Draft day is finally here. After years of evaluating the prospects in this class, the 2022 NBA Draft has arrived with plenty of uncertainty throughout the first round. The Orlando Magic are on the clock at No. 1 overall. The expectation has been that Orlando will select Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. with the top pick, but that still hasn’t been confirmed hours before the draft starts.
Before we get to the mock draft, we’re going to reheat all of the draft coverage we’ve done throughout this cycle. Read our top-60 draft board here. Check out our piece on why Duke forward Paolo Banchero is the best player in the class. Here’s our case for why Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren is our No. 2 overall player. We did a comprehensive scouting report on our No. 3 overall player Jaden Ivey. We also did a scouting report on Shaedon Sharpe, and a feature on the rise and fall of Patrick Baldwin Jr. as a top draft prospect. Oh yeah, we already published a breakdown on the top player in the 2023 NBA Draft, French big man Victor Wembanyama, who might be the best prospect since LeBron.
Here’s our final mock draft. We’ll have news and rumors after the table.
NBA mock draft 2022: Final draft day first round picks
| Pick | Team | Player | From | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick | Team | Player | From | Position | Age |
| 1 | Orlando Magic | Paolo Banchero | Duke | Forward | Freshman |
| 2 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | Forward/Big | Freshman |
| 3 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. | Auburn | Forward/Big | Freshman |
| 4 | Sacramento Kings | Keegan Murray | Iowa | Forward | Sophomore |
| 5 | Detroit Pistons | Jaden Ivey | Purdue | Guard | Sophomore |
| 6 | Indiana Pacers | Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | Guard | Sophomore |
| 7 | Portland Trail Blazers | Dyson Daniels | G League | Wing | Born 2003 |
| 8 | New Orleans Pelicans | Shaedon Sharpe | Kentucky | Guard | Freshman |
| 9 | San Antonio Spurs | Jalen Duren | Memphis | Center | Freshman |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | Guard | Sophomore |
| 11 | New York Knicks | AJ Griffin | Duke | Wing | Freshman |
| 12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Ousmane Dieng | France | Forward | Born 2003 |
| 13 | Charlotte Hornets | Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | Forward | Freshman |
| 14 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Malaki Branham | Ohio State | Guard | Freshman |
| 15 | Charlotte Hornets | Mark Williams | Duke | Center | Freshman |
| 16 | Atlanta Hawks | Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | Wing | Senior |
| 17 | Houston Rockets | Tari Eason | LSU | Forward | Sophomore |
| 18 | Chicago Bulls | Jalen Williams | Santa Clara | Guard | Junior |
| 19 | Minnesota Timberwolves | TyTy Washington | Kentucky | Guard | Freshman |
| 20 | San Antonio Spurs | Nikola Jovic | Serbia | Forward | Born 2003 |
| 21 | Denver Nuggets | EJ Liddell | Ohio State | Forward | Junior |
| 22 | Memphis Grizzlies | Blake Wesley | Notre Dame | Guard | Freshman |
| 23 | Philadelphia 76ers | MarJon Beauchamp | G League | Wing | Born 2000 |
| 24 | Milwaukee Bucks | Walker Kessler | Auburn | Center | Sophomore |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics) | Jaden Hardy | G League | Guard | Born 2002 |
| 26 | Houston Rockets | Dalen Terry | Arizona | Guard | Sophomore |
| 27 | Miami Heat | Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | Guard | Freshman |
| 28 | Golden State Warriors | Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | Forward | Freshman |
| 29 | Memphis Grizzlies | Jake LaRavia | Wake Forest | Forward | Junior |
| 30 | Denver Nuggets | Jalen Williams | Santa Clara | Guard | Junior |
Latest NBA Draft and trade rumors
Here’s the latest rumors regarding the draft. We’ll try to keep this section updated through the day.
The Pelicans are tempted to take Ousmane Dieng at No. 8
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Dieng at No. 8 to the Pelicans in his latest mock draft. Dieng reportedly wowed Pelicans brass in a workout, and will earn serious consideration for the pick.
The Kings like Keegan Murray at No. 4, but Jaden Ivey is still in play
Jaden Ivey is widely considered to be a top-four prospect in this class, but Sacramento apparently has its eyes on Iowa forward Keegan Murray. The team reportedly set up a dinner between Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and De’Aaron Fox, per Yahoo’s Chris Haynes. It was previously reported that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive likes Murray, and Ivey doesn’t love his fit in Sacramento.
Jerami Grant traded from Pistons to Trail Blazers
All it cost Portland was Milwaukee’s 2025 first round pick. It feels like a big win for the Blazers to pick-up a two-way veteran wing for such a low price. Meanwhile, Detroit is clearing out cap space to possibly make a run at Deandre Ayton. Read SB Nation’s coverage of the deal below:
The Trail Blazers are offering No. 7 to the Raptors for OG Anunoby
Portland Trail Blazers are in pursuit of Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby with the No. 7 pick in Thursday’s draft in play, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 22, 2022
This is a no-brainer offer for Portland. It would be surprising if Toronto actually accepted it.
The Hawks and Spurs are talking about a Dejounte Murray trade
San Antonio is asking for a “Jrue Holiday-like package” in return for Murray, per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer. The Bucks traded three first round picks for Holiday in 2020.
Malcolm Brogdon is very available
The Pacers plan to reshape their roster and move towards a rebuild under Rick Carlisle, per @wojespn. Indiana likes multiple prospects in the late-lottery in hopes of adding another pick.
Malcolm Brogdon will be moved, and they may wait to find better offers on Myles Turner.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 22, 2022
Who wants Malcolm Brogdon? The Pacers are searching for additional picks throughout the first round, according to Woj.
Myles Turner suitors include Timberwolves, Raptors, and Hornets
That’s from Jake Fischer at B/R.
The Hawks want to trade John Collins
One thing that is certain: the Atlanta Hawks, sources say, are operating with the goal of trading John Collins before Thursday night gets underway. https://t.co/a6TWhJk13S
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 22, 2022
The Bulls are shopping No. 18 + Coby White
Chicago is exploring the trade market because they don’t love their options with the pick, per Givony.
How to watch the 2022 NBA Draft
- Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- TV: ESPN
- Stream: WatchESPN
We’ll update his section with major rumors throughout the day. Here’s a final link to all of our draft coverage this year.
