Keegan Murray is the ideal stretch four for the modern NBA as an efficient shooter with coveted versatility on the defensive end. The star forward out of Iowa could easily be picked 4th by the Kings or 5th by the Pistons but if he’s available for the Indiana Pacers, the organization will be absolutely thrilled. Murray would be an excellent addition to Indiana’s promising young core headlined by 22-year-old stud Tyrese Haliburton.
Shaedon Sharpe is the mystery of the draft after not playing a single game for Kentucky this past season. The 19-year-old is a gifted scorer and shifty athlete with a high ceiling, but his lack of experience and low motor are serious concerns. It would not be surprising if the Portland Trail Blazers traded this pick for a more experienced contributor as they retool the roster around superstar Damian Lillard. Although, if they hold onto the pick, Portland could be willing to take a chance on Sharpe’s upside. Sharpe also had an impressive pre-draft workout with the Blazers.
Dyson Daniels is a rising jumbo-sized point guard prospect with outstanding defensive mechanics and facilitating abilities. His jump shot will be the main question at the next level, but the 19-year-old Australian impressed scouts in that department at the NBA Combine and at his pre-draft workouts. The New Orleans Pelicans need point guard depth. Daniels, who would elevate their versatility, transition offense, and playmaking, could be the answer if they maintain the pick.
Ousmane Dieng is a polarizing prospect as a “point forward” with tremendous upside. The 19-year-old uses his length and shiftiness to glide by defenders and break down the defense while possessing the tools to become an All-Star talent with proper development. Dieng is raw but can do it all, and the San Antonio Spurs have a history of developing international prospects.
Johnny Davis had a breakout season in his sophomore year at Wisconsin, scoring 19.7 points per game and earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors. He’s an attack-minded scorer with a quick first step and will be a terrific perimeter defender in the NBA as a relentless, high-motor hound for the ball. Given the Washington Wizards’ needs on the defensive side of the ball combined with superstar Bradley Beal’s uncertain future, Davis would be an admirable fit.
Orlando Magic</a> are officially on the clock with the first-overall pick.</p>
<p>In what will be a memorable night for prospects that hear their name called and turn dreams into reality, this draft is expected to have plenty of drama, movement, and action all around. It seems like this will be the most unpredictable draft since 2013, so we could be in for a rollercoaster ride on the evening of June 23.</p>
<p>There are many intriguing prospects in this deep pool of players. In this mock, there will be no traded picks, even though there will most certainly be movement on draft night, as always. Talent, potential, team needs, and organizational fit will strongly be considered for each hypothetical pick.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Jabari Smith" data-team-id="38" data-meta-a="Power Forward" data-meta-b="Orlando Magic" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">1</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Jabari Smith</h3> <h4>Power Forward,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Orlando Magic</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png" alt="Orlando Magic"> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Mock Draft: 1. Jabari Smith Jr., Orlando Magic</h2>
<p><strong>School: Auburn</strong></p>
<p><strong>Height: 6’10”</strong></p>
<p>Jabari Smith is an efficient three-level scorer and versatile defender with stellar upside on both ends of the floor that should result in him becoming the first-overall pick this year. Smith can offer the Orlando Magic much-needed shooting and a strong defensive presence with massive room for growth at the forward positions. The 19-year-old would be a perfect piece to add to Orlando’s young core.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="2" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Chet Holmgren" data-team-id="149" data-meta-a="Power Forward" data-meta-b="Oklahoma City Thunder" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">2</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Chet Holmgren</h3> <h4>Power Forward,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Oklahoma City Thunder</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fthunder.png" alt="Oklahoma City Thunder"> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Mock Draft: 2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder</h2>
<p><strong>School: Gonzaga</strong></p>
<p><strong>Height: 7’0″</strong></p>
<p>Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique prospects as a tall, lengthy, skinny-framed forward who projects to be an elite interior defender and crafty scorer with insane versatility. It will take time for Holmgren to develop physically, but his timeline is ideal for an <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/oklahoma-city-thunder/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> team that’s clearly prioritizing their long-term future. Holmgren will be a fascinating project coming into the league but has the clear potential to become a two-way star in a couple of years.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Paolo Banchero" data-team-id="169" data-meta-a="Power Forward" data-meta-b="Houston Rockets" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">3</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Paolo Banchero</h3> <h4>Power Forward,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Houston Rockets</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Frockets.png" alt="Houston Rockets"> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Mock Draft: 3. Paolo Banchero, Houston Rockets</h2>
<p><strong>School: Duke</strong></p>
<p><strong>Height: 6’10”</strong></p>
<p>Paolo Banchero has the chance to become the best player to come out of this draft with his superior scoring ability at all three levels, superb strength and lateral quickness for his position on the defensive end, and a high motor with a winning mentality. The Duke star is pretty much a “lock” to land in Houston at this point. Banchero would form a lethal duo alongside promising guard Jalen Green for the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/houston-rockets/">Houston Rockets to build around moving forward.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="4" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Jaden Ivey" data-team-id="84" data-meta-a="Point Guard" data-meta-b="Sacramento Kings" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">4</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Jaden Ivey</h3> <h4>Point Guard,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Sacramento Kings</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fkings.png" alt="Sacramento Kings"> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Mock Draft: 4. Jaden Ivey, Sacramento Kings</h2>
<p><strong>School: Purdue</strong></p>
<p><strong>Height: 6’4″</strong></p>
<p>As an explosive guard with incredible athleticism, attack-minded scoring prowess, and attractive playmaking abilities, Jaden Ivey has superstar potential in this league. The fit with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/sacramento-kings/">Sacramento Kings could be a bit awkward since they’re already heavily invested in guards De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, but the Kings should take the best player available if they decide to keep the pick. Many teams such as the Wizards and Knicks have reportedly inquired about trading up for this pick with the intent of selecting Ivey, and the expectation is that Sacramento will listen to offers all the way up until they’re on the clock.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="5" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Bennedict Mathurin" data-team-id="64" data-meta-a="Small Forward" data-meta-b="Detroit Pistons" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">5</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Bennedict Mathurin</h3> <h4>Small Forward,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Detroit Pistons</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpistons.png" alt="Detroit Pistons"> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Mock Draft: 5. Bennedict Mathurin, Detroit Pistons</h2>
<p><strong>School: Arizona</strong></p>
<p><strong>Height: 6’6″</strong></p>
<p>Bennedict Mathurin projects to be an efficient shooter and solid defender on the wing at the NBA level. Mathurin’s upside will be higher on the offensive end as an explosive athlete with a nice touch and feel for the game. The Arizona product was a scoring machine and reliable perimeter defender in college and would excel in a similar role next to Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/detroit-pistons/">Detroit Pistons</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/22/2022-nba-mock-draft-final/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 6-10 </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Analyzing the projected top four picks in the 2022 NBA Draft </a> </div>
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