NBA Draft: Top 10 Prospects revealed for 2022 Big Board

I will be releasing my NBA Big Board 10 picks at a time. With the Indiana Pacers slotted to have a top 10-pick, potentially a pick in the middle of the draft (if Cleveland makes the playoffs), as well as a pick at the beginning and the end of the 2nd round, there are a lot of prospects to monitor and keep an eye on for this Indiana Pacers team.

In today’s article, we will look at the top 10 Prospects in the 2022 Draft on my NBA big board and discuss each player’s strengths and weaknesses. The Indiana Pacers have a chance at a top 5 pick.

1. Paolo Banchero (Duke) – 6’10” | 250 LBS | PF | 19 years old

Banchero is a special talent in this draft class with the ability to score at all three levels. The do-it-all power forward has the build to fit seamlessly into the modern NBA of position-less basketball. While Banchero prefers operating from the mid-post, he has the ability to use his speed against slower bigs in the paint. Banchero shot just 32.2% from three in his freshman year at Duke and has room to grow there. Defensively, there is a ton of potential with his size and speed, but like most young prospects, he will have to work to improve in this area. Banchero is a confident prospect who grew up playing guard before having a giant growth spurt. A 6’10” point forward with defensive potential and an all-around offensive game has sold me completely on Banchero being the prospect with the most potential in this class.

NBA Comparisons: Shades of Blake Griffin, but not as bouncy and Chris Webber

2. Jabari Smith (Auburn) – 6’10” | 210 LBS | PF | 18 years old

Smith is a lethal assassin from the three-point line, knocking down 43.6% of his attempts this season with Auburn. You won’t find a smoother shot in this years’ draft class, and with his size, he has the ability to shoot over defenders. While Smith’s shot is beautiful, he does settle for the jump-shot over taking it to the rim. Smith has natural on-court instincts and positions himself into the right spots on defense and when rebounding. With an underwhelming backcourt at Auburn and playing next to NBA draft prospect Walker Kessler, this wasn’t the perfect team or system for Smith to fully unleash all of his skillsets. Overall, Smith is a phenomenal shooter and a rising scorer. Adding some muscle over the next few seasons will only help improve Smith’s overall game as a player in the NBA.

NBA Comparisons: shades of a power forward Klay Thompson and Rashard Lewis

3.  Jaden Ivey (Purdue) – 6’4” | 200 LBS | SG | 20 years old

Ivey is the best guard in the draft. He did not play well in Purdue’s final game of the NCAA Tournament against St. Peter’s, but his athleticism and improved outside shooting is impressive. Ivey has an explosive first step and if he isn’t scoring on someone at the rim, he gets all the way into the paint and finds open teammates. The college game is a bit slow for Ivey’s skillset, which is why I believe in his game translating to the NBA. Defensively, he has the quickness to shoot into the gaps and steal passes but doesn’t always seem locked in. I think Ivey can play the point guard at the NBA level but feel his best fit would be at shooting guard. He’s more of a scoring guard than he is a pass-first guard. Overall, I love Ivey’s athleticism, how he can finish through contact, and his improved three-point shooting from his freshman year to his sophomore year.

NBA Comparisons: shades of a better shooting Ja Morant but not the floor general Morant and  Darius Garland

4.  Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga) – 7’0” | 195 LBS | PF/C | 19 years old

Holmgren is easy the most polarizing prospect in this draft class. Several analysts that cover the draft view Chet as the number-one prospect and I can see why. Holmgren was dominant at Gonzaga and posted ridiculous PER 36 numbers this season: 18.9 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 4.9 BPG with shooting splits of 60.7% / 39.0% / 79.9%. The knock-on on Chet is his weight compared to his height. It’s a valid concern, but I think sometimes we can overthink these things. It will impact his ability to guard bigger centers like Jokic and Embiid, but every NBA player struggles with that task. When the Pacers had Sabonis and Turner together you saw teams place wings on Turner instead of using their center to guard him; I think Chet will be put in the same position as Turner was. Having bigger wings on him compared to centers will make it harder to score from the perimeter, and he doesn’t have the proper tools (yet) to take advantage of smaller defenders in the post. Overall, Chet could be the unicorn player that his stats and many analysts believe he is…or he could be a project player that doesn’t ever fully reach his ceiling.

NBA Comparisons: shades of Kristpas Porzingis and Rudy Gobert

5. Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky) – 6’6” | 200 LBS | SG | 18 years old

The mystery box that Shaedon Sharpe is puts him as the most difficult prospect to properly rank in this year’s draft class. With his athleticism, frame, and age, I can see a case where he just blows away NBA scouts and catapults one of the projected Top 4 prospects, and gets drafted higher than expected. Not playing in the second semester at Kentucky could have a negative impact on him, but I also think it might be to his advantage. While playing in high school, he was a score-first type of player, but also knows how to play the right way and make the right pass. Defensively he can get into the passing lanes and has had some highlight blocks. Sharpe didn’t run an offensive system that would get him ready for the NBA. This is where playing at Kentucky could’ve benefited him, as scouts could then see how he plays in the pick and roll. Overall, Sharpe is probably worth the gamble and is definitely a ‘swing for the fences’ type of prospect. Whoever drafts him will get praised for years and years, because I see big things in store for Sharpe, but it could take a year or two for him to adjust to the NBA game.

NBA Comparisons: shades of Donavan Mitchell and Bradly Beal

6. Keegan Murray (Iowa) – 6’8” | 225 LBS | PF | 21 years old

What a turnaround for the unranked high school product. Murray is a well-deserving lottery pick in this year’s draft. He has the size, the skill set, and the talent to be an All-Star in the NBA. Murray averaged 23.3 ppg and shot 38.0% from three this season. He has a high IQ, can score in multiple ways, and has the size defensively to hold his own. He plays within the flow of the game and lets the game come to him. With his ability to score from three, catch the occasional lob pass, and can knock down a mid-range jumper, he will be a handful in the pick-and-roll. He’s an older sophomore at 21-years old, which some young rebuilding teams might hold against him. In college, teams with more size impacted his overall play. But overall, Murray has a high floor with a middle-low ceiling. I don’t see a superstar in his game, but I see a solid all-star level player if he reaches his full potential.

NBA Comparisons: shades of T.J. Warren, P.J. Washington, and Al Horford

7. Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona) – 6’7” | 195 LBS | SG | 19 years old

With a quick first step, a ton of athleticism, and a solid shot from three, Mathurin is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class. He improved drastically from his freshmen year to his sophomore year and helped lead Arizona to a 33-4 record this season. Defensively he can intercept passes like a cornerback making a game-changing interception. Mathurin will have to improve his handle, learn to be more careful with the basketball, and figure out how to finish through contact against longer, taller defenders.

NBA Comparisons: Shades of Indiana Pacers Victor Oladipo and DeMar DeRozan

8. AJ Griffin (Duke) – 6’6” | 225 LBS | SF | 18 years old

The young forward out of Duke has a unique shot, but it goes in, especially from three where he shot 48.3% on 120 attempts this season. He has the length and size to be a solid NBA defender and has a great work ethic. AJ is the son of 10-time NBA player Adrian Griffin with an all-around game. He plays the game the right way. Doesn’t turn the ball over often and has shown flashes of a good offensive creator. He did however miss almost two years of high school due to a knee and ankle injury. Playing on a loaded Duke team might have taken away some opportunities for him to showcase his overall game and might have hurt his draft stock, but it also shows that he can coexist with a talented roster.

NBA Comparisons: shades of Jimmy Butler (more so his size and strength than overall skillset) and Jordan Hamilton

9. Jalen Duren (Memphis) – 6-11” | 250 LBS | C | 18 years old

Duren is one of the youngest players in this draft class and has the frame of a basketball starter already. At 6’11” and a 7’5” wingspan, is the best center in this draft class. He knows what is as a player. He took just one three all season at Memphis but shot 60% from two while protecting the paint with 2.2 blocks per game. As a young big man, he struggled at times to stay out of foul trouble and can get caught watching the ball. He is not a good free-throw shooter and doesn’t have a good back-to-the-basket game. Overall, he is a rim-running, lob-catching, shot-blocking big with extreme athleticism. Is active on both the offensive and defensive glass and has shown flashes of playmaking on the perimeter.

NBA Comparisons: shades of Dwight Howard and De’Andre Jordan

10. Tari Eason (LSU) – 6’8” | 216 LBS | F | 20 years old

Eason is one of the best defenders in this draft class. He has the size at 6’8” to guard bigger wings but has the speed to stay with quicker wings. He is so versatile that if he is playing the small-ball 5, you can switch everything. Offensively, he shot a good percentage (37.1%) on a low number of attempts (70) from three, has the ability to turn defensive turnovers/boards into fastbreak points, and also puts the pressure on opposing defenses, getting to the foul line at a high rate. He is bouncy and can finish through contact. At times, Eason can get a little reckless with his ball-handling and decision-making, but overall, he is a very intriguing player with a ton of upside.

NBA Comparisons: Shades of Jerami Grant, Pascal Siakam, and Thad Young

Picks 11-20 will be released next week in our NBA Draft Big Board.