The 2022 Group NBA Mock Draft
June 18th, 2022
(Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press, via WOWK)
We held the 2022 NBA group mock draft live on Google Meet, and a group of seven people made picks and trades to conduct this. We were inspired by the inspired by the old Usenet mock drafts and so we allowed trades, as so as legal and approved in the CBA, and we used Fanspo to ensure this.
We had a lot of fun conducting this mock draft, and it will look different from how it will go in real life, although we did make sure to include a couple of trades in real life that were made, such as Denver trading JaMychal Green and a protected 2027 first round pick to Oklahoma City to get the 30th overall pick, and Houston traded Christian Wood to Dallas for the 26th overall pick, Boban Marjanovic, Marquese Chriss, Trey Burke, and Sterling Brown.
From all of this, we managed to create what we feel is a really interesting mock draft using trades of our own from our timeline. You can scroll down to see what trades we made from when after the lottery was set to now. We will also tell you who owned what team, with an explanation of the trades after detailing the picks of the first round.
2022 NBA Mock Draft
For the pick listed with an asterisk, see the trade section listed under mock draft trades that will be further down this article.
2022 NBA Mock Draft First Round Pick by Pick Explanation:
We made some trades with each other from when the lottery was settled to on draft day, so it looks a little different from how it looks in real life. Here is our mock draft went down, with all of the picks and trades that took place amongst us.
Also, the trades we made will be listed in full and explained below.
1st Round of the 2022 NBA Mock Draft:
1. Orlando Magic (Corban Ford) – Jabari Smith, F, Auburn
The Magic is an organization that has valued athleticism, length, and defense recently, but they haven’t yet seemed to develop an elite, franchise-level player for a while. They have some solid young players on their roster, but none of them have yet emerged to be a definitive member of their core. Their fortunes definitely changed for the better, as they will get the top pick in this year’s draft, and whomever they will pick could be a game changer for their franchise.
Jabari Smith is a very athletic, skilled combo forward whose strong scoring skills and versatility could enable him to be the top pick for the 2022 draft. He possesses a great blend of size, scoring, and shooting skills, and he also is a solid ball handler and defender. He sometimes doesn’t look to get the ball enough to his teammates, but he is a very talented player that could end up being a superstar in this league.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (Kyle Henderson) – Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
The Thunder has a young team that boasts having a solid core group of players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Josh Giddey, and they have built a solid stable and a litany of draft picks over the years. They are still a young, inexperienced team that hasn’t won much recently in the post-Chris Paul era, but the Thunder will almost certainly add another terrific young player that will help bolster their team.
Paolo Banchero is an athletic, skilled front court player that can really score the basketball. He can knock down shots in a variety of ways, and he does a really good job of creating his own shots. He also is a solid facilitator and rebounder. He will need to continue to improve his defense, but his ability to make shots and score the basketball could enable him to be a star player in the NBA.
3. Houston Rockets (Ameer Helmi) – Chet Holmgren, F-C, Gonzaga
The Rockets are a team that will be building around their young, prodigious guard, Jalen Green, whose vast athleticism and strong scoring skills make him the cornerstone player for their team to build around. The Rockets further decided to center their team definitively around him by trading veteran stalwart center Christian Wood, whose at times mercurial behavior has frustrated his team. The Rockets are a young, inexperienced team that will look to add another very talented player alongside Green and Alperen Şengün, a young big man that played fairly well for them last year as a rookie.
Chet Holmgren is a very tall, skilled big man that has a unique skill package for the NBA. He is a tremendous shot blocker, but he is also a good playmaker, especially for his size, and he also has an emerging face-up game and outside shot. He can sometimes be too passive in games and will need to add more strength, but his strong all-around skill set could enable him to be a very good player in this league.
4. Indiana Pacers (from SAC) (Ashwin Kamath) – Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
The Pacers are a team that has an interesting mix of young, talented players and experienced veterans. They boast having a solid backcourt tandem in Malcolm Brogdon and Tyrese Haliburton, the latter whom they acquired in a trade from Sacramento. They also have a versatile, shot-blocking center in Myles Turner that can shore up their defense, and Chris Duarte is a skilled swingman that made the All-Rookie 2nd team.
In the meantime, the Pacers’ mock draft GM decided to deal Tyrese Haliburton in a three-team trade to acquire Tyler Herro, a sharpshooting scoring guard from Miami to see if he could be their go-to player and scorer for their franchise. They also will get the 25th overall pick to add to their stable of picks in this draft.
Jaden Ivey is a very athletic, slashing combo guard that can really score the basketball. He is an explosive athlete that can finish plays above the rim, and he has really improved his jump shot. He can sometimes be inconsistent at times, but he played very well this season, and he could project to be a star player in the NBA.
5. Utah Jazz (from DET) (Richard Lu) – AJ Griffin, G-F, Duke
The Utah Jazz are a defensive minded team that are led by superstar guard Donovan Mitchell and superstar center Rudy Gobert. Mitchell is a very athletic combo guard that can score the basketball, and Gobert is a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year that will anchor their defense. They also have a former All-Star in veteran point guard Mike Conley, and a former Sixth Man of the Year award winner in Jordan Clarkson. However, rumors of tension have surfaced about Mitchell and Gobert, and the Utah Jazz had another early playoff exit in this year’s postseason.
In lieu of the tension between Mitchell and Gobert and after repeated early exits in the postseason, the Jazz’s mock draft GM decided to trade Rudy Gobert to primarily to get Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter, and the 5th overall pick in a three-team blockbuster trade with Detroit and Atlanta. This move will give them a very talented, high upside player that betters fits Mitchell’s timeline and can be a cornerstone player for the future, and they also add role players without experiencing too much of a drop off at the center position.
AJ Griffin is an athletic, energetic swingman that has a variety of skills that could prove to be useful in the league. He is a very good, movement shooter that really started to knock down shots in the second half of the season, and he also is a rangy defender that can cover plenty of ground to get steals and blocks. He would sometimes be too inconsistent in games and sometimes struggles to get his shots up, but Griffin’s ability to shoot and defend combined with his upside could enable him to be a very good player in the NBA.
6. Sacramento Kings (from IND) (Alan Lu) – Dyson Daniels, G-F, G-League Ignite (Australia)
The Kings have floundered and been mired in a puddle of mediocrity and below average basketball for the past 15 years, and it’s been a while since they’ve last made the playoffs. They are now onto their third head coach in the last two years, and it’s up to their new head coach, former Golden State Warriors’ associate head coach Mike Brown to solve their woes. He has his work cut out for him, as the Kings had traded Tyrese Haliburton not too long ago, and while they received former All-Star center Domantas Sabonis back in return, there may be significant doubts of whether or not if his skill set fits with De’Aaron Fox, a very athletic slashing point guard whose struggled to shoot recently.
In the meantime, the Kings’ mock draft GM decided to trade Domantas Sabonis to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jonas Valančiūnas and other players and picks in a three-team trade to improve their floor spacing and three-point shooting to try to help De’Aaron Fox get more space to operate in the paint on offense. Also, in lieu of the Jaden Ivey dilemma in which he’s allegedly doesn’t want to be picked by the Sacramento Kings, the Kings decided to trade down two spots to get the sixth overall pick and to add more assets.
Dyson Daniels is a tall, big point guard that had a solid season in the G-League this year. He is a versatile playmaker that can run the point smoothly, and he has good court vision that allows him to rack up assists. He also is a solid rebounder and defender, but he will also need to improve his jump shot and sometimes can be unfocused defensively. Still, his versatility and skill set should enable him to thrive in the NBA.
7. Portland Trail Blazers (Peter Wong) – Bennedict Mathurin, G-F, Arizona
Their superstar point guard Damian Lillard got off to a very poor, sluggish start, and he had an uncharacteristically bad season where he didn’t shoot very well and got hurt midway through the year that caused him to miss the rest of the season. Things weren’t very good for the Blazers as they struggled to win games, so they dealt star guard C.J. McCollum to New Orleans to rebuild for next season. Even so, they remained reasonably competitive despite not having Lillard or McCollum for the second half of the season, but they still wound up missing the playoffs this year. In the meantime, the Blazers need talented players to surround Lillard, especially if they want to make a playoff push for next season.
Bennedict Mathurin is a very athletic, high-motor swingman that had a strong sophomore season this year at Arizona. He is a very good shooter that excels at knocking down outside shots, and he also has a knack for scoring on off-ball motion plays. He also has the tools to be a good defender. He will need to improve his ability to operate in the half court, but he could project to be a very good player in the NBA.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (Ameer Helmi) – Shaedon Sharpe, G-F, Kentucky
The Pelicans were able to turnaround their season despite Zion being out for the season due to a foot injury, as they were able to win both of their play-in tournament games to make it to the playoffs. Brandon Ingram is a star forward who played very well for them down the stretch, and their acquisition to get star guard C.J. McCollum turned out to be a very good one, as he helped them get to the postseason. They also have plenty of solid role players, and head coach Willie Green will be looking to build off of his team’s playoff run for next season.
Also, the Pelicans’ mock draft GM decided to swing a deal for Domantas Sabonis (as they traded away Jonas Valanciunas and other assets to do so) in order to add another very talented and skilled player to their roster, and to serve as an insurance in case if Zion gets hurt or does not re-sign and extend his contract for the long term.
Shaedon Sharpe is a very athletic, physical swingman that started the year in high school at Dream City Christian before deciding to enroll at Kentucky during the middle of the season. He didn’t end up playing in a game for Kentucky, yet declared anyways. He is an athletic slasher that also is a rangy defender, and he is a high upside prospect that has flashed all-around skills, but he will need to show that he can make the jump to be able to play well in the NBA.
9. San Antonio Spurs (Richard Lu) – Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
The Spurs are in the midst of their rebuilding process, as they have missed the playoffs for the second year in a row, but they have a really good head coach in Gregg Popovich that has won 5 NBA championships, and All-Star guard Dejounte Murray is a triple-double threat that has shown the promise to be their franchise player for them. They also have some solid players in Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell that figure to be key contributors for them next season.
Recently, the Spurs’ mock draft GM decided to part ways with Dejounte Murray in a blockbuster three-team trade in a move to sell high, and they received Tyrese Haliburton, a very skilled, versatile guard that can do a little bit of everything. The Spurs get a younger player that fits more with their timeline and can be a core piece for them.
Keegan Murray is an athletic, skilled combo forward that can shoot and score the basketball. He is a versatile player that can create favorable mismatches that swing in his favor, and he also can make some solid plays defensively. He doesn’t always look for his teammates on offense, and he can sometimes be inconsistent in games, but his size and skill blend could enable him to be a very good player in the NBA.
10. Washington Wizards (Corban Ford) – Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin
They missed the playoffs last year, as Bradley Beal was hurt for the second half of the season, and so he was unable to play with star center Kristaps Porziņģis, whom they acquired during the middle of the season. The Wizards added plenty of depth when they made the trade with the Lakers to get Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell, and they will have Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope for next season. The Wizards will be excited to see what next season will bring with Beal and Porziņģis finally being healthy enough to play together.
Johnny Davis is a smart, skilled combo guard that had a strong sophomore season for Wisconsin. He is a fundamentally sound player that played very well in a head-to-head matchup against Ivey and Purdue, and he is a very good rebounder and defender. Davis is an aggressive slasher that also excels at making mid-range shots, but he will need to improve his three-point shot. Still, his all-around skills should enable him to thrive in the NBA.
11. New York Knicks (Ashwin Kamath) – Ousmane Dieng, F, New Zealand Breakers (France)
After having surprisingly made the playoffs last year, the Knicks had a down season this year in which they missed the playoffs. They have a couple of solid players in former All-Star forward Julius Randle and rising star guard RJ Barrett, but they will need to figure out how to fit other pieces around them and navigate to get their team back to the postseason.
Ousmane Dieng is a tall, athletic combo forward that played in one of the toughest professional leagues from around the world. He is a talented prospect that can score the basketball in a variety of ways, and he has the tools to be a good defender at the next level. His very inconsistent play and jump shot this year could be concerning, but he has an intriguing size and skill package that may make him a tantalizing prospect for the NBA.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (Kyle Henderson) – Ochai Agbaji, G-F, Kansas
Most likely, they will look to select a talented player to play off of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, and the player they take with the second overall pick, as they will continue to build for the future.
Ochai Agbaji is a very athletic, energetic swingman that helped Kansas win the National Championship this year. He is a gifted shooter that also can throw down thunderous dunks on the break, and he also is a fairly solid defender. He isn’t an elite shot creator and will need to improve his ball-handling, but his tremendous ability to knock down shots should enable him to thrive in the NBA.
13. Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford) – Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
Second-year guard, Lonzo Ball turned in a very good season, as he was able to make his first All-Star team, and he is a big point guard that has tremendous court vision and has shown solid all-around skills. Miles Bridges also was leaps and bounds better as he improved exponentially to be one of the Eastern Conference’s best forwards in the NBA. On the other hand, the Hornets were not very good defensively, and they ended up getting blown out of their play-in tournament game, and they missed the playoffs once again.
Jalen Duren is a very athletic, high-motor center that projects into a rim protector role in the NBA. He is an explosive athlete that can make impressive plays to help his team shore up the interior, but he will need to expand his skill set offensively. Still, he’s shown better than anticipated passing skills, and he could end up being a very good player in this league.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyle Henderson) – Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee
They fared much better than anticipated, and they have a solid core group of players that consist of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Collin Sexton. Sexton was injured for most of the season, but the other three players played very well, and the Cavaliers went from being one of the worst teams in the NBA last year to almost making the playoffs this season.
Kennedy Chandler is a fleet-footed playmaker that can score the basketball, and he also will play tough, pesky defense. However, he is undersized for his position, so it may be tough for him to defend taller players, and he can sometimes play too wildly and be turnover prone on offense. He played really well towards the end of the season, and he could project to be a solid role player in this league.
15. San Antonio Spurs (from CHO) (Richard Lu) – Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State
After having traded up to get 15 in our mock draft, most likely, the Spurs will look to select a talented player that will best fit the bevy of guards that they have on the roster.
Malaki Branham is an athletic, physical swingman that can shoot and score the basketball. He has a variety of skills that can prove to be useful in this league, but sometimes may struggle with his shot selection and can fade into the background too much at times. Still, he is a talented player that could end up being a solid player in this league.
16. Detroit Pistons (from ATL) (Peter Wong) – Jeremy Sochan, F-C, Baylor
They are a team that has an interesting mix of young, talented players and experienced veterans. They have a very good building block, as they selected very skilled point forward Cade Cunningham to be the top pick of the 2021 draft, and he is a solid all-around player that had a good rookie season. They also have a crew of promising young players in Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, and they also have an upper-tier NBA player in having a versatile, experienced forward in Jerami Grant, whose scoring, defense, athleticism, and versatility gives Cade Cunningham and the Pistons an interesting player to work with for next season.
The Pistons’ mock draft GM decided to make a three-team trade in a move to get John Collins, an athletic, skilled offensive-minded big man that has excelled as a scorer and rebounder for the Hawks, and his offensive versatility and skills give the Pistons a go-to scorer and a core piece for their team. They traded Jerami Grant, a versatile veteran two-way forward that is on a one-year contract to Atlanta, whom the Hawks would plan to keep, and they traded down 11 spots from 5 to 16, so they don’t drop down too far and could still get a good player in this draft.
Jeremy Sochan is a skilled, versatile big man that can score the basketball in a variety of ways. He can ably score out of the post and off the dribble, and he also will play aggressive defense. He can sometimes be too streaky with his jump shot, but his ability to space the floor and score in bunches could enable him to thrive in this league.
17. Houston Rockets (Ameer Helmi) – TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky
The Rockets have committed themselves to building a core around Jalen Green, the third overall pick of this year’s draft, and Alperen Sengun. The Rockets will likely select someone that can fit their talents around them, or they could elect to take the best player available.
TyTy Washington is a fleet-footed playmaking point guard that can score the basketball in a variety of ways and rack up assists. He can tend to be too streaky with his jump shot, and he is prone to having shot selection issues, but his ability to make plays on offense combined with his athleticism could enable him to be a solid player in this league.
18. Chicago Bulls (Ameer Helmi) – Jalen Williams, G-F, Santa Clara
The Bulls sign and traded to acquire star forward DeMar DeRozan to pair him with their other stars, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, and together they were able to get them to the playoffs. DeRozan scored 41 points to help them win their lone playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks before the Bulls lost to them in 5 games in the first round of the playoffs this year.
Jalen Williams is an athletic, skilled swingman that had a very good season for Santa Clara this year. After having two pedestrian seasons, he played very well, and showed that he can be a very skilled offensive player that can help teams in the NBA. He will need to show that he can adjust to a complementary role and he will need to improve his defense, but his ability to make shots and move the basketball could enable him to be a solid player in the NBA.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath) – Tari Eason, F, LSU
The Timberwolves finally had a healthy Karl-Anthony Towns to pair him up with second-year guard Anthony Edwards, and together the dynamic duo managed to help lift their team to get to the playoffs. The Timberwolves surprised a lot of people by winning considerably more games than expected under head coach Chris Finch. Patrick Beverley was a very good addition that really helped them defensively. The Timberwolves won a couple of games against the Memphis Grizzlies before losing to them in 6 games in their first round series of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Tari Eason is an athletic, energetic combo forward that had a solid sophomore season at LSU. He is a rangy defender that can cover a lot of ground, and he showed an improved jump shot this season. He also has very big hands that enables him to make a lot of plays on both sides of the ball. He may not be an elite shooter or shot creator, but he has the skills and intangibles that could enable him to be the consummate role player in the NBA.
20. Charlotte Hornets (from SAS) (Corban Ford) – E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State
Most likely, the player they select here will complement LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and whomever they selected previously at 13. The Hornets will be looking to improve the depth and talent of their roster to make a playoff push for next season.
E.J. Liddell is a versatile, physical combo forward that turned in a terrific season this year at Ohio State. He has a variety of skills that could prove to be useful, and he also is a solid defender that can block many shots when he is on the floor. He will need to be a more consistent shooter in games, but his skill set and feel for the game could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.
21. Denver Nuggets (Kyle Henderson) – Walker Kessler, C, Auburn
The Nuggets battled with injuries, as star point guard Jamal Murray was out for the season, and promising forward Michael Porter Jr. re-injured his back shortly after signing a massive contract extension that caused him to miss the rest of the year. Luckily for the Nuggets, their superstar center Nikola Jokić came to the rescue to help them win plenty of regular season games to get them to the playoffs. Jokić also was the first player to score 2000 points, and get 1000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season, and he won his second consecutive NBA MVP. The Nuggets were bounced out of the first round, and it’ll be interesting to see if they can build back their team to make a deeper playoff run for next season.
Walker Kessler is a tall, fundamentally sound center that had a terrific season this year at Auburn. He is a solid interior defender that does a terrific job of blocking shots, and he’s shown that he can ably score out of the post and catch lobs to score on rolls to the rim. He will need to improve his jump shot and mobility, but his strong production and ability to shore up the interior could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (Peter Wong) – Mark Williams, C, Duke
The Grizzlies had a very good season, as they won 56 games in the regular season, and superstar point guard Ja Morant elevated his play and made his first trip to the All-Star game. The Grizzlies were a good defensive team, and they also have a good group of core players, as they have Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, and they also have a deep and talented roster that will enable them to contend for next year.
Mark Williams is a very athletic, energetic big man that had a very good sophomore season at Duke. He is a tremendous finisher around the basket, and he has great hands that allow him to frequently catch lobs to score on powerful dunks. He also is a rangy center that is a very good rebounder and shot blocker, and he could project to be an elite rim protector in the NBA.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (Ameer Helmi) – MarJon Beauchamp, G-F, G-League Ignite (USA – Seattle, WA)
The 76ers were able to acquire superstar guard James Harden in a midseason trade to pair him alongside superstar center Joel Embiid, and the 76ers were able to win 51 games in the regular season. Embiid turned in an MVP-caliber season, although he finished second in the running. Tyrese Maxey also had a very good sophomore season in the NBA. On the other hand, the 76ers disappointed in the playoffs once again, as they lost in their second round series to the Miami Heat this year.
MarJon Beauchamp is a very athletic, energetic swingman that had a solid season in the G-League this year. He is a rangy defender that can cover plenty of ground, and he also excelled at attacking the hoop to score and rebound the basketball. He will need to improve his jump shot, but his ability to make plays on both ends of the floor could enable him to thrive as a role player in this league.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (Peter Wong) – Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame
The Bucks had a very good season this year as they were led by superstar point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Khris Middleton missed their second round series due to injury, which made things really tough on Milwaukee. The Bucks were able to take it to 7 games before losing to the Boston Celtics this year. While they fell a bit short in their title defense, the Bucks played valiantly in the playoffs, and they will be title contenders next season.
Blake Wesley is an athletic slasher that can score and defend, and he looks to be a high upside prospect in this year’s draft. He can finish plays above the rim and rebound the basketball, but he will also need to improve his shooting and consistency in games. He’s undersized to play out on the wing, but his potential to excel as a scorer and defender could enable him to be a solid role player for the next level.
25. Indiana Pacers (from SAS) (Ashwin Kamath) – Ismael Kamagate, C, Paris Basketball (France)
Most likely, the Pacers will look to select someone that can play alongside their bevy of guards and Myles Turner, and they will surely need to continue to improve the talent and depth of their roster.
Ismael Kamagate is a very athletic, energetic center that had a solid season in France this year. He is a terrific shot blocker that can shore up a team’s interior, but he will need to improve his jump shot and expand upon his game offensively. He’s fairly limited offensively and can tend to pick up quick fouls at times, but he is an athletic big man that project to be a solid rim protector in this league.
26. Houston Rockets (Ameer Helmi) – Christian Braun, G-F, Kansas
The Houston Rockets will continue to look to add talented players to their team to help them for next season and the future.
Christian Braun is a skilled, mobile swingman whose versatility and all-around skills helped Kansas win the National Championship this year. He is a versatile player that can do a little bit of everything, and he played suffocating, lockdown defense against North Carolina in the title game. He can be streaky with his jump shot and will need to improve his shot creation skills, but his skill set and above average athletic gifts could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.
27. San Antonio Spurs (from MIA) (Richard Lu) – Nikola Jovic, F, Mega Mozzart (Serbia)
The Spurs will look to continue to add talented players that can be key contributors for them next season and in the future.
Nikola Jovic is a tall, skilled forward that can shoot and score the basketball. His ability to knock down jump shots enables him to create favorable mismatches that swing in his team’s favor, but he will need to improve in the other elements of the game. Still, his ability to knock down shots and move the basketball could enable him to thrive as a role player in the NBA.
28. Golden State Warriors (Richard Lu) – Christian Koloko, C, Arizona
The Warriors had a fantastic season that culminated with them winning the championship this year. Superstar point guard, Stephen Curry had a tremendous season, and head coach Steve Kerr helped lead them to win the title this season. They also had strong production from their role players. The Warriors will look to add a talented player that could help them in the future, and as they have a deep team, the player they draft may not necessarily have to play right away.
Christian Koloko is a very athletic, energetic center that had a solid season this year at Arizona. He showed off improved offensive skills, and he also thrived as a rebounder, shot blocker, and interior defender for his team. He can still tend to play too wildly and pick up quick fouls, but his size, athleticism, motor, and improving skill set could enable him to be a solid role player in this league.
29. Memphis Grizzlies (Peter Wong) – Josh Minott, F, Memphis
The Grizzlies will look to select someone that will fit in with their bevy of guards and Jaren Jackson Jr., and they have a deep and talented roster, so the player they select may not necessarily have to play right away.
Josh Minott is a very athletic, energetic combo forward that played for the Memphis Tigers this year. He can make hustle plays to help his team on both ends of the floor, but he will need to improve his jump shot and be more disciplined on both sides of the ball. He will need to improve his skill set, but his vast athleticism combined with his motor and upside could enable him to thrive as a role player in the NBA.
30. Denver Nuggets (Kyle Henderson) – Trevor Keels, G, Duke
The Nuggets will look to select someone that will play off of Nikola Jokic, and they may also decide to draft a player that can serve as insurance in case if Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are unable to play due to injury, if they get hurt again, or are unable to play nearly as well as they used to.
Trevor Keels is a very athletic, slashing point guard that played very well in the Champions Classic to start the season. He’s struggled with his jump shot and has been inconsistent over the course of the year, but he is a strong, physical playmaker whose upside and skill set could enable him to thrive in the NBA.
2nd Round of the 2022 NBA Mock Draft:
31. Indiana Pacers (Ashwin Kamath) – Kendall Brown, F, Baylor
32. Orlando Magic (Corban Ford) – Patrick Baldwin Jr., F-C, Milwaukee
33. Toronto Raptors (Alan Lu) – Wendell Moore Jr., G-F, Duke
34. Oklahoma City Thunder (Kyle Henderson) – Ryan Rollins, G, Toledo
35. Orlando Magic (Corban Ford) – Jaden Hardy, G, G-League Ignite (USA – Henderson, NV)
36. Portland Trail Blazers (Peter Wong) – Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest
37. Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu) – John Butler, F-C, Florida State
38. San Antonio Spurs (Richard Lu) – Dalen Terry, G-F, Arizona
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyle Henderson) – Andrew Nembhard, G, Gonzaga
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath) – Justin Lewis, F, Marquette
41. Sacramento Kings (from NOP) (Alan Lu) – JD Davison, G, Alabama
42. New York Knicks (Ashwin Kamath) – Dominick Barlow, F, Overtime Elite (USA – Dumont, NJ)
43. Los Angeles Clippers (Corban Ford) – Ron Harper Jr., F, Rutgers
44. Atlanta Hawks (Alan Lu) – David Roddy, F, Colorado State
45. Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford) – Scotty Pippen Jr., G, Vanderbilt
46. Detroit Pistons (Peter Wong) – Kenneth Lofton Jr., F-C, Louisiana Tech
47. Memphis Grizzlies (Peter Wong) – Dereon Seabron, G-F, NC State
48. Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath) – Kofi Cockburn, C, Illinois
49. Minnesota Timberwolves (from SAC) (Ashwin Kamath) – Orlando Robinson, F-C, Fresno State
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath) – Ziga Samar, G, Fuenlabrada (Slovenia)
51. Golden State Warriors (Richard Lu) – Caleb Houstan, F, Michigan
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from NOP) (Ashwin Kamath) – Hugo Besson, G, New Zealand Breakers (France)
53. Boston Celtics (Kyle Henderson) – Aminu Mohammed, G-F, Georgetown
54. Washington Wizards (Corban Ford) – Jordan Hall, G-F, Saint Joseph’s
55. Golden State Warriors (Richard Lu) – Max Christie, G-F, Michigan State
56. Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyle Henderson) – Bryce McGowens, G-F, Nebraska
57. Portland Trail Blazers (Peter Wong) – Hyunjung Lee, G-F, Davidson
58. Indiana Pacers (Ashwin Kamath) – Fatts Russell, G, Maryland
Mock Draft Trades and The Explanations: The Cogent Trade Rationale
Here is the full list of trades and the explanations for why we made them.
Trade #1: Three-team trade involving the Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu), the New Orleans Pelicans (Ameer Helmi), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath):
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The New Orleans Pelicans get: Domantas Sabonis.
The Sacramento Kings get: Jonas Valanciunas, Leandro Bolmaro, Naji Marshall, and the 41st overall pick (the rights to JD Davison).
The Minnesota Timberwolves get the 49th overall pick (the rights to Orlando Robinson) and the 52nd overall pick (the rights to Hugo Besson).
(The Kings initially received the 52nd overall pick from New Orleans in this mock draft trade, and Sacramento then flipped the pick by trading 49 and 52 to Minnesota to get Bolmaro. Thus, this makes Minnesota the third team to be in this deal.)
The Kings wanted to improve their fit around De’Aaron Fox by seeking a center that could reliably shoot threes and better space the floor, and so they traded the very skilled, former All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to acquire Jonas Valanciunas. Naji Marshall serves as a versatile player that was added in the trade for depth purposes, and he is a potential rotation candidate that also is a solid secondary ball mover. Also, since the Kings can’t attempt to re-acquire Tyrese Haliburton within a year after they traded him, they decided to make the move to acquire Valanciunas to improve their floor spacing around Fox.
In the meantime, the Pelicans add a talented All-Star center in Domantas Sabonis, and they acquire a very skilled big man that can score in the post, knock down mid-range jumpers, and they acquire a young, mid-20s big man that is insurance in case if they are unable to re-sign and extend Zion Williamson for the long haul, or in case if Zion gets injured again.
In the second part of this trade, the Kings suddenly had 5 picks, and wanted to pare it back down to 3 or 4 picks due to a potential roster crunch. They decided to trade the 49th and 52nd overall picks to Minnesota to get Leandro Bolmaro, a skilled swingman that can shoot and pass the basketball, but is also a project player that didn’t play much for the Timberwolves last year, and he didn’t have a great rookie season. The Kings opted to take a chance on Bolmaro to give him a chance to earn a rotation spot, and the Minnesota Timberwolves add two more second round picks to add more depth to their team.
Trade #2: Three-team trade involving the Miami Heat (Alan Lu), San Antonio Spurs (Richard Lu), and the Indiana Pacers (Ashwin Kamath):
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The Miami Heat get: Dejounte Murray, Josh Richardson, and Jock Landale.
The Indiana Pacers get: Tyler Herro and the 25th overall pick (the rights to Ismael Kamagate).
The San Antonio Spurs get: Tyrese Haliburton, Duncan Robinson, Omer Yurtseven, the 27th overall pick (the rights to Nikola Jovic), and a top 5 protected 2028 1st round pick. The Spurs would then pick up Tyrese Haliburton’s team option.
This is mainly Miami making another push forward to try to get closer to a championship. While they were initially not looking to make any major changes, this gives them a better chance to beat a team like the Boston Celtics. Dejounte Murray gives them a very athletic, versatile guard that is a former All-Defensive team performer, and he also gives them an offensive talent upgrade, as he made his first All-Star team.
They had to sacrifice some of their shooters, namely Tyler Herro, a very talented scoring guard that is fresh off of winning the Sixth Man of the Year award, but there was some question marks raised about Herro’s ability to stay on the court in the fourth quarter of games in the modern NBA weaker defensive matchups get hunted. Duncan Robinson is a sharpshooting forward that has been one of the best shooting specialists in the NBA, but matchup hunting has rendered him unplayable in the playoffs against elite contenders.
The Spurs are not quite a playoff level team, so this move was made to add assets and switch around some pieces to potentially get a key core player in Tyrese Haliburton, a versatile and very skilled guard that has been very efficient in his two seasons in the NBA.
For the Indiana Pacers, they may want to see if Tyler Herro has untapped scoring potential, now that he can be used in a primary scoring role. He’s already shown that he can be a 20 point scorer that can shoot efficiently in a complementary role on a very good NBA team, and this move was made so that he can be potentially be the lead, go-to player for them in the future.
Trade #3: Trade involving the Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu) and the Indiana Pacers (Ashwin Kamath).
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The Indiana Pacers get: The 4th overall pick (the rights to Jaden Ivey) and Alex Len.
The Sacramento Kings get: The 6th overall pick (the rights to Dyson Daniels), a 2023 1st Round pick from Cleveland (lottery protected), and Oshae Brissett. The Kings would then pick up Brissett’s team option.
In lieu of the Jaden Ivey dilemma in which he’s allegedly doesn’t want to be picked by the Sacramento Kings, the Kings decided to swing a deal to Indiana to get the 6th overall pick, along with a 2023 lottery protected first round pick, and fourth-year forward Oshae Brissett.
The Kings were very high on Ivey, but in light of the strong rumors indicating that he doesn’t want to go there, they decided to trade down a couple of spots while also picking up another first round pick, along with a 3 and D role player in Oshae Brissett that figures to be in their rotation foe next year.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers get to add the fourth overall pick, as they will move up two spots in the draft to take a player that they expect to be a high impact and cornerstone player for their team.
Trade #4: Three-team trade between the Atlanta Hawks (Alan Lu), the Detroit Pistons (Peter Wong), and the Utah Jazz (Richard Lu).
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The Atlanta Hawks get: Rudy Gobert, Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and a 2026 2nd Round pick from Memphis. The Hawks would then pick up Diallo and Alexander-Walker’s team options.
The Detroit Pistons get: John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Jalen Johnson, the 16th overall pick (the rights to Jeremy Sochan), and a 2023 1st Round pick from Charlotte or Atlanta (whichever is lower).
The Utah Jazz get: Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter, Kelly Olynyk, Killian Hayes, the 5th overall pick (the rights to AJ Griffin), and the option to swap first round picks with Atlanta in 2025. The Jazz would then pick up Hayes’ team option.
The Hawks are looking to consolidate talent and to make upgrades that will help them in the playoffs. They add a versatile combo forward in Jerami Grant, who will add more perimeter defense and another shot creator, and they also upgraded their center position to get one of the best rim protectors in the NBA in three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, Rudy Gobert.
The Detroit Pistons wanted to add another cornerstone player to pair him with Cade Cunningham, so they acquired an athletic, skilled big man in John Collins, who will provide them with scoring and rebounding to their team. They also didn’t trade down very far in the draft, as they traded down 11 spots from 5 to 16, so they could still snag a good player in this draft. They also got another quality shooter by adding veteran forward, Danilo Gallinari.
The Utah Jazz wanted to separate the duo of Donovan Mitchell and Gobert, as their relationship has grown increasingly more toxic. They received Clint Capela to give them a rim protector to replace some of what they lost by trading Gobert, a quality wing player in Kevin Huerter, and they also received the 5th overall pick, which could be a substantial piece for their future.
Trade #5: Trade involving the Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford) and the San Antonio Spurs (Richard Lu).
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The Charlotte Hornets get: Joshua Primo and the 20th overall pick (the rights to E.J. Liddell).
The San Antonio Spurs get: The 15th overall pick (the rights to Malaki Branham).
The San Antonio Spurs wanted to move up to get a prospect that better fits their team. Charlotte moves down a few spots and picks up an additional young player with upside in Josh Primo.
Teams:
There were 7 participants in this year’s mock draft. We thank Corban Ford, Ameer Helmi, Kyle Henderson, Ashwin Kamath, Alan Lu, Richard Lu, and Peter Wong for participating in this year’s mock draft.
Atlanta Hawks (Alan Lu)
Boston Celtics (Kyle Henderson)
Brooklyn Nets (Richard Lu)
Charlotte Hornets (Corban Ford)
Chicago Bulls (Ameer Helmi)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyle Henderson)
Dallas Mavericks (Ashwin Kamath)
Denver Nuggets (Kyle Henderson)
Detroit Pistons (Peter Wong)
Golden State Warriors (Richard Lu)
Houston Rockets (Ameer Helmi)
Indiana Pacers (Ashwin Kamath)
Los Angeles Clippers (Corban Ford)
Los Angeles Lakers (Peter Wong)
Memphis Grizzlies (Peter Wong)
Miami Heat (Alan Lu)
Milwaukee Bucks (Peter Wong)
Minnesota Timberwolves (Ashwin Kamath)
New Orleans Pelicans (Ameer Helmi)
New York Knicks (Ashwin Kamath)
Oklahoma City Thunder (Kyle Henderson)
Orlando Magic (Corban Ford)
Philadelphia 76ers (Ameer Helmi)
Phoenix Suns (Ashwin Kamath)
Portland Trail Blazers (Peter Wong)
Sacramento Kings (Alan Lu)
San Antonio Spurs (Richard Lu)
Toronto Raptors (Alan Lu)
Utah Jazz (Richard Lu)
Washington Wizards (Corban Ford)
Thank you to everyone who participated, and to all who we met along the way this season. It’s been a fun ride, and stay tuned for the actual 2022 NBA Draft that will be held on Thursday, June 23rd.
Thanks for reading.
