THAT TIME OF YEAR

Adamo Rimoli

The most exciting draft of any of the four major sports is finally upon us as the 2022 NBA Draft is set to take place tonight, live from Brooklyn, New York. The following mock draft is based off of rumours that have been circulating around, positional fit, and team drafting style based off of previous drafts. It will also only feature the first 30 picks, and explanations for the first 10.

1. Orlando Magic - Jabari Smith Jr. - Auburn (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’10 PF/SF

This pick here is about as sure-fire as they come as Smith forced his name into the first overall pick conversation at the start of the 2021-22 collegiate season. Leading the Tigers to a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament, Smith’s long but solid frame allowed him to be lethal on the offensive end while oozing potential on the defensive end.

The smooth jump shot that he possesses is of very few of his size. Smith gets buckets, flat out. The Magic were one of the worst teams in the NBA on both sides of the court so taking the prospect with little amount of bust potential is most likely the route they will be going.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder - Chet Holmgren - Gonzaga (NCAA) - Freshman - 7’1 PF/C

The most polarizing pick in the draft to the surprise of none has got to be Chet Holmgren and where he lands. Holmgren is a guard-like player with the length and shot blocking ability of some of the best centres ever. He can do it all on both sides of the court, but the thing that worries most people is his tiny 195lbs frame.

If Chet can fill out, there is no question you are looking at a potential superstar, however his lack of strength could prove very harmful when guarding elite big men in the paint, as well as trying to box out his opponents. With the Thunder having an absurd amount of draft picks in the coming years, taking a flyer on the biggest boom-or-bust player would make the most sense. The Thunder also have built a reputation over the past couple decades for their strong player development.

3. Houston Rockets - Paolo Banchero - Duke (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’11 PF/C

If Holmgren or Smith are unavailable then the Rockets will surely be laughing to the bank grabbing Banchero at three. With a similar frame to Smith, the Duke freshman showed that he can be a leader on both sides of the floor.

The difference is that Banchero has already shown a knack for getting his teammates involved, being an elite rebounder and still can score when he needs to. In terms of a low-risk pick, Banchero is exactly that and would be the perfect complementary piece to their already young core that lacks a true point forward.

4. Sacramento Kings - Shaedon Sharpe - Kentucky (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’7 SG/SF

The Canadian athletic freak of nature never actually suited up for the Wildcats after straight up refusing to play when he was granted eligibility mid-season. His advisors also suggested for him not to take part in the NBA draft combine scrimmages meaning the last real basketball games he played came in the summer of 2021. The games came in the Nike Summer EYBL Circuit with UPlay Canada.

These concerns aside, Sharpe is one of the most athletic players in the draft with tools that NBA front offices will salivate over. His glaring weakness right now is his slow handle but with a little bit of professional level development, Sharpe could turn into a perfect combo player beside Fox and Sabonis. The Kings have a…questionable…history drafting in the lottery so it should be very interesting to see what happens if this pick pans out.

5. Detroit Pistons - Keegan Murray - Iowa (NCAA) - Sophomore - 6’8 SG/SF

In terms of superstar potential, Murray is far from that– but as a piece for a contending team in the future, he is the modern role player in the NBA. His ability to be an option on offense on the catch or dribble, as well as having tools to be an elite defender provides enough value to justify this pick.

If Murray pans out the way he should, he will have a very long NBA career which is great news for the Pistons since they just recently drafted their franchise ball handler. A lineup consisting of Cunningham, Murray and Bey is going to be a defensive nightmare for teams trying to match up against them for years to come.

6. Indiana Pacers - Jaden Ivey - Purdue (NCAA) - Sophomore - 6’4 PG/SG

If this pick happens, many will consider it to be the steal of the draft as Ivey caught the eyes of many this season due to his high level explosiveness. In transition, Ivey is a monster as his athleticism combined with his ability to make quick decisions at a rapid pace leaves defenses in shambles. Primarily a scoring guard, a back court with Tyrese Haliburton could be the perfect young duo to lead the Pacers into their new era of basketball.

7. Portland Trail Blazers - Dyson Daniels - GLeague Ignite (Professional) - 6’7 PG/SG

The Trail Blazers are in a very weird spot since they still have a star guard in Damian Lillard but it remains highly unlikely they will be contending anytime soon based on their current supporting cast. The Australian guard is reportedly soaring up draft boards due to his solid frame as a guard combined with his elite passing vision.

If the Blazers go the route of rebuilding and actually choose to keep this pick, Daniels is the way to go as their first real prospect. There is also a consensus that Daniels will be the Blazers pick should Sharpe be off the board.

8. New Orleans Pelicans - Benedict Mathurin - Arizona (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’6 SG/SF

The Pelicans are actually fairly well balanced with no glaring holes in their lineup. Mathurin would be the best player available with his best being displayed on the offensive side of the ball. The Canadian combo wing would be a solid bench piece for a Pelicans team whose record was an unfair representation of the skill on their roster when healthy.

9. San Antonio Spurs - AJ Griffin - Duke (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’6 SG/SF

Popovich’s tenure with the Spurs is going to come to an end at some point, so it would be smart to start finding elite level three point shooters for when the next head coach takes his place.

But that is not all Griffin can do of course; measuring with a near 7 foot wingspan, Griffin has the tools to be an elite defender that could step into the Spurs current scheme with ease and could eventually even see minutes at the four.

10. Washington Wizards - TyTy Washington - Kentucky (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’3 PG

Every single year teams reach in the lottery so it felt necessary to add an off-the-board selection. With the Wizards being a disaster at point guard, Washington could be that John Wall type ball handler that they once thrived with. At one point, it seemed like a lock for Washington to be picked in the lottery but after an injury mid-season, his draft stock took a hit.

He is a shifty and quick point guard with a smooth jump shot, quick instincts and takes pride in giving effort on defence. Could be an intriguing pick if it happens. It is also worth noting Kentucky’s recent success in sending guards to the NBA like Tyrese Maxey, Tyler Herro, De’Aaron Fox, Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Devin Booker.

11. New York Knicks - Johnny Davis - Wisconsin (NCAA) - Sophomore - 6’6 SG

12. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ochai Agbaji - Kansas (NCAA) - Senior - 6’6 SG/SF

13. Charlotte Hornets - Mark Williams - Duke (NCAA) - Sophomore - 7’2 C

14. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jalen Duren - Memphis (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’11 C/PF

15. Charlotte Hornets - Ousmane Dieng - France (International) - 6’10 SF

16. Atlanta Hawks - Malaki Branham - Ohio State (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’6 SG/SF

17. Houston Rockets - Blake Wesley - Notre Dame (NCAA) - Freshman 6’6 SG

18. Chicago Bulls - Jeremy Sochan - Baylor (NCAA) - Freshman 6’10 PF

19. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tari Eason - LSU (NCAA) - Sophomore - 6’8 SF/PF

20. San Antonio Spurs - Nikola Jovic - Serbia (International) - 6’11 PF/C

21. Denver Nuggets - Jaden Hardy - GLeague Ignite (Professional) - 6’4 SG

22. Memphis Grizzlies - Dalen Terry - Arizona (NCAA) - Sophomore - 6’7 SG/PG

23. Philadelphia 76ers - EJ Liddell - Ohio State (NCAA) - Junior - 6’7 PF

24. Milwaukee Bucks - Jalen Williams - Santa Clara (NCAA) - Junior - 6’6 SG/SF

25. San Antonio Spurs - Patrick Baldwin Jr. - Wisconsin-Milwaukee (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’10 PF

26. Houston Rockets - Kennedy Chandler - Tennessee (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’3 PG

27. Miami Heat - MarJon Beauchamp - GLeague Ignite (Professional) - 6’7 SF

28. Golden State Warriors - Jake LaRavia - Wake Forest (NCAA) - Junior - 6’8 PF/C

29. Memphis Grizzlies - Kendall Brown - Baylor (NCAA) - Freshman - 6’8 SF/PF

30. Denver Nuggets - Andrew Nembhard - Gonzaga (NCAA) - Senior - 6’5 PG/SG