2022 NBA Draft Recap: Picks 1-58

Round 1	Team	Position/School	‘Nasty’ Take:
1. Paolo Banchero	Orlando Magic	PF-Duke	Banchero’s skill at opening the floor for others and his frame suggest he’ll more than an able complement for current Magic youngsters Wendell Carter and Franz Wagner. The team has a young stable that could take incremental steps with his addition to the lineup.
2. Chet Holmgren	Oklahoma City Thunder	SF-Gonzaga	A player capable of defending multiple positions with a 7’6” wingspan, Holmgren can extend the floor with range. In addition, his confidence is on another level.
3. Jabari Smith	Houston Rockets	PF-Auburn	His father played in the NBA for a brief period and Smith can stroke the ball from beyond the arc. As he continues to grow into his frame, he will be a tough matchup when defenses switch on to him with smaller personnel.
4. Keegan Murray	Sacramento Kings	SF-Iowa	A ready-made NBA prospect with scoring tools and a disciplined approach, Murray was one of the NCAA’s most consistent players this past season.
5. Jaden Ivey	Detroit Pistons	SG-Purdue	His mother coached Ja Morant and currently coaches at Purdue (women’s head basketball coach). Ivey’s floor speed is in the same area code. Along with the skill to play off the ball, he can also give Cade Cunningham more opportunities to play off the ball. The Pistons are slowly building a winner in Motown.
6. Benedict Mathurin	Indiana Pacers	SG/SF-Arizona	The Pac-12 Player of the Year can speak multiple languages and win cutting to the basket. His leaping ability makes him a versatile wing prospect.
7. Shaedon Sharpe	Portland Trailblazers	SG-Kentucky	The former No. 1 recruit in the ESPN100 reclassified after averaging nearly 23 points per game in the 2021 Nike EYBL circuit. He didn’t play at Kentucky while redshirting. Sharpe contains nearly a 7-foot wingspan and opens up the floor along while slashing effortlessly. He just never played in college.
8. Dyson Daniels	New Orleans Pelicans	SG/SF-NBA G League Ignite	He played with Josh Giddey before making making the G League his home. Daniels averaged 12 points per game and led the NBA G League Ignite in assists, but the rebounding may have been just as impressive. He finishes with a smooth approach but his defense is why he went in the Top 10. He is the third first round pick from the NBA G League Ignite, following Jalen Green and 2022 NBA Champion Jonathan Kuminga.
9. Jeremy Sochan	San Antonio Spurs	SF/PF-Baylor	The 2021-22 Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year averaged over six rebounds per game and the ninth overall pick also put up over nine points per game. Just the second Baylor freshman selected, the former Bear was long on the defensive end. He can even handle the ball and run an offense as a point forward if needed.
10. Johnny Davis	Washington Wizards	G-Wisconsin	He didn’t come out of high school as a five-star recruit, but the 2021-22 Big Ten Player of the Year averaged nearly 20 points per game and eight rebounds this past season. His frame allowed him to win down on the block or when slashing to the basket with quick pull-up jumpers. The long range shooting can stand to improve as he moves forward.
11. Ousmane Dieng	New York Knicks (Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for multiple first round picks)	F-France (Insep Academy)	The team needed a playmaking guard but they settled for another three-and-D prospect. He played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and averaged nearly nine points per game against older personnel. Over the second half of the season, he put up nine double digit games
12. Jalen Williams	Oklahoma City Thunder	G-Santa Clara	Williams shot over 50-percent from the field and became the first Santa Clara selection in the first round since 1996. He routinely excels in the screen game and his length becomes an additional advantage when working through traffic.
13. Jalen Duren	Charlotte Hornets (pick made for Detroit Pistons) The Pistons sent their 2025 first found pick (picked up from Portland in the Jerami Grant trade) to Charlotte for the rights Duren. Art Vellum	C-Memphis	Duren came into college with an NBA-ready frame and 7’5” wingspan. This despite reclassifying along the way. His game came along this past season as the year went along, posting four double-doubles in his last seven games. The All-AAC Tournament performer earned 1st Team All-AAC honors and was named the AAC Freshman of the Year.
14. Ochai Agbaji	Cleveland Cavaliers	G-Kansas	Both of his parents played at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and he finished this past year as the NCAA’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player. The former Jayhawk improved three percentage points every single season from beyond the arc. It resulted in him becoming the final lottery selection of the 2022 NBA Draft.
15. Mark Williams	Charlotte Hornets	C-Duke	It is all about shot blocking for the Williams family, as his sister, Elizabeth, plays for the Washington Mystics. His 9’9” standing reach resulted in nearly three blocks per game in 2021-22. Williams rebounds on the offensive end and shot both over 70-percent from the field and from the free throw line. Not bad for a 7-foot-2, 242- pounder.
16. AJ Griffin	Atlanta Hawks	F-Duke	Griffin averaged nearly 11 points per game this past season after initially being a five-star prospect. He exhibited accuracy from beyond the arc and his 27-point performance against North Carolina was arguably the best game of his career.
17. Tari Eason	Houston Rockets	SF-LSU, Cincinnati	The SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year averaged nearly 17 points per game in 2021-22. His 7- foot-1-inch wingspan was particularly useful on the defensive end, as he averaged nearly two steals per game. The former Bearcat got the most out of his 24 minutes per game.
18. Dalen Terry	Chicago Bulls	G-Arizona	The 2021-22 All- Pac-12 defender contributes in a number of ways and becomes the Wildcats second first round pick for the fifth time in the modern draft era.
19. Jake LaRavia	Minnesota Timberwolves (draft rights traded to Memphis Grizzlies)	F-Wake Forest, Indiana State	The former Indiana State transfer works well without the ball and can fill it up from beyond the three-point stripe. The second-team All-ACC forward’s versatility extends to the defensive end.
20. Malaki Branham	San Antonio Spurs	G-Ohio State	The St. Vincent St. Mary’s product put up over 20 points per game late in the year over his last 10 games and shot nearly 60-percent from the field.
21. Christian Braun	Denver Nuggets	SG-Kansas	Braun was one of the key cogs in Kansas’ national championship run, but it came as little surprise to those that have followed his journey since his days playing for Mokan Elite AAU (Kansas). He will only have to hit I-70-West to continue to play with the swag that made him a factor in Lawrence.
22. Walker Kessler	Memphis Grizzlies (picked for Minnesota Timberwolves)	C-Auburn	Kessler was one of the SEC’s best shot blockers for much of 2021-22 and his offensive game continues to develop nicely. He averaged 6.5 blocks per 36 minutes and finished with 155 blocks on his way to 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors.
23. David Roddy	Philadelphia 76ers (for Memphis Grizzlies) after trading for DeAnthony Melton	PF-Colorado State	At 261 pounds, Roddy has the bulk to make up for just a 6-foot-6-inch frame. The MWC Player of the Year can stroke it for a big man who reminds many of an NFL defensive end. He can put it on the floor, post up or shoot it from beyond the arc.
24. MarJon Beauchamp	Milwaukee Bucks	G-NBA G League Ignite	He finished with three high-caliber games and averaged nearly 16 points and over six rebounds per game in the NBA G League. He played at three different high schools and went to a fourth high school in Arizona before ending up at Yakima Valley Community College. Then he signed on with the NBA’s G-League after being homeless for awhile. Big story for a player with big upside.
25. Blake Wesley	San Antonio Spurs	G-Notre Dame	His deep shooting prowess has been inconsistent, but the movement is in place to be a productive slasher and open floor specialist.
26. Wendell Moore, Jr.	Dallas Mavericks	SG-Duke	Moore averaged 13.4 points per game and was a productive player in a number of manners for the Blue Devils. An excellent passer, Moore scores in transition and can win as a spot-up shooter. Solid defender with positive size.
27. Nikola Jovic	Miami Heat	SF-Mega Mozart	After moving to Serbia from England, Jovic put up nearly 12 points per game with Mega Mozzart in the Adriatic League a year ago. His eight-inch growth spurt may have him prevented the former water polo star from staying in the sport, but he shot 36-percent from beyond the arc at the FIBA U-19 just a year ago.
28. Patrick Baldwin, Jr.	Golden State Warriors	SF-Wisconsin- Miwaukee	Baldwin’s load of talent never fully materialized despite playing with his father, but he was one of the top prospects coming out in the 2021 class. Can he ever develop into the prospect that he was supposed to represent at the next level? A subpar athletic showing at the NBA Combine left more questions than answers.
29. TyTyWashington	Memphis Grizzlies (Proposed trade to Houston Rockets)	SG-Kentucky	Washington’s first-step quickness is supplemented as a streaky shooter with open court ability. The 14th-ranked prospect in the 2021 ESPN100 class, and he was named a second-team All-SEC selection as a freshman this past season. The 6-foot-4 guard shot high percentages in the mid-range game but was highly up-and-down for stages. His assist-to-turnover ratio, however, led the SEC.
30. Peyton Watson	Oklahoma City Thunder (acquired from Denver Nuggets)	G/SF-UCLA	The 6-foot-8 forward has plenty of length and a sneaky glide on the floor. He has upside as a defender. Will he ever become a knock down shooter at the next level? The final pick of the first round averaged three points per game in 2021-22.
Round 2
31. Andrew Nembhard	Indiana Pacers	G-Florida, Gonzaga	The Ontario native can run the floor and shows excellent vision in the open court. He anticipates potential screens and finds players in transition as a floor general. There was a chance he could have been selected a couple of picks earlier.
32. Caleb Houston	Orlando Magic	SF-Michigan	The second of back-to-back- Ontario native selections, his shooting skills are the positive in his game. Does the first step translate to the next level and -if not- is there enough to win on the defensive end?
33. Christian Koloko	Toronto Raptors	SF-Arizona	The Cameroon native became the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year after averaging nearly three blocks per game this past season. He guards multiple positions and should be able to slide in effortlessly within the team’s rotation as a rookie, mainly due to his skill at switching on the defensive end.
34. Jaylin Williams	Oklahoma City Thunder	PF-Arkansas	Not many players bring the type of size, timing and bulk to the defensive end that Williams does on a consistent basis. His tenacity is supplemented by a 9’1” standing reach. Williams has shown good shooting form despite inconsistent results from the perimeter.
35. Max Christie	LA Lakers	PF-Michigan State	The school’s first McDonald’s All-American since Jaren Jackson, Christie has the potential to get better as a shooter, but his upside makes this a value pick for the future. Perhaps he finds his way into the rotation as a surprise contributor in Year 1.
36. Gabriele Procida	Portland Trailblazers (picking for Detroit Pistons)	SF-Italy	At 6-foot-8, 190 pounds, Procida shows plenty of open court ability and gives the team a versatile player worth developing for a couple of more years overseas. This is a second-round pick that could pay dividends years down the road.
37. Jaden Hardy	Sacramento Kings	G-NBA G League Ignite	Will teams eventually regret passing on a player who was once ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2021 ESPN100? This past season, he averaged 21.8 points per game in 2021-22 for the NBA G League Ignite. The fact that he didn’t score in an efficient manner hurt his standing, but he was worthy of a first-round pick.
38. Kennedy Chandler	San Antonio Spurs (drafted for Memphis Grizzlies)	G-Tennessee	There aren’t many players with more quickness, foot speed and overall elusiveness than Chandler. He picks up the pace whenever he’s on the floor and does so on both ends of the floor.
39. Khalifa Diop	Cleveland Cavaliers	C-Senegal	He has more than just an NBA body, it also translates to timing on the defensive end. Diop’s NBA frame makes him more than capable of making an impact early in his career, but will he even be available in 2022-23?
40. Bryce McGowens	Minnesota Timberwolves	G-Nebraska	The 6-foot-6-inch guard earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and scored in a number of ways for the Cornhuskers. Once he gets to the foul line, he was nearly automatic. He is the second consecutive Cornhusker to get drafted in back-to-back seasons.
41. EJ Liddell	New Orleans Pelicans	PF-Ohio State	There is an element of aggression that comes with the 2021-22 3rd Team All-American. With a 7-foot wingspan, Liddell offers a bigger frame than his 6-foot-7-inch frame would suggest. Liddell improved markedly from behind the arc in his third season on campus, shooting 37.4% from three-point range.
42. Trevor Keels	New York Knicks	SG-Duke	Keels didn’t necessarily build on his hot start, which included a 25-point debut against Kentucky. The biggest improvements have to start at the free throw line and beyond the arc, but he’s a strong guard with an NBA body. His physicality translates to the NBA game.
43. Moussa Diabate	Los Angeles Clippers	SF-Michigan	Diabate runs the floor and was one of the better athletes in this year’s class. At the NBA Combine, Diabate posted a 2.9-second NBA shuttle, which ranked as one of the Top 5 times at the event. A possible rim runner with shot blocking upside, the former Wolverine could become a keeper in LA.
44. Ryan Rollins	Atlanta Hawks	SG-Toledo	Rollins averaged nearly 19 points per game in 2021-22 and earned 1st Team All-MAC honors. He put up 35 points vs. Coastal Carolina in late November and that was one of 18 20-point games this past season. The long range shooting is still developing, but he is nearly automatic from the free throw line (80%).
45. Josh Minott	Charlotte Hornets	PF-Memphis	The 2022 All-AAC Freshman fouled out of two of his first three games, but settled down to average six points per game with just over four rebounds per game. Can the range develop at the next level for the 6-foot-8 forward? If not, the ability to follow shots and become an energy player must be his forte’.
46. Ishmael Kamagate	Detroit Pistons (traded to	C-France	In the French LNB, he averaged over six rebounds per game and may make his hay a couple of years from now. The former soccer player made a name for himself following at the rim. At 6-foot-11, 227 pounds, his body still has even more room to fill out.
47. Vince Williams	Memphis Grizzlies	SF-VCU	A left-handed shooter who can block shots (32 in 2021-22), Williams also averaged nearly two steals per game this past season. Over the last two seasons, he shot 40-percent from beyond the arc.
48. Kendall Brown	Minnesota Timberwolves	PF-Baylor	The 6-foot-7-inch freshman flashes shooting into passing lanes and runs the floor with ease. Blessed with a 41-inch max vertical jump, Brown has an opportunity to develop over the course of the next few seasons.
49. Isaiah Mobley	Cleveland Cavaliers	PF-USC	Mobley follows his brother, Evan, to Cleveland and -after averaging over 14 points in 2021-22- was selected in the second round. The rebounding and passing skills complement scoring capability.
50. Matteo Spagnolo	Minnesota Timberwolves	PG-Italy	Spagnolo shot 44- percent from three-point range and excels as a pick-and-roll artist. The ball handling skills are in place and his age (19) ranks as a factor down the road. He went on to play at Vanoli Cremona after leaving Red Madrid B, and his efficiency improved despite playing less minutes per game.
51. Tyrese Martin	Golden State Warriors (for Atlanta Hawks)	SG-UConn, Rhode Island	The 6-foot-6 guard shot 43% from three-point range this past season and averaged almost 14 points per game. Prior to arriving at UConn, Martin started 49 games for the Rams. The former Pennsylvania high school standout continued to get better.
52. Karlo Matkovic	New Orleans Pelicans	C-Serbia	Yet another prospect from the Mega Mozzart (Serbia) squad, Matkovic averaged nearly 12 points per game. At 6-foot-11, he possesses impressive hand-eye coordination and flexibility.
53. JD Davidson	Boston Celtics	PG-Alabama	If Davidson can improve his outside shooting then the athleticism (37” max vertical jump) could begin to fully be activated. In 2021-22, Davidson started just six games, but was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team after leading the team in assists.
54. Yannick Nzosa	Washington Wizards	C-Congo	This is a player who hasn’t played much in terms of extended minutes. At Liga ACB, he was a shot blocker but lost some of his thunder this past season due to a lower body injury. As a result, his NBA Draft stock fell during the course of the year.
55. Gui Santos	Golden State Warriors	SF-Brazil	Santos has a 7-foot wingspan and both of his parents played basketball. Santos entered the 2021 NBA Draft, and was also a member of the Brazilian senior national team during that same year. He’s not at all adverse to handling the ball in transition.
56. Luke Travers	Cleveland Cavaliers	SF-Australia	He only averaged seven points per game this season, but Travers has experience at both small and power forward. Getting stronger has been a focus and he may be a year or two away from starting his NBA journey.
57. Jabari Walker	Portland Trailblazers	SF-Colorado	The first-team All-Pac-12 player comes from NBA bloodlines (Samaki Walker) and led the conference in rebounding this past season. Walker also shot the ball better than expected from beyond the arc.
58. Hugo Besson	Indiana Pacers	PG-France	At 180 pounds, Besson still needs to add weight but his vision is above average. The French native has a number of coaches and players in his family. He nearly entered the 2021 NBA Draft but decided to play with the New Zealand Breakers.

Draft Night trades/transactions/notes:

•   Oklahoma City Thunder has gathered up to 27 first round picks through the next five years. 
•   The Oklahoma City Thunder traded the draft rights of Ousmane Dieng (11th overall pick) to the New York Knicks for multiple future first round picks. 
•   The Minnesota Timberwolves traded the draft rights of Jake LaRavis (19th overall pick) and a future second-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for the 22nd and 29th overall picks in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.  
•   Philadelphia 76ers traded the 23rd overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for the rights to DeAnthony Melton.  
•   The Charlotte Hornets trade the 13th overall pick (Jalen Duren) to the New York Knicks for a future first round pick and four conditional second round picks. 
•   The Philadelphia 76ers traded the draft rights to the No. 23 selection in the 2022 NBA Draft (David Roddy) and Danny Green in exchange for De'Anthony Melton in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. 
•   The Houston Rockets receive the 2022 1st Round pick (29th overall via Minnesota) and also Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss and Sterling Brown
•   The Dallas Mavericks receive Christian Wood and the Timberwolves receive the draft rights to the 26th overall pick, Wendell Moore, Jr. 
•   On June 14, Oklahoma City received JaMychal Green and a 2027 1st round pick from Denver Nuggets for the draft rights to 2022 1st round pick (30th overall) Peyton Watson and two future second-round picks.  
•   On Wednesday, June 22, the Portland Trail Blazers received Detroit Pistons F Jerami Grant and a 2022 2nd round pick (46th overall) in exchange for a 2022 second round pick (36th overall), a 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee (Top 4 protected), two future second-round picks and they freed up $43 million in cap space.  

UPDATE: On July 1, 2022, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Kessler, Patrick Beverly, Leandro Bolmaro, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik BeasleyIn to the Utah Jazz along with four first round picks between 2023 and 2029 for Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

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