It’s time for our second version of a 2022 NBA Mock Draft. Unlike mock draft version 1, which had a simulated draft lottery, this time I just used the order from the standings as of January 4th.
First Round
1- Magic: Chet Holmgren- 20: 7’1 200 Big Gonzaga. Comp= smaller but better passing KP.
Obviously the Magic are in a weird spot with players at every position but not really a superstar. Chet fits the length model that their GM loves and has some of the highest upside in the class.
2- Pistons: Jabari Smith jr- 19: 6’10 210 Front Court Auburn. Comp= Rashard Lewis but stronger.
The Pistons seem to be looking to replace Jerami Grant and this is an excellent way to do so. Smith has real superstar potential if he can put everything together.
3- Rockets: Jaden Ivey- 20: 6’4 200 Guard Purdue Comp= Donovan Mitchell
The Rockets get a steal with Jaden Ivy and someone who can run their offense. He and Green will be the most athletic backcourt in the league.
4- Pelicans: Jalen Duren- 18: 6’10 241 Pivot Memphis Comp= More Athletic and Defense minded Jermaine O’Neil
The Pelicans can’t really play Paolo and Zion together (if Zion ever plays again) so Duren seems like the better fit here.
5- Thunder: Paolo Banchero- 19: 6’9 240 Big Duke (Italy) Comp= Domnatas Sabonis
The Thunder go with Paolo here, they would take whichever of the top 5 are left.
6- Pacers: Kendall Brown- 19: 6’8 210 Wing Baylor. Comp= Smaller AK47
The pacers need a wing and boy is this an athletic one.
7- Spurs: Johnny Davis- 20: 6’5 200 Wing Wisconsin. Comp= Kevin Martin ish.
The Spurs get a scorer here to help take some pressure off of Murray and White.
8- Trailblazers: Tari Eason- 21: 6’8 215 Forward LSU. Comp= Cam Reddish
The Blazers need defense and Eason is the best defender available.
9- Kings: Adrian Griffin Jr.- 19: 6’7 180 Wing Duke Comp= Jimmy Butler lite
Injuries have dropped the best wing in the class into the kings lap, we just have to hope he fares better than their last Duke pick.
10- Hawks: Patrick Baldwin Jr.- 19: 6’10 205 Forward Milwaukee. Comp= Mike Dunleavy Jr
The Hawks need shooting at the forward positions and with Gallo looking like his career is winding down this is a good spot for PBJ.
11- Knicks: Keegan Murray- 22: 6’8 215 Forward Iowa. Comp= Mo Harkless
A hard nosed defender and someone who plays Obi Toppin’s position? Thibs says yes.
12- Timberwolves: Bennedict Mathurin- 20: 6’5 195 Wing Arizona (Canada). Comp= QRich
The Wolves should go BPA. Mathurin is the Best.
13- Celtics: Tyty Washington- 20: 6’3 175 Guard Kentucky. Comp= Brandon Knight Ish
The Celtics need a point guard… there isn’t one, but Tyty is close.
14- Raptors: Nicola Jovic- 19: 6’10 Forward Mega Basket (Serbia). Comp= Tom Chambers with handles
The Raptors take the international route with this pick, hoping he can bolster their scoring.
15- Hornets: Marjon Beauchamp- 21: 6’7 225 Wing Ignite. Comp= Josh Howard
Another athlete for Ball to find in transition.
16- Thunder: Trevor Keels- 19: 6’4 221 Guard Duke. Comp= Anfernee Simons on steroids
Keels is the kind of swing the Thunder like to take.
17- Grizzlies: Jaden Hardy- 19: 6’5 185 Wing G-League. Comp= Buddy Hield.
Just like swinging on Ziaire, swinging on Hardy should be a great gamble for the Grizz.
18- Wizards: Ochai Agbaji- 22: 6’5 215 Wing Kansas (Nigeria). Comp= Josh Richardson
The Wizards bolster their bench defense here.
19- Mavericks: Wendell Moore- 21: 6’5 216 Wing Duke. Comp= Josh Hart
Dallas gets both Passing and Wing Defense with this pick. They should be happy.
20- Nuggets: Heugo Besson- 21: 6’3 195 Guard NZ Breakers (France). Comp= Poor Mans Tyler Herro
Besson makes Rivers expendable, everyone should be happy.
21- Cavaliers: Caleb Houstan- 19: 6’8 210 Wing Michigan (Canada). Comp= Danny Green
Cavs need a wing, Houstan is a wing.
22- 76ers: Dyson Daniels- 19: 6’6 180 Guard Ignite (Australia). Comp= Malcom Brogdon
Dyson is another tall Australian with questions on offense. I think Philly has a type.
23- Rockets: Jeremy Sochan- 19: 6’7 220 Forward Baylor (Poland) comp= taller Matisse Thybulle
The rockets go with more defense and potential here.
24- Bucks: Terrence Shannon Jr- 21: 6’6 209 Wing Texas Tech. Comp= Oubre
TSJ is a vet scorer. This seems like a bucks pick.
25- Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler- 19: 6’ 172 Point Tennessee. Comp= Cam Payne
Chandler stays in Tennessee to help the Grizzlies bench.
26- Heat: Jean Montero- 19: 6’2 180 Point Overtime Elite (Dominican Republic). Comp= Something between Schröder and Fox.
With Lowry the Heat can bring Jean along slow and let him learn from mistakes in the G-League. A good risk to play on the only point guard in the class who’s shown flashes of being a starter, even if it’s against terrible competition.
27- Bulls: Julian Champagnie- 21: 6’7 217 Forward St.John’s. Comp= Bertans with handle
The bulls get a sniper at the forward position.
28- Grizzlies: Jordan Hall- 20: 6’8 210 Forward St Joe’s. Comp= Slow Mo lite.
You know what the Grizzlies could use? Another Kyle Anderson.
29- Thunder: JD Davidson- 19: 6’3 175 Guard Alabama. Comp= Dennis Smith jr.
Freak of nature who is lagging behind in skill for now, this seems like a Thunder pick.
30- Warriors: Harrison Ingram- 20: 6’8 230 Wing Stanford. Comp= Anthony Mason
Let’s let the closest thing to Draymond in the draft learn from the master.
Second Round:
31- Magic: Bryce McGowens- 19: 6’7 180 Wing Nebraska. Comp= Jamaal Crawford ish
32- Spurs: Ismael Kamagate- 22: 6’11 230 Pivot Paris (France). Comp= Daniel Gafford with a jumper.
33- Cavaliers: EJ Liddell- 20: 6’7 240 Wing Ohio St. Comp= Poor Man’s Tobias Harris.
34- Pelicans: Christian Braun- 20: 6’6 218 Wing Kansas. Comp= Smaller Kevin Huerter
35- Thunder: Mark Wiliams- 20: 7’ 245 Big Duke. Comp= Derrick Favors
36- Magic: Isaiah Wong- 21: 6’3 180 Guard Miami. Comp= shorter Derrick White
37- Trailblazers: Moussa Diabaté- 19: 6’11 210 Big Michigan. (France/Guinea) Comp= Serge Ibaka starter kit
38- Cavaliers: Blake Wesley- 19: 6’4 170 Guard Notre Dame. Comp= Wes Mathews with less shooting.
39- Kings: Marcus Bagley- 21: 6’6 215 Forward Arizona St. Comp= Marcus Morris lite
40- Hawks: Mathew Mayer- 22: 6’9 225 Forward Baylor. Comp= Gordon Hayward lite.
41- Timberwolves: Gabriele Procida 19: 6’7 185 Forward Fortitudo (Italy). Comp= Rudy Fernandez
42- Knicks: Trayce Jackson-Davis- 22: 6’9 245 Forward Indiana. Comp= Terrence Jones
43- Celtics: Christian Koloko- 22: 7’ 145 Big Arizona comp= Poor Mans Mitchell Robinson
44- Spurs: Michael Foster- 19: 6’9 220 Big Ignite. Comp= Julius Randle’s cousin
45- Clippers: Caleb Love- 21: 6’4 195 Guard UNC. Comp= Monta Ellis if you squint a little
46- Hornets: Roko Prkacin- 19: 6’8 225 Forward KK Cibona (Croatia). Comp= Rudy Gay
47- Warriors: Tristan Vukcevic- 19: 6’10 218 Big Real Madrid (Serbia/Greece/Sweden/Spain) Comp= Andrea Bargani
48- Mavericks: Trevion Williams- 21: 6’10 265 Big Pit. Comp= Glen Davis
49- Timberwolves: Jamie Jaquez Jr- 22: 6’6 220 Wing UCLA. Comp= Adam Morrison
50- Timberwolves: Ousmane Dieng- 19: 6’7 210 Wing New Zealand Breakers (France). Comp= Nick Batum.
51- Pelicans: Iverson Molinar- 22: 6’1 190 Point Mississippi St. (Panama) Comp= Trey Burke
52- Pacers: Max Christie- 19: 6’7 185 Wing Michigan St. Comp= Jeremy Lamb+
53- Jazz: Walker Kessler- 20: 7’1 245 Pivot Auburn. Comp= Justin Patton
54- Pistons: Allen Flanigan- 21: 6’6 215 Wing Auburn. Comp= Anthony Mason lite.
55- Kings: Alex Fudge- 19: 6’7 175 Forward LSU. Comp= Dorian Finney Smith
56- Pelicans: Gui Santos- 19: 6’6 209 Wing Minas Tênis Clube (Brazil). Comp= Francisco Garcia.
57- Suns: Jahvon Quinerly- 22: 6’1 175 Point Alabama. Comp= Shane Larkin
58- Warriors: Aminu Mohammed- 20: 6’4 180 Guard Georgetown (Nigeria). Comp= Lu Dort
59 and 60 are forfeited by the Heat and Bucks as a result of NBA tampering investigations.
Jordan Ennis
Jordan Ennis lives in West Africa where he is a pastor at an international church, he also co-hosts the Assisted Development Podcast on the HoopSocial Podcasts feed. He can be found at Assisted Development Podcast on Facebook and @HoopSocialDraft on Twitter.