The 2022 NBA Draft is officially 10 days away. As we inch closer, speculation season is in full swing with rumors galore around the Association. Will blockbuster trades go down atop the draft? Which prospects will land in the best situation to succeed?
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive into Compare.bet’s Lottery Mock Draft 3.0.
1. Orlando Magic: Jabari Smith Jr., Wing, Auburn
All indications are the Magic being locked in on selecting Smith at No. 1 overall. In my opinion, it’s the correct decision although Chet Holmgren has to be very tempting for their front office. Smith provides Orlando a ready-made elite scorer, a player archetype they have been missing for years on the wing.
Smith’s ceiling looks similar to Jayson Tatum, and if he comes anywhere close to that Orlando just hit a massive grand slam atop the draft.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, Big, Gonzaga
It’s hard to envision anything else occurring for the Thunder, because Holmgren is the perfect fit alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. Immediately, Oklahoma City becomes one of the most attractive young cores in the NBA because of the intrigue surrounding Holmgren.
In the modern NBA, Holmgren has the potential to change the game. Although he lacks pure strength, his frame and all-around versatility make him an immediate weapon. Imagining Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander pick-and-rolls has to make Thunder fans giddy for draft night.
3. Houston Rockets: Paolo Banchero, Wing/Big, Duke
The top of the draft star status quo, because it’s seemingly been locked in since the lottery results were first announced. Banchero tops off the Rockets’ rebuild post-James Harden forming a dynamic scoring duo with 2021 No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green. The combination of Banchero and Green provides a sturdy foundation for the Rockets to build off, one that has immense amounts of potential.
Letting go of Harden was a tough pill at the time for Houston to swallow, but his departure has now changed their long-term fortunes for good.
4. Sacramento Kings: Jaden Ivey, Ball Handler, Purdue
Sacramento will surely be listening to trade offers for this selection, especially with rumors of a playoff mandate being placed on the front office from ownership. However, in the end, it’s in the Kings’ best interest to stay put and select Ivey.
The fit could be clunky at first between Ivey and De’Aaron Fox, but the backcourt has scary potential to be dangerous in transition and halfcourt opportunities. Also, Domantas Sabonis as Sacramento’s offensive hub makes this all mesh together. Ivey brings much-needed explosiveness to Sacramento, and a prospect who I believe is a true game-changing talent from Day 1.
5. Detroit Pistons: Keegan Murray, Wing/Big, Iowa
Detroit is in the perfect position to pick whoever is left between Ivey and Murray. In this scenario, the Pistons happily select Murray to help boost their hopes for an immediate rise up the Eastern Conference standings next season.
Murray is 22 years old, but he still has room to grow because of his late development as an on-ball scorer. In Detroit alongside Cade Cunningham, Murray will be spoon-fed easier looks making Detroit’s offense very effective from the get-go.
6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, Wing, Arizona
Indiana was hoping and praying they would be lucky enough to jump in the lottery. Instead, they moved down one spot to No. 6 overall, right outside the consensus top tier of this year’s draft. According to a league source, Indiana had their entire front office, including head coach Rick Carlisle, at Bennedict Mahurin’s Pro Day in Santa Barbara, California. This had been unreported previously, but the Pacers’ interest in Mathurin is significant. Mathurin was recently in Indianapolis for a private workout as well.
Alongside Tyrese Haliburton, Mathurin’s aggressive scoring style would be ideal. Also, the upside and “it” factor oozes from Mathurin’s profile. If he hits his upside, Indiana has a two-way wing with consistent All-Star upside. Mathurin would bring Victor Oladipo flashbacks for the Pacers with even better shooting consistency from the perimeter.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (TRADE): Shaedon Sharpe, Wing, Kentucky
Blazers receive: No. 12, Luguentz Dort
Thunder receive: No. 7
Our first trade of Lottery Mock Draft 3.0 is a blockbuster involving the Trail Blazers and Thunder. In exchange for moving out of No. 7, Oklahoma sends Dort and No. 12.
On the surface, the cost seems steep for the Thunder. However, Sharpe makes Dort a little redundant at the guard/wing spot. And with Dort due a well-deserved payday, it might be in the Thunder’s best interest to deal him at his peak value.
Many around the league have been connecting dots to Sharpe and the Thunder, but could this be a smokescreen? With the Thunder, it’s always an unknown around the draft.
8. New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, Ball Handler, G League Ignite
Daniels is one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process after turning heads at his Pro Day workout. Now, it would be surprising to see Daniels slip outside the top 10. New Orleans scoops up Daniels at No. 8 as he projects well into the role once filled by Lonzo Ball. Similarly to Ball, Daniels is an all-around guard who brings versatile traits on both ends of the court. Shooting questions are there with Daniels, but his form looks to be much better.
The Pelicans have amassed so much young talent to the point where they can roll the dice. Daniels is the ideal dice roll if he hits his ceiling as a complementary piece alongside Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Jalen Duren, Big, Memphis
After it was reported at the trade deadline San Antonio made Jakob Poeltl available, center has been the most logical fit for San Antonio in the draft. Luckily for the Spurs, they should have their pick of the best bigs atop the board at No. 9.
Duren slides immediately into San Antonio as an athletic rim-runner with extremely high upside on the defensive end. Duren provides a sturdy baseline of traits as a prospect, but how high is his upside in the modern NBA without floor-spacing equity? The Spurs operate with a non-spacer in Poeltl anyways, so the fit make sense here for both sides.
10. Washington Wizards: A.J. Griffin, Wing, Duke
Griffin is one of the tougher prospects to project where he could land. His range seems to be anywhere from No. 6 through No. 12, which goes to show his question marks are legitimate worries. Griffin’s injury concerns loom over his offense, which is carried by serious three-point shooting strengths. If Griffin checks out medically, he’s an instant plug-and-play wing for any organization.
Washington is in win-now mode with Bradley Beal, so don’t be surprised if this pick is traded for a veteran. Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon makes sense as a potential target, but they stay put here and add another shooter around Beal.
11. New York Knicks: Johnny Davis, Wing, Wisconsin
New York grabs a microwave scorer who also holds his own on the defensive end. Following a breakout sophomore campaign for Wisconsin, Davis should hear his name called in the lottery. For the Knicks, Davis adds much-needed offensive firepower to build out their young core headlined by R.J. Barrett.
Davis also checks off a lot of boxes coveted by Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. If Davis is on the board at No. 11, I’ll be stunned if New York doesn’t select him.
12. Detroit Pistons (TRADE): Jeremy Sochan, Wing, Baylor
Blazers receive: Jerami Grant
Detroit Pistons receive: No. 12, No. 36, Justise Winslow, Didi Louzada
This is another doozy of a trade. Originally owned by Oklahoma City, which moved up for Sharpe at No. 7, Portland now flips their newly acquired selection five spots back for Jerami Grant. Yes, you read that right, the Blazers make an aggressive move to appease Lillard.
Grant is destined to leave Detroit, and they net a strong return here from Portland as they retool around their superstar. Thanks to his versatility, Grant makes so much sense as a pairing on the wing next to Lillard.
For Detroit, Sochan is basically Grant’s replacement offering a lot of similar traits. Known as one of the best defensive prospects in the draft, Sochan brings different traits on the wing compared to their earlier selection in Murray. An ideal yin-yang combination to place around Cunningham, in my opinion.
13. Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams, Big, Duke
It’s well-known the Hornets’ biggest need is finding a big man. Will they take another swing in the draft? It sure feels like that’s the route we’re heading towards, especially at No. 13 overall.
Williams was in for a private workout with the Hornets last week, so the interest is there. Williams’ athleticism and size make him an ideal frontcourt piece for LaMelo Ball to utilize. At what point will the Hornets make an aggressive move for a veteran at this position, though? That’s another underrated storyline to monitor over the next few weeks.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ousmane Dieng, Wing, New Zealand Breakers
Dieng is another prospect gaining buzz throughout the pre-draft process, even receiving some looks inside the top 10. The slide ends here for the international wing with the Cavaliers, who provide Dieng the opportunity to develop without any pressure to contribute immediately.
Dieng is raw in multiple areas, but the talent is there to round out into a serviceable two-way wing. With looming questions over the next few years at the position, why not take a swing here?
Stay tuned to Compare.bet throughout the 2022 NBA Draft for more coverage. Also, one more mock draft will be released next Monday with our best guess with intel-based decision making.
