With the 2021-22 season officially over with the Golden State Warriors claiming their seventh title in franchise history, all teams now have their sights set on the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, which is slated less than a week from now.
The Indiana Pacers, owning their highest selection yet in more than 30 years, will be picking sixth as things currently stand, though that could change depending on possible moves that may transpire on or before draft day. The same can also be said for all teams in possession of their draft picks.
With just few days remaining before the selections are revealed, here is the fifth edition of our NBA Mock Draft where we project all the first-round picks for all teams.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 1-3)
1. Orlando Magic – Jabari Smith | PF | Auburn | 6’10” | 210 LBS
With a massive chance to make a rapid franchise turnaround after a decade of mediocrity, the Orlando Magic should gun for the best clear-cut prospect in this draft. Jabari Smith fits that picture as a bona fide scoring forward who is great defensively, versatile, and possesses a tremendous, modern skill set that should set him up for numerous accolades in his career.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Chet Holmgren | PF/C | Gonzaga | 7’0” | 195 LBS
Picking Chet Holmgren is a tad riskier than picking Smith, but the intriguing big man easily has the highest upside among everyone in the draft. Concerns about his physique will certainly come knocking often, but he has an extraordinary mix of shooting, defense, passing, and scoring, making for one of the most unique players to ever come out of the NBA Draft. The rebuilding OKC Thunder should finally be able to get their franchise big man with the Gonzaga standout.
3. Houston Rockets – Paolo Banchero | PF | Duke | 6’10” | 250 LBS
Paolo Banchero measured up at 6″10 at the combine without shoes. Anyway, beyond his eye-popping physical tools, the Duke alum projects as a double-double machine whose prowess as a scorer and defender would normally make him an undisputed top pick in any other draft. Trading Christian Wood for, well, something should be a prelude to the Houston Rockets picking Banchero, right?
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 4-6)
4. Sacramento Kings – Jaden Ivey | SG | Purdue | 6’4” | 200 LBS
The Sacramento Kings seem poised to pull a Sacramento Kings as they are rumored to be gauging interest for their fourth pick, but they can easily find an immediate contributor to their urgent playoff push in this draft. One player who should fit them well is Jaden Ivey, an explosive backcourt scorer who can solve the Kings’ dearth of offensive creators outside of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
5. Detroit Pistons – Shaedon Sharpe | SG | Kentucky | 6’5.25” | 198 LBS
Shaedon Sharpe’s draft stock has been falling recently, but his oozing potential alone should be enough to entice a team or two to take a flier on him, despite the emerging red flags. The Detroit Pistons could cut their way into this sequence, as they need a backcourt mate to complement Cade Cunningham.
6. Indiana Pacers – Keegan Murray | PF | Iowa | 6’8” | 225 LBS
The Indiana Pacers have to gun for the best available talent left in the NBA Draft with their highest pick yet in decades, but questions of fit could also dictate their strategy. Fortunately for them, in picking Keegan Murray, a versatile power forward, they check both boxes as regards raw talent and finding a good-fitting prospect to mitigate the team’s clear roster holes.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 7-9)
7. Portland Trail Blazers – AJ Griffin | SF | Duke | 6’6” | 222 LBS
The Portland Trail Blazers have an urgent need to bolster their wing rotation, making AJ Griffin an attractive option for them at pick no. 7, with his three-point marksmanship fitting perfectly on their perimeter-focused offense. In addition, his reliable defense could help give their putrid defense a fighting chance.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from LAL) – Bennedict Mathurin | SG | Arizona | 6’6” | 205 LBS
Following a surprise postseason appearance, the New Orleans Pelicans can further add to their solid young core with Bennedict Mathurin, The Arizona standout is a steady perimeter threat who could immediately contribute for them next season with his great athleticism and overall mature, NBA-ready skillset.
9. San Antonio Spurs – Tari Eason | PF | LSU | 6’8” | 217 LBS
The San Antonio Spurs are in an unsteady position in the West, but another rare lottery appearance could improve their playoff chances next season. One point of emphasis to improve on is in the frontcourt, where they are clearly lacking. This is where Tari Eason could appeal to them, as the LSU alum has a rare mix of size, scoring, defending, and rebounding as a do-it-all forward.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 10-12)
10. Washington Wizards – Dyson Daniels | SG | G League | 6’7.5” | 195 LBS
Dyson Daniels’ NBA Draft stock has increased in recent weeks, which is not a surprise taking into account his sky-high upside as a lanky shot creator with a barrage of moves in his arsenal. Combine that with his solid playmaking, and the Washington Wizards could be in for a good building block as they brace for Bradley Beal’s possible departure.
11. New York Knicks – Johnny Davis | SG | Wisconsin | 6’5.75” | 196 LBS
The New York Knicks disappointed this season, but they will have a chance of redemption as long as they nail this offseason. All things start with the draft, and considering their lack of depth in the backcourt, Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis could be someone to zero in, a big combo guard who can score, facilitate, and even post up smaller defenders.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LAC) – Jeremy Sochan | PF | Baylor | 6’9” | 230 LBS
Even after nabbing one of the consensus top three in the draft, the OKC Thunder have to address their thin frontcourt deck. Thus, they could take a hard look on Jeremy Sochan, an energetic big man who can score in a multitude of ways from the post and from the perimeter using his athleticism and high motor.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 13-15)
13. Charlotte Hornets – Jalen Duren | C | Memphis | 6’11” | 250 LBS
Having lacked a solid center for quite a while now, Jalen Duren is a no-brainer for the Charlotte Hornets at this juncture if he remains on the board. A traditional, paint-heavy big man, the Memphis standout is an excellent rebounder and an impeccable shot blocker who could be the team’s best option at the position next season.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers – TyTy Washington | PG/SG | Kentucky | 6’3.75” | 196 LBS
The Cleveland Cavaliers could pursue a reunion with Ricky Rubio, who was traded after a season-ending ACL injury, but drafting someone like TyTy Washington could be more practical and logical. After all, the Kentucky combo guard profiles as a poised, athletic backcourt scorer who can be a reliable playmaker and defender at the same time.
15. Charlotte Hornets (from NOP) – EJ Liddell | PF | Ohio State | 6’7” | 243 LBS
EJ Liddell may not be the most talented prospect left at this point, but he is an NBA-ready forward whose mobility and versatility at the forward position could pay dividends for a Hornets team facing the possibility of losing Miles Bridges and trading away PJ Washington in the offseason.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 16-18)
16. Atlanta Hawks – Ochai Agbaji | SG | Kansas | 6’5.75” | 217 LBS
The Atlanta Hawks face a bit of an uncertainty regarding DeAndre Hunter. As an added security (and to bolster their poor defense), Kansas alum Ochai Agbaji could be a logical target for them, as he is a very athletic swingman who plays with a lot of hustle on both ends of the floor and can thrive without the ball in his hands.
17. Houston Rockets (from BKN) – Kennedy Chandler | PG | Tennessee | 6’0.75” | 172 LBS
With a lot of youth on their roster, the Houston Rockets were a rather sloppy bunch last season. To keep things more under control, drafting a point guard could pique their interest. Kennedy Chandler could be a good solution to this problem as a skilled floor general who excels in driving to the rack to score and kick out to open shooters.
18. Chicago Bulls – Mark Williams | C | Duke | 7’2” | 242 LBS
The Chicago Bulls were exploited in the playoffs in large part due to their lack of size. Shoring up their big man rotation outside of Nikola Vucevic is non-negotiable, making Mark Williams an attractive prospect for them. The Duke product can be an enforcing presence in the interior with his excellent shot blocking skills and great presence on the boards.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 19-21)
19. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kendall Brown | SF | Baylor | 6’7.5” | 201 LBS
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ vast improvement in defense catalyzed their breakout this season, but they will need to keep building on that identity to remain in the playoff discussion. That being said, forward Kendall Brown is a versatile defender who can cover a lot of ground with his physical tools, good motor, and athletic ability.
20. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) – Ousmane Dieng | SF | New Zealand | 6’9” | 185 LBS
If anything, the Spurs need size to break free from their uber-reliance on small-ball lineups. And with a solid pedigree in developing international prospects, Gregg Popovich and company could deem Ousmane Dieng a steal at no. 20 as an athletic, versatile forward who can score and pass.
21. Denver Nuggets – Malaki Branham | SG | Ohio State | 6’5.5” | 195 LBS
With back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic needing more scoring support behind him, the Nuggets must seek to infuse more offense to their roster. With Jamal Murray’s form post-injury still unknown, someone like Malaki Branham could give them more security on that front, with the combo guard being a skilled scorer who excels in dribble drive actions.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 22-24)
22. Memphis Grizzlies (from UTA) – Jaden Hardy | SG | G League | 6’4” | 190 LBS
NBA Draft forecasts on Jaden Hardy have been inconsistent due to his relatively subpar season in the G-League, but his upside remains lofty. Fortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies have a great development staff that can still hone his abilities as a scorer. More so, if Tyus Jones proves to be too expensive to keep, Hardy can even sneak into their rotation next season.
23. Brooklyn Nets (from PHI) – Marjon Beauchamp | SG | G League | 6’6.5” | 197 LBS
The Brooklyn Nets have to rework their roster next season, primarily by infusing more youth to their aging lineup. G-League alum Marjon Beauchamp makes sense for the start-studded Nets, as the shooting guard is a natural scorer who is impactful on the defensive end with his penchant for racking up steals and blocks.
24. Milwaukee Bucks – Walker Kessler | C | Auburn | 7’1” | 256 LBS
The Milwaukee Bucks’s expensive roster could limit them in their pursuit of re-signing Bobby Portis. Should they deal away Brook Lopez for financial reasons, Walker Kessler could be a good option for them, as the big man is capable of operating on the post, hitting perimeter shots, and blocking attempts at the rim.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 25-27)
25. San Antonio Spurs (from BOS) – Nikola Jovic | SF | Mega Basket | 6’11” | 223 LBS
With three first-round selections in the 2022 NBA Draft, San Antonio can afford to make a swing pick here. Banking on promise at large, Serbian prospect Nikola Jovic could be a classic Spurs pick as a skilled and savvy combo forward who can shoot and pass, and has an intriguing physical profile to complement his high basketball IQ to boot.
26. Houston Rockets (from DAL) – Blake Wesley | SG | Notre Dame | 6’4.25” | 187 LBS
Getting more likely to trading Eric Gordon this summer, the Houston Rockets can zoom in on Blake Wesley as possible option to fill his role off the bench. While he’s not the gunner that the veteran is, he is an overly athletic guard who can convert reel-worthy dunks and pressure opposing players on defense as a multi-positional stopper.
27. Miami Heat – Jalen Williams | SF | Santa Clara | 6’5.75” | 209 LBS
Despite missing the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat remain contenders next season. Still, they face come uncertainty regarding their wing players. Thus, Jalen Williams could be a strong fit for them, with the Santa Clara alum being yet another solid shooter and athlete who can thrive in their motion offense.
2022 NBA Draft Mock 5.0 (Picks 28-30)
28. Golden State Warriors – Jake LaRavia | SF | Wake Forest | 6’8” | 227LBS
The reigning NBA champions do not have an urgent need for any position right now, but with Otto Porter Jr. (free agency) and Andre Iguodala (possible retirement) as flight risks, forward Jake LaRavia could be an attractive option for them as a solid perimeter threat who can pass the ball and fit in team concepts.
29. Memphis Grizzlies – Patrick Baldwin Jr. | SF/PF | Milwaukee | 6’10.25” | 231 LBS
Intriguing yet risky, the Grizzlies could be the perfect destination for Patrick Baldwin Jr. who, despite an underwhelming recent campaign, remains a high-upside prospect as a skilled combo forward who projects as an all-around scorer who can post up, defend multiple positions and rebound with his athleticism.
30. Denver Nuggets (from OKC) – Dalen Terry | SG/PG | Arizona | 6’7.25” | 195 LBS
Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton are big question marks for the Denver Nuggets heading to the following campaign. Combine that with their glaring backcourt needs, and Dalen Terry becomes a good fit, as the Arizona wing is an all-around, two-way player who can not only score, but also distribute the ball as a de facto point guard in spurts.