2022 NBA Mock Draft: Magic take Chet Holmgren at No. 1 in first projection after Orlando wins lottery

I perceive the issues about Holmgren’s slight body — however he is such a singular expertise that I would be uncomfortable passing on a 7-foot authentic rim-protector who also can bounce it like a guard and reliably make 3-pointers. He is probably the most gifted prospect on this draft and needs to be chosen as such.

Banchero might be the most secure possibility on the high of this draft. He is an enormous, robust and expert ahead who might be an unimaginable constructing block in Oklahoma Metropolis alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Smith nonetheless must develop in a number of methods however he is already an excellent shooter and switchable defender who performs with nice power. If he does not go first or second — and he clearly may — the Rockets can be thrilled to snag him with the third decide on this draft.

Ivey is an explosive athlete who performs large and is able to attacking the rim in a wide range of methods. Because the Kings proceed to construct, the Purdue star can be an excellent possibility at this level within the draft partly as a result of he may fairly play beside DeAaron Fox.

Murray is a switchable large who can guard in area and persistently make photographs from the perimeter. What he does, at his measurement, is completely suited to the fashionable NBA and would match properly with a Detroit franchise attempting to return to respectability with Cade Cunningham because the centerpiece.

Despite the fact that he enrolled in January and was eligible to compete, Sharpe by no means performed at Kentucky partly as a result of the individuals round him needed to guard his standing as a projected top-10 decide. Until he actually bombs in exercises, it is laborious to think about the explosive athlete going a lot decrease than this contemplating he is a gifted scorer with the bodily instruments to be a disruptive defender on the wing in Indiana.

I am increased on Agbaji than most just because I do not perceive what’s to not like a couple of 6-5 athlete who’s a plus-defender on the wing and glorious 3-point shooter. When you get previous the top-tier prospects on this draft, the Kansas All-American makes as a lot sense as anyone and would offer Damian Lillard with a brand new teammate geared up to assist from Day One.

Davis went from a largely nameless power-conference participant to a candidate for nationwide participant of the yr in his sophomore season at Wisconsin. An ankle damage restricted him down the stretch, however he confirmed sufficient earlier than that to justify his standing as a projected lottery decide.

Duren is not actually the kind of floor-spacing large franchises choose nowadays, however he is such a bodily specimen and nice athlete that there is most likely a spot for him within the high 10 of this draft. At worst, he needs to be a terrific rim-running and rim-protecting heart who alters photographs and dunks all the things.

Mathurin was the star of Arizona’s staff that gained the Pac-12 and earned a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event. The 6-6 wing is a formidable athlete and above-average shooter who may lighten the scoring load on Bradley Beal in Washington

Sochan is the uncommon sub-100 highschool recruit who might be a one-and-done lottery decide. His potential to protect a number of positions in a number of methods is among the many causes he is a tantalizing prospect who is without doubt one of the most versatile gamers out there on this draft.

It took Griffin a short time to get comfy at Duke due to a preseason knee damage that appeared to have an effect on his potential to indicate his athleticism. However the five-star highschool recruit, who’s the son of former NBA participant Adrian Griffin, ultimately confirmed glimpses of why he is a lottery expertise, largely by proving to be a unbelievable 3-point shooter who made 44.7% of his 4.1 makes an attempt from past the arc per sport.

Williams, like fellow projected lottery decide Duren, is extra of a conventional large than a contemporary large. However any franchise in want of a rim-protector and lob-catcher — like Charlotte — must take into account him at this level within the draft.

Branham is a taking pictures guard with good measurement and nice size who actually flourished within the second half of the season. Whereas taking pictures 41.6% from the 3-point line, the one-and-done standout grew to become the Huge Ten’s Freshman of the 12 months and a authentic lottery possibility for his home-state franchise.

Eason was a breakout star at LSU after transferring following a so-so first season at Cincinnati. He is a flexible frontcourt possibility who can guard a number of positions and punish defenses in transition alternatives.

Dieng is a protracted and expert prospect who nonetheless must develop however is price a severe look wherever exterior of the lottery. He may not contribute instantly however positively initiatives as an fascinating long-term funding with plain potential.

Daniels is not fairly the prospect earlier Ignite stars have been however remains to be an enchanting guard with measurement who can play with or with out the ball. His jumper, at this level, is the most important space of concern.

Kessler was arguably the perfect defensive participant in school basketball this season whereas averaging 4.6 blocks per sport. He is an unimaginable rim-protector with the potential to turn into a snug perimeter shooter.

Washington largely performed off the ball in his one season at Kentucky however initiatives as a lead guard within the NBA. Ankle accidents restricted him within the second half of the season however the one-and-done Wildcat confirmed sufficient earlier than he was hampered to solidify his standing as a top-20 decide.

Hardy did not do a lot over the previous yr to assist his draft inventory — however he is nonetheless a possible first-round expertise able to growing right into a particular participant. Being drafted by a franchise like San Antonio would most likely be the perfect factor for the trajectory of his profession.

Brown by no means actually grew to become greater than a job participant in his one season at Baylor, which is notable and considerably regarding. However the 6-8 wing nonetheless has the bodily instruments to make him worthy of a first-round decide from a Denver franchise determined to place extra expertise round Nikola Jokic.

The potential for Tyus Jones leaving through free company might need Memphis out there for some extent guard. At this level within the draft, the most suitable choice can be Chandler — the Memphis-raised product who has gained at each stage and already possesses a detailed relationship with Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant.

Liddell is the kind of participant who may assist Brooklyn’s core of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons theoretically compete for a title subsequent season. He is undersized however efficient.

Moore shot above 40% from 3-point vary in his remaining season at Duke. The wager right here is that his jumper is a translatable talent, which might be priceless in a spot like Milwaukee, the place chasing championships with Giannis Antetokounmpo is the objective for the foreseeable future.

Braun is a wing with measurement who can guard his place, reliably make jumpers and end in transition. He is the kind of prospect who may flourish within the tradition San Antonio has established.

Jalen Brunson’s pending free company may result in a departure from Dallas, which could have the Mavericks concentrating on a major ball-handler with this decide. If that’s the case, Montero, a deep-shooting guard who remains to be solely 18 years previous, can be an inexpensive possibility.

Including a younger athlete to the backcourt would not be the worst thought for a Miami franchise that has superior to the Japanese Convention Finals. Wesley is strictly that and can be a steal on the backside of the primary spherical if his jumper turns into extra constant.

With James Wiseman’s potential unclear, the Warriors may goal a middle with their first-round decide. Koloko is the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months with higher mobility than most bigs his measurement.

Baldwin was a projected top-10 decide earlier than he kind of disappeared for a yr after selecting to play for his father at Milwaukee. The Grizzlies may afford to take an enormous swing right here and see in the event that they hit on one other decide late within the first spherical.

Oklahoma Metropolis stays very a lot in rebuild mode with a younger core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey. Including an 18-year-old worldwide prospect like Jovic to the franchise might be a pleasant long-term transfer.