeremy Sochan is that he will become a two-way threat from the forward position. He is a switchable defender with length who could guard the two through four and switch down to the five. He still needs to tighten the jump shot, but Sochan can handle the ball and sees the floor well.
The fit: Sochan’s defense will be what gets him on the floor early. Indiana has oft-injured TJ Warren penciled in as their starting four. Oshae Brissett and Jalen Smith are the depth at the position; this is a rotation Sochan can crack despite his youth.
2021-22 stats: 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 29.6% 3P, 47.4% FG
7. Portland Trailblazers
6-8 F Keegan Murray, Iowa
Keegan Murray probably has the highest floor of any player in lottery consideration. Murray is a smooth shooter off the catch and has shown he can consistently score inside the arc. While his feet are not the quickest, he has good length, understands angles, and is strong.
The fit: It looks like Portland is going into a complete rebuild mold. Murray is someone who has shown he can score the ball and fit in a couple of roles on the court. Portland’s recent draft history does not fit this mold, as they have tended to lean more toward high upside developmental players. While the upside may be capped, Murray, there are a lot of tools there to step on the floor right away and translate.
2021-22 stats: 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.9 blocks, 39.8% 3P, 55.4% FG
8. New Orleans Pelicans
6-5 SG Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Johnny Davis took the college basketball world by storm this season, exploding for 20 or more points 16 different times. Davis is a confident shot-maker, capable of creating for himself. He is ready to hop into a rotation with defensive versatility and toughness.
The fit: Bringing in Davis would shuffle players around into their more natural positions. Adding Davis into a guard rotation that includes CJ McCollum, Jose Alverado, and Devonte Graham. Brandon Ingram slides to the three, Zion Williamson (if still on the roster) plays the four, and Trey Murphy and Herb Jones act in a combo forward role. Davis is a shot-maker for a team that did not have a single perimeter player in the rotation reach 50-percent from the field or 40-percent from three.
2021-22 stats: 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 30.5% 3P, 42.7% FG
9. San Antonio Spurs
6-11 C Jalen Duren, Memphis
Jalen Duren is a former No. 1 ranked high school player. The 6-foot-11 post is long and filled with explosive upside. Duren is a rim protector, rebounder, and vertical floor spacer. The natural tools are there, and he is one of the youngest players in this NBA draft, so the upside for growth is there.
The fit: As of this writing, the Spurs’ backup center is Jock Landale. While on the outside, this may not seem like a traditional Spurs pick, Duren’s youth makes things interesting. He has an NBA frame already, and he has a skill, blocking shots, that translates immediately. This pick would allow San Antonio not to play stretches with Keldon Johnson at the five. From Duren’s standpoint, being able to develop in San Antonio may help him scratch the surface of the ceiling.
2021-22 stats: 12 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.1 blocks, 59.7% FG
10. Washington Wizards
6-6 SF Benn Mathurin, Arizona
Benn Mathurin was in the first-round conversation last season and opted to return to school. Mathurin answered some of the NBA’s questions during his sophomore year as he was named PAC-12 Player of the Year. Mathurin is a good shooter, has length and explosion, and is not afraid of the moment. The shooting should translate immediately, and, given his size, length, and athleticism, if he were to buy in on the defensive end, there is upside there.
The fit: Mathurin has a skill that will immediately translate, his ability to shoot. Playing alongside a ball-dominant guard like Bradley Beal, a wing who can knock down catch and shoot threes, will be important. There are still questions about how the Wizards plan to stagger Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, and Deni Avdija; however, inserting a true wing could help things out.
2021-22 stats: 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 36.9% 3P, 45.0% FG
11. New York Knicks
6-6 G Dyson Daniels, G-League Ignite
Dyson Daniels is a lengthy guard who is comfortable on or off the ball. He will defend the opposing team’s best perimeter player. There are some real passing abilities with him, and as his confidence rises on the ball, his scoring potential could continue to develop.
The fit: The Knicks need a point guard. While Daniels is not a pure point guard, he could be an excellent secondary initiator prospect. He can get a team into sets and create offense for his teammates. Daniels will have no problem guarding the point of attack in the NBA. While the Knicks will still need a point guard, Daniels will add young and versatile depth to the backcourt.
2021-22 stats: NA
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
6-9 F Ousmane Dieng, New Zeland Breakers
Ousmane Dieng is a stash prospect but one who has an intriguing mix of size, skill, and youth. These ingredients seem to be exactly what the Thunder front office craves, and they will not have to take up a roster spot while everyone figures it out.
The fit: The Thunder are not in a rush to win. They want to accumulate as many talented players as possible and groom them for their second contracts. Dieng is not a player they will need to bring over right away. Positional versatility is always a plus when rebuilding. There is also that passing thing with the Thunder and their players.
2021-22 stats: 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 27.1% 3P, 39.8% FG
13. Charlotte Hornets
7-1 C Mark Williams, Duke
While Mark Williams may not be the sexiest pick here, he is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and he led the nation in dunks (96). This player archetype is one the Hornets have been craving for years. The fact that he is from the region and played college locally at Duke is simply a bonus.
The fit: If there has been one thing the Charlotte Hornets have needed over the past decade, it is a center. More notably, they have needed rim protection as not a single player on last year’s roster averaged 1.0 blocks, or more, per game. Williams was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.8 blocks per game. He is also an excellent rim-runner in the half-court and should pair nicely with LaMelo Ball.
2021-22 stats: 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 72.1% FG
14. Cleveland Cavs
6-6 SF AJ Griffin, Duke
AJ Griffin had not played steady basketball for over two years coming into the season; however, Griffin answered some questions by shooting near 45-percent from three on the season. While there are still some questions, namely his injury history and ability to create off the bounce and read the floor, the shooting is real. Griffin’s defensive prospects will be interesting too. He has a reported 7-foot-0 wingspan and apparent burst and explosion, but he was a poor defender this season. His father, Adrian, played in the league.
The fit: The Cavs are starting to piece together a talented roster of players who fit around one another. Griffin should slide in nicely with the Caris Lavert, Cedi Osman, and Isaac Okoro wing rotation. Shooting near 45-percent from three is special; this team needs a perimeter marksman.
2021-22 stats: 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 44.7% 3P, 49.3% FG