The 2022 NBA Draft Thread

[pepe1991]

Every player looks good in highlights. Drafting guy straight from highschool, with basically zero any serious basketball in his life ( U16 fiba Copa America tournament from 2019 as last reliable data? ) and frying top 5 pick on him would be simply too risky.

From few highlights, 6'5- 185, hard shots taker, not some uber athlete, not point guard. Basically best case is Jalen Green.

He was top 10 on espn's list of top 100 recruit. Fine. Nico Mannion was 6th, RJ Hampton was 4th i think, Cole was second. Nico lasted 1 years in nba, RJ Hampton will probably probably around 5, Cole will stick longer but non of them are "stars" because of list.

Key reason why one year college rule was added to nba was to save poor franchsies from stupidity of their GMs and drafting next Kawme, Eddy Curry and Darius Miles within top 5.

btw Calipari 2 weeks ago or so pretty much said he is nowhere near ready to play and he has no intentions to play him, but if they get killed by injuries, he might reconsider giving him 7 min a game


https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/john-calipari-doesnt-expect-shaedon-sharpe-to-play-this-year-hes-a-ways-away/

full interview.

Look, if Orlando is sitting allstar who is injuried, if Suggs was doing fantastic or at least good enough where you are confident he is your PG of future than sure, take a bigger gamble and go on upside of 6'6 shooting guard over well scouted others. But Magic are far away from it. They need to nail this pick or this rebuild is ***ed.

I mean his situation is pretty unique since he graduated high school 8 months earlier than he was normally would have and enrolled in college 6 months earlier than he normally would have.

Under normal circumstances he'd still be playing high school ball for the another 2-3 months, then he'd enroll at Kentucky in the summer and spend the next four months doing nothing but practicing and training before making his college debut in November.

He literally only just got to Kentucky like two weeks ago and hasn't had the opportunity to do any of the training and practicing that all the other guys on Kentucky have gotten to do. His entire timeline basically got jolted forward by 6-8 months.

A guy like TyTy Washington has only played 18 college games, but he's been on Kentucky's campus for 7 months and gotten to train and lift weights and practice that entire time. Of course Sharpe isn't ready compared to a guy like that.

And as far as recruiting rankings go... nothing is ever perfect, but there's plenty of all-stars and other multi-year solid pros all throughout the top 5 of these recruiting rankings. As many or more hits than complete misses that's for sure.

I'm simply not drafting player with 0 data on. I can't imagine how would scouting process for him would go. Scouts entering emty arena to watch him dribble chairs or playing 1 on 1 vs college teammate? That went great for former 5th overall pick Exum

From only actual tracked official gamel, witch date back in 2019, when Canda won silver, he averaged 13 points, around 3 rebounds and assists. His 2FG were on point ( like 68% or so), his 3 ball was meh 4/12, his FTs were meh ( 6-10). That was 2 and half years ago. He grew up from 6'5 to 6'6 ( allegedly) , his reported weight is around 185. OKey. That's basically all you know about him , other than he is 5 star recruit.

And as go as that ESPN's list goes, i think Magic today have at least 6 ( could be more, i just don't bother to check ) 5 star recruits on current roster. And ones from past, 5 star recruits include guys like... Zimmerman.
Also i think in 2018 ( or 19, can't remember) half of 5 star recruits didn't make it to nba.

I don't know, i would just stay off. Magic are not in situation where they can gamble.

[Knightro]

I’m simply not drafting player with 0 data on. I can't imagine how would scouting process for him would go. Scouts entering emty arena to watch him dribble chairs or playing 1 on 1 vs college teammate? That went great for former 5th overall pick Exum

From only actual tracked official gamel, witch date back in 2019, when Canda won silver, he averaged 13 points, around 3 rebounds and assists. His 2FG were on point ( like 68% or so), his 3 ball was meh 4/12, his FTs were meh ( 6-10). That was 2 and half years ago. He grew up from 6'5 to 6'6 ( allegedly) , his reported weight is around 185. OKey. That's basically all you know about him , other than he is 5 star recruit.

And as go as that ESPN's list goes, i think Magic today have at least 6 ( could be more, i just don't bother to check ) 5 star recruits on current roster. And ones from past, 5 star recruits include guys like... Zimmerman.
Also i think in 2018 ( or 19, can't remember) half of 5 star recruits didn't make it to nba.

I don't know, i would just stay off. Magic are not in situation where they can gamble.

Yeah I mean, I get it. It’s definitely risky. Some guys play a lot better than their rankings and some guys play a lot worse. You never know what you’re going to get with that.

There will be a lot of factors to consider before being willing to select him.

What are his actual measurements? Is he 6’4” with a 6’9 wingspan or 6’6” with a 7’0” wingspan?

Where are the Magic picking? Are they selecting 1st with everyone available? Or are they selecting 5th with Holmgren, Banchero, Smith and Ivey all off the board?

If he does have eligibility and does declare, who is he training with? Is he making tweaks to his shot mechanics? Is he looking to gain weight? What’s he doing to try and get better?

I don’t know enough about him yet to rank him, but he is certainly highly thought of enough people who evaluate these guys for a living to at least warrant a closer look before I write him off entirely as an option.

[Petre1978]

My January Top 5 check-in (we won't fall outside of the Top 5)

1. Shaedon Sharpe - Cause why the hell not, I'm not in love with anyone else
2. AJ Griffin - This team is still looking for an identity, I think Griffin could possibly fill that need
3. Jabari Smith - Good, Really Good... but aesthetically unpleasing. lol
4. Benn Mathurin - Silkkky, but does he have that it factor?
5. Paolo Banchero - Reminds me of Carmelo Anthony, so meh

Outside looking in - Jaden Hardy - Can I trust his range to develop? IF so, could sky rocket to #1

Interesting thoughts about Jaden Hardy.
High potential.

[KillMonger]

Watch on YouTube

[pepe1991]

Watch on YouTube

He probably is most talented player, but you can even look in this highlights how much he struggles with physicality. He is like skinny version of already skinny Porzingis. I don't even care all that much about inability to fight below rim, i'm just scared of potential injuries with that frame. Also, imo, there will be some patterns with his development. On start he will be incapable of doing anything "bigs" do, so he will spend majority of time standing in corner for 3 (look Pokuševski, Bender) and by the year 2-3, when he finally gets some muscles, he will be looke down-at as "bust" because he couldn't do more.

Kristaps Porzingis, as rookie, weights 223 pounds. Chet weights sub 200. it's impossible to ignore it. He weights less than majority of guards.Gary Harris today has 15 pounds more than him, being foot shorter

[drsd]

Chet weights sub 200. it's impossible to ignore it. He weights less than majority of guards.Gary Harris today has 15 pounds more than him, being foot shorter

And-1

Holmgren next to Isaac won't work.

..

[Skybox]

This Shaedon Sharpe situation is very interesting.

If he is eligible and decides to enter the 2022 draft, he's going to be the closest thing we've seen to an American high schooler in the draft in over 15 years.

I really didn't expect him to be in this draft at all, so I haven't really thought about it or him until today.

But if he's really in on the same level as Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green as a prospect then he almost has to be in consideration even if he doesn't play at all for Kentucky.

Watch on YouTube

WOW...I know it's limited info but good to see another strong entrant adding to the depth at the top of the draft. It all depends on what's between his ears...the rest of him looks phenomenal. I haven't seen that kind of effortless bounce since Wiggins and Zion reels. Wiggins, in particular, just looked more like the floor dropped, hardly any "wind up", just lifted off like he had a jetpack to a 7' rim. Good, strong upper and lower body...Certainly there are questions, but good to have a big Guard with scoring potential on the board. I already like him over Holmgren and Banchero. Calipari is being evasive because he's losing a prospect before he even gets to milk him...now that the cat's out of the bag, expect him to play.

[jezzerinho]

Chet weights sub 200. it's impossible to ignore it. He weights less than majority of guards.Gary Harris today has 15 pounds more than him, being foot shorter

And-1

Holmgren next to Isaac won't work.

..

For now i have Chet in my third tier of players on the draft board. He's ultra smart and very hardworking, which will take him a long way, but the frame is a legitimate big cause for concern in terms of where you can play him and how much you have to mitigate his size issues.

[Xatticus]

My initial crack at a top 10...

1. Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga
2. Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
3. Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
4. Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
5. Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
6. Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona
7. TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky
8. AJ Griffin, F, Duke
9. Tari Eason, F, LSU
10. Mark Williams, C, Duke

-I know most people consider him the No. 3 prospect, but I'm still comfortable with Chet as the top prospect. I understand his frame and weight concerns, but I'm just hard pressed to see many scenarios play out where he's not at the very least a highly impactful defensive player who understands how to play within himself and pick his spots efficiently offensively.

-I'm becoming more and more sold on Ivey as a potential star NBA shooting guard. All the offensive metrics you want to see are all really good. You look at things like PTS/100, PTS/FGA, FTA/FGA, FTA/2PFGA, 3PM/PTS and this kid is the definition of a high end, 3-level scoring prospect. 3PT rate is high, FT rate is high *and* he's really efficient? Throw in the fact he looks at least competent as a passer and defender too? Yes please.

-Banchero has really grown on me after a rough first two weeks at Duke. When I first watched him, he was everything I hoped he *wouldn't* be offensively. A selfish ball stopper who didn't really give you much else. But I tell you, he has made *great* strides as a passer to go along with the size, strength and most importantly the skill as a scorer. I'm not super concerned about the shooting because it's not like he's awful (mid 30s 3PT, high 70s FT) there. The main question I have... can he hold up defensively?

-I still like Smith Jr., but I just like Holmgren, Ivey and Banchero more. If you're looking for a 3&D power forward, Jabari is one of the best ones I've ever seen. I just wonder if there's a lot more in there than that? It's great if he's the modern day Rashard Lewis, but Shard was never a superstar either.

-If my top 5 was based solely on production, Murray would be No. 1. He has a .658 true shooting percentage on a 30.7 USG% and he basically never turns the ball over. It's one of the craziest analytical profiles I've ever seen offensively. Literally off the friggin charts production. Does it all translate? Maybe, maybe not, but until that production starts to slip, I can't in good faith not rank him really high.

Five players I'm HIGHER on than the mock drafts
-Tari Eason
-Mark Williams
-Wendell Moore Jr.
-Jeremy Sochan
-EJ Liddell

Five players I'm LOWER on than the mock drafts
-Jaden Hardy
-Jalen Duren
-Johnny Davis
-Kendal Brown
-Patrick Baldwin Jr.

I'm largely in agreement with this.

I'd have Jabari Smith ahead of Ivey and Banchero though.

I have concerns about Ivey's halfcourt game. The ceiling is high, but I don't think he is a guy that will hit the ground running. Generally speaking, I'm wary of guys whose highlight vids are full of transition plays. There is more to Ivey than that, but his halfcourt game isn't robust. I'm starting to buy the shooting though.

Banchero looks like the guy we have been programmed to love for the past couple generations. He is exceptionally smooth for a guy with his size. He passes the eye test. I'm not sure he is going to provide value at the defensive end and I'm not sure how much value his offensive game really gives you. We've seen some guys that could score with relative ease in the NBA, but who didn't really make their teams better. I think Banchero has more going for him than a lot of those guys, but I'm just not sure that he isn't more style than substance. I'm just not really seeing what his high-level NBA skills are.

For Smith, it's very easy to see how he translates to the NBA. His offensive game isn't as well-rounded as Banchero's is. It isn't close. But when you look at everyone in the draft, nobody more clearly has a collection of skills that are going to be very valuable in the NBA. His ability to defend on the perimeter is valuable. His shooting is valuable. He has good speed in transition for a big. He probably isn't going to make your offense go, but he is definitely a ceiling raiser. He might be a bigger version of Klay Thompson, and that's a valuable player.

I really like Murray. If Banchero has Murray's stat line, he is the undisputed top pick in this draft.

I also really like TyTy Washington. He isn't very toolsy, but the shot should be enough to build around. I just love the way he plays. I'm also hopeful that there is more creation to him as his role hasn't really allowed that part of his game to shine. He has spent a lot of time on the floor with a playmaker that simply can't shoot.

If I could turn a top-3 pick into Washington and Murray, I do it.

I also like Eason. I tend to think that highlight-dunk guys are overrated. That might be the case with Eason, but he gets up very easily and he finishes very easily. The shot is a concern. He will probably struggle to fit into an offensive system, but I don't think his offensive game is a lost cause because he can get around the court with his dribble and he loves to get going downhill. Right now, I look at him as a potentially high-level disruptor at the four. He forces a lot of turnovers and I love guys that can do that, especially when they can provide some weakside rim protection.

I'd really like to get a shotblocker out of this draft. There is an uncommonly high number of shotblockers in this draft and I'd like to snag one in the second round if possible. Kessler is being mocked in the second round. He looks like a good roller and the shot has potential. I just think it's an eminently better use of a roster spot to snag someone like Kessler as a third center versus using a roster spot on a guy like Lopez.

[jezzerinho]

I’m simply not drafting player with 0 data on. I can't imagine how would scouting process for him would go. Scouts entering emty arena to watch him dribble chairs or playing 1 on 1 vs college teammate? That went great for former 5th overall pick Exum

From only actual tracked official gamel, witch date back in 2019, when Canda won silver, he averaged 13 points, around 3 rebounds and assists. His 2FG were on point ( like 68% or so), his 3 ball was meh 4/12, his FTs were meh ( 6-10). That was 2 and half years ago. He grew up from 6'5 to 6'6 ( allegedly) , his reported weight is around 185. OKey. That's basically all you know about him , other than he is 5 star recruit.

And as go as that ESPN's list goes, i think Magic today have at least 6 ( could be more, i just don't bother to check ) 5 star recruits on current roster. And ones from past, 5 star recruits include guys like... Zimmerman.
Also i think in 2018 ( or 19, can't remember) half of 5 star recruits didn't make it to nba.

I don't know, i would just stay off. Magic are not in situation where they can gamble.

Yeah I mean, I get it. It’s definitely risky. Some guys play a lot better than their rankings and some guys play a lot worse. You never know what you’re going to get with that.

There will be a lot of factors to consider before being willing to select him.

What are his actual measurements? Is he 6’4” with a 6’9 wingspan or 6’6” with a 7’0” wingspan?

Where are the Magic picking? Are they selecting 1st with everyone available? Or are they selecting 5th with Holmgren, Banchero, Smith and Ivey all off the board?

If he does have eligibility and does declare, who is he training with? Is he making tweaks to his shot mechanics? Is he looking to gain weight? What’s he doing to try and get better?

I don’t know enough about him yet to rank him, but he is certainly highly thought of enough people who evaluate these guys for a living to at least warrant a closer look before I write him off entirely as an option.

I know nothing about him either, but listen, this draft is so full of difficult-to-project and/or heavily incomplete players that what have GMs to lose in adding Sharpe to the mix???!!! There are so many limited or one-way guys to evaluate that you may as well throw this kid into the mix.

The athleticism and shooting form certainly jump out. He looks a composed character also, not the typical HS prima donna baller. Impossible to say more based off those clips....

[Magic_Kingdom]

Watch on YouTube

He probably is most talented player, but you can even look in this highlights how much he struggles with physicality. He is like skinny version of already skinny Porzingis. I don't even care all that much about inability to fight below rim, i'm just scared of potential injuries with that frame. Also, imo, there will be some patterns with his development. On start he will be incapable of doing anything "bigs" do, so he will spend majority of time standing in corner for 3 (look Pokuševski, Bender) and by the year 2-3, when he finally gets some muscles, he will be looke down-at as "bust" because he couldn't do more.

Kristaps Porzingis, as rookie, weights 223 pounds. Chet weights sub 200. it's impossible to ignore it. He weights less than majority of guards.Gary Harris today has 15 pounds more than him, being foot shorter

If we draft Holmgren it will be Isaac 2.0. He will spend at least half of his career on the injury list.

[OrlChamps2030]

Anyone else notice how often Chet falls down or lands awkwardly? Noticed it during a live game, and noticed it again during those highlights. I think he fell down 6 times in the clip above? It makes you wonder if he will need to sit out a year after being drafted

Dude scares me just watching him, let alone drafting him #1 overall

[cedric76]

Jaden Ivey could be the sg this team needs

Cbs has him ranked 1sr in their latest mock

[basketballRob]

Ivey looks more athletic than Suggs with the same size.

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[jezzerinho]

Ivey's shooting scares me. No playmaking chops either, so for now he's strictly a SG. Not a standout defender either

[Petre1978]

Ivey's shooting scares me. No playmaking chops either, so for now he's strictly a SG. Not a standout defender either

You like Griffin and Mathurin?
I like them a lot as they provide much needed perimeter scoring.

But this board would riot if one of them is the pick.

[Knightro]

Ivey's shooting scares me. No playmaking chops either, so for now he's strictly a SG. Not a standout defender either

His form is a little low and flat, but he's made enough threes off the dribble with defenders close to him already this year for me to start to warm up significantly to it translating. If he was only shooting when he's wide open, I'd be much more concerned. He's quietly ticked his FT% up to 75% too.

I wouldn't say he has no playmaking chops either. 5.9 AST/100 is more than acceptable and actually quite good for a 2.

I just think he's a really good shooting guard prospect.

[Knightro]

You like Griffin and Mathurin?
I like them a lot as they provide much needed perimeter scoring.

But this board would riot if one of them is the pick.

I like both of them, but neither of them are going in the top 4.

I think they'd both be in consideration if the Magic end up picking 5th though.

[Petre1978]

Ivey's shooting scares me. No playmaking chops either, so for now he's strictly a SG. Not a standout defender either

His form is a little low and flat, but he's made enough threes off the dribble with defenders close to him already this year for me to start to warm up significantly to it translating. If he was only shooting when he's wide open, I'd be much more concerned. He's quietly ticked his FT% up to 75% too.

I wouldn't say he has no playmaking chops either. 5.9 AST/100 is more than acceptable and actually quite good for a 2.

I just think he's a really good shooting guard prospect.

I like Davis more than Ivey.
More fundamental than Ivey.
Ivey relies heavily on his athleticism to suceed.

[BCS]

Ivey's shooting scares me. No playmaking chops either, so for now he's strictly a SG. Not a standout defender either

You like Griffin and Mathurin?
I like them a lot as they provide much needed perimeter scoring.

But this board would riot if one of them is the pick.

Mathurin I really like what I've seen. His skills fit today's NBA perfectly. Right now I would choose him over Ivey but not by much.

Griffin I really liked heading into the season but his body language tells me he is satisfied being a role player, a really good one at that, but we need a star, an alpha.

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