The 2022 NBA Draft is finally here and I could not be more excited. The draft is truly one of the best sports nights of the year. Trade speculation is running rampant, teams are vying to pick franchise cornerstones, the betting markets are fluctuating by the minute, Woj is dropping bombs, Shams is getting ready to spoil picks and players are showing off their fits on the red carpet. It is a night of chaos and clarity. Above all else, the draft is one of the few, if not the only, nights of the year where we get to see exactly what every front office in the league thinks it needs to do to improve its roster.
Will they trade up to try to get a better player than they can get at their current pick? Will they trade back to accumulate assets or clear cap space? What type of player will they pick to improve their roster? The draft lays it all out there. Every team is trying to address their weaknesses tonight and improve the outlook of their organization heading into next season.
I plan on writing live reaction to every lottery pick here. I might go longer, it really just depends on how long this thing lasts. I have to be up for work in the morning. The NBA doesn't do many favors to those of us living in the Eastern Time Zone.
Live Reactions:
7:45pm EST - Woj just tweeted that Orlando is seriously considering selecting Paolo Banchero with the first overall pick. Jabari Smith Jr. had gotten to as low as a -10000 favorite to go #1 this afternoon. On FanDuel, Banchero is now -145 to go #1 and Smith is +100. I wrote on my Magic team report that if I were the Orlando GM, I would go with Chet. I like the Paolo fit over Jabari for Orlando, though. There is a very real chance Paolo is the best player from this draft when we look back on it in 10 years.
8:09 EST - I forgot to turn off my push notifications for Shams's tweets, but he just announced that the Magic are going with Banchero at number one. What does he gain from tweeting out picks 2 minutes before they happen? I turned the tweet notifications off but I really have to stay away from my phone tonight. Woj got it way wrong this morning when he tweeted out the top 3 at like 8am (he said it was Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero). Banchero will bring shot creation and physicality to Orlando. I like the idea of him playing alongside Franz Wanger. If Banchero brings energy on defense, they will be a solid defensive team as well. Certainly a bit of a surprise of a pick, but I like the fit and I like the pick. Paolo seems stunned that he went first in his interview. A Coach K video message?! Gross. I am guessing OKC will take Chet and Houston will go with Smith.
Pick Grade: A-
8:16 EST - It is Chet Holmgren to Oklahoma City at number two. I had this one on my Thunder team report. Holmgren is going to benefit massively from the looks that SGA and Giddey are going to get him. He is going to step in and be the anchor of their defense from day one. I have been a Chet guy throughout the entire draft process and truly think he can be the best player in this draft. The ceiling is a perennial All-NBA guy that could push for MVPs. He can do it all. He will be able to develop his game in OKC, but I would love to see them establish some type of winning culture there. With all of their assets, they could do that soon.
Pick Grade: A+
8;23 EST - Jabari Smith Jr. to Houston at number three. I actually like this fit for Houston much better than Banchero, mainly due to the elite defense that Smith brings. Smith will arguably be Houston's best defender next season. With Jalen Green being the primary scorer, Smith will have less pressure to create his own looks, which is a positive because his handle is his major weakness. He has to develop that handle if he wants to be a great NBA player, though. Smith and Green... two ELITE scorers that cannot legally purchase alcohol in the United States. The post-James Harden era in Houston is looking a lot brighter.
Pick Grade: A
8:28 EST - Sacramento is going with Keegan Murray at number four. The highest-drafted Iowa player in the common draft era. Actually not surprised with this pick as it was rumored Jaden Ivey was not interested in playing in Sacramento, while Murray expressed interest. Murray is arguably the most NBA-ready player in this draft. High basketball IQ guy, who does the little things well and can score. Could be a nice addition to Sacramento's roster, but is he going to propel them into the playoffs next year? Probably not. Kings gonna King pick? Probably...
Pick Grade: B
8:33 EST - Jaden Ivey to Detroit. What a win for them, totally fast-tracked their rebuild tonight and didn't even have to trade up to get him. A Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey backcourt is going to be highlight reel material. Cade is going to make Ivey's life so much easier. Detroit also has a ton of cap space, will they make a run at Deandre Ayton? They have the potential to be a play-in team in the Eastern Conference next year. Also, can we stop comparing Jaden Ivey to Ja Morant? Just because he is an explosive athlete doesn't mean he's Ja... Morant is a much better playmaker. Ja and Ivey are close friends, though, and I can see Ivey continuing to learn from Morant while they are both in the league.
Pick Grade: A+
8:39 EST - Benedict Mathurin to Indiana. The Pacers finally have an exciting player! Mathurin will bring extreme athleticism and scoring to Indiana, exactly what they needed. Love the idea of him playing with Haliburton. Good defender and rebounder as well. He was probably the pick here all along. Don't see him being an All-NBA guy, but could maybe push for a couple of All-Star game appearances in his career. Good pick for Indiana, still think they are the most average franchise in American sports.
Pick Grade: B+
8:45 EST - I love how there are always a million trade rumors prior to the draft and hardly any ever happen. I hope I am proven wrong.
8:45 EST - Shaedon Sharpe to Portland. Sharpe is by far the biggest question mark in the draft as he did not play last season at Kentucky. He could end up being a high-level scoring guard in a backcourt with Damian Lillard, he could also end up out of the league in three years. Would love to see him bring more effort on defense. Not a ton of tape on him so he really is a mystery. Overall, I think he will be a solid pro. Back-to-back Canadians selected with Mathurin and Sharpe. That Canadian National Team is low-key looking nice.. (Barrett, Wiggins, Murray, SGA, Brooks, Clarke, Dort)
Draft Grade: B
8:50 EST - Dyson Daniels to New Orleans. I really like this pick and fit for NOLA. Another Aussie in the league, I love seeing more and more international guys. Daniels could step in and be NOLA's best playmaker from day one. He could genuinely be a top-4 player in this draft. Point forwards are the new trend in the NBA. He is going to get Zion, Ingram, Jonas and CJ great looks. The Pelicans have DEPTH too. As a Grizzlies fan, I am nervous. If NOLA gets a healthy Zion, this team could push for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference next season.
Pick Grade: A
8:56 EST - Where are the trades?!?!
8:59 EST - Jeremy Sochan to San Antonio. I think I just heard Bill Simmons screaming with happiness. We used to give San Antonio the benefit of the doubt with their draft picks, but I don't like this pick and think we need to stop with the Spurs love. The dynasty is over. At the bare minimum, Sochan will be a good defender, but I just don't see it on the offensive end. High-potential guy and a good place to develop in SA, but the leak of an offensive game is worrying for me. Maybe he could be a Draymond Green type?
Pick Grade: D
9:03 EST - I just want to give a shoutout to the NBA for making the time between picks 5 minutes, instead of the 10 minutes that the NFL does.
9:05 EST - Johnny Davis to Washington. I know a lot of people love Davis, but I see him as just another guard in a league filled with good guards. Seriously, what separates Davis from other guards? He isn't even a great shooter. Going to Washington, aka NBA purgatory, won't be good for his development either. Washington just needs to trade Bradley Beal and go full rebuild.
Pick Grade: D-
9:10 EST - Knicks pick Ousmane Dieng at number eleven. Oh boy. The ultimate project goes to New York? We have already seen Tibs doesn't like playing young guys and they pick Dieng?
9:12 EST - JUST KIDDING. Dieng to OKC! Finally a trade! The Knicks will get back multiple first-round picks and OKC is back on the clock at twelve. Ok, that makes a lot more sense. Dieng is definitely worth taking the flyer for OKC. He will bring elite defense to OKC from day one. If he can improve his scoring efficiency, he can be a quality player. But, honestly, I think the defensive presence alone will be welcome in OKC. Could be a good backup big for them.
Pick Grade: B-
9:17 EST - Jalen Williams to OKC. Wow, he really rose up draft boards late in the process. Another upside pick from OKC and all of a sudden their roster is full of even MORE upside guys. Really think Williams could be the steal of the draft, thanks to his scoring ability and off-ball movement. Already 21 years old, Williams is NBA-ready. WCC linkup in OKC with Holmgren and Williams.
Pick Grade: A-
9:24 EST - Jalen Duren to Charlotte at thirteen. Totally makes sense. Duren is going to be on the receiving end on so many lobs from LaMelo Ball. He is the interior presence Charlotte desperately needed. Great finisher around the rim, a good passer, and a great shot blocker. One of the best overall big men in the draft.
9:25 EST - Aaaaand ignore all of that, Charlotte is trading Duren to New York. Actually, all of the stuff I just said applies to New York as well. Duren is the center New York needed (no, I do not think Mitchell Robinson is the long-term solution there). Tibs gets his defensive guy. Also, Duren is only 18 years old, so he has plenty of time to develop his game. I just wish New York had the facilitator that Charlotte has in LaMelo.
Pick Grade: B
9:28 EST - Ok so the Knicks acquired Duren from Charlotte, and then traded him AND Kemba Walker to Detroit for the 2025 first-rounder Detroit acquired from Portland in yesterday's Jerami Grant trade. That is a lot to process. Walker is an expiring contract ($9m), so I guess Detroit wants a veteran presence in that locker room? An advisor for Cade Cunningham? Or just a buyout guy? At this point in his career, I do not see Walker contributing much on the court. Cade, Ivey and Duren for a 2025 Portland first-rounder is an OUTSTANDING haul for Detroit tonight.
Trade Grade for Detroit: A+
Trade Grade for New York: D - They just cleared cap space and got another pick
9:30 EST - Cleveland picks Ochai Agbaji with the final pick of the lottery. AJ Griffin is really falling here. Agbaji is a 22-year-old senior who won a national title at Kansas. Certainly a three and D guy (41% from 3 last year) with a great feel for the game. Agbaji is a better scorer than Isaac Okoro and could take some of his minutes. Overall, I don't see him being an All-Star caliber player, but Agbaji could be a solid role player for a Cleveland team that has playoff aspirations.
Pick Grade: C+
Ok, barring any major trades I am going to stop there. I hope you all enjoyed my analysis if you made it this far. I am traveling this next week but will try to get a draft podcast up sometime soon. Fingers crossed that the Grizzlies make good picks, I really have a gut feeling that we are not going to make any major moves this offseason. Enjoy the rest of the draft!
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