2022 NBA DRAFT REPORT

 

Draft season is the best time of the year for any sport, but NBA is special with the lottery and players wearing hats they aren't even going to. This draft class is GOOD and I love it. NBA draft is the best because the picks are in right away compared to other leagues. The top 3 changed last second and kicked off the draft with a bang right away. I will be breaking down the lottery then give out awards. Let's get into the picks.

1 - Orlando Magic - Paolo Banchero - Duke 

I thought all along that Paolo Banchero was the best player in the draft and the most ready NBA player. Seeing him play against Gonzaga early on in the season, proved why he should be the number one player. Paolo now joins Shaq, Chris Webber, and Dwight Howard as the number one picks in team history. Paolo is great offensively but needs to work on his defense. Will be interesting to see Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs team up with Paolo Banchero. And of course Coach K sends in a video for the draft, making everything about him AGAIN. 

2 - Oklahoma City Thunder - Chet Holmgren - Gonzaga

Best upside in NBA draft history. I love Chet Holmgren due to his unique playstyle. Chet is one of the players that is boom or bust but way too valuable to pass up on here. Plays like a guard on offense but center on defense. Chet is a lanky white boy and people always say he needs to gain weight. I honestly do not think so, he will be one of the best players in the league defensively no matter what. Chet fits the Thunder great with SGA and Josh Giddey with playing transition basketball. Oklahoma City is in good hands with Chet Holmgren.

3 - Houston Rockets - Jabari Smith Jr - Auburn 

Many people had Jabari Smith going number 1 overall and falling to 3 is huge for the Rockets. Jabari Smith was great at Auburn and one of the best players in college basketball the last year. 6'10 with a jumpshot does not grow on trees and that is exactly what Jabari brings to the table. Jabari lacked good guard play at Auburn and now with Jalen Green that will be a different story. I am excited to see how Green and Smith play aside each other.

4 - Sacramento Kings - Keegan Murray - Iowa

I liked Keegan Murray before the draft process but him getting drafted to the Kings is a bad move. The Kings are a terrible organization. They miss on players every year. I cant wait for Murray to get traded to the Lakers and play for LeBron in a few years. Book mark it. 

5 - Detroit Pistons - Jaden Ivey - Purdue

Great pick. I feel like if Jaden Ivey was in the 2021 NBA draft, he would be the first overall pick. The Pistons got a STUD in Jaden Ivey. Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham are a great 1, 2 punch for a young team. Ivey is a great for the young team Detroit is trying to build there. He will also get mentored by Kemba Walker, can't complain about that. 

6 - Indiana Pacers - Bennedict Mathurin - Arizona

Nothing wrong with ever taking a player from Arizona. Canada player too. Mathurin rose up draft boards and I can definitely see why. An athletic forward who can space out the floor is what every team is looking forward to. The Pacers are moving in the right direction after acquiring both Tyrese Haliburton and Biddy Hield last season. 

7 - Portland Trail Blazers - Shaedon Sharpe - Kentucky (But Not Really)

Shaedon Sharpe reclassified and enrolled early into Kentucky, so he is from Kentucky but not really. If he does good Coach Cal will claim him but if he turn out bad Coach Cal will not claim him. Sharpe never played a college game and is crazy to think he is a top 10 pick. I heard he is good so hopefully Dame got some help. 

8 - New Orleans Pelicans - Dyson Daniels - G League

My NBA draft advice would to stay away from G League guys. But apparently Daniels is the next best defensive player in the NBA. Pelicans are one of the biggest questions leading into the NBA season due to Zion Williamson never playing. Let's see how the Pelicans turn out with or without Zion. 

9 - San Antonio Spurs - Jeremy Sochan - Baylor

The absolute most Spurs pick of all time. The Baylor Bears are all about playing defense and so are the Spurs. Sochan is also only 19 years old and much room to improve. Having guys that can defend all positions and being that athletic are rare in the NBA. Sochan is hard to come by in the NBA and Spurs got a good one.

10 - Washington Wizards - Johnny Davis - Wisconsin

I feel like the Wizards always have good picks in the draft every year but still are not competing for a championship. Davis is a good pick in my opinion. Davis improved a lot by coming back after his freshman year at Wisconsin. Davis is a plug in and play right away player due to his mid range shooting and defense ability. Wizards will be a team to watch with an improving Kuzma and now Davis. 

11 - Oklahoma City Thunder - Ousmane Dieng - New Zealand

Another Thunder player with a huge upside. Dieng is a future investment for the Thunder and will need time to develop. He is from the NBL, never watched him. From what I am seeing, he is a good play maker that will have to work on his jumpshot. 

12 - Oklahoma City Thunder - Jalen Williams - Santa Clara

Williams helped himself the most during the draft process and always rose through the draft boards daily. Oklahoma City has a very young talented roster full of talent and adding Williams does that. Williams will compete for guard play along with SGA and Giddey but Thunder are not competing now so if Williams can play along side all the guards in various lineups, he will contribute right away. 

13 - Detroit Pistons - Jalen Duren - Memphis

The Pistons win this draft right away after picking Jalen Duren. Duren is the ultimate physical center that the NBA was looking for 10 years ago. NBA is constantly changing, but Pistons now having Ivey, Cunningham, and Duren is NASTY. I would love to be a Piston fans after this draft. I was unsure what the Pistons direction was after trading away Jerami Grant but man this draft changed my opinion. Duren is a great shot blocker and will body any big man in the paint. 

14 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Ochai Agbaji - Kansas

Cleveland is back to picking great players and was very close to winning the draft. We all saw Agbaji win a national championship for the Kansas Jayhawk while being one of the best players in college basketball. Cleveland has a great young core and bringing in Agbaji is a great pickup. Great jumpshot that can attack the rim.

Awards

Favorite Lottery Pick - Jaden Ivey (Pistons)

Favorite First Round Non Lottery Pick - MarJon Beauchamp (Buck)

Biggest Steal Of The First Round - Patrick Baldwin Jr (Warriors)

Team Winner - Pistons

Team Loser - Kings

Second Round Steal - JD Davidson (Celtics)

Gritest White Guy Award - Christian Braun (Nuggets)

Best Jersey To Buy - Walker Kessler (Memphis)

Best Suit - Paolo Banchero (Magic)

Best Name - Nikola Jovic (Heat)

Coach K Guys - 5

Hottest Mom - Christian Braun (Nuggets)

Rookie Of The Year - Jaden Ivey (Pistons)

The draft was a good class this year and honestly better than draft classes in recent history. I did not really hate on anyone's pick in the lottery this year because teams picked great players and players that can play right away. NBA draft is the best time of the year.