2022 NBA Mock Draft

Daniel Marable

Published in

DanMar’s Buzzer Beat

9 min readJun 23, 2022

1. Orlando Magic

Paolo Banchero

Ceiling: Bigger/Stronger Jayson Tatum

Floor: Aaron Gordon

Happy Medium: Detroit Blake Griffin, Julius Randle

Analysis: Orlando needs a go-to guy on offense. Paolo is the most NBA-ready player and has the most star potential in this draft. The Magic simply cannot overthink this.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Jabari Smith Jr.

Ceiling: Kevin Durant lite

Floor: Harrison Barnes

Happy Medium: Tobias Harris, Michael Porter Jr.

Analysis: There’s a lot to like with Smith Jr. His impressive frame and shooting skills have drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant — a former Thunder player. However, teams are banking on what Jabari can be, not the player he currently is. Ball handling and shot creation are areas of concern, but the talent and upside is too high to pass up on.

3. Houston Rockets

Chet Holmgren

Ceiling: Porzingis offensively, Gobert defensively

Floor: Aleksej Pokusevski

Happy Medium: Taller/Skinnier Al Horford

Analysis: There are several question marks when it comes to Holmgren. His frame is a concern — what position will he play, will he be strong enough to compete against NBA big men? Still, there’s no denying Chet’s impact. Will he be a star who puts up 25 points a game? Likely not, but his defensive impact, court vision, ball handling ability, and intangibles will contribute to winning basketball.

4. Sacramento Kings

A.J. Griffin

Ceiling: Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler

Floor: Reggie Bullock

Happy Medium: Desmond Bane, T.J. Warren

Analysis: This may be coming out of left field for some, but Griffin is exactly what the Kings need. Sacramento needs wing depth and shooting. Griffin provides both. He shot 45% from three at Duke and flashed some shot creation abilities. He does have the potential to be a boom or bust player. At his worst, he’s a solid three-and-D wing. At his best, he’s a strong, athletic, shooting wing who can create his own offense — the hottest commodity in the NBA.

5. Detroit Pistons

Jaden Ivey

Ceiling: Indiana Oladipo with shades of Ja Morant

Floor: Dennis Smith Jr.

Happy Medium: Heat Josh Richardson

Analysis: Pairing Cade Cunningham with Jaden Ivey is a dream come true for Detroit. Ivey is electric as they come. Is he the next Ja Morant? Probably not, but that doesn’t take anything away from his game. Ivey has already expressed his disinterest in playing for the Kings who have the fourth pick. The Pistons truly feel like the best landing spot for him.

6. Indiana Pacers

Keegan Murray

Ceiling: Pascal Siakam-Khris Middleton hybrid

Floor: Otto Porter Jr.

Happy Medium: Tobias Harris

Analysis: Keegan Murray has ‘Indiana Pacers’ written all over him. The Pacers are a team that has always gone for ‘singles’ over home runs. Murray may come across as a single, but he very well could be a home run in Indiana’s system. Murray has one of the most sound games of this entire draft class. With the recent departure of Domantas Sabonis, Murray slides perfectly into the four position for the Pacers.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

Bennedict Mathurin

Ceiling: Zach LaVine, Jaylen Brown

Floor: Stanley Johnson

Happy Medium: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tim Hardaway Jr.

Analysis: Mathurin is in that mold of an ‘athletic wing’ that every NBA general manager covets. These players have high “boom or bust” potential. Mathurin has a well-rounded game and projects as an instant impact player, something Portland needs with Damian Lillard’s window closing.

8. New Orleans Pelicans

Shadeon Sharpe

|Kentucky|Freshman|SG|6'6" / 200 lbs|

Ceiling: smaller Paul George, Anthony Edwards

Floor: Terrence Ross

Happy Medium: Jalen Green

Analysis: Sharpe is the wildcard of the draft. He didn’t play a single second of college basketball, so scouts are basing everything on his play from high school. His pure talent is impossible to ignore. The Pelicans would love to add another athletic scoring threat around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. New Orleans would provide him with the ability to develop as well as play meaningful minutes from day one.

9. San Antonio Spurs

Jalen Duren

Ceiling: Young/Athletic Dwight Howard

Floor: Mo Bamba

Happy Medium: Young/Athletic DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond

Analysis: Duren may have the most NBA-ready body in the draft. His athleticism and raw talent are incredibly intriguing to several teams. The Spurs are in desperate need of big men, especially centers. Duren would have the opportunity to play starter-level minutes immediately. His game still needs work and refining, and there’s no better play to develop than San Antonio.

10. Washington Wizards

Johnny Davis

Ceiling: Devin Booker

Floor: Josh Hart

Happy Medium: Chris Duarte

Analysis: The Wizards need talent. Johnny Davis is no slouch in that department. Davis projects as a high-level scorer. With Beal’s future in Washington currently up in the air, Davis could be a solid replacement.

11. New York Knicks

Dyson Daniels

|G League Ignite|19 y/o|PG|6'8" / 195 lbs|PPG 11.3 / RPG 5.9 / APG 4.4|

Ceiling: Lonzo Ball

Floor: Dante Exum

Happy Medium: Josh Giddey

Analysis: A 6'8" ball-handling guard? Yes. Daniels has reportedly shot up draft boards in recent weeks, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s a versatile defender, promising floor general. The one concern for Daniels is shooting. The Knicks have been looking for their point guard of the future for what seems like a decade. Could Dyson Daniels be that guy? If he falls to 11, almost certainly.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

Mark Williams

Ceiling: Deandre Ayton

Floor: Mitchell Robinson, Hassan Whiteside

Happy Medium: Clint Capela, Rob Williams

Analysis: Williams was as impactful for Duke as just about any big man in the nation. He’s an elite shot blocker and consistent lob threat. He’s even shown flashes of a mid-range game. Oklahoma City is already loaded with guards but is missing that key center who can serve as a rim runner and defensive anchor. Williams’ impact would be felt day one for the Thunder.

13. Charlotte Hornets

Jeremy Sochan

Ceiling: Aaron Gordon

Floor: Bigger Isaac Okoro

Happy Medium: Matisse Thybulle, Kyle Kuzma

Analysis: Sochan has just about everything you’d want on defense, but leaves much to be desired when it comes to his offensive game. The Hornets have offensive threats. So Sochan’s lack of an offensive game isn’t too concerning. Sochan’s play style can and will change the identity of whatever team he lands on for the better.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers

Ochai Agbaji

Ceiling: Buddy Hield

Floor: Dorian Finney-Smith, Jae Crowder

Happy Medium: Malik Beasley

Analysis: Cleveland has an immense amount of talent on its roster. What they’re lacking is proven players who have the experience of competing for something bigger than themselves. Agbaji could be that guy. As a senior coming off a national championship and Most Outstanding Player Awards, he fills a much-needed role for this young Cavaliers team.

15–20

15. Charlotte Hornets: Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers, SF, 19 y/o)

16. Atlanta Hawks: Ty Ty Washington Jr. (Kentucky, PG, Freshman)

17. Houston Rockets: Tari Eason (LSU, PF, Sophmore)

18. Chicago Bulls: E.J.Liddell (Ohio State, PF, Junior)

19. Minnesota Timberwolves: Nikola Jovic (Mega Mozzart, SF, 19 y/o)

20. San Antonio Spurs: Malaki Branham (Ohio State, SG, Freshman)

21–25

21. Denver Nuggets: Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke, SG, Junior)

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Blake Wesley (Notre Dame, SG, Freshman)

23. Philadelphia 76ers: Kendall Brown (Baylor, SF, Freshman)

24. Milwaukee Bucks: Walker Kessler (Auburn, C, Sophmore)

25. San Antonio Spurs: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee, SF, Freshman)

26–30

26. Houston Rockets: MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite, SG, 21 y/o)

27. Miami Heat: Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite, SG, 19 y/o)

28. Golden State Warriors: Bryce McCowens (Nebraska, SG, Freshman)

29. Memphis Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee, PG, Freshman)

30. Denver Nuggets: Jalen Williams (Santa Clara, SG, Junior)

Second Round (31–35)

31. Indiana Pacers: Christian Braun (Kansas, SG, Junior)

32. Orlando Magic: Christian Koloko (Arizona, C, Junior)

33. Toronto Raptors: Dalen Terry (Arizona, PG, Sophmore)

34. Oklahoma City Thunder: Trevor Keels (Duke, SG, Freshman)

35. Orlando Magic: Max Christie (Michigan State, SG, Freshman)

36–40

36. Portland Trail Blazers: Jabari Walker (Colorado, PF, Sophmore)

37. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Houston (Michigan, SF, Freshman)

38. San Antonio Spurs: Jean Montero (Overtime Elite, PG, 18 y/o)

39. Cleveland Cavaliers: JD Davison (Alabama, PG, Freshman)

40. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jake LaRavia (Wake Forest, PF, Junior)

41–45

41. New Orleans Pelicans: Hugo Besson (New Zealand Breakers, PG, 21 y/o)

42. New York Knicks: Ismael Kamagate (Paris, C, 21 y/o)

43. Los Angeles Clippers: Andrew Nembhard (Gonzaga, PG, Senior)

44. Atlanta Hawks: Jaylin Williams (Arkansas, C, Sophmore)

45. Charlotte Hornets: Peyton Watson (UCLA, SF, Freshman)

46–50

46. Detroit Pistons: Michael Foster Jr. (G League Ignite, PF, 19 y/o)

47. Memphis Grizzlies: Trevion Williams (Purdue, C, Senior)

48. Minnesota Timberwolves: David Roddy (Colorado State, PF, Junior)

49. Sacramento Kings: Moussa Diabate (Michigan, PF, Freshman)

50. Minnesota Timberwolves: Justin Lewis (Marquette, SF, Freshman)

51–55

51. Golden State Warriors: Julian Champagne (St. John’s, SF, Junior)

52. New Orleans Pelicans: John Butler (Florida State, PF, Freshman)

53. Boston Celtics: Daniel Marable (USC, PG, Sophmore)

54. Milwaukee Bucks: Keon Ellis (Alabama, SG, Senior)

55. Miami Heat: Khalifa Diop (Gran Canaria, C, 20 y/o)

56–60

56. Washington Wizards: Yannick Nzosa (Unicaja Malaga, C, 18 y/o)

57. Golden State Warriors: Ron Harper Jr. (Rutgers, SF, Senior)

58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Johnny Juzang (UCLA, SF, Junior)

59. Portland Trail Blazers: Kofi Cockburn (Illinois, C, Junior)

60. Indiana Pacers: Alondes Williams (Wake Forest, PG, Senior)