The 2022 NBA Draft has a star-studded class with four legitimate picks to pick at the top of the board. The Orlando Magic were selected with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons in the top five.
SB Nation has covered the draft class all year, and now we finally know who’s going where when draft night rolls around.
Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Paolo Banchero provide this draft with three players who are at least 6-foot-10 with a variety of skills at the top of the class. Smith is the best shooter, Holmgren is the best defender, Banchero is the best passer and shot creator. And Jaden Ivey, the 6-foot-4 Purdue guard who may be the best pure athlete.
Check out our top 60 big boards, as well as our breakdown of Banchero, Holmgren, and Ivey. Additionally, you can bet on draft order at DraftKings Sportsbook.
We’ll keep you updated on each selection, as well as links to all important stories from the SB Nation community below the table. As a reminder, there are only 58 picks in this year’s draft instead of the normal 60, as both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat lost their second-round picks, a tampering with their respective proposals to the league part of the punishment for the charge.
NBA 2022 Draft Tracker: Every pick in this year’s draft
pick | team | player | from | Location | age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
pick | team | player | from | Location | age |
1 | Orlando Magic | Paul Banchero | Duke | forward | Freshman |
2 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | striker/big | Freshman |
3 | houston rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. | Auburn | striker/big | Freshman |
4 | Sacramento Kings | Keegan Murray | Iowa | forward | second grade |
5 | Detroit Pistons | Jaden Ivey | Purdue | guard | second grade |
6 | Indiana Pacers | Benedict Mathurin | Arizona | guard | second grade |
7 | Portland Trail Blazers | Shadden Sharp | Kentucky | guard | Freshman |
8 | new orleans pelicans | Dyson Daniels | G League | wing | born in 2003 |
9 | San Antonio Spurs | Jeremy Sokan | Baylor | forward | Freshman |
10 | Washington Wizards | Johnny Davis | the state of Wisconsin | guard | second grade |
11 | Oklahoma City Thunder | ottomandion | France | forward | born in 2003 |
12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jaylen Williams | Santa Clara | guard | primary |
13 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||
14 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||
15 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||
16 | Atlanta Hawks | ||||
17 | houston rockets | ||||
18 | chicago bulls | ||||
19 | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||
20 | San Antonio Spurs | ||||
twenty one | Denver Nuggets | ||||
twenty two | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||
twenty three | Philadelphia 76ers | ||||
twenty four | Milwaukee Bucks | ||||
25 | San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics) | ||||
26 | houston rockets | ||||
27 | Miami Heat | ||||
28 | Golden State Warriors | ||||
29 | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||
30 | Denver Nuggets | ||||
31 | Indiana Pacers | ||||
32 | Orlando Magic | ||||
33 | Toronto Raptors | ||||
34 | Oklahoma City Thunder | ||||
35 | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||
36 | Detroit Pistons | ||||
37 | Sacramento Kings | ||||
38 | San Antonio Spurs | ||||
39 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||
40 | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||
41 | new orleans pelicans | ||||
42 | New York Knicks | ||||
43 | Los Angeles Clippers | ||||
44 | Atlanta Hawks | ||||
45 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||
46 | Portland Trail Blazers | ||||
47 | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||
48 | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||
49 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||
50 | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||
51 | Golden State Warriors | ||||
52 | new orleans pelicans | ||||
53 | boston celtics | ||||
54 | Washington Wizards | ||||
55 | Golden State Warriors | ||||
56 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||
57 | Portland Trail Blazers | ||||
58 | Indiana Pacers |
We’ll link to SB Nation’s team site coverage below as the draft progresses.
1. Orlando Magic – Paul Banchero, F, Duke
By drafting the 6-foot-10 forward from Duke, the Magic have arguably the most offensive potential of the three players considered to be contending for the No. 1 pick, potentially giving the Magic a much-needed creator .
Banchero has advanced ball-handling and playmaking skills, displaying a creative ability that Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren haven’t shown at the collegiate level. That should help the Magic finish last season as one of the worst teams in the league in many key offensive categories. — Mike Cali, Orlando Pinstripe Post
2. Oklahoma City Thunder — Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga
Holmgren is the No. 2 prospect in our class and feels perfect for the Thunder’s long-term rebuild. Oklahoma City already has two talented young guards who can create good looks for others, but have struggled with outside shooting from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. Holmgren provides them with an extremely long (7’6 wingspan) frontcourt player who can stretch the 3-point range on offense and has incredible shot-blocking skills on defense. As a freshman at Gonzaga, he’s one of the most productive players in the country, and has excelled in basically every test he’s faced since he first became the top prospect on the high school team. Due to Holmgren’s thin frame, it’s easy to question his translation, but his tools, stat output and relentless drive make him an easy player to bet on. The Thunder had a good run. — Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation
3. Houston Rockets – Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
It’s an unexpected scenario for the Rockets, but in my opinion, it’s a good one because I think Smith is clearly the best player in the draft. He has top-notch shooting and top-notch defense and should be a complement to Jalen Green, which the Rockets hope will be Christian Wood if he hits his ceiling.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s definitely a win for the Rockets because Smith is the type of guy who can fit almost anywhere, especially a team like the Rockets that needs all the skills Smith brings. – Darren Juve, Dream Shake
4. Sacramento Kings – Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
Murray plays alongside Domantas Sabonis in the frontcourt, and his shooting and defense are two skills that Sacramento’s entire team lacks.
The big question with this pick is whether Sacramento drafts based on need rather than overall talent. Most draft forecasters see Jaden Ivey as one of Purdue’s top four players, with Murray watching from the outside. Murray is often cited as one of the most “ready” rookies in the draft, which is likely given Sacramento’s consideration of this pick…obviously, most of the NBA draft media disagrees with this pick, but only time will tell Prove if this is the right choice. — Leo Tochterman, Sacktown Royals
5. Detroit Pistons – Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
With Ivey, the Pistons also added something they’ve been lacking for nearly a decade, a player who can easily get to the rim and the free throw line. Ivey averaged 7.3 free throws per 40 minutes last season, took 200 shots at the rim and made more than 200 free throws.
While Ivey is 6-foot-4, he’s not a natural point guard, but as a capable secondary playmaker and self-creator, he’s able to take some of the creation and ball-handling responsibilities off Cunningham’s shoulders. — Sean Corp, Detroit Bad Boys
6. Indiana Pacers – Benedict Maturin, G, Arizona
Mathurin spent his second year with the Wildcats, averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Having been linked to the Pacers for so long during the draft process, Caitlin Cooper and Mark Schlindler gave Indy Cornrows a huge meltdown just days after the lottery.
One of the things the Pacers want for Maturin is his shooting ability. Although he shot 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, he excelled on controversial attempts but did struggle in isolation. Mathurin did have a successful March, scoring 27 points in the Pac-12 Tournament and 30 in an overtime thriller with TCU to lead Arizona to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. — Nathan S., Indy Cornrows
7. Portland Trail Blazers – Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky
Sharp is in the spotlight at the 2021 EYBL conference with his multi-faceted offensive game. On the perimeter, Sharp has the frame and athleticism of a modern No. 1 choice. He easily creates space off the dribble and around screens. Sharp has a smooth, rising and launching form from beyond the arc. Once he develops, his mechanics should allow him to create for himself from all three levels. Inside the 3-point line, Sharp is an excellent finisher. He can pull off notable dunks and protect the ball from defenders with a nice layup…Sharpe has the frame and skill to grow into a dominant force at the NBA level. He can also fight tougher competition at the next level. When you consider these two potential outcomes, it’s clear that Sharp has a chasm between his floor and ceiling. — Steve DeWald, Blazer’s Edge
8. New Orleans Pelicans – Dyson Daniels, Wings, G League
For a team with CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson as clear offensive focal points, backed by Jonas Valanciunas and Trey Murphy, more A lot of connectors, they can do pretty much anything else on the court than score. Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado are great, but the Pelicans need more of them. Daniels fits the mold, and his talent and scale can grow into something more in the future.
If all goes well, he could end up being what the Pelicans might want Lonzo Ball to be: a big man who can score at every level, engage his teammates, especially in transition, and guard just about anyone on the floor. defender. —Oleh Kosel, Bird wrote
9. San Antonio Spurs — Jeremy Sokhan, F, Baylor
Sochan is the best defensive lineman in the class. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan, Sochan is a well-trained defender who can isolate lanes, game shots, and force takeaways with his aggressive hands. Sochon also has some skill with the ball, showing an ability to handle rocks and pass the ball with ease. The biggest problem with his game is his shooting ability, whether it’s from the 3-pointer or the free throw line. If Sochan can be a league-average shooter, he’ll be a great option for the Spurs. We’re not terribly optimistic about his offensive impact, but he’s so versatile on defense that he’ll likely find a way to succeed. — Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation
10. Washington Wizards – Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin
11. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ousmane Dieng, F, France
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