NBA draft 2022: First-round pick-by-pick analysis and complete results
The NBA welcomed its newest class of rookies to the league Thursday night during the 2022 draft from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
There were some surprises. It started at No. 1 when the Orlando Magic tabbed Paolo Banchero with the top pick. Jabari Smith of Auburn, who was widely expected to go first, fell to the No. 3 spot and the Houston Rockets.
Draft night also is always a time for trades, and this year is no different. The Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade with the New York Knicks for the No. 11 pick and Ousmane Dieng of New Zealand Breakers for three future conditional first-round picks.
In another draft-day trade, the Detroit Pistons acquired No. 13 pick Jalen Duren and Knicks guard Kemba Walker in a three-team deal.
And the Philadelphia 76ers reportedly moved Danny Green and the No. 23 pick to Memphis as part of trade to acquire De’Anthony Melton.
USA TODAY Sports recapped the entire 2022 NBA draft with all 58 picks (two second-round picks were forfeited), plus pick-by-pick analysis from Jeff Zillgitt, Cydney Henderson, Matt Eppers and Larry Starks on each of the first-round selections.
FIRST ROUND
1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, Duke
The Magic need help on the offensive end. The team finished last season 28th in effective field goal percentage, 28th in free throw rate, 27th in offensive rebounding percentage and 23rd in turnover rate. Look no further than Paolo Banchero, who can add versality to the Magic’s offense with his physical tools (size, strength, speed) and on-court skills. He can pass, handle the ball, drive to the basket and finish near the rim and possesses solid footwork. He’s easily the most NBA-ready player among the top projected top five. The 6-10 Banchero averaged 17.2 points on 47.8% shooting from the field, in addition to 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in his only season at Duke, which marked Mike Krzyzewski’ final season.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Holmgren has immense potential, with an impressive all-around skillset for a modern NBA big man. With his elite rim protection and shot-blocking, he fills an immediate need for the Thunder as an interior defender. He has a versatile offensive game and has shown the ability to handle the ball, shoot from the outside and finish at the rim. Holmgren will need to add strength to reach his peak on offense, but the Thunder can give him time to develop behind top options Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.
3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, Auburn
Smith was widely expected to the No. 1 pick but instead went No. 3. He only worked out for the Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith averaged 42% on his 3-pointers (5.5 attempts), which could make him a good fit in Houston. At his size, he is difficult to defend. And he was also a quality defender at Auburn.
4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, Iowa
With a point guard in place with De’Aaron Fox, the Kings bypassed Jaden Ivey and took Murray, an efficient wing scorer. Murray, who improved significant from his freshman to sophomore seasons, averaged 23.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 39.8% on 3-pointers. Murray, 21, is one of the oldest lottery picks and could have an immediate impact for Sacramento. Like Banchero, Murray is NBA-ready.
5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Ivey only worked out for the Pistons and Magic. He uses his speed to blow by defenders, who will have a hard time slowing Ivey down in transition. He can explode into the lane similar to Ja Morant and has the bounce to finish. The son of Niele Ivey, the women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame and a former women’s college champion.
6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
One of the biggest risers in the months leading up to the draft, Mathurin has the shooting touch and size to fill a 3-and-D role on the wing for the Pacers. Mathurin shot 42% from 3-point range in his final year at Arizona and flashed nice speed and athleticism. He can play off the ball next to Tyrese Hailburton and Chris Duarte, while helping boost a Pacers offense that was 18th in efficiency and 25th in 3-point shooting.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky
Sharpe is one of the biggest mysteries in the draft. He enrolled at Kentucky in January, didn’t play a second for the Wildcats and once he was ruled eligible for the draft, he entered. While teams only had high school and AAU-type video on Sharpe, he is a gifted scorer with his jump shot and at the rim. He is an explosive leaper who loves to get out in transition and dunk. Wildcats coach John Calipari said that if Sharpe returned to Kentucky next season, he would be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. Instead, he ends up the No. 7 pick and backcourt mate for Blazers star Damian Lillard.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers): Dyson Daniels, G League Ignite
This is a wonderful opportunity for New Orleans to add another quality player to a playoff squad that is poised to be better next season with the return of Zion Williamson. The Australian got a taste of NBA-level play in the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars contest in February and he held his own. The 6-8 Daniels is a big guard who began playing professionally as a teenager in his native Australia.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
The Spurs have three first-round picks and used their first to select Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan. Sochan gives the Spurs some size at the wing to compliment All-Star Dejounte Murray. He’s a versatile defender and solid rebounder, averaging 6.4 rebounds at Baylor in 2021-22. He runs the court well and scores with efficiency inside the 3-point line. Sochan can shoot the 3 but needs to improve his percentage. He averaged 9.2 points for the Bears.
10. Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
With a roster potentially in flux this summer, the Wizards need talent and landed on one of the best players remaining. Davis took a huge leap as a scorer and rebounder in his second year at Wisconsin, from 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds to 19.7 and 8.2. He can score and create in the mid-range but will need to improve his outside shot.
11. New York Knicks (traded to Thunder): Ousmane Dieng, New Zealand Breakers
Some mock drafts had Dieng going as high as No. 8. He fell to No. 11 and the Knicks, who then traded Dieng to the Thunder. He played last season in Australia’s pro league for the New Zealand Breakers and averaged 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and an assist while shooting just 39.8% from the field and 27.1% on 3-pointers. But he improved as the season continued and was a much better scorer and shooter in the second half of the season. The Thunder’s player development staff will work hard to make Dieng a significant contributor as they continue their rebuild.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers): Jalen Williams, Santa Clara
Williams shot up draft boards after the combine in which his vertical leap, speed and wingspan caught the attention of scouts and executives. His defense will fit in well in OKC. The Thunder traded for the No. 11 pick, which did not affect the No. 12 pick. Williams was efficient on 3-pointers (39.6%) and inside the 3-point line (55.1%) and averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 2021-22. He has patience with the basketball in pick-and-roll situations and finds his spots at the 3-point line for spot-up jumpers.
13. Charlotte Hornets (traded to Pistons): Jalen Duren, Memphis
Duren can play with his back to the basket, run the court and rebound. He has a capable face-up game in the low post and can make mid-range jump shots. He seemed like the perfect fit for the Hornets, but he was traded to the Knicks and then ultimately landed with the Pistons, where he and No. 5 pick Ivey join a promising young core led by last year's top pick Cade Cunningham.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
A team on the rise in the East, the Cavaliers are putting together quite a defensive unit. They have rim protectors and they added a need in a perimeter defender. Agbaji is 6-5 with a 6-10 wingspan and 8-8 standing reach and known as a 3-and-D wing. He played four seasons for the Jayhawks and was the 2022 Final Four Most Outstanding Player in the Jayhawks’ title run. He averaged 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot 47.5% from the field and 40.7% on 3s. Former ESPN NBA draft analyst Mike Schmitz, now in Portland’s front office, once tweeted, "Ochai Agbaji could play 25+ minutes in an NBA game tomorrow."
15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans): Mark Williams, Duke
Williams should be able to step in immediately and fill a big need for the Hornets at center. At 7-2 with a 7-6 wingspan and 9-9 standing reach, Williams has the tools and good mobility for his size to be an imposing presence around the rim. He doesn't offer much yet on the offensive end, but he should catch a lot of lobs from LaMelo Ball.
16. Atlanta Hawks: A.J. Griffin, Duke
Griffin averaged 10.4 points on a team that has potentially five NBA draft picks, including No. 1. Hailing from a basketball family (his brother, sister and father all played for Power 5 schools; his father also is an assistant with the Toronto Raptors), Griffin is considered one of the better shooters in the draft. He shot 44.7% on 3s and 49.3% overall. He will add necessary shooting alongside Trae Young and give the Hawks needed help defensively with his ability to guard multiple positions at 6-6, 220 pounds.
17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn): Tari Eason, LSU
After finishing with the league’s worst record this year, the Rockets are looking for someone to help Jalen Green (Houston’s No. 2 draft pick in 2021). Rockets already picked up Jabari Smith at No. 3, and Tari Eason will add more offensive versatility with his ability to score at the rim. He uses his athleticism and length to attack the paint and can impact the game on the defensive end. He was named the 2022 SEC Sixth Man of the Year at LSU, where he averaged 16.9 points on 52.1% from the field.
18. Chicago Bulls: Dalen Terry, Arizona
Terry has good size at 6-7 with a 7-0 wingspan and the versatility to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. He moves without the ball well and has the athleticism to attack the rim and finish consistently, but he still needs to improve his outside shot to help a Bulls offense that was last in the league in 3-pointers attempted and next-to-last in 3-pointers made.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Grizzlies): Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest
The Timberwolves traded LaRavia to Memphis for the Nos. 22 and 29 picks in the first round. LaRavia was a late climber in draft, and the way he shoots, passes and moves without the ball, it’s easy to see why the Grizzlies traded two picks to move up. LaRavia spent his first two college seasons at Indiana State then transferred to Wake Forest where he averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 55.9% from the field and 38.4% on 3s. He also has fundamental footwork that frees him for easy baskets in the post. LaRavia is a willing defender and has a knack for getting steals and creating in transition.
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto): Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Branham loves to get to the rim, flourishes in transition offensively and can finish in the paint. That could be just what the doctor order for the Spurs. In half-court sets, he moves well with and without the basketball as a playmaker and cutter. His 3-point shot is not picture-perfect, but he made 41.6% from that range. He averaged 19 points in the final 10 games of the season. Branham arrived as a highly rated recruit and eventually developed into a second option, averaging 13.7 points while shooting 49.8% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range.
21. Denver Nuggets: Christian Braun, Kansas
Christian Braun and his family decided to go to the 2022 NBA Draft in New York this week and good thing he did. He will join 2022 MVP Nikola Jokić in the Mile High City as the No. 21 pick. Braun is a two-way player that proved himself earning an NCAA championship with Kansas earlier this year. He will mesh well with Denver’s style of play that operates through Jokic. He averaged 14.1 points from 49.5% shooting from the field, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Jayhawks in 2021-22.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (traded to Timberwolves): Walker Kessler, Auburn
This pick will go the Timberwolves as part of the deal that gave Memphis the No. 19 pick. Kessler is a pick-and-roll big, knows how to set screens and is patient alongside the ball-handler. He is also very active on the offensive boards and blocks shots. Defense is what the Timberwolves like. Kessler had two triple-double last season – with blocks being a category where he notched at least 10. He improved his game after playing his freshman season at North Carolina, shooting 70.2% on 2-pointers for Auburn. Adding a reliable 3-ball will help.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Grizzlies): David Roddy, Colorado State
A unique and intriguing prospect at 6-6 and 260 pounds, Roddy saw plenty of time as an undersized center at Colorado State. His defensive instincts will give him a chance to contribute early, and his frame should allow him guard bigger players at the pro level. Philadelphia is trading Roddy to Memphis, where he will need to improve the consistency on his outside shot to stick in a 3-and-D role.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp, G League Ignite
His is one of the most interesting stories in the draft. A Washington native who grew up in Yakima — about 140 miles away from talent-rich Seattle — and was widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2020 class, with multiple offers that included local schools Washington and Washington State. Instead, he chose to train for a year with the Chameleon BX program in San Francisco. Now, he gets to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo. At 6-6 with a 7-1 wingspan, Beauchamp has the size and talent to contribute immediately as a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions on the wing, as well as bigger players down low. He uses that wingspan to create turnovers, block shots and collect rebounds.
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston): Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
Wesley, a 6-5 guard, creates easy transition points with his defense — he has great hands and a knack for interrupting passing lanes, and as a freshman held his own against talented scoring wings in the ACC. He’s another guard with size who attacks the basket, finds his own shot and has good footwork in the paint. He shot just 29.6% on 3s, so that will be an area of focus, along with playmaking skills as a passer. The Spurs are accumulating two-way players with the idea that one or more will pan out.
26. Dallas Mavericks (from Houston): Wendell Moore Jr., Duke
The Mavericks will bolster their shooting with Moore, an explosive guard playing on the perimeter. The Mavericks have built their team around Luka Doncic, who likes to create open looks for his teammates beyond the arc by attracting defenders. Moore improved his shooting — his 3s in particular — and was a better assist man in his third season at Duke. He can play the point if necessary and creates his own shot or a good look for others off the dribble.
27. Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic, Serbia
The Serbian is another European sharpshooter who spends a lot of time at the 3-point line and shot 35.6% from long range in the ABA pro league in 2021-22. He can also be a playmaker. He grew eight inches in the past five years. He had been on the Heat’s radar and could be considered a steal this late in the draft. At the start of the season, he received votes from NBA executives as the best international player not in the NBA. He averaged 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game in 29 games.
28. Golden State Warriors: Patrick Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee
A top-10 player coming out of high school in 2021, Baldwin had offers from top schools, including Duke, but decided to play for his dad at Milwaukee. He has a great shot but made just 26.6% on 3s and injuries limited him to 11 games. He has great size for a shooting wing at 6-9, and he ended up in a perfect spot where he will learn from a championship team and an outstanding player development staff.
29. Memphis Grizzlies: TyTy Washington, Kentucky
Washington has lottery talent but there was not a great market for point guards. A good table-setter who can initiate the offense and create shots for others, Washington has the passing instincts and vision to potentially flourish in the spread pick-and-roll sets that are a big part of NBA offenses. At 6-3, 200 pounds, he can also play shooting guard but letting him play point in the NBA is where he’ll succeed. Washington averaged 12.5 points and 3.9 assists and shot 45.1% from the field.
30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City): Peyton Watson, UCLA
Watson has intriguing potential as a defensive prospect with his rangy frame (6-8, 7-0 wingspan, 203 pounds). Add in his quickness and athleticism, and Watson has a chance to make an impact early as a defender. He wasn't asked to do much offensively as a freshman for a veteran UCLA team, so he's something of a blank slate on that end. The Nuggets, who are acquiring Watson in a trade, can afford to bring him along slowly.
SECOND ROUND
31. Indiana Pacers (from Houston via Cleveland): Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
32. Orlando Magic: Caleb Houstan, Michigan
33. Toronto Raptors (from Detroit via San Antonio, Washington and Chicago): Christian Koloko, Arizona
34. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaylin Williams, Arkansas
35. Los Angeles Lakers (from Indiana via Milwaukee and Orlando): Max Christie, Michigan State
36. Detroit Pistons (from Portland): Gabriele Procida, Italy
37. Sacramento Kings: Jaden Hardy, G League Ignite
38. San Antonio Spurs (from L.A. Lakers via Chicago and Washington): Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Utah): Khalifa Diop, Senegal
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Washington via Cleveland): Bryce McGowens, Nebraska
41. New Orleans Pelicans: EJ Liddell, Ohio State
42. New York Knicks: Trevor Keels, Duke
43. Los Angeles Clippers: Moussa Diabate, Michigan
44. Atlanta Hawks: Ryan Rollins, Toledo
45. Charlotte Hornets: Josh Minott, Memphis
46. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn via Detroit): Ismael Kamagate, France
47. Memphis Grizzlies (from Cleveland via New Orleans and Atlanta): Vince Williams, Virginia Commonwealth
48. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kendall Brown, Baylor
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Chicago via Memphis, Detroit and Sacramento): Isaiah Mobley, USC
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver via Philadelphia): Matteo Spagnolo, Italy
51. Golden State Warriors (from Toronto via Philadelphia): Tyrese Martin, UConn
52. New Orleans Pelicans (from Utah): Karlo Matkovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
53. Boston Celtics: JD Davidson, Alabama
*54. Milwaukee Bucks (forfeited)
*55. Miami Heat (from Philadelphia via Denver; forfeited by Miami)
54. Washington Wizards (from Dallas): Yannick Nzosa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
55. Golden State Warriors: Gui Santos, Brazil
56. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Miami via Indiana): Luke Travers, Australia
57. Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis via Utah): Jabari Walker, Colorado
58. Indiana Pacers (from Phoenix): Hugo Besson, France
