Fien's NBA Mock Draft 1.0 (Post Lottery)

With the conclusion of the NBA lottery just a few days ago, we now know the order of the majority of the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played as one of the Warriors, Mavericks, Heat, or Celtics will be crowned NBA champions, but for the other 26 teams, the draft is their next course of action. Since the lottery order is now known, I thought it would be the ideal time to release my first mock draft of the season, which includes the entirety of the lottery. With each pick, I analyzed why I think each player will land on the given team. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @zachefiene to stay up to date with my content. Let's waste no more words and dive in!

1- ORL: Chet Holmgren, Big (Gonzaga)

"Chet Holmgren" by Steve Cheng is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Orlando Magic got lucky on lottery night and obtained the number one overall pick, but now their focus shifts to a month-long scouting trip focusing on Chet Holmgren and Auburn’s Jabari Smith. Ultimately, I think Holmgren will be the pick here. He’s too unique and the ceiling is way too high to pass on. Despite the public opinion, I also think his floor is very high as well. He’ll be a valuable NBA player for 10+ years. Think of him right now as a Rudy Gobert level rim protector, but also has the ability to knock down catch and shoot threes as well as create some offense. The biggest red flag for Holmgren is his uber-slim frame, but he plays very strong and is tough as nails. Combine that with his natural athleticism and supernatural length, and I don’t think he’ll have any trouble holding his own against NBA bigs on the block. I think the Magic should run this pick to the podium and celebrate getting a future superstar that also happens to pair nicely with some young pieces already on the roster, including close friend Jalen Suggs.

2- OKC: Jabari Smith, Forward (Auburn)

"Jabari Smith Jr." by Chris Gillespie is licensed under CC BY 2.0

With Chet Holmgren going 1st overall, this is a very easy decision for OKC. They end up with Jabari Smith, who is a very good consolation prize for Sam Presti. Smith can really score the basketball, and OKC fans should be licking their lips at the thought of Smith in a pick and roll/pop scenario with SGA or Josh Giddey. Averaging 17 points per game for Auburn on 42% shooting from 3 at 6’10”, it’s easy to see why he has drawn comparisons to the likes of Michael Porter and even Kevin Durant. He’s a high volume scorer who also offers a lot of upside as a versatile defender given his frame and athleticism. Adding Smith to this super young core should have Thunder fans popping champagne bottles on draft night. This is a rare case of having the best player available also be a PERFECT fit.

3- HOU: Paolo Banchero, Forward (Duke)

Paolo Banchero is a very intriguing prospect. He’s #1 on some people’s boards, some boards have him 4 or 5. Banchero isn’t as polarizing as the other top guys, and I think his lack of “uniqueness” has caused some people to really sleep on him. He’s by far the best offensive creator of the 3. By that I mean he can beat defenders off the dribble and get to the rim, hit tough contested jumpers, and is a very good facilitator as well. He’s got a sky high offensive ceiling, but he’s got a long way to go defensively. He’s got the tools to develop on that end of the court though, I’m not too worried about it personally. I think this is a bit of weird fit for the Rockets, especially when it comes to last year’s 2nd overall pick Jalen Green, but both Green and Banchero have shown some ability to play off the ball and still be productive so I’m confident they can work well together.

4- SAC: Keegan Murray, Forward (Iowa)

The Kings are in a really tough spot. I would love for them to take Ivey here, but I’m not sure if it makes much sense with Fox and Mitchell on the roster already. Rumor is they are really trying to get into the playoffs next year, and I think the best way to do that would be selecting Iowa forward Keegan Murray. Averaging almost 24 points per game, he’s more than the typical 3&D forward, but that is his floor in my opinion. He showed some shot creation ability at Iowa to go along with a silky smooth shooting stroke, but the tough loss against the underdog Richmond Spiders in the NCAA Tournament may have left a bad taste in some scouts mouths. I think Murray is a really nice fit with the current roster. He can space the floor well for Fox and Sabonis but can also bang down low when needed given his big body and strength. His defensive ability and upside has got to be appealing for a team like Sacramento who has struggled to find consistent defenders to guard the games best 3s and 4s. He could slot in at the 3, 4, or even play some small ball 5 for the Kings and he makes them better right away.

5- DET: Jaden Ivey, Guard (Purdue)

A ball dominant guard? But didn’t they take one of those #1 overall last year? And another one the year before that? Yes. The beauty of Cade Cunningham is that he can play with anybody. He’s a ball dominant guard sure, but he’s not solely a score first guard. And neither is Ivey. Ivey is a great scorer, but he also has underrated playmaking ability. His dynamic shot creating ability though is his calling card. It’s just not something Detroit had on the roster last year. Ivey is special when it comes to putting the ball in the basket and I have zero worries about the fit with Cunningham. Hopefully Detroit’s gritty defensive mentality will be able to make Ivey buy in on that end as well. He’s not awful defensively, but sometimes looks disinterested. Regardless, this will immediately be one the most exciting backcourts in the NBA and has the potential to be one of the best in the league in a couple of years.

6- IND: Shaedon Sharpe, Wing (Kentucky)

Shaedon Sharpe is the real wildcard of the draft. The former #1 ranked high school player in the country, Sharpe didn’t play a single game for Kentucky. He wasn’t exactly playing great competition in high school either, so the lack of tape makes him a tough scout, and the lack of experience is probably going to be cause for a slow start to his rookie campaign. The sky truly is the limit for Sharpe however. He’s a lengthy 6’6” bucket getter who shoots the ball extremely well, while also possessing a very deep bag that allows him to get a shot up anytime he wants. His shot selection was definitely questionable at times, as was his defensive effort. The real question mark for Sharpe is how long will it take for him to adjust? For a team like Indiana, it’s worth the risk to shoot for the stars. Sharpe has the potential to be the best player from this entire draft.

7- POR: AJ Griffin, Wing (Duke)

This is probably my favorite fit of the mock draft so far. Griffin had an up and down season playing second fiddle to Banchero, but he’s got all of the tools Portland should be desiring. He’s the size, athleticism, and shooting ability needed to be an impactful player for Dame and company right away while also possessing the upside to become a legitimate 2nd option as a go to scorer. He’s got defensive concerns but in my opinion all the tools are there. They just need be unlocked. If Griffin can find his footing and stay consistent, Portland will be very happy with this selection for years to come.

8- NO: Johnny Davis, Guard (Wisconsin)

The Pelicans continue to get tougher on the defensive end, adding bulldog Johnny Davis to the mix. Davis is the reigning Big 10 Player of the Year and will provide New Orleans with excellent perimeter defense, playmaking, and even some mid range shot creation ability. CJ McCollum thrived in his new role as a primary ball handler after he was traded to New Orleans, but adding Johnny Davis gives the team flexibility to spell him from those duties at times while also continuing to let him thrive in that role. Davis is versatile. He’s not the best athlete in this draft nor is he the best 3 point shooter, but with a deep bag from both the midrange and the post, he won’t have any trouble getting buckets at the NBA level. Not only is this a terrific fit for the team, but also for Johnny Davis. CJ McCollum is a very good mentor to help him expand his offensive abilities and take his game to the next level.

9- SA: Benedict Mathurin, Wing (Arizona)

The Spurs have a really nice young foundation of young players, headlined by 1st time All-Star Dejounte Murray and very good role players like Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jakob Poeltl. What they’re really lacking is a go to scorer. Mathurin had some gigantic moments at Arizona that made me say “yeah, this guy could average 25”. Not only is he a lights out shooter from downtown, but he also just has a noticeable “next gear” to his game when attacking on the break. Multiple times last year against very good competition he just looked like the best athlete on the floor by a large margin. That next gear does get him into trouble at times though, as sometimes it looks like his body is just moving faster than his mind and it results in some ugly turnovers or shot attempts. Overall though, I think he complements Dejounte Murray perfectly and has the potential to become an absolute force as a 3 level scorer in this league if he can expand his bag just a little bit.

10- WAS: Dyson Daniels, Guard (G-League)

I think it would (or at least should) break Knicks fans’ heart to see Dyson Daniels go one pick before them, but I think he’s got everything Washington should be looking for. He’s a true offensive initiator that can beat you in a variety of ways. Excellent passing vision and IQ, especially in the pick and roll, and overall just has a great feel for the game. He’ll make Bradley Beal’s life a whole lot easier, even in the stretches where Beal will dominate the ball. Daniels is also great off the ball, as his general feel for the game makes him a great cutter and mover for open looks. Defensively at 6’6”, he’ll be a matchup nightmare for smaller guards and can definitely hold his own against some bigger guys as well. He’s fundamentally sound on both end. If he can improve as a shooter (and that’s a huge if, he shot under 30% from 3 and under 60% from the line), he’ll turn into a very fine #2 or #3.

11- NYK: Jalen Duren, Big (Memphis)

Now if I’m the Knicks in this spot, I run this card up to the podium and immediately call Mitchell Robinson and tell him “thanks for your time in New York”. Robinson is a good player for sure, but he will probably command a large contract that I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay for a role as niche as his. Duren would be a perfect replacement. He reminds me a lot of Robinson defensively but I think he moves significantly better than Robinson. He’s got excellent instincts as a shot blocker and has some perimeter skills defensively as well. His offensive game is almost non existent aside from catching lobs or finishing offensive rebounds, but wow he’s really good at both of those things. He is a decent playmaker though. His glaring weakness is that he does have some noticeable mental lapses on both ends of the court from time to time, but I think being coached by a guy like Tom Thibodeau can mature his game very quickly.

12- OKC: Jeremy Sochan, Forward (Baylor)

The Thunder could go in a million different directions here, but I think they’ll probably just go best player available and in my opinion that is Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan. He’s the ultimate chess piece. There’s very few players in the NBA right now that can do the things he can. He posses the ability to truly guard 1-5, with elite playmaking skills to make him also valuable on offense. He’s got a defined role right away as a Swiss Army knife defender, but if he can add a jump shot, he’s got sky high potential. With his skills and constant motor, he should be a valuable NBA player for years to come.

13- CHA: Mark Williams, Big (Duke)

The Hornets desperately need an athletic big to anchor the defense and catch lobs from LaMelo Ball. Williams is one of my favorite prospects in this draft, as I think he’ll be a steady contributor right away due to his skills and insane 7’7” wingspan. He’s got elite shot blocking ability and is very disciplined as well. He doesn’t have the lateral quickness or twitchiness of a guy like Duren to switch out on the perimeter though. Offensively he’s exclusively a lob threat and putback specialist, and he’s not much of a passer either. He’s a bit of a one trick pony, but he’s a specialist of that trick and that trick is a very valuable one, especially for a team like Charlotte.

14- CLE: Blake Wesley, Guard (Notre Dame)

After a red hot start this season before some unfortunate injuries slowed them down, the Cavs needs to add an impactful player to help them make a playoff run in the 2022-2023 season. Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley is a smart combo guard who can run the second unit similarly to how Ricky Rubio did prior to his injury. He did tend to have a score first mentality in college, but I think his role in the NBA will be a developmental playmaker. He does have some scoring upside as well, with his tight handle being his biggest asset. He can beat guys off the bounce and with a little experience, will be able to find his teammates for easy looks. There will be some growing pains with both his playmaking ability and his jump shooting, but he’s got loads of potential to be a force offensively, either behind Darius Garland or alongside him.