My 2022 NBA Draft Board I posted my 2021 board here last year and like any board, it was accurate on some players and was inaccurate on others. I don’t like to draw conclusions on players based solely on their rookie year, so I won’t go into hits and misses just yet. With that being said, I think this year’s draft is fairly weak up top but very strong in the mid first to early second round range. None of the players in this draft would’ve cracked my top 3 last season, but the gap between both my 1st and 3rd ranked player, as well as my 7th ranked player and 20th ranked player is relatively small. This should make for an interesting draft night and a draft that produces many solid rotation players for years to come.
1. Chet Holmgren C Gonzaga -
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Solid athlete 7’0 195 pounds with a 7’6 wingspan. Obviously needs to add significant weight. His length is elite though. Good three point shooter at 39% for the year on 3.3 attempts per game Good mid range shooter on limited attempts Elite finisher at the rim Good ball handler for size, needs improvement still to become a legit creator Solid playmaker Elite rebounder Can score over mismatches in the post Insane efficiency at all levels in college indicates that his scoring potential is high Most impactful defensive prospect in the draft. Elite weak side rim protector. Averaged a ridiculous 3.7 blocks per game in 26.9 minutes per game Gonzaga had an insane defensive rating of 78.7 when he was on the court Solid perimeter defender for a big but lateral quickness is just ok Needs to play next to a center for at least the first couple years of his career, potentially through his entire career if he can’t add a lot of weight
2. Jabari Smith F Auburn -
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Really good athlete Great size and length at 6’10, 220 pounds, with a 7’1 wingspan Elite shooter from deep. 42% from 3 this year on 5.5 attempts per game. Also shot 79.9% from the line which only adds credibility to his shooting. Really good looking shot that he can get off even when contested due to his length Good mid range shooter though he takes some bad ones, likely due to a combination of his lack of handle and confidence in his shot Good finisher when he got to the rim, which wasn’t that often Handle isn’t good right now. How bad it is may be a little overstated, but it is something that Smith needs to improve significantly to be a legit shot creator in the league Solid playmaker Good rebounder Already pretty good defensively on the perimeter with the potential to be elite due to length and quickness Not a great weak-side rim protector but not horrible Averaged an efficient 16.9 points in 28.8 minutes per game playing one of the tougher schedules in college basketball as an 18 year old. If his handle develops he could be outstanding
3. Paolo Banchero F Duke -
Great athlete Great size for a big wing, but is he a tweener that’s ideally a 5 on offense and a 4 on defense? 6’10, 250 pounds, with a 7’1 wingspan Ok 3 point shooter at 33.8% on 3.3 attempts per game. Needs to improve a little here to reach his potential Really good mid range shooter Good ball handler Solid rebounder Most complete offensive prospect in the draft Really good finisher at the rim Solid at drawing contact (4.8 FTA per game)
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Really good playmaker for size Not a good rim protector Seemed a little slow when defending on the perimeter. Can he defend well enough to be a winning player? For a guy who projects to be a primary scoring option, his offensive efficiency was just solid at 55.7 TS% and 52 eFG%
4. Jaden Ivey G Purdue -
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Elite athlete. Incredibly fast Solid size for a guard at 6’4 with a reported 6’9 wingspan Much improved 3 point shooter as a sophomore. 35.8% on 5 attempts per game. 32.2% on 4.7 attempts for career and 73.9% FT% for career. I think the shot will be ok, but not great in the NBA. I think it will be good enough to keep defenses honest Non-existent mid range game. Needs to develop one to keep defenses honest and to be able to attack drop coverage Great finisher but a little too right hand dominant. Needs to be able to go left Good ball handler but frequently gets out of control. Needs to learn when to slow down Average playmaker. I definitely wouldn’t want him being the primary playmaker Not good defensively right now. Athletic tools are there to be good but he needs to improve his effort/IQ on that end Extremely high upside if the shot translates and he learns when to slow down. Incredible athlete and great finisher
5. Bennedict Mathurin G Arizona -
High level athlete. Explosive dunker Good size for a SG at 6’5 with a 6’9 wingspan Really good shooter, especially off the dribble. Shot 38.3% on 5 attempts per game in 2 years at Arizona Needs to develop a mid-range game. As it stands, it’s pretty much non-existent
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Ball handling needs work but it’s developing Playmaking is just ok, but improved over the last year Quality finisher for a smaller wing Not a good defender right now but athletic and long enough to become a good one Young for a sophomore. Will be 20 years old for his entire rookie season Athleticism + pull-up three point shooting gives him extremely high upside if he can fix his handle and add a mid range
6. Shaedon Sharpe G Kentucky -
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Very good athlete Great build for a guard at 6’5, 198 pounds, with a 7’0 wingspan Good shooter from deep and mid range Good finisher at the rim Average playmaker Just an ok ball handler, needs to improve to hit his ceiling Wasn’t engaged on defense in high school, which is understandable given the competition and his age. I expect him to be a solid defender at the next level due to his length and athleticism Didn’t play after high school. Will take some time for him to develop Just turned 19. Extremely high upside but risky pick given the lack of experience against high level competition
7. Malaki Branham G Ohio State -
Good not great athlete Good size for a SG at 6’5 with a 6’10 wingspan Incredibly efficient shot creator for a 19 year old. Many of his shots came off the dribble and he still had a TS% of 59.6 and an eFG% of 55.6 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2 assists averages for the year, but the last 22 games he averaged a much improved 17, 3.8, and 2.2 Hesitant shooter from deep. Just 2.8 3 point attempts per game but hit 41.6% of them Looks good shooting threes off the catch and his FT% is 83 so I think he will hit open threes at a high level, though he may never take a lot of them
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Arguably the best mid range shooter in the class, which is important for go-to scorers, but does he take too many of them? Not a good defender at this point but has the tools to be solid Playmaking isn’t a weakness but also wouldn’t consider it a strength Elite efficiency as a creator gives him high upside as a scorer
8. Keegan Murray F Iowa -
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Average athlete Good size at 6’8 with a solid 6’11 wingspan Really good shooter for a big wing. 39.8% from 3 on 4.7 attempts per game as a sophomore Solid mid range Very good finisher despite non-elite athleticism/size Outstanding at attacking mismatches in the post Ball handling isn’t good and he struggles to get to the rim outside of post ups Frame allows him to be a versatile defender. Doesn’t have great quickness but should do well against non-superstars thanks to frame and IQ Provides solid rim protection Old for a sophomore. Will be 22 before the season starts. This and his athletic limitations suggest he has a lower ceiling than the rest of the top ten Archetype is extremely valuable in today’s NBA so he’s still worth a top 8 pick
9. A.J. Griffin G/F Duke -
Average athlete at this point Nice frame for a wing at 6’5, 222 pounds, with a 7 foot wingspan Best shooter in class. Shot 45% from 3 on 4.1 attempts per game and shot 79% from the free throw line Flashes of shot creation potential. Underrated ball handling Good finisher at the rim Good mid range shooter Not a good playmaker
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Very poor defender at this point. Has the tools to be solid but needs work. Lateral quickness is not good right now High school injuries zapped a lot of his once elite athleticism. Only 18 years old though, can it come back? If athleticism returns, then Griffin’s scoring upside is sky-high. Future injuries could also be a concern
10. Jeremy Sochan F Baylor -
Good athlete. Great quickness for size Very good finisher Shows occasional flashes of shot creation ability Developing mid range 3 point shot needs to improve significantly Dreadful FT% (58.9%) Good playmaker for size Good ball handler for size Quality defender right away with the potential to eventually guard 1-5. Great size/frame at 6’9, 230 pounds with a + wingspan
11. Dyson Daniels G G-League Ignite -
Solid athlete Great size for a guard at 6’7 with a 6’11 wingspan Very good playmaker for his size, could develop into a point guard long-term Elite floater allows him to attack drop coverage Good finisher at the rim Not a three point shooter at this point and may never become one. (30.3% from 3 on 3.4 attempts per game and 60.5% FT% in G-League) Good not great ball handling paired with the shooting concerns make his floor as a scorer very low Elite defensive prospect. Arguably the best POA defender in the draft Only 19, high potential, 6’7 guards that can pass and play defense are rare. If he fixes his shot he could be a very valuable player
12. Jalen Duren C Memphis -
Great athlete Outstanding frame, standing 6’10, weighing 250 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan. NBA ready body Developing mid range game Not a three point shooter and may never be (62.5% from FT line) Good at scoring on mismatches in the post May be limited to mostly a lob threat on offense in the NBA Competent playmaker for a big Really good rim protector Can defend on the perimeter. Should be a really solid pick and roll defender Very good rebounder Won’t be 19 till November. Still a ton of time for him to develop shooting
13. Tari Eason F LSU -
Very good athlete. Explosive leaper Great as a scorer in transition Solid finisher but inconsistent in post Serviceable shooter. Much improved over last year Not a good ball handler Not much of a shot creator Bad playmaker Great size and length for a wing Elite defensive playmaker Sometimes too aggressive on defense Potential to become a very good switchable defender
14. Jalen Williams G Santa Clara -
Good athlete vertically, just ok elsewhere Great size for a combo guard at 6’5 with a ridiculous 7’2 wingspan Good shooter from deep, though he doesn’t take a lot of them (39.6% as a junior on 3.2 attempts per game). Career 78.5% from the line and 35.2% from 3 inspires confidence
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Very good mid range shooter off the dribble Good finisher at the rim and can get there often as his handle is solid Really good passer in general, especially out of the pick and roll Potential to be solid defensively but is currently not very good. Good size and elite length will help but quickness is a concern One of the better and most efficient shot creators in this draft (60.1 TS% and 56.2 eFG% as a junior) Older prospect at 21 and will turn 22 late in rookie season. Is his late breakout in a lower level conference concerning? Late growth spurt explains some of this
15. Mark Williams C Duke -
Good vertical athlete but not great laterally Elite size at 7’1 with a 7’7 wingspan Didn’t shoot threes and rarely shot mid ranges at Duke but 72.7% FT% as a sophomore shows promise for development in the mid range Can score over mismatches in the post Will likely be even more limited than Duren on offense. Projects as just a roll man Mediocre playmaker Very good rim protector Should be really good in drop coverage Not super quick laterally so will likely have some issues on switches but I think he’s quick enough to switch occasionally in certain matchups Quality rebounder
16. Wendell Moore G/F Duke -
Good athlete Good size for a wing at 6’5, 213 pounds, with a 7’0 wingspan Was a reliable shooter this year albeit a little hesitant. Just 3.2 attempts per game from deep as a junior at 41.3% Just 28.3% from 3 his first two college seasons but a career 81.4 FT% and a good looking shot give me confidence he will knock down open threes in the NBA
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Solid finisher but not great Good mid range shooter off the dribble Outstanding playmaker for a non point guard Can be a secondary pick and roll ball handler Not a natural scorer. Role player/glue guy Good defender that should be able to guard 1-3 as well as some 4s at the next level. Doesn’t have elite quickness, but he’s smart and uses his body and length well
17. Dalen Terry G Arizona -
Good athlete with impressive leaping ability Good finisher Very raw as a scorer Needs to develop a shot off the dribble and get better as a shooter from deep (36.4% on 2.1 attempts) Very good passer for size Elite size at the point (6’7 with a 7’0 wingspan) Handle is just ok High energy on both ends Already good on D and has potential to become a high impact defender Needs to get a little quicker laterally Needs to add some muscle
18. Johnny Davis G Wisconsin -
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Average athlete Good size for a SG at 6’5 with a 6’8.5 wingspan Three point shot is a concern as he only shot 30.6% from deep on 3.9 attempts per game as a sophomore. 79.1% from the line is encouraging but him improving his 3 point shot is necessary for his NBA fit Solid but not elite mid range shooter off the dribble but takes a ton of them Not a very good finisher at the rim and struggles to get all the way there Good at drawing fouls Best rebounding guard in the draft Playmaking is not good at this point
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High level defender, but lack of top end length and athleticism could limit versatility TS% of 52.3 and eFG% of 46.4% are concerning numbers even though his usage was very high
19. Ochai Agbaji G Kansas -
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Good athlete Good size for a shooting guard at 6’5, 216 pounds, with a 6’10 wingspan One of the best shooters in the draft. 40.7% from 3 on 6.5 attempts per game. Also shot 37.7% from deep on 6.9 attempts per game as a junior. Mediocre career 71.4% from the line but his movement shooting should translate well to the league Basically non-existent mid range game Good finisher at the rim that has some powerful dunks Not a playmaker at all Solid on D. Good physical tools but had issues keeping guys in front of him at times Pure 3&D guy. Shooting should be good right away, but the defense needs to improve. Potential is there for him to be a good defender Offers almost nothing outside of three point shooting/cutting/finishing in transition on offense Turned 22 in April. One of the oldest players in the draft
20. Tyty Washington G Kentucky -
Mediocre athlete Outstanding mid range shooter off the bounce. Should be good against drop coverage Quality passer out of the pick and roll Good three point shot but needs to work on his long range shot off the dribble Good not great ball handler Solid size at 6’3 for a point guard with a 6’8 wingspan Good decision maker with a low turnover rate Struggles to get all the way to the rim
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Capable defender but not elite May have a limited ceiling due to size and lack of high end athleticism
21. Ousmane Dieng F NBL -
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Solid athlete Great size for a wing at 6’9, 205 pounds, with a 7’0 wingspan Shot just 27.1% from 3 on 4.2 attempts per game and 66.7% from the line. Shot much better the second half of the year but still concerning percentages Good finisher Developing mid range Really good ball handler for size Good passer, can run the pick and roll Solid defensively. Can guard 2-4. He’s pretty quick and his length is great so he should be at least decent on that end Needs to add some muscle. Thin for his height and he tends to shy away from contact due to his frame Just turned 19 in May. One of the youngest players in the draft
22. Christian Koloko C Arizona -
Very good athlete Nice size for modern big at 7’0, 221 pounds, and a 7’5 wingspan Good finisher, legit lob threat Solid mid range but not a long range shooter. 73.5% from the line as a junior is promising Average playmaker Can score over mismatches but sometimes lets smaller guys bother him down low Outstanding lateral movement for a 7 footer. Legit switchable big potential Good rim protector Average rebounder One of the older players in the draft at 22. Late breakout could be concerning for his upside
23. MarJon Beauchamp G/F G-League Ignite -
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Very good athlete Good size for a wing at 6’6 with a 7’0 wingspan Three point shot isn’t there right now and may never be good. Shot a bad percentage on limited attempts (28.8%) and just a serviceable 70.6% from the line Good finisher Ok ball handler, likely never a creator Solid mid range shooter Mediocre playmaker One of the best wing defenders in the draft. Uses length and quickness well and knows where to be Will be 22 when the season starts. Highly unlikely he becomes a good offensive player
24. Kendall Brown G/F Baylor -
Elite leaper. Extremely athletic Great in transition and as a lob threat Very good finisher Offers little else offensively Not a very good ball handler Hesitant shooter Decent playmaker Shot 34.1% from 3 on 1.2 attempts per game. Shot has to develop for him to be successful High defensive potential Good size with + wingspan Needs to add muscle to guard bigger wings
25. E.J. Liddell F Ohio State -
Average athlete but good vertically Small for a 4 at 6’7 in shoes but has a 7’0 wingspan and weighs 243 pounds
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Solid three point shooter at 36% over last two seasons on 3.3 attempts per game. Also a great mid range shooter and a solid free throw shooter at 75.6% over the last two seasons Good finisher at the rim Can punish smaller players in the post. Uses his length to shoot over guys well Doesn’t project to be a creator due to lack of ball handling Average passer Potential to be good defensively. Great rim protector as a 4. Averaged 2.6 blocks per game this year Perimeter defense is just ok. Doesn’t have great quickness but he’s smart. Dropping some weight could help him on the perimeter Will turn 22 in December. Limited upside
26. Kennedy Chandler G Tennessee -
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Good athlete. Very explosive jumper (best vertical in draft class) Shortest player in draft class Not a very good finisher at the rim and will likely continue to struggle as a finisher due to height Good passer in pick and roll Good ball handler Doesn’t have a reliable mid range Good three point shooter but bad free throw shooter (60.6%). Gives a lot of effort on defense despite lack of size. Could be a solid point guard defender but is too small to be switchable and will be targeted by bigger guards and wings Three point shot needs to translate for Chandler to hit. I’m cautiously optimistic on his shot, but his height and the shooting questions are concerning
27. Jaden Hardy G G-League Ignite -
Good athlete Solid size for a guard at 6’4 with a 6’9 wingspan
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Should be a good 3 point shooter. Percentage isn’t there yet but free throw % was 81.3 with the Ignite, he took 7.5 threes per game, and the shot looked good Solid mid range shooter, though he takes too many Capable finisher when he gets to the rim Handle is good enough to get him to his spots on the court Takes a lot of bad shots Was very inefficient as a scorer and turned the ball over often Mediocre playmaker Bad defensively right now, and I don’t think he’ll ever be good on that end Still 19 years old and is clearly talented with upside but needs to work on a lot of things
28. Jabari Walker F Colorado -
Solid athlete Good size for a wing at 6’8, 214 pounds, with a 6’11 wingspan Good shooter. 39.9% on 2.5 attempts per game over 2 years in 22 minutes per game. Career 78.3% FT% adds to credibility of his shot Solid mid range Struggles to finish at the rim Good at drawing fouls Probably the best non center rebounder in the draft Not a very good ball handler, not much of a creator Not a playmaker Solid defender. Uses length well. Just a good athlete so his versatility may be capped but he’s very capable of guarding 2-4 Very young for a sophomore. Won’t be 20 until July 30th
29. Bryce McGowens G Nebraska -
Very good athlete Good size for a wing at 6’6 with a 6’9 wingspan but needs to add weight at only 181 pounds Just 27.4% from 3 on 4.7 attempts per game. 83.1% from the line is great though so there’s hope he develops a good three point shot
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Didn’t shoot well from mid range but the form is there Not a good finisher at the rim at this point Really good ball handler that can get to the rim Playmaking is almost non existent Poor shot selection Poor efficiency (53.3 TS% and 45.3% eFG%) Really good at drawing fouls (6.3 FTA per game) Bad defensively right now but has the size, length, and athleticism to be solid on that end if he puts the work in
30. Nikola Jovic F Mega Mozzart -
Mediocre athlete Great size at 6’10, 223 pounds with a 7’0 wingspan Good shooter (35.6% from deep on 4.7 attempts per game and 75.4% from the line) Bad rebounder for size at just 4.4 per game Really good playmaker for a big wing. 3.4 assists per game. He can be a secondary pick and roll ball handler Good ball handler for size Good mid range shooter Solid finisher Horrible defender Despite size and length, I have a hard time seeing him not being a defensive liability. Slow defender that can’t keep guys in front of him
31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.
Walker Kessler C Auburn Caleb Houstan F Michigan Julian Champagnie F St. John’s Blake Wesley G Notre Dame Ismael Kamagate C France Vince Williams Jr. G/F VCU Josh Minott F Memphis Justin Lewis F Marquette Andrew Nembhard G Gonzaga
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Christian Braun G/F Kansas Jake LaRavia F Wake Forest Trevor Keels G Duke Jean Montero G Overtime Elite Keon Ellis G Alabama Gabriele Procida G/F Italy John Butler F Florida State Hugo Besson G NBL J.D. Davison G Alabama Ryan Rollins G Toledo Max Christie G Michigan State David Roddy F Colorado State Patrick Baldwin Jr. F Milwaukee Matteo Spagnolo G Italy Ron Harper Jr. F Rutgers Johnny Juzang G UCLA Jaylin Williams C Arkansas Orlando Robinson C Fresno State Peyton Watson F UCLA Ibou Badji C Senegal Moussa Diabate C/F Michigan