The 2022 NBA Draft is shaping up to be surprisingly strong. There are some players with star potential available in the lottery, and future NBA role players available all the way through the second round. This mock draft has been written before the NBA Draft Lottery has been determined, and has been written under the assumption no trades will be made.

Pick 1 – Houston Rockets

Chet Holmgren

Position: PF/C

Height: 7’0 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’3.5 – 7’6 

Weight: 195 lb

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birth Date: 1 May 2002

Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique top prospects in NBA Draft history. Holmgren has great measurements for a big man, measuring in at 7 feet with a reported 7 foot 6 wingspan. Holmgren uses his height and wingspan exceptionally on the defensive end. Capable of protecting the rim (3.6 blocks per game in 26.9 minutes) and defending wings along the perimeter. 

The big concern that makes some scouts, GM’s and fans concerned about Holmgren, is his lack of strength. This has been a common criticism of Holmgren throughout his high school and college careers, and will follow him into the pro levels. In order to compensate for this lack of strength, Homgren has developed great timing on contesting shots and his blocks. He has managed to do this at a low foul rate and a high level of success. This is rare for a player of his stature. Despite his 195 lb frame, Holmgren does not suffer from a fear of contact like many skinny big men before him. 

On the offensive side of the floor, Holmgren has a wide range of skills that could be developed well at the NBA level. His speed allows him to slash like a tall wing, and he possesses rare passing ability for a player of his size. His post skills likely won’t work on NBA level bigs due to his current lack of strength, however his height and length will allow him to have success in the post in mismatch situations. It would be very hard for a team to then double-team him in the post, or switch back in this situation, due to his court vision likely allowing him to find the gap in the defense this would create. 

Houston is arguably the weakest team in the NBA currently. The only player on the roster who can be defined as an essential player moving forward is Jalen Green. However they do have other promising young players in Alperen Şengün and Kevin Porter Jr. While the Rockets should not be drafting based on fit, Holmgren still fits the team relatively well. 

As a help side rim protector, Holmgren should complement Şengün very well. This would allow Holmgren to play a very similar role on defense to the one he played at Gonzaga next to Drew Timme. If Holmgren is able to become a good shooter at the NBA level, he will be able to create space for Jalen Green’s driving. Holmgren’s passing should also create opportunities for these teammates.

Pick 2 – Orlando Magic

Jabari Smith Jr

Position: PF

Height: 6’10 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’1 – Reported by Sports Illustrated

Weight: 220 lb

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 13 May 2003

With plenty of workouts to be done before the NBA Draft, Jabari Smith will still have time to prove to teams that he could be worthy of the first overall pick. Jabari is a sharp shooting big man, with excellent size and smart defense.

Smith brings everything you could want in a stretch 4 in today’s NBA. Shooting 42% from the three point line, with a 79.9% free throw percentage, Smith’s shooting should translate very well to the NBA level. Especially with his excellent shooting form. Despite being a largely perimeter based player, Smith managed to average 7.4 rebounds a game in 28.8 minutes per game. Many teams sacrifice rebounding at the power forward position in order to add floor spacing. With Smith, no sacrifice would be needed.  

What makes Smith intriguing, is that while he projects to be a good stretch 4, his physical tools and skill level mean that he could develop into a star player. Smith is only just turning 19 years old at the time of writing this, and is listed at 6’10 and 220 lb. While Smith is not particularly great at driving to the basket, he does have the athleticism and strength to do so if he manages to develop a better handle. At the NBA level I would love to see him being used in pick and roll/pop situations. This would require a good playmaker to play alongside.

Smith would be an interesting fit on the Magic. Ideally he would slot in at power forward with Franz Wagner at the 3 and either Wendell Carter or Mo Bamba at the 5. The pick and roll ball handlers of Jalen Suggs and Markelle Fultz would be great playmakers to get the most out of Smith’s offensive game. 

Pick 3 – Detroit Pistons

Paolo Banchero

Position: PF

Height: 6’10 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11.5 – 7’1 – Different Reported Wingspans

Weight: 250 lb

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 12 November 2002

Paolo Banchero has played himself back into the top 2 conversation with his exceptional play in the March Madness tournament. Banchero has a well rounded game, with the ability to play both on and off the ball. Banchero can roll off screens, catch lobs and cut without the ball. His ball handling ability should also allow him to be a good driver off the dribble. Banchero is a very good passer for a power forward (averaging 3.2 assists per game), this will make him a dangerous driver in the NBA as he can use his playmaking ability to drive and kick, or lob the ball up to another player. 

At the NBA level, Banchero is going to need to continue developing his jumpshot. While 33.8% from deep and 72.9% from the free throw line are not bad numbers, unlocking his jumpshot should help him develop into an all star level player in the future. 

While there are plenty of aspects of Banchero’s game to like, the thing that impresses me the most is his basketball IQ. Banchero makes brilliant decisions on both sides of the floor. He is alway looking to make the right decision, whether it is making the extra pass or scoring himself. This intelligence has carried over on to the defensive side as well. Because of all of this, Banchero looks like a junior or senior rather than the 19 year old freshman he is. 

Banchero would ideally fit very well into Detroit. A playmaker like Cade Cunningham would allow for him to have success as a roll man and cutter. Banchero passing from the high post to the low would also compliment Isaiah Stewart or Marvin Bagley very well. While Jaden Ivey would also be a nice fit next to Cunningham, Banchero’s success at College Basketball’s highest level will likely make him too hard to pass up on. 

Pick 4 – OKC Thunder

Shaedon Sharpe

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’4 – 6’6 – 2021 – Self Reported Height vs. College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11 – 7’0 

Weight: 200 lb

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 30 May 2003

Shaedon Sharpe is the biggest enigma of the draft. Sharpe was the unanimous number one ranked recruit in his class. However he entered the draft a year earlier than expected. Without playing at the College level, it is hard to judge how his game will translate to the pro level. And to be fair, there is still a chance that Sharpe returns to College. 

What Sharpe brings to the game is a scoring wing who plays smart and unselfishly. He has improved his jump shot each year, and has put the work in to become a good ball handler. While we have not had a chance to see him defend at a high level, his reported 7 foot wingspan should be an important tool to help him become a very good defender.

The draft combine will be very important for Shaedon Sharpe. At the combine he will be able to show off his athleticism and get some important feedback from NBA scouts and executives. As the number one ranked College recruit for next season, it would not be surprising to see scouts encourage Sharpe to enter the draft. Due to being such a high school phenomenon, Sharpe should have one of the highest ceilings in the draft. However, skipping the College level makes it very hard to evaluate his floor. There is a lot of risk that comes with drafting Sharpe, but his potential could easily make him worth it. Sam Presti has never been afraid of taking a risk if he thinks the potential reward is a star. 

Pick 5 – Indiana Pacers

Jaden Ivey

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6’4 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’7 – 6’9 – Different Reported Wingspans

Weight: 195 lb

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 13 February 2002

Jaden Ivey is possibly the fastest player in the draft. Due to his speed and ridiculous finishing ability, he has garnered comparisons to Ja Morant. Which, to be fair, a lot of his game is quite similar to Morant’s. However there are 2 key differences between Ivey and Morant. The first is that Ivey is nowhere near the playmaker that Morant was at this level. Ivey only averaged 3.1 assists per game as the lead playmaker, whereas Morant put up 10 assists per game on a much weaker Murray State team. While this comparison may seem unfair, it is largely to illustrate why I do not consider Ivey in my top 3. The second key difference between Ivey and Morant however goes in Ivey’s favor. Jaden Ivey is a better defender than Morant at the same age. Ivey excels at guarding the other team’s lead ball handler. This on-ball defense should make him very valuable to have on almost any team. 

Ivey’s game would fit very well alongside Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton could take on lead playmaking duties at the 2 guard, while Ivey can defend the point on offense and be a great driver and slasher on offense. This would take defensive pressure off of Haliburton, who is not a bad defender in his own right. Playing these two together should lead to the Pacers having impressive perimeter defense, and also an improved offense. 

Pick 6 – Portland Trail Blazers

Keegan Murray

Position: PF(/SF?)

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11 – 7’0 –  Different Reported Wingspans

Weight: 225 lb

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 19 August 2000

Keegan Murray is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft. Averaging 23.5 points per game on 55/40/75 splits, Murray was one of the best offensive players in the NCAA. However he is not just a great scorer, he was named as a finalist of the Lefty Driesell award for the best defensive player in Men’s College Basketball (1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per game). Murray proved capable of guarding the 4 and being a solid switch defender this season.

Murray’s game excels when the game is being played fast paced. Fortunately for him, the NBA is the fastest paced league in the world. 

In order for Murray to thrive at the next level, the two things he will likely need to do are add some more bulk to his frame, and become a more consistent shooter. While Murray did shoot very well from deep this season, he did have significant hot streaks and cold streaks. In order to improve this, we will likely need to see an improvement in his free throw percentage, which may require minor refinements to his shooting form. 

I believe that the Portland Trail Blazers should be able to insert Keegan Murray straight into their starting lineup. Murray’s skillset translates very well to the NBA on paper. A starting lineup of Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Keegan Murray and Jusuf Nurkic should be an improvement over what they put out this season. As a pick and roll/pop option, he should be able to complement Lillard and Simons. If his shooting translates, he should be able to create room in the paint for slashers and Nurkic in the post.

Pick 7 – Sacramento Kings

AJ Griffin 

Position: SF (PF/SG?)

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’0

Weight: 222 lb

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: 25 August 2003

AJ Griffin is probably the most deadly shooter in this year’s draft. Shooting a strong 49.3% from the field and an insane 44.7% from the three point line, Griffin’s game will definitely have plenty of fans around the league. While his 79.2% free throw percentage is not as elite as you would want from a shooter of his caliber, It did continue to rise throughout the season.

Griffin’s defense appeared to be hampered by his lower body injuries this season. While he is a smart defender, his lateral quickness was not up to the level he would need to guard some of the more athletic wings in the NBA. There is a pretty good chance he will be able to improve this when he reaches full health. Griffin’s strength and length could make him a good stretch 4 for periods of time too. 

While I do not like comparing draft prospects to NBA players, I do think that AJ Griffin can play a similar role to Desmond Bane’s role on the Grizzlies. Griffin will be able to use his jumper to score off of screens, shoot spot up 3’s and pull up from the mid-range. 

While it is tempting to draft Bennedict Mathurin for the Kings here due to their need for a shooting guard, I believe that Griffin’s shooting and potential should make him a better pick for the Kings in the long term. A starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Justin Holiday (?), AJ Griffin, Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis should be a very good offensive team. Griffin’s perimeter scoring would create a lot of room for Sabonis and Fox in the paint. 

Pick 8 – New Orleans Pelicans

Bennedict Mathurin

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’9 – Reportedly

Weight: 210 lb

Age on Draft Night: 19 

Birthdate: 19 June 2002

Mathurin was one of the most entertaining players to watch in College Basketball this season. His well rounded game should translate very easily to the NBA. Mathurin brings shot-making, slashing, flashy dunks and good passing. 

Matthurin’s defense has been inconsistent at times throughout the season, however there have been games where he has locked in and defended at a very high level. At the pro level, Mathurin will need to be able to bring this intensity every night in order to maximize his success. 

I have drafted Mathurin to the Pelicans in this mock draft, as I believe that he could offer great offensive production off of their bench. Mathurin should be able to develop into a starter, and potentially even a go-to-scorer in the long term, however the Pelicans likely will be looking for a player who can contribute immediately. Mathurin makes sense for New Orleans based on both of these accounts, as they try to keep Zion Williamson happy now, and build towards their future. 

Pick 9 – San Antonio Spurs

Tari Eason 

Position: PF

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’9 – 7’+ – No Official Measurements

Weight: 216 lb

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 10 May 2001

This may be considered a reach for Tari Eason, but I am convinced that if he is drafted into the right situation, he can become one of the best players in the draft. Tari Eason offers a little bit of everything you could want at the power forward position. He is a great off ball cutter and roll man, and has rare handles that allow him to drive to the rim successfully. 

With good coaching, Eason should be able to develop into a very good shooter in the NBA. While he shot a modest 35.9% from deep, his 80.3% free throw percentage shows that his shot mechanics are very good. Chip Engelland of the San Antonio Spurs would be an excellent coach to help Eason become the shooter he has the potential to be. 

Eason led his team in scoring despite only playing 24.4 minutes per game. When adjusted to per 40 minutes, Eason averaged 27.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

The Spurs are always an unpredictable team on draft night. As evidenced by their drafting of Josh Primo last season. San Antonio cares little about what others think of who they draft, but with their success in developing prospects you cannot really blame them. With Eason’s high work ethic and massive improvement between his freshman and sophomore years, I believe that he could be a match made in heaven for the Spurs. 

Pick 10 – Washington Wizards

Johnny Davis 

Position: SG

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  No Official Measurements

Weight: 194 lb

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 27 February 2002

Johnny Davis has essentially everything you need out of a modern day shooting guard, except for a consistent three point shot. Davis is a great finisher, good defender and good midrange shooter. One of the most interesting parts of Davis’ game is his rebounding. This positional rebounding should help him complement small ball lineups in the NBA.

While Davis shot 30.6% from deep, his shooting form and 79.1% free throw shooting indicates he could become a good perimeter shooter in time. 

The Wizards started this season relatively strong before their season fell off a cliff. If they want to recapture their success from the start of this season, they would likely need to run a lineup of Beal, KCP, Kispert, Kuzma and Porzingis. Washington will likely be looking for a backup point guard or wing. While Ochai Agbaji and TyTy Washington would both be good picks here, I believe that Davis brings the most upside out of the three of them. If Davis can become a more consistent on-ball defender he could potentially guard the point, while Beal handled lead playmaking duties on the other end. On the other hand, there is a good chance Beal leaves the Wizards in the near future if they cannot put together a winning team. As a result of this, Davis could be their insurance in case he forces his way out. 

Pick 11 – New York Knicks

TyTy Washington

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’3 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’9 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 197 lb

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: November 15, 2001

Rumors from around the league seem to indicate that the Knicks are looking for a point guard. Leon Rose appears to have interest in players such as Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. In my opinion, I don’t believe the Knicks are going to be able to acquire either player. While the Mavericks do not have a qualifying offer on Jalen Brunson, they do own his bird rights and can likely beat any offer made to him. While Donovan Mitchell would be a great fit for the team, I do not believe that the Knicks have the assets to acquire him without giving up RJ Barrett (and the whole point of getting Mitchell would be to play him alongside Barrett). 

While I would personally like to see the Knicks draft Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham or Ochai Agbaji, their need for a young playmaker will likely force them to draft Washington in this mock draft. 

TyTy Washington is at his best when he is being used as a playmaker. He had a significantly lesser impact this season when he was played at the shooting guard. While this did not allow for Washington to show off his playmaking abilities to the full extent, it did give him the experience needed to play off the ball next to a playmaking wing like RJ Barrett. Washington’s ability and size to play both the guard positions will also make him a better fit next to players such as Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose.

Washington is going to need to improve his jump shooting ability with his 35% from deep and 75% from the free throw line, but I believe he is on track to becoming an NBA level shooter. 

Pick 12 – OKC Thunder

Jalen Duren

Position: C

Height: 6’10 – 7’0 – Different reported Heights

Wingspan:  7’5 – Reportedly

Weight: 250 lb

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: November 18, 2003

Jalen Duren has a very wide range of where he could be drafted. Some people believe that Duren could become one of the next superstar big men, while others see an old school big man who won’t be much more than a role player in the modern NBA. 

It is very hard to tell if Duren will be able to develop into a player more like Bam Adebayo or Hassan Whiteside. Either way, he should still be worthy of being a lottery pick, and even a top 10 pick for the right team. 

I am not convinced that Duren will be able to become a shooter, but I do like how aggressive he is off the roll and on his cuts to the basket. At only 18 years old, Duren is already physically ready for the League, which will allow any team that drafts him to largely focus on building up his skillset instead of his body. 

OKC has a lot of quality young players at each position, but they do not have a true center. If Duren is available with their later lottery pick, it is easy to see them drafting him and betting on their potential. With OKC’s recent player development success, this would be an ideal landing place for Duren also. 

Pick 13 – Charlotte Hornets

Malaki Branham

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’10 – Reportedly

Weight: 180 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 12 May 2003

Branham improved a lot in a very short period of time this season. Averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting 49.8% from the field and 41.6% from three, Branham looks to be one of the best shooters in the draft. Branham is able to back these shooting percentages up with an 83.3% free throw. 

While Dyson Daniels or Mark Williams could be tempting here, Branham’s fit next to LaMelo Ball should be too promising to pass up on. In this mock draft the Hornets also have the 15th pick, this should cause them to draft the player they want, who is most at risk of being drafted by the Cavs. Due to the Cavs already having plenty of quality big men, the Hornets should draft a guard with this spot. Branham is not just a spot up shooter, he is great at ripping through and knocking down mid range shots off the dribble. 

Pick 14 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Dyson Daniels

Position: PG/SG/SF

Height: 6’6  – G-League Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’7 – 6’11 – Unconfirmed Reports

Weight: 185 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 17 March 2003

Dyson Daniels is a versatile defender and playmaker. At 6’6 (possibly even taller), he has great size to play both guard positions and at the small forward. While I don’t believe he is ready to be a full time point guard, he shouldn’t be far away from it.

The Cavs need backup minutes at both the point and the wing positions. Daniels is a jump shot short of being the perfect player for the team. If Daniels is able to develop a jumper, he should be able to develop into the starting shooting guard alongside Darius Garland. This would also allow Daniels to play as the secondary ball handler on offense, his ideal role. Daniels’ defense would also make him and Isaac Okoro a nasty pair of interchangeable defenders on the wing. 

Pick 15 – Charlotte Hornets

Mark Williams

Position: C

Height: 6’10 – 7’1 – Very Different Measurements

Wingspan:  7’7

Weight: 242 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 16 December 2001

The Charlotte Hornets are in need of a big man who can protect the rim and be a serious lob threat in the paint. While Jeremy Sochan would be a tempting choice here due to the team’s success with small ball, I believe that Mark Williams is able to contribute more to this team with his freakish length and shot blocking ability. 

Mark Williams should be one of the best rim protectors in the draft. He averaged an impressive 2.8 blocks per game in only 23.6 minutes. He also shot a monstrous 72.1% from the floor. While Williams is a more traditional big, his 72.7% free throw shows that he does have the shooting touch to extend his jumper to the mid range. 

Williams would not need to provide big minutes in his rookie year as he would be playing behind Mason Plumlee and Montrezl Harell. However, In time he would be a great rim protector and pick and roll option to play alongside LaMelo Ball. 

Pick 16 – Atlanta Hawks

Ochai Agbaji

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’4.5 – NBA Draft Combine 2021 (barefoot)

Wingspan:  6’10 – NBA Draft Combine 2021

Weight: 214 lb

Age on Draft Night: 22

Birthdate: 20 April 2000

Agbaji is coming off an NCAA championship, and should be ready to contribute immediately to an NBA team. Agbaji’s skill set should make a plug-and-play fit for almost any team in the draft. While he is a bit small to be a small forward, he compensates with physicality, athleticism and length. 

The Atlanta Hawks look like they will be needing a player who can add to their wing depth. Agbaji would be a good contributor to their offense, and adds some needed defensive toughness to their wing. His skill set should allow him to play alongside Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter or DeAndre Hunter. This would continue to add some dangerous depth to this Atlanta team. 

Pick 17 – Houston Rockets

Ousmane Dieng

Position: SG/SF/PF

Height: 6’9 – Australian NBL Listed Height 

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 216 lb

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 21 May 2003

Ousmane Dieng is essentially a massive point guard. He is at his best when he has the ball in his hands and is looking to create for others. However he is still a very raw player, who is yet to find a consistent jump shot. 

The Houston Rockets need either a small forward or a point guard following the drafting of Chet Holmgren in this mock draft. While the Kevin Porter Jr experiment continues at the point, I believe that Dieng can offer some extra playmaking to this team while playing at the 3. If Dieng can iron out his shot form and become a stronger finisher, he could become one of the steals of the draft. 

Pick 18 – Chicago Bulls

Jeremy Sochan

Position: PF(/SF/C?)

Height: 6’9 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7 Foot Wingspan – Reportedly

Weight: 230lb

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 20 May 2003

While Jeremy Sochan’s offensive game is raw, on the defensive side of the floor he has already had a lot of success at a very young age. Sochan is capable of defending wings and forwards at a high level. Switch defenders are very valuable in a league that uses a lot of pick and rolls. 

On offense, Sochan has a lot of potential too. His athleticism makes him a promising cutter and roll man. Sochan is a smart passer and should be a solid player in the dribble hand off in the NBA. 

Sochan’s shooting is both concerning and promising at the same time. While he has shown flashes of being a good shooter, his low free throw percentage (58.9%) and low three point percentage (29.6%) do raise a lot of concern. 

Jeremy Sochan is the type of player who can rise above projections, or fall on draft night. While the 18th pick feels too low to draft him, I believe that the Bulls would be a team where Sochan could maximize his potential. The Bulls are a good power forward short of being a contender (assuming they can stay healthy and retain Zach LaVine). Sochan could potentially be able to insert himself into the starting lineup immediately with his defense and size. Due to the floor spacing at every other position already in the Bulls, his current lack of shooting would not detract from the team. 

Pick 19 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Kendall Brown 

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’10 – 6’11 – Unconfirmed Reports

Weight: 205 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 11 May 2003

The Timberwolves are in a rather unfortunate position in this mock draft. While there are plenty of talented players left, not many fit their current needs. While it would be tempting to draft E.J. Liddell here, I believe a player with Kendall Brown’s potential would be too hard to pass up on. 

Throughout the regular season and the playoffs it became very clear that the Timberwolves were lacking defensive rebounding in their second unit. This would make me want to draft a power forward who is a good rebounder here, however there are none who match what the Wolves need. Liddell is simply too small to play next to Naz Reid off the bench at 6’5.5. 

Kendall Brown is possibly the most athletic player in the draft. While he is still very raw, he has shown a lot of promise over his freshman year at Baylor. His 4.9 rebounds per game is very solid for a wing playing 27 minutes per game. Brown would be a good fit at the 3 next to Jaden McDaniels off the bench, and has the potential to develop into a starter over time. 

Pick 20 – San Antonio Spurs

Jaden Hardy

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6’2 – 6’4

Wingspan:  6’9 – Unconfirmed Reports

Weight: 198 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 5th July 2002

Jaden Hardy’s draft stock has fallen pretty drastically from when he was ranked as a top 5 prospect in this class. This is largely due to his very inefficient season with the G-League Ignite. While Hardy did average 17.7 points per game, he averaged only 3.2 assists per game and shot 35.1% from the field and 26.9% from deep. While these are pretty bad stats, I don’t believe that Hardy’s talent has disappeared. I believe that the jump from high school to the G-League was too harsh a leap for Hardy to handle. Hardy’s free throw percentage of 88.2% shows that his shooting touch hasn’t gone anywhere. He still possesses some great ball handling ability also. 

Hardy is going to need some good coaching in order to get his career back on track. And when I think of good coaching, I often think of the Spurs organization. The Spurs would be in no rush to force Hardy to play big minutes immediately. In his rookie year he could play as the 3rd PG on the roster behind Dejounte Murray and Tre Jones. In order to get the most out of Hardy’s game I believe that he is going to need to be developed at the point guard. In high school, Hardy averaged an impressive 8.4 assists per game. If developed right, I believe that Hardy can still develop into an all star caliber player, but a lot of patience is going to be required. 

Pick 21 – Denver Nuggets

Wendell Moore Jr

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’10.5 – Reportedly

Weight: 213 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 18th September 2001

Wendell Moore has improved each season during his time at Duke. Each year he has improved his shooting, become a more confident finisher and even become a really smart playmaker. Moore averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this season. He achieved this while shooting 50% from the field, 41.3% from deep and 80.5% from the free throw line. While a little inconsistent on defense, he has shown great flashes on that end of the floor too. 

The Nuggets were missing depth and shooting at both the 2 and 3 this season. Moore should be able to come into the NBA and provide minutes immediately at these spots. His improved perimeter shooting should create more space for players like Will Barton and Aaron Gordon, while providing more options for Jokic to pass to. Moore’s playmaking would also take pressure off Jamal Murray and Bones Hyland. 

Pick 22 – Memphis Grizzlies

MarJon Beauchamp

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6 – G-League Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’0  – Reportedly

Weight: 199 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 12th October 2000

MarJon Beachamp is one of the best finishers in the draft. He used his athleticism and toughness to shoot 57.1% from the field as a wing this season in the G-League. One of the craziest stats for Beauchamp is that he made 68% of his 2 point field goals this season. Beauchamp is also an underrated defender who brings toughness on both ends of the floor. If Beauchamp can prove he can shoot 3’s and free throws at a solid rate in his workouts, he could move up into the lottery. 

The Grizzlies roster would likely benefit from continuation of what they have built over the last 2 seasons. Their draft picks can be used on projects like Beachamp as he will not need immediate minutes in the League. The Grizzlies can draft Beauchamp to be a slasher and driver off the bench for now, and if everything goes right, he could be developed into a quality starter in the future. 

Pick 23 – Brooklyn Nets

Nikola Jović

Position: PF/SF(C?)

Height: 6’10 

Wingspan:  7’0  – Reportedly

Weight: 209 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 9th June 2003

Nikola Jovic is another player who has a wide range of where he can be drafted. Jovic is a positionless player who possesses great court vision, basketball IQ and shooting form. He has always been a very good player in his age group. However he can be a very inconsistent player. Jovic is going to be a long term project in my opinion, but he has unteachable skills at 6-foot-10. 

For the Brooklyn Nets, Jovic offers high upside and a pretty decent fit for their team. Jovic is a very unselfish forward who is willing to swing the ball along the perimeter on offense. He is also capable of chucking lobs to his teammates. If Jovic is able to add some size and improve his perimeter shooting, he should be an excellent complement for Durant, Irving and Simmons. 

Pick 24 – Milwaukee Bucks

Kennedy Chandler

Position: PG

Height: 6’0 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’5  – Reportedly

Weight: 171 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 16th September 2002

Kennedy Chandler has possibly the highest basketball IQ in this year’s NBA Draft. It’s almost hard to believe that he is a 19 year old, due to the amount of poise and intelligence he plays with. Chandler averaged 4.7 assists per game and shot 38.3% from deep in his impressive freshman year. 

However there are two red flags that have him falling this far in my mock draft. The first being that he is listed at 6-foot-flat. College heights are often slightly exaggerated (however there are many exceptions). Being this short and light in the NBA will make you a target for the opposing team to run pick and rolls against you. 

The other red flag is his 60.6% free throw percentage. Low free throw percentages are often indicators that players lack a consistent shooting form or shooting touch. NBA scouts are going to need to see Chandler shoot very well in his workouts leading up to the Draft. 

The Bucks are pretty deep at most positions, but they could do with another playmaker off the bench. At the 24th pick, I believe that Chandler is talented enough to compensate for the red flags in his game. Milwaukee could be the destination he needs in order to reach his potential. 

Pick 25 – San Antonio Spurs

Leonard Miller

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’9 – 6’11 – Unconfirmed

Wingspan:  7’2 – 7’3  – Reportedly

Weight: 195 lbs 

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: 26th November 2003

Leonard Miller is one of the biggest wild cards of the 2022 NBA Draft. Miller essentially plays like a 6’11 shooting guard. He has nice handles, good court vision and a pretty smooth jumper. Miller is going to be hard to evaluate, as he has yet to play at a very high level. 

In order to enter the NBA Draft this year, Miller is likely going to need a promise in the first round or early second round from a good team. The Spurs have a reputation for developing their young players well. While the Spurs could draft a more sensible player here like Walker Kessler or Blake Wesley, if you have a chance to draft a player with this much potential with the 25th pick, you should draft them. 

Pick 26 – Dallas Mavericks

Walker Kessler

Position: C

Height: 7’1 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’5  – Reportedly 

Weight: 245 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 26th July 2001

Walker Kessler is quite likely the most old school big in the draft. Aside from the occasional floater, his game is almost entirely based in the paint. However, Kessler appears to be relatively mobile for a player of his size. Kessler averaged an absolutely insane 4.6 blocks per game, in only 25.6 minutes per game. While he does not look to be a shooter at the NBA level, his rim protecting ability, rebounding and finishing will make him valuable for the right team. 

The Mavericks need rebounding and perimeter shooting. With no elite shooters left in the draft, Kessler would make a lot of sense for their second unit as a rebounder. If Kessler’s speed translates to the NBA, he would also be a good pick and roll option. 

Pick 27 – Miami Heat

E.J. Liddell Jr

Position: PF

Height: 6’5.5 – 2021 NBA Draft Combine

Wingspan:  6’11.75  – 2021 NBA Draft Combine

Weight: 242.8 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 18th December 2000

E.J. Liddell had a very impressive junior season at Ohio State this year. He continued to improve in practically every category and averaged an impressive 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks per game. If it wasn’t for his lack of height and elite athleticism, I would have definitely had him higher in this mock draft. I also would not be surprised to see teams like Chicago and Minnesota have interest in him with the 18th and 19th picks. 

While this might be lower than Liddell would want to be drafted, being able to contribute immediately to a very strong Miami Heat team should make up for it. Liddell would bring the type of toughness and skill that Miami wants from their big men. 

Pick 28 – Golden State Warriors

Jean Montero

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’2.5 – (In Shoes) at the Nike Hoop Summit 2022

Wingspan:  6’4.5  – At the Nike Hoop Summit 2022

Weight: 172 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: 3rd July 2003

It’s hard to judge how Jean Montero played this season due to the Overtime Elite being a new way to prepare for the NBA. It is unclear how this will affect Montero as it does not appear that Montero was playing against a very high level of talent. However Montero did play very well at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit. But again, this was against players coming out of high school. 

We are not going to get a good idea of how NBA-ready Montero is until his NBA workouts begin. 

Golden State has recently had a lot of success with their player development. This has been especially clear in Jordan Poole’s playoff ascendancy, and in Jonathan Kuminga’s continued improvement. Montero would be able to add to Golden State’s depth at the point guard, while providing them with a very young prospect with high potential.

Pick 29 – Memphis Grizzlies

Christian Koloko

Position: C

Height: 7’0 – 7’1 – Different Reported Heights

Wingspan:  7’3 – 7’5 – Different Reported Measurements

Weight: 230 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 20th June 2000

Christian Koloko is an athletic 7 footer who can protect the rim and finish around the basket. Koloko is deceptively athletic and was responsible for some impressive dunks for Arizona this season. Koloko also looks to have some shooting potential as displayed by his 73.5% free throw, and good shooting form that was displayed on the rare mid ranger. 

The Grizzlies again do not need to add any more young players to their team. However Koloko can be a very good backup center who can take on minutes from Killian Tillie and Santi Aldama. Koloko should be fast enough to guard small ball lineups, while providing the size and length needed to protect the rim from good slashers.

Pick 30 – OKC Thunder

Trevor Keels

Position: SG(/PG/SF?)

Height: 6’4 – Different Reported Heights

Wingspan:  6’5 – 6’7 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 221 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: 26th August 2003

Trevor Keels is a tough-as-nails guard. He is capable of some very strong finishes and plays very physical defense for a player of his size. If Keels is able to measure at 6’4 or 6’5 at the draft combine, he should be able to convince teams that he can be a very versatile switch defender in the NBA.

While his shot needs polishing, I do buy into Trevor Keels’ work ethic and ability to improve his game. Keels has even shown good playmaking potential. 

OKC has already filled their positional needs in this mock draft. By drafting Keels for them, they are taking who I believe to be the best player available. If Keels can become a consistent on-ball defender, he could be a very good complement for SGA and Josh Giddey. 

Pick 31 – Indiana Pacers

David Roddy

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 252 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 27th March 2001

Pick 32 – Orlando Magic 

Bryce McGowens

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’7 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’9 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 179 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 8th November 2002

Pick 33 – Toronto Raptors

Blake Wesley

Position: PG/SG/SF

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 179 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 16th March 2003

Blake Wesley has possibly the widest draft range out of any player this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted in the lottery, and I also would not be surprised to see him fall into the second round as he has in this mock draft. 

Wesley is currently lacking a consistent jump shot and has a lot of work to be done on his shooting in general. He is also a little bit inconsistent as a finisher. 

What makes Wesley special though, is his handle and ability to break his defender down on the way to the basket. Wesley is going to need a team that is good at developing their young talent as there is a lot of work to be done. However this driving off the dribble ability is unteachable. 

Pick 34 – OKC Thunder

Justin Lewis

Position: PF/SF

Height: 6’7 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’2 – Reportedly

Weight: 245 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 12th April 2002

Pick 35 – Orlando Magic

Christian Braun

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 218 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 17 April 2001

Pick 36 – Portland Trail Blazers

Jalen Williams

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’0 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 190 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 14th April 2001

Jalen Williams is the type of player who should be able to work himself up to a higher position in the draft through workouts and scrimmages. He played very well on a Santa Clara team that did not have much national attention. Williams proved himself to be a capable scorer (18 ppg) and good playmaker (4.2 assists per game). 

Pick 37 – Sacramento Kings

Hugo Besson

Position: SG

Height: 6’4 – NBL Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 196 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 26th April 2001

Pick 38 – San Antonio Spurs

Jaylin Williams

Position: C/PF

Height: 6’10 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’1.5 – Reportedly

Weight: 240 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 29th June 2002

Jaylin Williams is a great defender at the college level. Williams is capable of guarding the paint and switching out onto smaller defenders. I view him as a budget version of Bam Adebayo. The Spurs starting center, Jakob Poeltl is a good rim protector and post defender, but not a good switch defender. Williams would give the Spurs an option for when they need to guard pick and roll centric teams. 

Pick 39 – Cleveland Cavaliers

JD Davison

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’3 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’5 – 6’8 – Unconfirmed Reports

Weight: 195 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 3rd October 2002

Pick 40 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Jabari Walker

Position: PF

Height: 6’9 – College Listed Height

Wingspan: 7’0 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 215 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 30th July 2002

Jabari Walker averaged 9.4 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game. While he only shot a modest 34.6% from deep, his shooting form and 78.4% free throw indicate that he can be developed into an NBA-level shooter. Walker could carve a special niche for himself in the NBA by developing into a floor spacing rebounder.

Pick 41 – New Orleans Pelicans

Dalen Terry

Position: PG/SG/SF

Height: 6’7 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’0 – Reportedly 

Weight: 195 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 12th July 2002

New Orleans were at their best this season when running their interchangeable switch defense lineup. As a 6’7 point guard, Terry would make this lineup even more menacing. Terry is also capable of playing either wing position.

Pick 42 – New York Knicks

Ismael Kamagate

Position: C

Height: 6’11 – Reportedly

Wingspan:  7’3 – 7’4 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 220 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 17th January 2001

Kamagate is a bouncy center who should thrive in the pick and roll at the NBA level. With uncertainty around Mitchell Robinson’s future in New York, Kamagate would offer great insurance and solid depth for the Knicks. 

Pick 43 – Los Angeles Clippers

Andrew Nembhard

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’6 – Reportedly 

Weight: 193 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 22

Birthdate: 16th January 2000

Nembhard should bring good perimeter shooting and solid playmaking to the team that drafts him. Due to his size he should be capable of playing either guard position. His floor spacing and unselfishness would make him a good fit next to players like Terrence Mann and Amir Coffey in the second unit. 

Pick 44 – Atlanta Hawks 

Jake LaRavia

Position: PF(SF?)

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 235 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 3rd November 2001

Pick 45 – Charlotte Hornets

Alondes Williams

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’5 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 210 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 23

Birthdate: 19th June 1999

Pick 46 – Detroit Pistons

Max Christie

Position: SG

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’9 – Reportedly 

Weight: 190 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 10th February 2003

Despite a very inefficient year, Max Christie has shown signs of having a lot of potential. Due to Christie’s lack of polish, and Michigan State’s strong player development program, I believe that it would be in Christie’s best interest to return for his sophomore year. 

However this mock draft is written under the assumption that Christie is entering. If Christie enters, Detroit would be a great option for him, as they are willing to give their young players minutes to develop. 

Pick 47 – Memphis Grizzlies

Matteo Spagnolo

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6’4 

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 194 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 10th January 2003

Spagnolo has been largely overlooked so far in the pre draft process. While I am not buying into his on-ball defense, I am willing to buy into his offensive game. Spagnolo shot 44.1% from deep with an 86.1% free throw percentage. Spagnolo could thrive next to an off-ball point guard like De’Anthony Melton.

Pick 48 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Khalifa Diop

Position: C

Height: 6’11 – Unconfirmed

Wingspan:  7’2 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 231 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 15th January 2002

Pick 49 – Sacramento Kings

Patrick Baldwin Jr

Position: SF/SG/PF

Height: 6’9 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  6’11 – Reportedly 

Weight: 220 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 18th November 2002

Most people have Patrick Baldwin Jr as a first round pick. However I simply cannot buy into his game yet. He shot a putrid 34.4% from the field and 26.6% from deep. His free throw percentage is a solid 74.3%, but this is not enough to convince me that he has a good shooting stroke. 

Coming into the season, Baldwin was projected to be a great 3 and D prospect. However with his offensive game completely failing this season, I struggle to see value in him outside of the late second round. Baldwin’s high school career is the only thing that keeps him in my mock draft at all, as I have seen how good he was at that level. Entering the draft could be a good option for Baldwin, if the right team promises to draft him. 

Pick 50 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Keon Ellis

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’6 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed 

Weight: 175 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 22

Birthdate: 8th January 2000

Pick 51 – Golden State Warriors 

Yannick Nzosa

Position: C

Height: 6’11

Wingspan:  7’6 – Unconfirmed

Weight: 215lbs

Age on Draft Night: 18

Birthdate: 15th November 2003

Pick 52 – New Orleans Pelicans

Orlando Robinson 

Position: C

Height: 6’9.75 – Barefoot 2021 NBA G-League Elite Camp

Wingspan:  7’3.5 – 2021 NBA G-League Elite Camp

Weight: 239.6 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 10th July 2000

Orlando Robinson could be a solid floor spacing center in the NBA. This would make him a good complementary piece for Zion Williamson. 

Pick 53 – Boston Celtics

Josh Minott

Position: PF

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  7’2 – Reportedly 

Weight: 205 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 25th November 2002

Pick 54 – Milwaukee Bucks

Forfeited Pick

Pick 55 – Miami Heat

Forfeited Pick

Pick 56 – Washington Wizards

Iverson Molinar

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’3 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 190 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 22

Birthdate: 3rd December 1999

While Molinar is currently more of a combo guard than a point guard, I believe that becoming a full time point is his ticket to making a future for himself in the NBA. Molinar only shot 25.2% from deep this season, but his 86.8% free throw indicates that he should be able to get his shot back on track. In my opinion, Molinar is the perfect player to develop on a 2-way contract.

Pick 57 – Golden State Warriors 

Gabriele Procida

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’7 – Reportedly

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed

Weight: 194 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 1st June 2002

Procida is an athletic wing with a nice jumper. Physically he is probably not quite ready to be a wing in the NBA, which may result in a team draft and stashing him. Procida is on a multi-year contract with Fortitudo Bologna which makes him an ideal player to stash with the intention to eventually bring him over to the NBA. 

Pick 58 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Julian Champagnie

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’6.5 – 2021 NBA Draft Combine

Wingspan:  6’10 – 2021 NBA Draft Combine

Weight: 215 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 20

Birthdate: 29th June 2001

Pick 59 – Boston Celtics

Trevion Williams

Position: C

Height: 6’10 – College Listed Height

Wingspan:  Unconfirmed 

Weight: 255 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 21

Birthdate: 16th September 2000

Pick 60 – Indiana Pacers

Harrison Ingram 

Position: SF/PF

Height: 6’8 – College Listed Height

Wingspan: 7’0 – Reportedly 

Weight: 230 lbs

Age on Draft Night: 19

Birthdate: 27th November 2002