2022 NBA Mock Draft: First Edition

 Here is the first edition of my 2022 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Houston Rockets- Jabari Smith, Power Forward, Auburn: You can make a case for three guys to go first between Smith, Paolo Banchero, and Chet Holmgren. Smith is the choice here as he is arguably the safest bet due to his fine all around play in college despite poor guard play around him.

2. Orlando Magic- Paolo Banchero, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Magic can pick of the two players of the top three to choose from. Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr could make an exciting front court with their different capabilities and both are versatile players as well.

3. Detroit Pistons- Chet Holmgren, Center, Gonzaga: The Pistons are more than thrilled with landing Holmgren here, who I feel is a good fit with this team. Imagine what a pick and roll with Cade Cunningham over the next 5+ years??? Sign me up!!

4. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jaden Ivey, Shooting Guard, Purdue: The Thunder are a complete wild card with this fourth selection, but the consensus pick here is Ivey. Shae Gilegeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey are two foundational pieces going forward and adding Ivey with them as a third guard is intriguing.

5. Indiana Pacers- Keegan Murray, Power Forward, Indiana: The Pacers are a little bit of an unknown heading into the offseason in terms of what direction they may go. Murray makes some sense here considering their surplus of guards and they can use a young stretch four.

6. Portland Trail Blazers- AJ Griffin, Small Forward, Duke: The Blazers are on the verge of a full-blown rebuild due to potential trades of Damian Lillard and some other veterans. Griffin had a fine season for the Blue Devils and he can come in and provide some good shooting and athleticism.

7. Sacramento Kings- Shaedon Sharpe, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: This pick makes a ton of se sense for the Kings considering the loss of Buddy Hield. Sharpe didn't play for Kentucky, but should still be a lottery pick due to his talent that he showed while in high school.

8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers)- Bennedict Mathurin, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona: The Pelicans really did leave a great impression on "what could be" after their playoff loss to the Suns. Mathurin really broke out in a big way last season and is your classic three-and-D wing that a ton of teams will covet.

9. San Antonio Spurs- Jalen Duren, Center, Memphis: The Spurs have some options here with their selection and they should have their eyes on a big with their first of three picks. Duren has double-double potential and he would fit nicely with this newer Spurs young core they have.

10. Washington Wizards- Ty-Ty Washington, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: The Wiz get a player that is super duper entertaining player here in Washington. He can do it all and have a long term need at the position and hasn't had a real point guard since John Wall.

11.New York Knicks- Dyson Daniels, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Knicks ideally need a good young point guard, but with Washington going one spot ahead, they take an interesting prospect in Daniels. People are skeptical due to his shooting numbers, but he is a solid defender and gets to the basket.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Nikola Jovic, Power Forward/Center, Serbia: If there's a team that has multiple picks that can afford a draft-and-stash pick (if they go in that direction here) in the lottery its the Thunder. Jovic is your classic "point forward" type of player that does a little bit of everything.

13. Charlotte Hornets- Mark Williams, Center, Duke: The third Duke player in this mock I have going to Charlotte. The Hornets badly need a center and Williams is someone who had a great tournament in which his stock rose, but he doesn't have high upside.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers- Johnny Davis, Shooting Guard, Wisconsin: The Cavaliers are arguably getting a steal here landing Davis at the end of the lottery. Collin Sexton coming off an injury could end up being expandable and Davis with Darius Garland together would be fun to watch.

15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Ochai Agbaji, Shooting Guard, Kansas: With their second first, the Hornets take a very steady player in Agbaji. He really put himself in a good position to return to school and winning Most Outstanding Player in the tournament to be a first rounder.

16. Atlanta Hawks- Tari Eason, Power Forward, LSU: The Hawks are a real candidate to trade their first round selection because they want that second star to go with Trae Young. Eason had a breakout season for the Tigers and is an excellent defender, but has some offensive flaws.

17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)- Kendall Brown, Small Forward, Baylor: The Rockets are quite lucky that this pick is this in this spot. Brown is super athletic and despite being raw offensively, is great at play making and decision making.

18. Chicago Bulls- Walker Kessler, Center, Auburn: I personally think the Bulls are an unknown in terms of the draft. Kessler is an absolute monster defensively in the paint and blocks shots like there's no tomorrow.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jeremy Schoan, Small Forward, Baylor: The biggest weakness for the Timberwolves was on the wing. Schoan's strengths are on the defensive side of the ball with his length and athleticism.

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- EJ Liddell, Power Forward, Ohio State: The Spurs get another front court player with their second of two first round picks. Liddell is somebody that is a little bit older, but improved each and every season at Ohio State.

21. Denver Nuggets- MarJon Beauchamp, Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: The second player from the loaded G-League Ignite team going I have Beauchamp. He is a really good scorer and he could be a heat check guy for the Nuggets, who could end up back in contention next season.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz)- Jean Montero, Point Guard, Overtime Elite: The Grizzlies are just picking for depth on a potential title contender with their selections. Montero played in an upstart league and showed a smooth touch and passibility.

23. Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia 76ers)- Wendell Moore Jr, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke: The Nets might end up winners in the James Harden trade after all and here they land a solid contributor for Coach K here in Moore. He had his best season as a junior after being thought out as a lottery pick two years ago.

24. Milwaukee Bucks- Jaden Hardy, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Bucks land themselves a solid prospect from the loaded G-League team. Hardy is a player that didn't live up to hype with Unite, but has a ton of potential that he could unlock.

25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)- Patrick Baldwin IV, Small Forward/Power Forward, Milwaukee: Baldwin was a massive disappointment this past season with injuries and I feel that he probably should have played for a larger branded program considering the hype he had. Baldwin could rediscover his potential that he had coming into college on the right team.

26. Dallas Mavericks- Michael Foster Jr, Power Forward, G-League Ignite: The Mavericks are another candidate to trade their pick away so they can get Luka Doncic some help. Foster is someone that's really settled in as a player after being a top recruit out of high school.

27. Miami Heat- Kennedy Chandler, Point Guard, Tennessee: The Heat are excellent at developing young players into their system. The Heat might be looking at long term options at point guard with Kyle Lowry getting older so Chandler here makes sense with his shot creating and a good handle.

28. Golden State Warriors- Blake Wesley, Shooting Guard, Notre Dame: Wesley fits the bill that the Warriors have been looking for in players. Wesley is a raw player that really didn't impress much in college, but is unafraid to score.

29. Memphis Grizzlies- Christian Koloko, Center, Arizona: A long term need for a team that's heading for title contention (if they aren't there already) is at the center position. Koloko broke out this season for the Wildcats and averaged a double-double and over two blocks a game.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns)- Malaki Branham, Shooting Guard, Ohio State: The Thunder could absolutely trade up from this spot along with their mid-first rounder to get back into the top ten, but here I have them going with Barnham. He can shoot it from well from three and gets into the paint often.