2022 NBA Mock Draft: Second Edition

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

1. Houston Rockets- Paolo Banchero, Power Forward/Center, Duke: You can make a case for three guys to go first between Banchero, Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren. Banchero with Alpren Sengun and Christian Wood could make an exciting front court with their different capabilities and all three are versatile players as well.

2. Orlando Magic- Jabari Smith, Power Forward, Auburn: The Magic can pick of the two players of the top three to choose from. Smith you can make a case is the safest of the top three draft prospects bet due to his fine all around play in college despite poor guard play around him.

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- Sheldon Sharpe, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: The Thunder are a complete wild card with this fourth selection and this time I have them selecting Sharpe to go with the young core they have. He didn't play for Kentucky, but should still be a lottery pick due to his talent that he showed while in high school.

5. Indiana Pacers- Jaden Ivey, Shooting Guard, Purdue: The Pacers are a little bit of an unknown heading into the offseason in terms of what direction they may go. Ivey is someone that reminds people of Ja Morant from an explosiveness in the paint standpoint, but lacks the distribution skills Morant has.

6. Portland Trail Blazers- Keegan Murray, Power Forward, Iowa: This pick would make a ton of sense for the Blazers considering their need for a forward. Murray is someone who looks NBA ready, especially on the defensive side of the ball and his offense is consistent too.

7. Sacramento Kings- Ochai Agbaji, Shooting Guard, Kansas: This pick might be considered a reach, but makes a ton of sense for the Kings considering the loss of Buddy Hield. Agbaji really put himself in a good position to return to school and winning Most Outstanding Player in the tournament to be a first rounder.

8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers)- AJ Griffin, Small Forward, Duke: The Pelicans really did leave a great impression on "what could be" after their playoff loss to the Suns. Griffin had a fine season for the Blue Devils and he can come in and provide some good shooting and athleticism.

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- Bennedict Mathurin, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona: The Wizards taking Mathurin would be interesting considering they have an abundance of wings. 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.

11. New York Knicks- Johnny Davis, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Wisconsin: What the Knicks have been lacking is a guard that was consistent at all aspects of the game. Davis had a career year with the Badgers this past season and really is a perfect Tom Thibodeau and his coaching style.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Jeremy Schoan, Small Forward, Baylor: The Thunder are a team that needs some help on the wing. Schoan is someone that really showed off an elite skill set this past season with the Bears and I like this fit here with the Thunder.

13. Charlotte Hornets- Ty-Ty Washington, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: The Hornets get a player that is super duper entertaining player here in Washington. The thought of him and LaMelo Ball together is super intriguing.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kendall Brown, Small Forward, Baylor: The Cavaliers have a lot to be proud of from this past season and here I have them taking Brown to add to their young core. The Cavaliers biggest need is on the wing and Brown has shown excellent offensive consistency in college.

15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans)- 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.

16. Atlanta Hawks- Dyson Daniels, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Hawks are a real candidate to trade their first round selection because they want that second star to go with Trae Young. People are skeptical of Daniels due to his shooting numbers, but he is a solid defender and gets to the basket.

17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)- Tari Eason, Power Forward, LSU: The Rockets are quite lucky that this pick is this in this spot. Eason had a breakout season for the Tigers and is an excellent defender, but has some offensive flaws.

18. Chicago Bulls- Nikola Jovic, Power Forward, Serbia: The Bulls are a huge wild card in this draft and what they can do. Jovic is the safest bet of the international players in this draft and he is your classic "point forward" type of player that does a little bit of everything.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves- EJ Liddell, Power Forward, Ohio State: This would be an interesting pick for the Timberwolves on multiple levels. Liddell is somebody that is a little bit older, but improved each and every season at Ohio State.

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Ousame Dieng, Small Forward, France: With their second of three picks, the Spurs grab one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. Dieng was inconsistent in the NBL, but has tremendous upside.

21. Denver Nuggets- Malaki Branham, Shooting Guard, Ohio State: If the Nuggets nail this pick or trade it for a veteran, then it puts them among the front runners to win the 2023 NBA title with the players that are returning from injuries. Barnham can shoot it from well from three and gets into the paint often, which the Nuggets can use off the bench.

22. Memphis Grizzlies- Wendell Moore Jr, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke: The Grizzlies are just picking for depth on a potential title contender with their selections. Moore had his best season as a junior after being thought out as a lottery pick two years ago so this could be a steal.

23. Brooklyn Nets (from Philadelphia 76ers)- 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 Nets, who could end up back in contention next season if they keep the current group intact.

24. Milwaukee Bucks- Blake Wesley, Shooting Guard, Notre Dame: The Bucks are a team that could use young wings off the bench. Wesley is a raw player that really didn't impress much in college, but is unafraid to score.

25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)- Christian Braun, Shooting Guard, Kansas: With their third first rounder, the Spurs land an interesting prospect in Braun, who may end up going back to school next season. Braun is an NBA-ready three-and-D wing and is good at attacking the rim.

26. Dallas Mavericks- 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.

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- Jaden Hardy, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Warriors are a likely candidate to trade out of this spot, but Hardy here isn't a bad pick. He is a player that didn't live up to hype with Unite, but has a ton of potential that he could unlock.

29. Memphis Grizzlies- Walker Kessler, Center, Auburn: A long term need for a team that's heading for title contention (if they aren't there already) is at the center position. Kessler is an absolute monster defensively in the paint and blocks shots like there's no tomorrow.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns)- Christian Koloko, Center, Arizona: 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 Koloko. He broke out this season for the Wildcats and averaged a double-double and over two blocks a game.