2022 NBA Draft Thread

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NBA Mock Draft

16. Hawks: TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky

Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 195 | Age: 20 | Freshman

Atlanta could badly use another guard to run the team and prop up lineups when Trae Young rests. Washington’s ability to function at either backcourt spot should make him an interesting candidate here. Despite an uneven freshman year, there’s enough optimism surrounding Washington’s context—he played through injury and Kentucky guards have often fared better in the NBA—that he maintains a good chance of going in the top 20. Washington isn’t a great athlete or overly tall for a combo guard, and he's a little bit polarizing among teams considering he was quite old for a freshman. But he should benefit from the fact this is a pretty thin guard draft and profiles as a potentially solid rotation option.

Sports Illustrated

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2022 NBA mock draft: Best fit vs. best available for every team

16. Atlanta Hawks

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Needs: Tari Eason | LSU | PF | Age: 21.0

Best available: Tari Eason

With John Collins rumored to be available for trade, the Hawks could look to add depth in the frontcourt and shore up their defense, which ranked worst last season among playoff teams. Eason is one of the most explosive and productive players in the draft, putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses with his quick first step, physicality and insatiable intensity, characteristics that allow him to live at the free throw line. These same traits helped make him one of the most versatile defenders in college, a magnet for steals, blocks and rebounds who flew all over the floor in LSU's suffocating press while rotating from guarding point guards to big men.

Eason's 7-2 wingspan, massive hands and ability to be an asset in pressing, switching and trapping schemes with his quickness, instincts and activity could be very attractive to the Hawks if they are willing to mix things up defensively with different schemes. Offensively, Eason has plenty of untapped upside as evidenced by the stellar 27 points per 40 minutes (pace-adjusted) he averaged last season. Eason fills a potential need while offering the type of potential needed to be viewed as the best prospect available.

ESPN Insider

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Keegan Murray: 'I’m able to score on all three levels and I’m able to play any role'



NBA draft prospect Keegan Murray was a consensus first-team All-American who was named the nation’s top male power forward.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 23.5 points per game, which was the most among any projected draft pick. Among all draft prospects in this class, the Iowa Hawkeyes star was the leader in the catch-all metric box plus-minus (BPM) as well.

As I wrote in my most recent mock draft, Murray is the only college player on record to make 60 dunks and 60 3-pointers in the same season. Even when lowering that threshold to 45, no other player in a high-major conference has accomplished that in the past decade...it is easy to see why teams will line up to target someone with his potential impact. Due to his skill set on both sides of the floor, Murray projects as someone who can make an immediate impact in the pros.

Said Murray, "I think my versatility stands out the most. It’s something I can bring to the next level. I can guard multiple positions. That was my role during my freshman year. I was just the ultimate hustle guy. This year, it was more offensive-oriented. But I feel like I’m able to score on all three levels and I’m able to play any role a team needs me to play — whether that’s to put the ball in the basket or to guard different guys, I’m able to adapt and change my role depending on the game. I can bring that to an NBA team right off the bat. I’m excited to get into that gauntlet of the 82-game season and establish myself on both sides of the basketball."

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For my shooting, It’s the fundamentals. I was 5-foot-10 during my sophomore year of high school. I always thought I was going to be a point guard. My shot came from that. I learned all of the fundamentals: dribble, pass, and shoot. I got more comfortable hitting shots throughout the year, including a big game against Indiana in which I hit eight 3-pointers. If I get open looks in catch-and-shoot, I’m going to be able to knock them down.

But I always try and dunk it, no matter what. I think there are more opportunities for a layup to get blocked because the ball is in the air longer. I’m 6-foot-8. There are guys who are taller than I am, so I want to get off the floor as possible and get the ball in the basket.

USA Today

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A proven combo guard who would be a great option for the 2nd round:

2022 NBA Draft scouting report: Andrew Nembhard

Andrew Nembhard averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in his senior season with Gonzaga, both of which were career highs for him over four seasons. The 6’4 point guard could be very valuable when running the pick-and-roll, and this season he improved on his shooting range, making him an even more tantalizing prospect.

The most impressive aspect of Nembhard's game is his playmaking, and he looked like a pro in the role this season. The pick-and-roll is his specialty, and his bread and butter was finding the roller on passes for easy layups. When you have a player like Chet Holmgren as well, life can be easy for you in those situations.

Possessing an array of moves in the pick-and-roll is essential in the modern game, and Nembhard’s basketball IQ shows that he's effective at dump-offs and lobs. What’s even more special about him is his patience, as he reads the defense and waits for the right pass to be made. Cross-court passes are simple for him to make as well.

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Nembhard is also an opportunistic scorer when he sees as well. His length allows him to finish strong at the rim, and he also has a floater in his arsenal that could be used that opens up the offense. His jump shot has improved as well, and he has the ability to hit the mid-range shot coming off the screen. He also has a nice step-back that allows more separation between him and his defender.

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To thrive at the next level, Nembhard will need to become a more consistent jumpshooter, and also improve his finishing at the rim. While his size is a definite plus at the PG position, he isn't the most athletic guard.

His defense is also something that will need work, as sometimes he can get caught sleeping off the ball. Nembhard has shown some positive signs on the ball defensively, so that should work well when it comes to guarding multiple positions, especially with his size.

On ESPN’s draft big board, Nembhard is ranked No. 35 overall and comes in at No. 6 at his position. He could probably go around the mid to early second round, and a team looking for a serviceable backup point guard could call his name.

With his size and ability to run the offense, Nembhard will be an intriguing prospect, and if the Hawks are looking around for guards in the draft, he could definitely be an option.

Peachtree Hoops

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Kevin Chouinard: Hawks workout tomorrow: James Akinjo (Baylor) Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite)   Johnny Juzang (UCLA)   Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke)   Jared Rhoden (Seton Hall)   Cole Swider (Syracuse)

 

– via Twitter KLChouinard



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Something to keep in mind during our draft process:

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Bryce McGowens, Guard, Nebraska

6’6” | 181 Pounds | 6’9” Wingspan | 19 years old

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Bryce McGowens is a hooper, a bonafide scorer. He’s a 3-level scorer with deep range off the dribble and with athleticism and control to finish inside. There will be a lot of all-around aspects of his game to work out, but his creation upside is something to bet on.

McGowens demonstrated pick-and-roll prowess last season. In 137 possessions as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, he scored 0.832 points per possession, ranking in the 71st percentile — which Synergy Sports classifies as “very good.” His attack as a scorer bodes well for him, especially off switches, and his 3-point range off the dribble is a weapon there as well. In a league that features heavy pick-and-roll, big combo guards that can initiate and score out of the pick-and-roll are hot commodities.

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McGowens is also elite at drawing fouls. He possessed a free throw rate of .491, and his craft and aggression should help him get to the free throw line.

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Finally, one thing that demonstrates his scalability is his 3-point shooting. His percentages are janky, shooting 27.4% from 3 this past season. He had to take a lot of pull-up and late-clock jumpers, which hurts his efficiency. Per Synergy Sports though, McGowens scored 1.024 points per spot-up possession (123 total), and he also tallied 1.475 PPP (89th percentile) in unguarded catch-and-shoot possessions (40 total). This leads to my belief he can complement star players just fine.

Bryce McGowens’ scoring versatility portends star-scorer upside, and that alone will be intriguing for any team picking in the 1st round.

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SB Nation

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E.J. Liddell -- Forward -- Ohio State

6’7″ | 240 lbs | Junior

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19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists

49% FG, 37% 3PT, 77% FT

E.J. Liddell is a player any team would be happy to have, as he fits the bill of a modern day NBA role player and has a very high floor. He can shoot from the outside and defend very well, and those are two things any NBA team wants in a player.

E.J. Liddell is a very good and versatile defender with his size and strength. He is a great help defender who can block shots and be a rim protector (2.6 blocks per game), and he also can defend on the perimeter. He truly is capable of guarding any position. Liddell should be someone who can come in and provide great defense for an NBA team right away.

Another strength for Liddell is his shooting from distance, finishing the season at 37.4 percent from three. He is particularly good spotting up, as he shot 44 percent on spot up catch-and-shoot threes last season and ranked in the 89th percentile, per Synergy. It’s a good sign that he can make them when contested, too, as he made 40 percent of his guarded catch-and-shoot looks and shot an impressive 43 percent on jumpers off the dribble.

Liddell can also score well out of the post. He shot 50 percent on all shots out of the post and uses his strength well. He can score out of the post in a variety of ways, whether it be backing defenders down with his strength or facing up and hitting jumpers over them. He has also shown flashes of being able to find teammates with passes out of the post.

Although Liddell is very strong and powerful, he isn’t the most athletic guy and he doesn’t have a ton of burst or quickness. As a result, he can struggle to create separation offensively in isolation. His lack of a quick first step makes it difficult for him to blow past anyone and get to the rim on his own. He can be a bit too reliant on strength, and in the NBA, everyone is stronger and quicker, so he may struggle at the next level.

Liddell occasionally can get tunnel vision and force things a bit instead of making the right play. Some of this is due to his role at Ohio State and how much he needed to score, but it is still something he could improve. He isn’t the greatest ball handler and finished the season with basically the same amount of turnovers (77) as assists (80), so his overall decision making offensively could be better.

The downside to drafting Liddell is that he probably doesn’t have the highest ceiling. He isn’t the most athletic player and doesn’t have a ton of one-on-one scoring potential due to his inability to create separation.

Milwaukee Fansided

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A solid choice for pick #16

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Atlanta Hawks -- Pick No. 16

Jeremy Sochan (Baylor, PF, Freshman)

Assuming the Atlanta Hawks have interest in addressing their No. 26-ranked defense, Sochan figures to be a target. Adding a defensive-minded forward may signal a desire to cut ties with Danilo Gallinari, who only has $5 million of his $21.5 million salary for next season fully guaranteed. Though Sochan remains limited as a shot-creator and shooter, his defensive range, IQ and switchability could be valuable enough to warrant immediate minutes while he plays to his strengths offensively, cutting and finishing off the ball.

Tari Eason (LSU, PF, Sophomore)

Defensive playmaking and energy separate Eason, who also offers more scoring versatility than Sochan. A threat to grab-and-go in transition, beat bigs off the dribble and finish through contact, Eason is the type of player who'd make plays at both ends without needing them called.

TyTy Washington (Kentucky, PG/SG, Freshman)

The Hawks could look at Washington to absorb some ball-handling duties and take pressure off Trae Young. The Kentucky guard split time on and off the ball this past season, though his playmaking/passing feel may be his most translatable strength. A strong assist-to-turnover ratio, plus a 17-assist game when backcourt partner Sahvir Wheeler sat with an injury, has helped paint Washington as a guard who can quarterback an offense or second unit.

Bleacher Report

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Tari Eason | 6-7 sophomore | SF | LSU

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I have a sneaking suspicion that Eason’s wildness is going to work against him and cause him to slip in the draft; teams may have trouble sticking a fork into a defined role for him. Eason is a big wing with a solid frame who can guard anything from one to four, a disruptive defender whose rates of “stocks” are almost Matisse Thybulle-esque (4.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per 100 in SEC play, nearly matching what Thybulle did in the Pac 12 at the same age).

Wait, there’s more. He’s also an absurdly good rebounder for his size (15.7 rebound rate in the SEC!) and scored easily and efficiently last season. He shot 56.4 percent inside the arc with a massive free-throw rate, made 80.3 percent from the line and even hit 35.9 percent from 3 despite a funky-looking slingshot release that teams aren’t totally sure will translate to the pros. Did I mention he averaged 39.4 points per 100 possessions and had a 34.5 PER in the SEC?

So why is he down here and not in the top five? Because it’s not clear what he did — basically, putting his head down and burrowing to the rim regardless of the situation — has any utility at the next level. Eason isn’t passing — he had two turnovers for every assist, not to mention about 15 true shot attempts — and a lot of his best moments came in transition. If you don’t believe in the shooting, he may not have a role in a half-court offense; given that the previous season at Cincinnati he shot 24.1 percent from 3 and 57.4 percent from the line, this is a realistic fear.

Defensively, he is really good laterally, definitely in the top tier in this draft class. Even small guards had all kinds of trouble turning the corner against him. He has a tendency to rise up out of his stance at times, which can leave him vulnerable to a good hesi move.

However, the same pattern of overaggression bordering on recklessness that marked his offense also was his undoing on defense. Eason committed a whopping 7.7 fouls per 100 possessions in SEC play and had a particularly bad habit of crash-landing into 3-point shooters while challenging shots.

Finally, Eason is a bit older than some of the other players on this list, which is why I put guys like Brown and Griffin ahead of him.

At this point in the draft though, I think his athleticism has to win out. Eason is clearly an NBA athlete and fits a size profile that is constantly sought throughout the league. If he even gets to the 25th percentile as a half-court offensive player, his transition, rebounding and defense will make him a valuable performer.

The Athletic

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Think Josh Smith without the attitude.

I'd love to get this guy in the 2nd round as a long term project.

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Think Josh Smith without the attitude.

I'd love to get this guy in the 2nd round as a long term project.

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This 2nd rd is very nice to me. I've seen PBJ fall to 44 which would be insane. Minott could or not fall to the Hawks, but I'd probably have 4-5 other guys above him at that pick, that's how good I favor this draft later.

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Two recent mock drafts this week have us taking OSU SG Malaki Branham...if we stay put at pick #16.

16. Hawks: Malaki Branham, SG, Ohio State

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 195 | Age: 19 | Freshman

The Hawks are one of the teams to monitor closely this week: sources say they’ve been actively looking to move into the Top 10 and are eyeing Portland’s selection at No. 7, among other scenarios. Atlanta appears to have real interest in drafting a guard to pair with Trae Young, and John Collins, Clint Capela, and Kevin Huerter have all surfaced as trade possibilities. The Hawks have enough options on the table that they kind of hold the keys to the transaction circus, and have surfaced as a possible bidder for Rudy Gobert. So, keep in mind that this pick could be on the move somewhere else.

If Atlanta stands pat, Branham makes sense here as one of the higher-upside prospects potentially available outside the lottery, factoring in his youth and current trajectory. He’s a bit undersized for a scoring wing and isn’t extremely explosive, but he’s crafty, smart, and should shoot it at a high clip. He was a nice surprise for Ohio State, and while it’s hard to expect him to step in early and help a team, he’s a worthwhile development pick in this range.

Sports Illustrated

16. Atlanta Hawks

Malaki Branham | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Ohio State

The Hawks are likely just looking at the best player available on their board here, and Branham fits that well as a wing shooter who would provide them with depth in the chance that they make a consolidation trade this summer, giving up some of their depth for a star player. Branham hit 43 percent from 3 this past season and closed the season well for Ohio State. He’s a tough scorer who loves the midrange and is seen as a good swing to take either as a valuable bench scorer or a potential upside starter who could average 20 points per game if his development goes right in the next couple of years. Watch for Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams here if he falls to No. 16, as evaluators believe Williams fits a number of boxes for what the Hawks look for in prospects.

The Athletic