With the 2022 NBA Draft just a few days away, NBA released a mock draft projecting, which prospects will shine in Brooklyn on June 23. NBA.com released the consensus mock draft, which is a combination of all the mock drafts around the web.
According to NBA.com, Jabari Smith Jr. remains the favorite to go first, while Chet Holmgren and Paolo Bancero complete the top-3. Jaden Ivey continues to look like a lock for the No. 4 pick to the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings will have to decide if they’ll go with the better fit or the best talent if they draft Ivey in an already crowded backcourt with De”Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell. The Kings also consider the possibility of using the pick as a trade chip for a win-now piece.
Assuming Holmgren is off the board at No. 2, that leaves Houston with the easy decision of taking the best player left, which appears to be Duke’s Banchero. At this point, it doesn’t seem likely a player would jump into the top 3 outside of Smith, Holmgren and Banchero.
One player who continues to see his name climb up the mock drafts is Australian Dyson Daniels. Daniels, who averaged 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists with the G League Ignite, is linked heavily with the Trail Blazers at No. 7 in five mock drafts.
Keegan Murray should be hearing his name by either the 5th or the 6th pick as 10 of the 12 mock draft have him in those spots. Keegan also is projected as a potential target for Sacramento at 4 as he fits with the current mold of the team’s roster.
Here’s NBA.com consensus mock draft:
No. 1 (Magic): Jabari Smith
No. 2 (Thunder): Chet Holmgren
No. 3 (Rockets): Paolo Banchero
No. 4 (Kings): Jaden Ivey
No. 5 (Pistons): Keegan Murray
No. 6 (Pacers): Keegan Murray
No. 7 (Trail Blazers): Dyson Daniels
No. 8 (Pelicans): Shaedon Sharpe
No. 9 (Spurs): Jalen Duren
No. 10 (Wizards): Johnny Davis
No. 11 (Knicks): A.J. Griffin
No. 12 (Thunder): Ousmane Dieng
No. 13 (Hornets): Mark Williams
No. 14 (Cavaliers): Ochai Agbaji
