2022 NBA Mock Draft: Jabari Smith all but locked in for Magic at No. 1 just before picks are made

Auburn

• Fr

• 6’10”

/ 220 lbs

There’s at the very least *some* concern over the range with which Smith will rating within the NBA — he struggled on the rim in college and primarily was used as a catch-and-shoot weapon — but his positional size and above average shooting are amongst essentially the most translatable skills a prospect has on this class. At 6-10 he’s an elite shooting threat from anywhere on the court and a really protected bet to be a priceless two-way player within the NBA. Betting markets have him going No. 1, and that seems the most definitely end result at this point for Orlando.

Gonzaga

• Fr

• 7’0″

/ 195 lbs

The thin frame and potential injury concerns that come together with it notwithstanding, Holmgren arguably holds essentially the most star power within the draft. He rated within the 94th percentile as a defender across the rim last season and had a top-10 block rate . . as a real freshman. And on offense, he rated within the 99th percentile across the rim. His ability to affect and block shots could make him a cornerstone defensive anchor for a rebooting OKC franchise.

Duke

• Fr

• 6’10”

/ 250 lbs

Houston grabs a future star so as to add to its frontcourt to pair with 2021 No. 2 pick Jalen Green, some of the electric young guard prospects within the NBA. Banchero was an All-American in his lone season at Duke, and his playmaking and overall polish on offense at 6-10 can add one other exciting dynamic to this young Rockets core. He has No. 1 pick talent, so getting him at 3 could be an enormous win.

Purdue

• Soph

• 6’4″

/ 195 lbs

What Sacramento does here at No. 4 stays the most important query of the draft. But taking best talent available should lead to the Kings adding Ivey to a core that features De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell and Domantas Sobanis. He’s an electrical athlete who can function as a top quality playmaker due to his ability to get downhill and create off the dribble.

Iowa

• Soph

• 6’8″

/ 225 lbs

If Ivey is off the board here, Detroit takes the safest prospect still on the board in Keegan Murray so as to add next to Cade Cunningham. Murray was some of the productive players in college hoops last season and the mix of his size, outside shooting and defense should give him a pleasant floor as a real four-man at the following level.

Arizona

• Soph

• 6’6″

/ 205 lbs

Mathurin’s had a gradual rise during the last month and could possibly be in play as soon as No. 5 on this draft due to his outside shooting, solid frame and defensive potential. Indiana can add him next to Tyrese Haliburton to actually solidify its backcourt for the long haul.

Dyson Daniels

SG

G League Ignite

• 6’8″

/ 195 lbs

After dealing CJ McCollum to Recent Orleans, Portland adding more playmaking seems the logical move here at No. 7 — and Dyson Daniels can add plenty. The G League Ignite product is maybe essentially the most crafty passer within the draft and projects as a solid defender instantly due to his length and instincts, with upside to in time become a point of interest on offense if his shot improves.

Duke

• Fr

• 6’6″

/ 222 lbs

Recent Orleans rated because the Twenty seventh-best team within the NBA in team 3-point shooting percentage last season. In Griffin they add the most effective wing shooters within the draft who has legitimate star potential if he’s capable of find his old highschool form and stay healthy. Depending on how his medicals take a look at, he could go anywhere from No. 5 to outside the lottery.

Baylor

• Fr

• 6’9″

/ 230 lbs

The shot is actually the one query mark for Sochan that could be keeping him from being a possible top five prospect on this class. He can guard 1-5 and is a plus playmaker at his position besides. If the Spurs can develop his shot he could repay as the most effective talents to come back out of this draft.

Kentucky

• Fr

• 6’6″

/ 200 lbs

This could be a further-than-expected fall for Sharpe but a soft landing spot in Washington for a Wizards team that has several young and exciting pieces. Sharpe was the No. 1 player in his class before reclassifying and enrolling at Kentucky on the mid-year point, but not playing while there means scouts have not gotten an prolonged take a look at him since his time as a high-schooler on the EYBL circuit.

Kentucky

• Fr

• 6’4″

/ 196 lbs

The Knicks need scoring and playmaking and will get a two-for-one combo here in Washington. The previous five-star recruit is a knockdown shooter who thrived off the ball at Kentucky but has some untapped talents playing on the ball as a creator and initiator as well; his 27% assist rate in SEC play was eleventh amongst players in his conference — despite playing almost exclusively because the second initiator.

Ousmane Dieng

SF

France

• 6’9″

/ 185 lbs

Dieng had a robust near the NBL season with the Recent Zealand Breakers, a team from the identical NBL league that after produced LaMelo Ball. He’s a combo forward with guard skills. If his outside shot starts falling with regularity he could become a borderline star on the wing, he’s just quite a ways away from being an NBA contributor right away. Whoever takes him should be patient.

Memphis

• Fr

• 6’11”

/ 250 lbs

Charlotte needs an injection of talent and youth within the frontcourt and may get each with the addition of Jalen Duren, a springy big man who’s a human pogo stick to incredible leaping ability. Duren’s shot-blocking and above-the-rim abilities make him a protected bet to be a long-time contributor.

Kansas

• Sr

• 6’6″

/ 217 lbs

Cleveland has a young core primed to contend with Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Agbaji gives the Cavs one other piece of key depth on the wing and adds a complementary style to Isaac Okoro as a more offensively polished weapon. He shot 41% from 3-point range last season for KU in leading the Jayhawks to a national title.

LSU

• Soph

• 6’8″

/ 217 lbs

Eason is an enormous combo forward who can space the ground as a shooter and open up the offense as a straight-line driver. His important value, nonetheless, comes on defense, where he’s a do-it-all weapon with great instincts. He’s raw and his offense is not quite NBA-ready however the physical tools and defense alone could get him into the teenagers of this draft on potential.

Ohio State

• Fr

• 6’6″

/ 195 lbs

Ohio State turned to Branham as one in all its go-to options down the stretch run of the season, and he responded by averaging 17.3 points and three.8 rebounds within the second half of the 12 months. He’s an enormous wing who can torch the web and scores it at a extremely high level, and now that he’s committed to staying within the draft, must be in the combo as a possible lottery pick.

Arizona

• Soph

• 6’7″

/ 195 lbs

After adding Banchero at No. 3, Houston comes back so as to add backcourt depth with the addition of one in all my favorite talents in Terry. Terry did just a little of every little thing at Arizona as a task player last season primarily playing off the ball and has the length and tools to thrive as a high energy wing who has some wiggle off the dribble and may shoot the three.

Wisconsin

• Soph

• 6’6″

/ 196 lbs

Johnny Davis was some of the productive players in college hoops last season as a real breakout star in his sophomore season. He thrives as a mid-range scorer, can create his own looks and has the defensive smarts to be an easy contributor for a winning team. If he returns to shooting form he showed as a freshman (38.9% from 3) then he might be the most effective 3-and-D wings within the draft.

Santa Clara

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 209 lbs

Williams has been the fastest-rising draft prospect the last month. He measured 6-6 on the mix with a 7-2 wingspan, is coming off a season wherein he shot nearly 40% from 3-point range, and rated out within the 97th percentile last season in keeping with Synergy as a spot-up shooter.

Duke

• Soph

• 7’2″

/ 242 lbs

That sound you hear is San Antonio quite literally stealing the draft if it gets Mark Williams at 20 so as to add to Jeremy Sochan at pick No. 10. Williams is a throwback big who doesn’t shoot it much from outside the paint (and is not a 3-point shooter right away) but he runs the break well, affects shots across the rim and has amazing timing and length which he uses to swat shots at a high level.

Baylor

• Fr

• 6’8″

/ 201 lbs

There is a world wherein Brown is drafted in the teenagers or slips to the 30s and neither would surprise me. He’s tough to peg after an up and down freshman season wherein he had flashes but was not consistent. His 6-8 frame and athleticism from the wing spot should land him somewhere within the 20s, is my guess.

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’7″

/ 243 lbs

Memphis’ front office has prior to now put a high value on college production, making Liddell, some of the productive players in college hoops the previous few seasons, squarely in the combo here (if he is not already taken). Barely undersized power forward who plays way above his 6-7 frame and has improved dramatically as a shooter the last 12 months.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

• Fr

• 6’10”

/ 231 lbs

Baldwin Jr.’s stock is hard to nail down due to injuries that derailed nearly all of his highschool senior season and far of his freshman season at Milwaukee. But he has great positional size and a robust pedigree as a former five-star recruit (and once the No. 1 player in his class) which can earn him a spot within the 20s for a team willing to take a raffle on his talent.

Gonzaga

• Sr

• 6’5″

/ 193 lbs

Nembhard is not a top-25 talent within the 2022 NBA Draft but he is well one in all the 25 most NBA-ready prospects within the 2022 NBA Draft. That ought to matter to a Bucks franchise that is in win-now mode trying to maximise its title window with Giannis. Nembhard is not a blow-by-you athlete but he’s a solid point guard who can shoot and distribute well enough to contribute to winning for a contender.

Nikola Jovic

SF

Serbia

• 6’10”

/ 210 lbs

This could purely be a price play for San Antonio to pluck Jovic, some of the intriguing combination forwards within the draft, at No. 25. He has guard skills — he ran point last season as one in all the first initiators for Mega Mozzart — and a middle’s frame. He’s very raw developmentally but having just turned 19 years old, there is a probability he can mature in time to be a priceless initiator given his size.

Duke

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 217 lbs

It’s hard to search out easy contributors in the primary round, much less at No. 26, but Houston could really grab one here in Moore after a breakout season with Duke. He’s an extended wing with good 3-point shooting skills and a role-player skillset that’d make him an asset for the Rockets.

Arkansas

• Soph

• 6’10”

/ 237 lbs

Frontcourt depth beyond Bam Adebayo and PJ Tucker in Miami is sorely lacking, which might make Jaylin Williams an interesting fit with the Heat. A do-it-all big who likes to take charges and supply energy, he does all of the little things that contribute to winning and has floor-spacing potential as well.

Jean Montero

SG

Time beyond regulation Elite

• 6’2″

/ 172 lbs

Golden State’s got to be serious about adding guard depth in some unspecified time in the future and Montero, long a prodigious talent from the Dominican Republic, could fit the bill here. He’s a speedy guard who groomed himself last season with Time beyond regulation Elite and has the mix of scoring and competitiveness that the Warriors are inclined to gravitate towards.

Memphis

• Fr

• 6’8″

/ 205 lbs

From Memphis, Tennessee, to Memphis, Tennessee? It’s possible for Minott, some of the toolsy wings within the draft whose length and athleticism gives him real first-round potential. Needs to enhance his jumper to maximise his potential — he made two 3-pointers all season at Memphis — but he’s a developmental talent with starter upside in the appropriate system.

Jaden Hardy

SG

G League Ignite

• 6’4″

/ 185 lbs

Denver recently acquired this pick via Oklahoma City and may flip it into one in all the most important swings available at 30. Hardy’s stock slipped a bit over the previous few months because he was inefficient with the G League Ignite, but he’s a gifted scorer who can create space and has loads of room to grow.