2022 NBA Mock Draft (V1)

With March Madness over & the NBA playoffs underway, here's our first 2022 NBA Mock Draft. See where Jabari Smith, Chet Holgrem, & Paolo Banchero might land.

Paolo Banchero Duke University
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Image via Getty/Kevin C. Cox

Paolo Banchero Duke University

The NBA regular season has officially come and gone as playoff action for the 16 remaining teams began over the weekend. The attention of the teams that didn’t make the cut will turn to June’s NBA Draft. For some franchises, this is where the attention has been all along. 

For the first version of our mock draft this year, we used our friends over at Tankathon.com to simulate the selection order. There are also a few things outside of the lottery that need to be cleaned up via coin flip later on. 

For now, congratulations are in order to the Detroit Pistons for winning (this fake lottery spin) for the second consecutive year and having the chance to select Cade Cunningham’s co-star. We also saw the Orlando Magic earn a top pick and the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans luck their way into top picks thanks to shrewd trades with the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. 

But that’s enough rambling, here’s our first mock draft of the season.

1. Detroit Pistons - Jabari Smith Jr., Auburn

Jabari Smith Auburn Tigers

2. Orlando Magic - Paolo Banchero, Duke

Paolo Banchero Duke University

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers) – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

Chet Holmgren Gonzaga

4. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Jaden Ivey, Purdue

Jaden Ivery Purdue

5. Houston Rockets – Keegan Murray, Iowa

Keegan Murray Iowa

6. OKC Thunder – Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky

Shaedon Sharpe Kentucky

7. Indiana Pacers – Jalen Duren, Memphis

Jalen Duren Memphis

8. Portland Trail Blazers – Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

Bennedict Mathurin Arizona

9. Sacramento Kings – AJ Griffin, Duke

AJ Griffin Duke

10. San Antonio Spurs – Blake Wesley, Notre Dame

Blake Wesley Notre Dame

11. Washington Wizards – Jeremy Sochan, Baylor

Jeremy Sochan Baylor

12. New York Knicks – Johnny Davis, Wisconsin

Johnny Davis Wisconsin

13. Charlotte Hornets – Ochai Agbaji, Kansas

Ochai Agbaji Kansas

14. Cleveland Cavaliers – Tari Eason, LSU

Tari Eason LSU

15. Charlotte Hornets (via New Orleans Pelicans) – Mark Williams, Duke

Mark Williams Duke

16. Atlanta Hawks – Jaden Hardy, G-League Ignite

Jaden Hardey G-League

17. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets) – Dyson Daniels G-League Ignite

Dyson Daniels G-League Ignite

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (picks 18 and 19 decided by coin flip TBD) – EJ Liddell, Ohio State

EJ Liddell Ohio State

19. Chicago Bulls – Walker Kessler, Auburn

Walker Kessler Auburn

20. Denver Nuggets (picks 20 and 21 decided by coin flip TBD) – Christian Koloko, Arizona

Christian Koloko Arizona

21. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors) – Malaki Branham, Ohio State

Malaki Branham Ohio State

22. Memphis Grizzlies (via Utah Jazz) – Kendall Brown, Baylor

Kendall Brown Baylor

23. Milwaukee Bucks (picks 23-25 decided by coin flip TBD) – Tyty Washington, Kentucky

Tyty Washington Kentucky

24. San Antonio Spurs (via Boston Celtics) – Nikola Jovic, Serbia

Nikola Jovic

25. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers) – Christian Braun, Kansas

Christian Braun Kansas

26. Dallas Mavericks – Trevor Keels, Duke

Trevor Keels Duke

27. Miami Heat (picks 27-28 decided by coin flip TBD) – Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee

Kennedy Chandler Tennessee

28. Golden State Warriors – Ousmane Dieng, France

Ousmane Dieng New Zealand Breakers

29. Memphis Grizzlies – Marjon Beauchamp, G-League Ignite

Marjon Beauchamp, G League Ignite

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Phoenix Suns) – Wendell Moore Jr., Duke

Wendell Moore Duke

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