NBA Mock Draft 2.0 (with Combine Notes)
With the NBA Draft under two weeks away, I decided to do another mock, but this time with brief analysis from the NBA Draft Combine. The Combine helped many prospects while hurting others, which played a major role in my selections. Additionally, some players decided to withdraw from the draft in favor of another year of college basketball, so that is another factor that changed the results of my mock draft. Once again, the main criteria I used for this draft was best player available and/or biggest positional need; I also used the Fanspo Consensus instead of the ESPN rankings.
*Note: Picks 59 & 60, once respectively owned by the Bucks and Heat, have now been forfeited because both teams violated rules related to the timing of free agent discussions.
Let’s jump right in. Here’s version 2.0 of my 2022 Mock Draft.
FIRST ROUND
1. Orlando Magic: Jabari Smith Jr. (PF/C, Auburn)
Smith has recently been viewed as the consensus #1 overall pick. He didn’t participate in the Combine but is one of several picks expected to be a future star.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren (PF, Gonzaga)
Holmgren, once believed to be the #1 pick, has now slid down to two given Smith’s emergence. ESPN also claims the Thunder are targeting him.
3. Houston Rockets: Paolo Banchero (PF/C Duke)
4. Sacramento Kings: Jaden Ivey (G, Purdue)
Ivey gives the Kings a backcourt partner for Fox. He’s a top-five pick in the eyes of many but, like other top prospects, did not participate in the Combine.
5. Detroit Pistons: Shaedon Sharpe (SG, Kentucky)
There are a LOT of unknowns surrounding Sharpe, given that he didn’t play his first year at Kentucky; however, he is still thought to be a top-five pick. NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony stated, “Sharpe started the workout with a bang, demonstrating his impressive vertical explosiveness and near 7-foot wingspan with a series of highlight-reel-caliber finishes, before proceeding to knock down a variety of difficult pull-up jumpers and step-backs from all over the floor.” Scouts are still skeptical of him due to a lack of other skills on display during his combine showing.
6. Indiana Pacers: Keegan Murray (PF, Iowa)
Murray is an older prospect (21 years old) but he doesn’t believe he has less upside than his peers. He is a solid combo forward who showed a lot of confidence in his shot and during scrimmages (The Ringer).
7. Portland Trail Blazers: A.J. Griffin (SF, Duke)
8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers): Dyson Daniels (PG, G League Ignite)
9. San Antonio Spurs: Johnny Davis (SG, Wisconsin)
A 6’5” combo guard, Davis broke out for Wisconsin, scoring 19.7 PPG, and turned into a first-round pick with the potential to go in the top ten.
10. Washington Wizards: Jalen Duren (C, Memphis)
11. New York Knicks: TyTy Washington Jr (PG, Kentucky)
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Bennedict Mathurin (SF, Arizona)
13. Charlotte Hornets: Jeremy Sochan
A lottery lock at the age of 19, Sochan is a standout defender with a promising offensive game.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tari Eason (SF, LSU)
Eason is a major riser who is a great defender (1.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG) and a solid three-point shooter (36% from deep this season).
15. Charlotte Hornets (via Pelicans): Ochai Agbaji (SF, Kansas)
16. Atlanta Hawks: Mark Williams (C, Duke)
Williams measured 7’2” (in shoes) and 242 pounds at the combine. He’s a monster on defense who can roll and rebound well.
17. Houston Rockets (via Nets): Jaden Hardy (SG, G League Ignite)
18. Chicago Bulls: Ousmane Dieng (SF, NZ Breakers)
Dieng has limitless potential at 19 years old, standing at 6’10” with a reported 7’ wingspan. He plays well in the pick-and-roll as a ball handler and has shown solid playmaking skills. He’s a decent defender whose length could serve him well at the next level.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kennedy Chandler (PG, Tennessee)
A solid showing at the combine has taken him off the “fringe first-round pick list”. He finished first in vertical jump (41.5 inches) and second in a pro lane drill (10.73 secs).
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors): Malaki Branham (SG, Ohio State)
21. Denver Nuggets: Blake Wesley (SG, Notre Dame)
Wesley is an athletic guard who recognized his need to improve his three-point shot. He was underwhelming at the combine but still has good potential.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (via Jazz): Trevor Keels (SF, Duke)
23. Philadelphia 76ers: MarJon Beauchamp (SG, G League Ignite)
Beauchamp interviewed with the Sixers at the Combine. He feels he could fit into their system well (SI.com).
24. Milwaukee Bucks: Nikola Jovic (SF, Mega Mozzart/Serbia)
25. San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics): Jalen Williams (G, Santa Clara)
Williams was a major draft board riser who helped himself with his strong showing at the Combine.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Walker Kessler (C, Auburn)
Kessler is a great two-way big who averaged 4.6 BPG for Auburn after transferring from UNC. He has drawn comparisons to Pacers big man Myles Turner.
27. Miami Heat: E.J. Liddell (PF/C, Ohio State)
28. Golden State Warriors: Bryce McGowens (SG, Nebraska)
McGowens is an athletic SG who broke out for the Cornhuskers as a three-level scorer. He’s another draft board riser who has tools that teams are looking for.
29. Memphis Grizzlies: Wendell Moore Jr (SF, Duke)
Moore is a defensive-minded wing who is developing a good offensive game and ultimately projects as a 3&D wing. He stands a tad below 6’5” without shoes but has a 7’0.5” wingspan, per Givony.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Suns): John Butler (C, Florida State)
SECOND ROUND
31. Indiana Pacers (via Rockets): Christian Braun (SG, Kansas)
Braun jumped out of the gym with a max vert of 40 inches (standing vert is 33.5”). He scored 17 points with four rebounds in a combine scrimmage, and projects as a 3&D guard/wing.
32. Orlando Magic: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF, Milwaukee)
Baldwin underperformed at the combine but still has a lot of potential. He’s working to boost his stock again after an underwhelming freshman year.
33. Toronto Raptors (via Pistons): Jean Montero (PG, Overtime Elite)
34. Oklahoma City Thunder: Christian Koloko (PF/C, Arizona)
35. Orlando Magic (via Pacers): Kendall Brown (SF, Baylor)
36. Portland Trail Blazers: Ismael Kamagate (C, Paris)
37. Sacramento Kings: Leonard Miller (F, Canada/Fort Erie Academy)
Miller is a mystery player with plenty of potential, and he plans on either staying in the draft or signing with the G League Ignite next season. At 18 years old, he measured 6’11” in shoes with a 7’2” wingspan and a 9’ standing reach.
38. San Antonio Spurs (via Lakers): Dalen Terry (PG, Arizona)
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Max Christie (SG, Michigan State)
Stats don’t tell the whole story. Christie–who averaged 9.3 PPG while shooting 38% from the field and 31% from three–is a solid shot maker who did well at the combine, drilling jumpers in transition, spot-ups, and off of screens.
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Wizards): JD Davison (PG, Alabama)
41. Charlotte Hornets (via Pelicans): Jaylin Williams (C, Arkansas)
Williams burst onto the draft scene. He led the NCAA with 54 charges drawn this season and showed his improved passing and shooting at the combine.
42. New York Knicks: Trevion Williams (C, Purdue)
43. LA Clippers: Alondes Williams (PG, Wake Forest)
A talented passer who projects to be a second-round pick.
44. Atlanta Hawks: Caleb Houstan (SF, Michigan)
45. Charlotte Hornets: Jake LaRavia (PF, Wake Forest)
46. Detroit Pistons (via Nets): Justin Lewis (SF, Marquette)
47. Memphis Grizzlies (via Cavaliers): Moussa Diabate (PF, Michigan)
Diabate ranked third among centers in standing vertical (11’6.5”), but led the bigs in max vertical leap (36.5”), shuttle run (2.9 secs), and lane agility (11.16 secs)
48. Sacramento Kings (via Bulls): Jabari Walker (PF, Colorado)
49. Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Foster Jr (PF, G League Ignite)
Foster played well in scrimmages with a consistent jumper. He had five points, six rebounds, and three assists in the first scrimmage and 14 points and five rebounds in the second.
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Nuggets): Johnny Juzang (SF, UCLA)
51. Golden State (via Raptors): Ryan Rollins (SG, Toledo)
52. New Orleans (via Jazz): Hugo Besson (PG, NZ Breakers)
Besson shot 80% (20/25) in the Spot-Up Shooting Drill. He also played well in scrimmages and showed he’s more than just a shooter.
53. Boston Celtics: David Roddy (PF, Colorado State)
54. Washington Wizards (via Mavericks): Andrew Nembhard (PG, Gonzaga)
Nembhard excelled with 26 points and 11 assists (the highest in a combine in four years) in a day one scrimmage. He could play a major role for the Wizards, who are in need of point guards.
55. Golden State Warriors: Josh Minott (PF, Memphis)
56. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Heat): Orlando Robinson (C, Fresno State)
Robinson broke out as a junior, boasting 19.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 2.9 APG on 48–35–71 splits, as well as 1 SPG and 1.2 BPG on defense.
57. Portland Trail Blazers (via Grizzlies): Gabriele Procida (SG, Italy)
58. Indiana Pacers (via Suns): Matteo Spagnolo (PG, Italy)
That concludes my second 2022 Mock Draft. Given how some players performed (or did not) at the Combine, that could lead to a shake-up in selections come June 23, but the unpredictability is what we’re all here to see.
