Steve Popper's NBA mock draft
Jabari Smith #10 of the Auburn Tigers rebounds during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. Credit: Getty Images/Todd Kirkland
With the lottery settled, we take our first try at putting the pieces in place for the 2022 NBA Draft, and while there is no clear choice at the top this season, the draft is believed to be deep enough to fill the lottery with solid young talent.
That is important for the Knicks because they went through the lottery without moving up — the 18th straight time that they have been in a lottery and either dropped or remained in place. The Knicks will pick at No. 11 and could have a choice of players who will warm the heart of defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau.
Expect picks to be traded with the balanced draft, but for now, after a week spent in Chicago at the G League Elite Camp and the NBA Draft Combine, this is what we see.
1. Orlando Magic: Jabari Smith (Auburn, 19 years old, 6-10, F There are critics who point to his ballhandling skills and defense right now, but those are fixes to worry about in the future for a smooth-shooting player with a frame that reminds scouts of Kevin Durant.
2. OKC Thunder: Paolo Banchero (Duke, 19, 6-10,
F/C): Banchero might be what Chet Holmgren hopes to grow into — already a skilled scorer inside and out with guard abilities and the strength and smarts to score inside. He was considered the top pick early in the season, but his status dipped as he sometimes seemed to display inconsistent effort. He showed by the end of the NCAA Tournament that he could end up being the best of the class.
3. Houston Rockets: Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga, 20, 7-0, F/C) Speaking of comparisons, Holmgren’s are often used as a reason to doubt his prospects — his rail-thin frame has those critics thinking about him defending Nikola Jokic. But he already is an elite shot-blocker with perimeter offensive skills and a toughness that his body will catch up to with work.
4. Sacramento Kings: Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky, 19, 6-6, Wing): You say you didn’t see him with Kentucky? Well, join in with the rest of the scouts in the NBA who wonder what he’ll be. Not only did he not play at Kentucky, but he was unranked in high school until a star turn at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, when he jumped to the top of his recruiting class. Athletic wing who can score at every level. Turns 19 this month.
5. Pistons: Jaden Ivey (Purdue, 20, 6-4, G) An explosive guard who can score efficiently and excitingly at the rim, and while some don’t peg him as a classic point guard, he has the bloodlines for it. His mom, Niele Ivey, is a former WNBA point guard and the current Notre Dame women’s basketball coach.
6. Pacers: Keegan Murray (Iowa, 21, 6-8, F) In the postseason, you see how many teams have a skilled and smart player who can defend multiple positions, score in a variety of ways and contribute to winning. That’s Murray’s calling card as he approaches the draft, shooting 38% from three-point range as a sophomore and averaging 23.3 points per game, but also defending all over the court.
7. Trail Blazers: Jalen Duren (Memphis, 18, 6-10, C) Hard to believe he could have been a high school senior this year because his physique already looks like Bam Adebayo or Dwight Howard. He’s very athletic and strong, and scouts think that like Adebayo, he will develop an offensive game away from the rim, too.
8. Pelicans: AJ Griffin (Duke, 18, 6-6, W) Son of Adrian Griffin, he has endured injury struggles, but when healthy, he has been an elite talent. Some think he’s the best shooter in the draft, but he’s more than just a sniper. He has an ability to score creatively in the paint and sank three-pointers at a 48.3% rate this season.
9. Spurs: Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona, 20, 6-6, W) Strong, athletic scorer with three-point range and highlight-reel dunks. Defense not yet up to Thibodeau standards, but he’s a hard-nosed defender who could blossom in the NBA.
10. Wizards: Johnny Davis (Wisconsin, 20, 6-4, G) Scouts differ on Davis, some pointing to his mature pace and shooting and others wondering if he’s not athletic enough to flourish in the NBA.
11. Knicks: Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite, 19, 6-6, G): Thibodeau talks about how there are many types of point guards. Daniels is old school in that the Australian is a playmaker and passer first. His shot needs work, but he also defends well for a young player.
12. Thunder: Jeremy Sochan (Baylor, 19, 6-9, W) Let’s get this out of the way first — in a league predicated on shooting these days, he’s got a long way to go. But everything else? He’s got it, starting with the ability to defend every position in a way that would warm the heart of Thibodeau, playmaking ability and a motor that doesn’t stop.
13. Hornets: Mark Williams (Duke, 20, 7-0, C) Strong and athletic, Williams measured the longest wingspan at the Draft Combine (7-6.5). While bigs may be undervalued right now in the NBA, he is an elite rim protector.
14. Cavaliers: Malaki Branham (Ohio State, 19, 6-4, SG) Versatile scorer, hitting 42.5% from the beyond the arc. His one season at OSU was interrupted by a team-wide COVID shutdown (he didn’t test positive), and he improved dramatically after that time spent working on his game.
15. Charlotte (from New Orleans): Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers, 19, 6-10, W) One of the more intriguing prospects in the draft. French native played pro in New Zealand, and after a slow start, he flourished with guard-like skills.
16. Atlanta: Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite, 19, 6-4, SG) The success of some of the Ignite players in the league has shown his numbers likely will translate, and they were good — 26.9 points per game.
17. Houston (from Brooklyn) Ochai Agbaji (Kansas, 22, 6-4, W) A victim of the trend toward potential, but he spent four seasons in college and led the Jayhawks to a national championship, emerging in his senior season as a solid 3 & D standout.
18. Chicago: Tari Eason (LSU, 21, 6-8, F) Put him with Billy Donovan’s hard-working defensive squad and he’ll fit right in — tough and high-effort defender. At the Combine, he measured a 7-2 wingspan.
19. Minnesota: TyTy Washington (Kentucky,19, 6-2, PG) He mentioned Chris Paul as a model for his game, and you see it with very good point guard skills, scoring and playmaking. While he’s not tall for today’s game, he does have a 6-8 wingspan.
20. San Antonio (from Toronto): Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee, 19, 5-11, PG) One of the fastest players at the Combine, he excelled as he led the Vols to an SEC Tournament championship. Undersized but very skilled, and his speed makes up for his lack of size offensively.
21. Denver: Terquavion Smith (NC State, 19, 6-2, G) Impressed at the Combine with quickness and athleticism — can score in bunches. After a good showing Thursday, he pulled out of Friday’s scrimmage.
22. Memphis (from Utah): Blake Wesley (Notre Dame, 19, 6-3, G) Strong defender with slashing offensive skills, which sounds like a lot of players on the Grizzlies, who have built depth around this type of player.
23. Philadelphia: MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite, 21, 6-5, W) Shot just 24% from three-point range, but already can score in a number of ways with good ballhandling ability. A hard-working defender, he took a long path to this spot — four high schools and a year of community college before a season in the G League.
24. Milwaukee: Caleb Houstan (Michigan, 19) Followed RJ Barrett’s path from Canada to Montverde Academy in Florida. A highly regarded prospect entering Michigan, he didn’t have an eye-popping season. Turned down an invitation to the Combine, raising speculation he’s got a first-round guarantee.
25. San Antonio (from Boston): Nikola Jovic (Mega Mozzart, 18, 6-10, W): Turns 19 ahead of the draft, but Serbian wing has impressed scouts for a while now. In the NBA.com GM Survey for the 2021—22 NBA season, Jović received votes for the best international player not playing in the NBA.
26. Dallas: Walker Kessler (Auburn 20, 7-0, C): Good rim defender with 7-4 1⁄4 wingspan. The Naismith and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he blocked 4.6 shots per game. He’s athletic, and while he shot poorly from three-point range, he did shoot them, and scouts think he could develop the way Brook Lopez did.
27. Miami: Trevor Keels (Duke, 18, 6-3, G): Hard-nosed player on both ends, running defenders over getting to the rim and locking down on the other end. Viewed a bit as a project with a need to improve three-point shooting, but Miami does that better than any other team.
28. Golden State: E.J. Liddell (Ohio State, 21, 6-7, PF): Bit of a throwback with strength and toughness. He not only defends well but was a productive scorer who improved the holes in his offensive game as a junior.
29. Memphis: Patrick Baldwin Jr. |(Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 19, 6-9, F): Highly ranked high schooler who passed up an offer from Duke to play for his father — and after an injury-plagued season, his stock dropped and his father was fired. But he still has size and talent.
30. Oklahoma City (from Phoenix): Hugo Besson (NZ Breakers), 21, 6-4, G) Impressive showing at the Combine, including in scrimmages. Thin but long and very smooth.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
