After being disappointed in the lottery, the Pacers would be ecstatic to grab a player of Murray’s caliber at this spot in the draft. The Pacers will look to fill out their forward depth with a backcourt of Chris Duarte, Buddy Hield, Tyrese Haliburton, and Malcolm Brogdon. The Iowa product was a pitbull in college, showing he’s a defensive anchor with excellent touch on the ball.
With Anfernee Simons headed to restricted free agency, CJ McCollum gone, and Damian Lillard ever-aging, the Blazers need to take a risk on a high-level prospect like Griffin. Viewed as a top-5 guy just months ago, injuries and poor stretches of play sent him tumbling down draft boards. Despite this, the Duke product is an excellent three-point shooter and has one of the highest ceilings in this draft.
8. New Orleans Pelicans – Bennedict Mathurin (SG – Arizona)
After posting a decent season that saw them fall short of the playoffs, the Pelicans will look to add an NBA-ready player like Mathurin to pair with the group of CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram. Grabbing the sharpshooter who nailed down a 36.9% rate from behind the arc should help the Pelicans improve from their 27th ranking in three-point percentage in 2022. Mathurin also brings electric defense and solid playmaking, which should help him be in the rotation from Day 1.
9. San Antonio Spurs – Jeremy Sochan (PF – Baylor)
We know the Spurs love playing excellent defense, and there may not be a player better at defending 1-5 in this class. Sochan is an excellent offensive weapon and playmaker that can help struggling Spurs like Lonnie Walker and Keldon Johnson take the next step in their progression while also easing the pressure off first-time All-Star Dejounte Murray.
10. Washington Wizards – Johnny Davis (SG – Wisconsin)
Rumors have speculated two things out of Washington. One, Bradley Beal wants out. Two, the Wizards are desperate to take a guard. In comes Jonny Davis, who averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.2 3-pointers per game this past season. The upside of playmaking and excellent shooting makes for Bradley Beal insurance if he does get traded.
11. New York Knicks – TyTy Washington (PG – Kentucky)
The Knicks have struggled at the PG position for what feels like a decade now. With depth at the position of Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, and Miles McBride, the Knicks would be wise to snatch up Washington. During his time at Kentucky, he flashed excellent playmaking skills, to the tune of a 27% assist rate, 11th in the SEC. Washington’s playmaking and scoring ability can ease the pressure off lone playmaker RJ Barrett.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ousmane Dieng (SF – New Zealand)
If the Thunder were to stay on brand, selecting Dieng would be just that. A high-upside, intriguing prospect out of New Zealand. This young forward stands at 6’9″ and has the position versatility to guard nearly every player on the court. He’s a bit raw, but he flashed at several points last season, including busting out NBA range and playmaking ability. With the Thunder in no rush to get better, swinging for the fences on a prospect like Dieng makes sense.
13. Charlotte Hornets – Mark Williams (C – Duke)
Williams remains in the same spot for me yet again. It’s cut and dry — the Hornets need rim protection and a lob threat to pair with superstar LaMelo Ball. Last season, the frontcourt was manned by Mason Plumlee and Montrezl Harrell, leading the Hornets to a 15th overall ranking in rebounds per game. That’s simply not good enough. With Williams having shades of Robert Williams in Boston, the Hornets might be giddy seeing what their Eastern Conference rivals are doing.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers – Ochai Agbaji (G – Kansas)
In 2022, Cleveland put the NBA on notice. They’re coming. With young, ascending stars like Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and the return of Collin Sexton, the league should start worrying about Cleveland. With two ball-centric scoring guards, two bruising centers, and a dynamic wing scorer, the Cavaliers could use some help at the shooting guard position. In comes Agbaji, a sniper from behind the arc. During his days with the Jayhawks, he shot 41% from three range and could be an excellent drive and kick partner with Sexton and Garland.
15. Charlotte Hornets – Tari Eason (SF – LSU)
Rebuilding the frontcourt should be a clear priority. Adding Mark Williams and Tari Eason would help jolt the rebuild for the Hornets. Eason a stretch four that can space the floor and open up things for LaMelo Ball to facilitate and make plays. Eason’s also an excellent defender and provides a raw skill that a good team can tap into.
16. Atlanta Hawks – Shaedon Sharpe (SG – Kentucky)
We know Atlanta loves to shoot the three-ball, and adding Kentucky product Shaedon Sharpe would be an excellent fit into that mold. Sharpe has seen his stock continue to dwindle, a three-and-d specialist who was projected to be a top-five guy before the college season. Despite this, NBA circles have said he is the biggest wild card in the entire draft.
17. Houston Rockets – Malaki Branham (SG – Ohio State)
We’ve known Houston as a lights-out shooting team for a while, even without James Harden; they ranked seventh in threes per game last season. Adding one of the best college shooters in the game, averaging 17.3 points per game in the second half of the college season, would be an excellent move for Houston. Branham is a large wing defender with a high defensive IQ and projects to be an excellent starter for years to come.
18. Chicago Bulls – Jalen Duren (C – Memphis)
An 18-year-old freak defender, Duren was college basketball’s most feared rim protector. Duren’s game has shades of Robert Williams, a shot-blocking lob threat. He makes too much sense for the Bulls, who struggled in the frontcourt last season.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jalen Williams (G/F – Santa Clara)
This young G Leaguer continues to skyrocket up draft boards after nailing workouts and having off-the-charts measurables at the combine. Not only did he display it in workouts and combine drills, but he was also just an excellent last season adding in 18.0 points and 4.2 assists per game. His off-the-charts shooting ability should pair nicely with wild playmakers in D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Jovic (G – Serbia)
Name a more iconic duo than young raw international prospects and Greg Popovich. I’ll wait. Jovic is a classic Spurs guy: intelligent, scrappy, has room for upside and is a dynamic off-ball shooter. With Lonnie Walker not being precisely what the team hoped for in a small forward, Jovic can be all that and more.
21. Denver Nuggets – Blake Wesley (SG – Notre Dame)
This is a trendy pick amongst the NBA community. This 19-year-old is a fantastic hunter on offense with the ability to create shots and facilitate. He’s a raw prospect, but pairing him with Nikola Jokic and returning studs Michael Porter Jr. and Jamaal Murray could ease the transition on this young prospect.
22. Memphis Grizzlies – Walker Kessler (C – Auburn)
In the playoffs, you saw the Grizzlies get exposed on defense and offense by the champs, thanks to poor play by Steven Adams. Swapping in a faster rim protector like Kessler should help the Grizzlies continue to get faster on offense and defense. Kessler should pair nicely with Jaren Jackson Jr, which would cause significant issues for opposing teams.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (Nets have deferred option to swap to 2023) – E.J. Liddell (PF – Ohio State)
After the departure of depth pieces in Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, we saw the 76ers take a significant step back in shooting and rim protection. Both of those are standouts for Ohio State product E.J. Lidell. During his days at the U, he swatted 2.6 shots per game and knocked down threes at a 37.4% rate. He makes an excellent bench piece for a win-now team like the 76ers.
24. Milwaukee Bucks – Dalen Terry (G – Arizona)
It wasn’t too long ago that Terry was drawing praise as a potential high lottery selection. After an offseason and a few bumps in the road, he may find himself in a nice situation in Milwaukee. His ability to play off the ball and create offense, paired with his switching ability on defense, compares similarly to Marcus Smart’s game. If the Bucks can add a player like this, things are looking up for 2022-2023.
25. San Antonio Spurs – MarJon Beauchamp (F – G League Ignite)
I talked about struggling guards in Lonnie Walker and Keldon Johnson above. Putting pressure on them by adding in Beachamp would be beneficial. He’s a Spurs-type player that is long, versatile, and excellent on defense. He can score at will and is likely the most polished pro prospect.
26. Houston Rockets – Caleb Houston (SF – Michigan)
Another sniper from range, Houston flashed a 35.5% shot from Threeland in 2022. Houston is best known for his off-the-charts scoring ability, and pairing him in a potential 6th man role on Houston would help grow his game as a pro.
27. Miami Heat – Kennedy Chandler (G – Tennessee)
During this last playoff series with the Celtics, we saw Miami get exposed in the half-court offense. The lack of a true ball-moving point guard in a half-court setting hurt them, and adding Chandler could help improve it. Chandler led the Volunteers to an SEC title this past season, averaging 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 3-pointers in nearly 31 minutes per game. He’s a 38% shooter from three, which the team loves, and can help create and ease the pressure off an aging Kyle Lowry.
28. Golden State Warriors – Jake LaRavia (F – Wake Forest)
Your 2022 NBA Champions, congrats. The rich get richer with this selection. LaRavia is an elite-level defender that can comfortably guard three positions on the court. He also flashed marksmanship at Wake Forest and is a noted selfless player. His ability to move freely without the ball and spot up from range is precisely the type of player the champs need to run it back.
29. Memphis Grizzlies – Kendall Brown (SF – Baylor)
This freshman arrived early and set the sport on notice. Both he and teammate Jeremy Sochan are projected first-rounders in this class. Brown is a floor stretching, long, athletic defender that will help the Grizzlies limit the minutes of Kyle Anderson, who was a no-show in the playoffs.
30. Denver Nuggets – Jaden Hardy (G – G League Ignite)
This young guard has seen his stock fall tremendously. Once a projected top-15 pick, scouts now question if he’s even a first-round talent. However, Hardy is a gifted scorer with an excellent handle on the ball that allows him to create space for himself and his teammates. With an evident lack of depth at the guard and scorer positions, the Nuggets should look to add as much offensive talent as possible around Nikola Jokic.
Second Round
31. Indiana Pacers – Trevor Keels (SF – Duke)
32. Orlando Magic – Christian Braun (SG – Kansas)
33. Toronto Raptors – Bryce McGowens (SG – Nebraska)
34. Oklahoma City Thunder – Wendell Moore Jr. (SF – Duke)
35. Orlando Magic – Andrew Nembhard (G – Gonzaga)
36. Portland Trail Blazers – Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF – Milwaukee)
37. Sacramento Kings – Jaylin Williams (PF – Arkansas)
38. San Antonio Spurs – David Roddy (SF – Colorado State)
39. Cleveland Cavaliers – Hugo Besson (PG – New Zealand)
40. Minnesota Timberwolves – Ryan Rollins (G – Toledo)
41. New Orleans Pelicans – Peyton Watson (SF – UCLA)
42. New York Knicks – Christian Koloko (C – Arizona)
43. Los Angeles Clippers – Justin Lewis (SF – Marquette)
44. Atlanta Hawks – Max Christie (G/F – Michigan State)
45. Charlotte Hornets – Harrison Ingram (SF – Stanford)
46. Detroit Pistons – Jabari Walker (PF – Colorado)
47. Memphis Grizzlies – Gabriele Procida (SF – Italy)
48. Sacramento Kings – Josh Minott (PF – Memphis)
49. Minnesota Timberwolves – Moussa Diabate (PF – Michigan)
50. Golden State Warriors – Alondez Williams (G – Wake Forest)
51. Minnesota Timberwolves – Michael Foster (F – G League Ignite)
52. New Orleans Pelicans – Trevion Williams (C – Purdue)
53. Boston Celtics – Aminu Mohammed (SG – Georgetown)
54. Washington Wizards – Dominick Barlow (F – Overtime Elite)
55. Golden State Warriors – Johnny Juzang (G – UCLA)
56. Cleveland Cavaliers – Zvonimir Ivisic (C – Croatia)
57. Portland Trailblazers – JD Davison (PG – Alabama)
58. Indiana Pacers – Bryson Williams (F – Texas Tech)
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