2022 NHL Mock Draft: Second Edition

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

1. Montreal Canadiens- Shane Wright, Center, Kingston (OHL): It's only fitting the Canadiens get the top overall pick in the year they host the draft and here they take the drafts best player in Wright. He is the most complete two-way center in this draft and he fills a huge need down the middle for the Habs.

2. New Jersey Devils- Juraf Slafkovsky, Wing, TPS (Liiga): The Devils have a need for offense and the consensus choice for the Devils in this spot is Slafkovsky. He has the size and strength to have an impact and he would fit well with the Devils talented centers.

3. Arizona Coyotes- Logan Cooley, Center, USA U-18 (NTDP): There are some people that think Cooley should go second, but here I have him landing third, which the Coyotes would gladly take. Cooley is an excellent skater and has great skills with the puck.

4. Seattle Kraken- Simon Nemec, Defenseman, Nitra (SVK): The Kraken should simply just go with the best player available with their pick. Nemec is arguably the best defenseman in the draft due to his outstanding two-way play as well as his skating.

5. Philadelphia Flyers- David Jiricek, Defenseman, Plzen (CZE): The Flyers are a little unknown on what they will actually do here, but defense is a need and Jiricek is a solid fit. A knee injury derailed him this past season, but he has potential to be a top pair defenseman.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks)- Matthew Savoie, Center, Winnipeg (WHL): The Blue Jackets are in a rebuild of some sorts now and here I have them going with Savoie. He is one of the more dynamic skaters in the draft class and has a ton of speed.

7. Ottawa Senators- Frank Nazar, Center, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Senators are another team that should just simply go with the best player available as Nazar is a fast riser come draft time. Nazar is a super smart player that has fast pace and a ton of energy.

8. Detroit Red Wings- Joakim Kemell, Wing, JYP (FIN): The Red Wings are a team that is desperate to get back to the postseason and here I have them taking the talented winger. Kemell has potential to be a big time scorer in the league and the Red Wings can use that type of player on the wing.

9. Buffalo Sabres- Cutter Gauthier, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Sabres have the longest playoff drought in the league still and for them to get to where they want to be, just take the best player available.  He is your classic "power forward" player with his ability to shoot the puck.

10. Anaheim Ducks- Pavel Mintyukov, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL): The Ducks badly need defenseman after trading away Hampus Lindholm. Mintyukov is a physical player who is a defensive version of a power forward.

11. San Jose Sharks- Denton Mateychuk, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Sharks going defense here would be wise considering Eric Karlsson isn't the same player anymore and Brent Burns is getting older. Mateychuk is a strong skater who is good at creating chances with the puck.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets- Danila Yurov, Wing, Magnitogorsk (RUS): Yurov is someone who is a bit of a wild card come draft night in terms of where he may me picked. His lack of production in the KHL could have some teams cautious in terms of drafting him this high.

13. New York Islanders- Marco Kasper, Center, Rogle (SWE): The Islanders were NHL's most disappointing team this past season and I can see them looking to move this pick for an impact player. Kasper is a versatile player that has a ton of speed and work ethic.

14. Winnipeg Jets- Conor Geekie, Center, Winnipeg (WHL): This pick would be a fun one as the Jets take the hometown kid. Geekie is a super productive player that has great speed, but has some skating concerns.

15. Vancouver Canucks- Ryan Chesley, Defenseman, USA U-18 (NTDP): Here we have the fourth player from the US under-18 team going to Vancouver. Chesley is a solid two-way defenseman and does a great job being a shut-down guy.

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Brad Lambert, Center, Pelicans (FIN): With their second first rounder, I have the Sabres going with another forward. Lambert is a very skilled forward that has great work ethic and brings a lot to the table.

17. Nashville Predators- Owen Pickering, Defenseman, Swift Current (WHL): I love the thought of Pickering here from a fit standpoint to go with the talented defense the Preds have. Pickering is a strong skater that has potential to become a solid two-way defenseman.

18. Dallas Stars- Isaac Howard, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The USA's U-18 is going to produce a ton of talent from this draft. Howard was apart of that loaded USA under-18 team so his skills were overshadowed, but is a very talented scorer and skater.

19. Los Angeles Kings- Jimmy Snuggerd, Center/Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Kings overachieved this past season and they look to add to the collection of young talent they have. Snuggerd is one of the more improved players heading into the draft as he skates well and has the skills of a power forward.

20. Washington Capitals- Liam Ohgren, Wing, Djurgarden Jr (SWE): The Capitals area team that needs some more young talent in their farm. Ohgren is an explosive player with a ton of speed and plays with a ton of energy.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins- Rutger McGroarty, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Penguins are another team that needs more youth in their farm and here I have taking someone who could be a steal here. McGroarty is a super versaitile player that is a great scorer and he has great leadership skills.

22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins)-  Kevin Korchinski, Defenseman, Seattle (WHL): With their second first rounder, I have the Ducks doubling down on defense. Korchinski has good playmaking skills for a defender and is one of the better ones in the draft class.

23. St. Louis Blues- Owen Beck, Center, Mississauga (WHL): This time around, I have the Blues taking the talented center. Beck dropping this far could be a steal and is a great shutdown center who wins face offs.

24. Minnesota Wild- Jagger Firkus, Wing, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Wild I think are a candidate to trade their pick to help their team get closer to Cup contention. Firkus dropping this far could be a steal as he is super talented offensively and has great creativity.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Tristian Luneau, Defenseman, Gatineau (QMJHL): The Leafs biggest need in terms of youth is defense and here I have them snagging a good one. Luneau is smart and efficient both ways and is great in the transition game.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)- Ivan Miroshnichenko, Wing, Omskie (MHL): Miroshnichenko is a fast riser as the draft approaches next week. Grabbing Miroshnickenko here would be a steal considering he was sidelined with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which makes this a possible high reward situation.

27. Arizona Coyotes (from Montreal Canadiens via Carolina Hurricanes)- Ty Nelson, Defenseman, North Bay (OHL): The Coyotes get this pick in result of the Christian Dvorak trade and I have them going defense here. Nelson is tremendous in the defensive zone and really good in the transition game.

28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers)- Luca Del Bel Belluz, Center, Mississauga (WHL): With their third first rounder, I have the Sabres taking another center. Del Bel Belluz is a solid two-way center, but is not that great of a skater.

29. Edmonton Oilers- Filip Mesar, Center/Wing, HK Poprad (Slovakia): In theory, the Oilers should trade this pick for a goalie to help them get over the top. Mesar is high skilled and a creative winger that has a good rate off the puck.

30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers)- Julian Lutz, Wing, Munchen (DEL): With their second first, I have the Jets taking another forward. He has blazing speed and is an excels at puck handling and shooting the puck.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning- Jiri Kulich, Center, HC Energie (CZE): The Lightning really do a great job rebooting their farm on the fly after trading away pieces or letting people go in free agency. Kulich is someone who's stock rose after a good U-18 tournament and he is a super physical player.

32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)- Lian Bichsel, Defenseman, Leksand (SWE): With their third first rounder, I have the Coyotes going defense again. Bichsel could be a steal here as he is an aggressive player and he moves well for his size.

2022 NBA Mock Draft: Final Edition

 Here is the tenth and final edition of my 2022 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Orlando Magic- Jabari Smith, Power Forward, Auburn: The Magic can have their pick of one of the big three with Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero. 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.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder- Chet Holmgren, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: The Thunder have to be doing backflips if this scenario presents itself on draft night. Holmgren is the perfect type of player for this young Thunder nucleus with his ability to create his own shot as a stretch five and protect the rim.

3. Houston Rockets- Paolo Banchero, Power Forward, Duke: The Rockets land a player here with a ton of skill and upside here in Banchero. With Christian Wood out of the picture now, Banchero has a better opportunity to put up some numbers and form a nice foundation with Jalen Green.

4. Sacramento Kings- Jaden Ivey, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Purdue: This would be an odd fit considering the Kings already have D'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, unless the team opts to move one of the two point guards or this pick, which the latter isn't inconceivable. Ivey is a super explosive player, but he lacks the distribution skills.

5. Detroit Pistons- Keegan Murray, Power Forward, Purdue: The Pistons dropping to the fifth spot is not ideal, but it may not be a complete disaster as they have a few viable options. Murray is a nice fit here as he can be a fun pick and pop partner for Cade Cunningham with his shooting ability.

6. Indiana Pacers- Benedict Mathurin, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona: A hot rumor as we approach the draft in a week is that Mathurin and the Pacers could be a match. 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.

7. Portland Trail Blazers- Shaedon Sharpe, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Sharpe landing here with the Blazers is very ideal for the team from a fit standpoint. Despite not playing in the second college semester, he's a sharp three-point shooter and arguably the best athlete in the draft.

8. New Orleans Pelicans- Dyson Daniels, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: This would be a reach for the Pelicans, but more people are higher on Daniels than yours truly. Daniels is a very good defender and really showed improvement offensively throughout the G-League season.

9. San Antonio Spurs- Jeremy Schoan, Small Forward/Power Forward, Baylor: The Spurs could go in a various different number of directions with their first pick. Schoan's skill set is very solid as he would fit nicely with the Spurs young core.

10. Washington Wizards- AJ Griffin, Small Forward, Duke: Johnny Davis was the choice here for a ton of mocks, but there is momentum toward Griffin being the pick. Griffin had a fine season for the Blue Devils and he can come in and provide some good shooting and athleticism.

11. New York Knicks- Johnny Davis, Shooting Guard, Wisconsin: Davis falling here would be ideal for the Knicks, who could use a scorning guard that can create his own shot. Davis is a selfless player and is a good pick and roll player and gets to the line often.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Jalen Duren, Center, Memphis: The best center in this draft falling this far would be somewhat crazy. Duren has double-double potential and he and Chet Holmgren would be a super fun front court to go with Shae GIlgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

13. Charlotte Hornets- Ousame Dieng, Small Forward, France: This pick would be a reach for the Hornets, who really should be taking players that can help them right away rather than someone who's a project. Dieng was inconsistent in the NBL, but has tremendous upside with his shot making and ball handling.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ochai Agbaji, Shooting Guard, Kansas: This would be an interesting selection for the Cavaliers, who can use some depth on the wing. 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.

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- Jalen Williams, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Santa Clara: The Hawks are a wild card come Thursday because this pick is totally in play for a trade. Williams has been a big time riser of late in terms of draft prospects and showed tremendous potential as a three-and-D wing.

17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)- Tari Eason, Power Forward, LSU: With their second first rounder, I have the Rockets going with a solid player in Eason. He had a breakout season for the Tigers and is an excellent defender, but has some offensive flaws.

18. Chicago Bulls- Malaki Branham, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Ohio State: I personally think the Bulls are an unknown in terms of the draft, but here I have them getting depth on the wing. Branahm can shoot it from well from three and gets into the paint often.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves- Blake Wesley, Shooting Guard, Notre Dame: This would be an interesting pick for the T-Wovles, who have an abundance of guards. Wesley is a raw player that really didn't impress much in college, but is unafraid to score.

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Dalen Terry, Point Gaurd/Shooting Guard, Arizona: Terry is a fast rising prospect with the draft approaching next week. Terry is someone that has great character on and off the court and is the perfect type of Spurs-y player.

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 would be a great three-and-D player for the Nuggets to develop.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz)- Jaden Hardy, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Nuggets are a team that is looking to add depth on what think could be a title contender. Hardy is a player that didn't live up to hype with Unite, but has a ton of potential that he could unlock.

23. Philadelphia 76ers- Wendell Moore Jr, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke: The Nets chose to defer this pick to 2023, which says a ton about how they may feel about the 76ers next season so there is some pressure to nail this pick. I like the idea of Moore here due to his floor spacing and ability to shoot 3's.

24. Milwaukee Bucks- EJ Liddell, Power Forward, Ohio State: The Bucks are just searching for players that can help them while they have Giannis Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers. Liddell would be a nice fit here and could eventually go into that Bobby Portis role with his stability.

25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)- Nikola Jovic, Power Forward, Serbia: The Spurs going with Jovic here would be very interesting. He 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.

26. Houston Rockets (from Dallas Mavericks)- Ty Ty Washington, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Washington falling all the way to here would be a major steal for the Rockets. The fit here would be interesting to go with Jalen Green in the back court and he can play with or without the ball.

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- Jake LaRavia, Power Forward, Wake Forest: The Warriors are just looking for depth pieces at this point or they may trade out of the pick altogether. LaRavia has good aspects of the game and can shoot the three ball well, which bolds well for today's NBA.

29. Memphis Grizzlies- Kendall Brown, Small Forward, Baylor: Brown falling to the end of the first round could be a steal for the Grizzlies. Brown can come off the bench and provide solid play and has the athleticism to succeed.

30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Phoenix Suns)- Jean Montero, Shooting Guard, Overtime Elite: The Nuggets with their second first rounder, take a mystery player here in Montero. He's a solid pick and roll player, but his defense needs some work.

2022 NBA Mock Draft: Ninth Edition

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

1. Orlando Magic- Jabari Smith, Power Forward, Auburn: The Magic can have their pick of one of the big three with Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero. 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.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder- Chet Holmgren, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: The Thunder have to be doing backflips if this scenario presents itself on draft night. Holmgren is the perfect type of player for this young Thunder nucleus with his ability to create his own shot as a stretch five and protect the rim.

3. Houston Rockets- Paolo Banchero, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Rockets land a player here with a ton of skill and upside here in Banchero. With Christian Wood out of the picture now, Banchero has a better opportunity to put up some numbers and form a nice foundation with Jalen Green.

4. Sacramento Kings- Jaden Ivey, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Purdue: This would be an odd fit considering the Kings already have D'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, unless the team opts to move one of the two point guards or this pick, which the latter isn't inconceivable. Ivey is a super explosive player, but he lacks the distribution skills.

5. Detroit Pistons- Benedict Mathurin, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona: A hot rumor as we approach the draft on Thursday is that Mathurin could sneak into the top five. 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.

6. Indiana Pacers- Keegan Murray, Power Forward/Center, Purdue: Murray landing here with the Pacers would be an odd fit, unless the team opts to move Myles Turner. Murray is a very good two way big man and would fit nicely with this newer Pacers core they are putting together.

7. Portland Trail Blazers- Shaedon Sharpe, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Sharpe landing here with the Blazers is very ideal for the team from a fit standpoint. Despite not playing in the second college semester, he's a sharp three-point shooter and arguably the best athlete in the draft.

8. New Orleans Pelicans- Dyson Daniels, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: This would be a reach for the Pelicans, but more people are higher on Daniels than yours truly. Daniels is a very good defender and really showed improvement offensively throughout the G-League season.

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- Johnny Davis, Shooting Guard, Wisconsin: This would be a very interesting pick for the Wizards since Bradley Beal is the face of trade rumors. Davis is a very selfless player and even if the Wiz were to keep Beal, he and Davis would be a fun pair together on the perimeter.

11. New York Knicks- AJ Griffin, Small Forward, Duke: This pick would be a slam dunk for the Knicks, despite their need for a point guard. Griffin had a fine season for the Blue Devils and he can come in and provide some good shooting and athleticism.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Ousame Dieng, Small Forward, France: This pick would be a reach for the Thunder, but a player like Dieng is someone that the Thunder should be targeting with a later pick. Dieng was inconsistent in the NBL, but has tremendous upside with his shot making and ball handling.

13. Charlotte Hornets- Jeremy Schoan, Small Forward/Power Forward, Baylor: With their first of two picks, I have the Hornets taking the talented winger. Schoan's skill set would fit nicely with LaMelo Ball and the rest of the young talent they have.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ochai Agbaji, Shooting Guard, Kansas: This would be an interesting selection for the Cavaliers, who can use some depth on the wing. 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.

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- Jalen Williams, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Santa Clara: The Hawks are a wild card come Thursday because this pick is totally in play for a trade. Williams has been a big time riser of late in terms of draft prospects and showed tremendous potential as a three-and-D wing.

17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)- Tari Eason, Power Forward, LSU: With their second first rounder, I have the Rockets going with a solid player in Eason. He had a breakout season for the Tigers and is an excellent defender, but has some offensive flaws.

18. Chicago Bulls- Malaki Branham, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Ohio State: I personally think the Bulls are an unknown in terms of the draft, but here I have them getting depth on the wing. Branahm can shoot it from well from three and gets into the paint often.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves- Ty Ty Washington, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: I really love this possible match between Washington and the Wolves. Washington does have some flaws that concerns teams, but he and Anthony Edwards together would be a lot of fun.

20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Blake Wesley, Shooting Guard, Notre Dame: With their second first rounder, I have the Spurs going with Welsey. He somebody that can shoot the ball well, but hasn't really impressed in other aspects of the game.

21. Denver Nuggets- Jaden Hardy, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Nuggets are a team that is looking to add depth on what think could be a title contender. Hardy is a player that didn't live up to hype with Unite, but has a ton of potential that he could unlock.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz)- MarJon Beauchamp, Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: The third player from the loaded G-League Ignite team going I have Beauchamp. He is a really good scorer and would be a great three-and-D player for the Grizzlies to develop.

23. Philadelphia 76ers- Wendell Moore Jr, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke: The Nets chose to defer this pick to 2023, which says a ton about how they may feel about the 76ers next season so there is some pressure to nail this pick. I like the idea of Moore here due to his floor spacing and ability to shoot 3's.

24. Milwaukee Bucks- EJ Liddell, Power Forward, Ohio State: The Bucks are just searching for players that can help them while they have Giannis Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers. Liddell would be a nice fit here and could eventually go into that Bobby Portis role with his stability.

25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)- Kennedy Chandler, Point Guard, Tennessee: With their third first rounder, I have the Spurs going with the talented Point Gaurd. If it weren't for poor measurements, Chandler could have been a lottery pick due to his other attributes.

26. Houston Rockets (from Dallas Mavericks)- Walker Kessler, Center, Auburn: I don't know if I like the fit with Kessler on the Rockets, but he is someone worth taking this late in the first round. Kessler is a great shot blocker and could help protect the rim.

27. Miami Heat- Dalen Terry, Point Gaurd/Shooting Guard, Arizona: Terry is a fast rising prospect with the draft approaching next week and can conceivably go higher than this. Terry is someone that has great character on and off the court and is a good guy to have in the Heat Culture.

28. Golden State Warriors- Jake LaRavia, Power Forward, Wake Forest: The Warriors are just looking for depth pieces at this point or they may trade out of the pick altogether. LaRavia has good aspects of the game and can shoot the three ball well, which bolds well for today's NBA.

29. Memphis Grizzlies- Nikola Jovic, Power Forward, Serbia: Jovic falling this far back would be a steal for whomever lands him. Jovic is the safest bet among the international players due to his ability to be a stretch four and knock down threes.

30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Phoenix Suns)- Christian Braun, Shooting Guard, Kansas: With their second first rounder, I have the Nuggets going with someone I think can help them next season. Braun is an NBA-ready three-and-D wing and is good at attacking the rim.

2022 NBA Mock Draft: Eighth Edition

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

1. Orlando Magic- Jabari Smith, Power Forward, Auburn: The Magic can have their pick of one of the big three with Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero. 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.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder- Chet Holmgren, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: The Thunder have to be doing backflips if this scenario presents itself on draft night. Holmgren is the perfect type of player for this young Thunder nucleus with his ability to create his own shot as a stretch five and protect the rim.

3. Houston Rockets- Paolo Banchero, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Rockets land a player here with a ton of skill and upside here in Banchero. There are mixed thoughts about a frontcourt mix of Banchero, Chrstian Wood, and Alpren Sengun, but he and Jalen Green together is a nice foundation long term.

4. Sacramento Kings- Jaden Ivey, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Purdue: This would be an odd fit considering the Kings already have D'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, unless the team opts to move one of the two point guards or this pick, which the latter isn't inconceivable. Ivey is a super explosive player, but he lacks the distribution skills.

5. Detroit Pistons- Keegan Murray, Power Forward, Purdue: The Pistons dropping to the fifth spot is not ideal, but it may not be a complete disaster as they have a few viable options. Murray is a nice fit here as he can be a fun pick and pop partner for Cade Cunningham with his shooting ability.

6. Indiana Pacers- Benedict Mathurin, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona: A hot rumor as we approach the draft in a week is that Mathurin and the Pacers could be a match. 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.

7. Portland Trail Blazers- Jeremy Schoan, Small Forward/Power Forward, Baylor: The Blazers have a ton of options here with this selection. I like the idea of Schoan here due to the Blazers need on the wing and his elite skill set.

8. New Orleans Pelicans- Dyson Daniels, Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: This would be a reach for the Pelicans, but more people are higher on Daniels than yours truly. Daniels is a very good defender and really showed improvement offensively throughout the G-League season.

9. San Antonio Spurs- Shaedon Sharpe, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: With their first of three picks, I have the Spurs going with an intriguing prospect in Sharpe. Despite not playing in the second college semester, he's a sharp three-point shooter and arguably the best athlete in the draft.

10. Washington Wizards- Johnny Davis, Shooting Guard, Wisconsin: This would be a very interesting pick for the Wizards since Bradley Beal is the face of trade rumors. Davis is a very selfless player and even if the Wiz were to keep Beal, he and Davis would be a fun pair together on the perimeter.

11. New York Knicks- AJ Griffin, Small Forward, Duke: This pick would be a slam dunk for the Knicks, despite their need for a point guard. Griffin had a fine season for the Blue Devils and he can come in and provide some good shooting and athleticism.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Malaki Branham, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Ohio State: The Thunder go with the fast rising prospect here with their second first round. Branaham is someone that improved tremendously throughout the season and is a fabulous scorer whether it's from three or in the paint.

13. Charlotte Hornets- Jalen Duren, Center, Memphis: The Hornets need for a center is among the obvious needs for any team and here they land the drafts best center. Duren has double-double potential and he and LaMelo Ball would be a fun pick and pop duo.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ochai Agbaji, Shooting Guard, Kansas: This would be an interesting selection for the Cavaliers, who can use some depth on the wing. 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.

15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Ousame Dieng, Small Forward, France: With their second first rounder, the Hornets go with one of the drafts more interesting prospects. Dieng is a bit of a project, but he does have potential defensively and playmaking.

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)-  Jalen Williams, Shooting Guard, Santa Clara: With their second first rounder, I have the Rockets going with Williams, who I think can be a solid bench player. He has been a big time riser of late in terms of draft prospects and showed tremendous potential as a three-and-D wing.

18. Chicago Bulls- Mark Williams, Center, Duke: The third Duke player drafted in this draft I have falling to a team that can use some depth at the center position. Williams doesn't have the upside of Jalen Duren, but is very steady defensively and in the paint.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves- EJ Liddell, Power Forward, Ohio State: I really like the thought of Liddell with the Timberwolves as he would be a nice complement with their core players. 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)- Dalen Terry, Point Gaurd/Shooting Guard, Arizona: Terry is a fast rising prospect with the draft approaching next week. Terry is someone that has great character on and off the court and is the perfect type of Spurs-y player.

21. Denver Nuggets- Ty Ty Washington, Point Guard, Kentucky: Washington falling all the way down to the twenties would be somewhat surprising despite flaws teams see. Washington plays with a ton of energy and has positional versatility which would be fun with this Nuggets team.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz)- Blake Wesley, Shooting Guard, Notre Dame: The Grizzlies are a team that looks to be among the NBA title contenders next season so it's not inconceivable that they trade this pick. Wesley is somebody that can shoot the ball well, but hasn't really impressed in other aspects of the game.

23. Philadelphia 76ers- Jaden Hardy, Shooting Guard, G-League Unite: The Nets chose to defer this pick to 2023, which says a ton about how they may feel about the 76ers next season so there is some pressure to nail this pick. Hardy id a player that didn't live up to hype with Unite, but has a ton of potential that he could unlock.

24. Milwaukee Bucks- Nikola Jovic, Power Forward, Serbia: The Bucks are just searching for players that can help them while they have Giannis Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers. Jovic is a perfect fit here with the Bucks as he can come off the bench and be a stretch four.

25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)- MarJon Beauchamp, Shooting Guard, G-League Ignite: The third player from the loaded G-League Ignite team going I have Beauchamp. He is a really good scorer and would be a great three-and-D player for the Spurs to develop.

26. Houston Rockets (from Dallas Mavericks)- Caleb Houstan, Shooting Guard, Michigan: With their third first rounder, I have the Rockets going with a player I feel can have a nice impact as a rookie. Houstan was a former five star recruit that has high upside and has the skill set to succeed.

27. Miami Heat- Christian Braun, Shooting Guard, Kansas: The Heat are a strong candidate to trade out of their selection, but I do believe Braun can help the Heat. Braun is an NBA-ready three-and-D wing and is good at attacking the rim.

28. Golden State Warriors- Jake LaRavia, Power Forward, Wake Forest: The Warriors are another likely candidate to trade out of their pick. LaRavia has good aspects of the game and can shoot the three ball well, which bolds well for today's NBA.

29. Memphis Grizzlies- Kennedy Chandler, Point Guard, Tennessee: This would be a nice pick fo the Grizzlies, who are picking for depth pieces on what should be a title contender. If it weren't for poor measurements, Chandler could have been a lottery pick due to his other attributes.

30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Phoenix Suns)- David Roddy, Power Forward, Colorado State: The Nuggets get this pick from the Thunder for veteran JaMychal Green and now they continue to pick for depth pieces on a possible title contender. Roddy is someone that's a stretch four and could be a mismatch for defenders with his three point shot.