We spend a lot of time following all of the top NBA Draft analysts for months as they post and tweet about intel and update their big boards and mock drafts leading up to draft day. But once that day comes and goes, it’s easy to shift focus to how the rookies will fit on their new rosters, summer league, and the next draft cycle, so I thought it might be nice to compile all of the final versions of these mock drafts and compare them to the actual 2022 draft order for easy reference in the future.
Here is the actual 2022 NBA Draft order versus the final mock drafts from Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky, SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger, Tankathon.com, and our own Hoops Distillery picks:
ACTUAL
DRAFT
ORDER
SI
(6/23)
ESPN
(6/23)
Vecenie/
Athletic
(6/23)
The Ringer
(6/23)
Tankathon
6/23)
USA Today
(6/23)
Hoops Distillery
(6/10)
B/R
(6/23)
Hollinger/
Athletic
(6/22)
SB Nation
(6/14)
1.
ORL
Paolo
Banchero
Jabari
Smith
Jabari
Smith
Jabari
Smith
Jabari
Smith
Jabari
Smith
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Jabari
Smith
Chet
Holmgren
Jabari
Smith
2.
OKC
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Chet
Holmgren
Jabari
Smith
Jabari
Smith
Chet
Holmgren
Jabari
Smith
Chet
Holmgren
3.
HOU
Jabari
Smith
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
Paolo
Banchero
4.
SAC
Keegan
Murray
Keegan
Murray
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Keegan
Murray
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
5.
DET
Jaden
Ivey
Jaden
Ivey
Keegan
Murray
Keegan
Murray
Bennedict
Mathurin
Keegan
Murray
Jaden
Ivey
Dyson
Daniels
Keegan
Murray
Keegan
Murray
Keegan
Murray
6.
IND
Bennedict
Mathurin
Bennedict
Mathurin
Bennedict
Mathurin
Bennedict
Mathurin
Keegan
Murray
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
Jalen
Duren
Bennedict
Mathurin
Bennedict
Mathurin
Shaedon
Sharpe
7.
POR
Shaedon
Sharpe
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
Bennedict
Mathurin
Bennedict
Mathurin
Keegan
Murray
Shaedon
Sharpe
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jalen
Duren
8.
NOP
Dyson
Daniels
Jeremy
Sochan
Ousmane
Dieng
Shaedon
Sharpe
Ousmane
Dieng
Ousmane
Dieng
Ousmane
Dieng
Bennedict
Mathurin
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
Dyson
Daniels
9.
SAS
Jeremy
Sochan
Jalen
Duren
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jeremy
Sochan
Shaedon
Sharpe
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
Jeremy
Sochan
Jalen
Duren
Bennedict
Mathurin
10.
WAS
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Johnny
Davis
Jeremy
Sochan
Johnny
Davis
11.
OKC
(via NYK)
Ousmane
Dieng
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
AJ
Griffin
Bennedict
Mathurin
AJ
Griffin
Johnny
Davis
AJ
Griffin
12.
OKC
Jalen
Williams
Ousmane
Dieng
AJ
Griffin
Ousmane
Dieng
Jeremy
Sochan
Jeremy
Sochan
Jeremy
Sochan
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
Ousmane
Dieng
13.
DET
(via CHA)
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
Jeremy
Sochan
Jalen
Duren
AJ
Griffin
Jalen
Duren
Shaedon
Sharpe
Jeremy
Sochan
Ousmane
Dieng
Mark
Williams
Mark
Williams
14.
CLE
Ochai
Agbaji
Jalen
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
Jalen
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
Jalen
Williams
Malaki
Branham
Malaki
Branham
Ochai
Agbaji
Ousmane
Dieng
Malaki
Branham
15.
CHA
Mark
Williams
Mark
Williams
Mark
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
Mark
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
Mark
Williams
Mark
Williams
Mark
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
Jeremy
Sochan
16.
ATL
AJ
Griffin
Blake
Wesley
Jalen
Williams
Blake
Wesley
Jalen
Williams
Malaki
Branham
Tari
Eason
Jalen
Williams
Jalen
Williams
Malaki
Branham
TyTy
Washington
17.
HOU
Tari
Eason
Tari
Eason
Tari
Eason
Tari
Eason
Tari
Eason
TyTy
Washington
MarJon
Beauchamp
TyTy
Washington
Tari
Eason
Tari
Eason
Ochai
Agbaji
18.
CHI
Dalen
Terry
Ochai
Agbaji
Malaki
Branham
Mark
Williams
EJ
Liddell
Mark
Williams
Ochai
Agbaji
EJ
Liddell
Malaki
Branham
EJ
Liddell
Tari
Eason
19.
MEM
(via MIN)
Jake
LaRavia
Wendell
Moore
Walker
Kessler
Malaki
Branham
Walker
Kessler
Tari
Eason
Jalen
Williams
Dalen
Terry
Wendell
Moore
Jalen
Williams
Blake
Wesley
20.
SAS
Malaki
Branham
Malaki
Branham
Blake
Wesley
TyTy
Washington
Nikola
Jovic
EJ
Liddell
Jake
LaRavia
Ousmane
Dieng
Dalen
Terry
Blake
Wesley
Jalen
Williams
21.
DEN
Christian
Braun
Dalen
Terry
Dalen
Terry
Christian
Braun
Malaki
Branham
Dalen
Terry
Nikola
Jovic
MarJon
Beauchamp
MarJon
Beauchamp
TyTy
Washington
EJ
Liddell
22.
MIN
(via MEM)
Walker
Kessler
Christian
Braun
TyTy
Washington
Dalen
Terry
Dalen
Terry
Blake
Wesley
Dalen
Terry
Tari
Eason
Walker
Kessler
Wendell
Moore
Patrick
Baldwin
23.
MEM
(via PHI)
David
Roddy
Jake
LaRavia
Wendell
Moore
Jake
LaRavia
Blake
Wesley
Nikola
Jovic
TyTy
Washington
Jaden
Hardy
EJ
Liddell
Dalen
Terry
Nikola
Jovic
24.
MIL
MarJon
Beauchamp
Andrew
Nembhard
EJ
Liddell
MarJon
Beauchamp
Bryce
McGowens
Kennedy
Chandler
Ismael
Kamagate
Patrick
Baldwin
Jake
LaRavia
MarJon
Beauchamp
Walker
Kessler
25.
SAS
Blake
Wesley
MarJon
Beauchamp
Kennedy
Chandler
Walker
Kessler
TyTy
Washington
Jake
LaRavia
Andrew
Nembhard
Caleb
Houstan
Nikola
Jovic
Kendall
Brown
MarJon
Beauchamp
26.
MIN
(via HOU)
Wendell
Moore
Jaden
Hardy
MarJon
Beauchamp
Jaden
Hardy
Jaden
Hardy
Wendell
Moore
Kennedy
Chandler
Blake
Wesley
TyTy
Washington
Bryce
McGowens
Kennedy
Chandler
27.
MIA
Nikola
Jovic
TyTy
Washington
Jaden
Hardy
EJ
Liddell
Kennedy
Chandler
MarJon
Beauchamp
Blake
Wesley
Ochai
Agbaji
Jaden
Hardy
Justin
Lewis
Jaden
Hardy
28.
GSW
Patrick
Baldwin
Peyton
Watson
Peyton
Watson
Wendell
Moore
Christian
Koloko
Patrick
Baldwin
EJ
Liddell
Jake
LaRavia
Patrick
Baldwin
Jake
LaRavia
Jake
LaRavia
29.
HOU
(via MEM)
TyTy
Washington
Andrew
Nembhard
Jake
LaRavia
Gabriele
Procida
MarJon
Beauchamp
Walker
Kessler
Jaylin
Williams
Kennedy
Chandler
Kennedy
Chandler
Kennedy
Chandler
Max
Christie
30.
DEN
(via OKC)
Peyton
Watson
Nikola
Jovic
Christian
Braun
Andrew
Nembhard
Jake
LaRavia
Ismael
Kamagate
David
Roddy
Nikola
Jovic
Blake
Wesley
Nikola
Jovic
Bryce
McGowens
Summary of all transactions leading up to and during the Draft:
It’s official, the Spurs have won the Draft Lottery. So, what will happen next? Compare the updated mock drafts from Jonathan Givony + Jeremy Woo/ESPN, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today plus new picks from Hoops Distillery!
It’s Draft Lottery Day and everyone is at the Combine, so no better time to dig into the updated big boards from this week, including Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo/ESPN, and Tankathon.
The pre-draft process has officially begun and we have three new big boards to compare Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, and Tankathon.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @hoopsdistillery for posts, original artwork, and other reserve NBA content:
Note: If the table is not loading correctly on your mobile device via Twitter,then copy and paste this link in your browser and view the post on my site at https://hoopsdistillery.com/mockdraftcomp-june22/.
6/23 update: (update 6): One more update–this time from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated. Christian Braun moving up in a few of these updates, as is Andrew Nembhard. Vecenie and Pennie going live at 7:45 pm EST on YouTube.
(update 5): Sam Vecenie/The Athletic and Tankathon just posted updates. Rumors swirling about Thybulle trades. Blazers and Hawks working to make roster moves. Kyrie setting NBA Twitter ablaze. It’s all happening.
(update 4) Newly updated mock from Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, plus I grabbed the updated picks from Tankathon that were posted last night. Lots of different opinions on the order picks within the 8-30 range.
(update 3) Second update of the day from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report with some movement in the last 1st. Also, fresh update from Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, who also did a great podcast with Coach Spins (@TheBoxandOne_) last night.
(update 2) Updated mock draft posted from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report. Looks like he only has movement in the 20’s, but some interesting intel, including that Jeremy Sochan worked out for the Kings, showing they have considered moving down.
(update 1) Draft Day has arrived! Mock drafts with few changes but lots of new intel and trade rumors will be coming quick throughout the day. This morning I have updated picks from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express and Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated with most movement in the mid-lottery and in the 20’s.
6/22 update: (update 3)Fresh intel from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, and we now have 24 confirmed Green Room invites:
via @nbapr
(update 2) Updated lottery picks in Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express‘s mock draft a few minutes ago. Keegan Murray and Ben Mathurin flip flopped, and he now has Dyson Daniels to the Blazers at 7, Ousmane Dieng to Pelicans at 8, and Shaedon Sharpe to the Spurs at 10.
(update 1) Woke up to see an updated mock draft from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report and a new mock draft from one of our favs, John Hollinger/The Athletic. Hollinger was also on the No Dunks pod yesterday talking draft with the guys–very entertaining listen! Another great Please Don’t Aggregate This pod not miss from yesterday from Jake Fischer and Jeremy Woo taking draft questions and sharing intel.
6/21 update: (update 3) Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today posted an updated mock draft this morning. As opposed to the reporting last week that Mathurin may be the one moving up, Kalbrosky had intel that the Pacers may have fallen in love with Dyson Daniels after “one of the best workouts they have ever seen.” He also has Shaedon Sharpe dropping to OKC at 12.
(update 2) New mock draft posted by Sam Vecenie/The Athletic. He also posted his 90,000+ word Draft Guide which is an amazing piece of work, so make sure to check that out too. Also, ICYMI, John Hollinger/The Athletic posted a new piece with his Top-75 and draft tiers–always a must read!
(update 1) Freshly updated mock draft from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express this morning–hasn’t even been tweeted out yet! Lots of juicy trade rumors in this one including everyone and their mother trying to pry away the #4 pick from the Kings. Hawks may be dangling John Collins + Kevin Huerter for 4, according to Givony.
6/20 update: Some very interesting, new picks from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated this morning, who has Jalen Williams going 14 to the Cavs, Wendell Moore going 19 to Minny, and TyTy Washington going to Philly at 23. He also points out that the Thunder and Hawks are now the most likely trade partners for the Blazers 7th pick.
6/17 update: Updated mock draft from Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer. Mathurin moving up to #5 and OKC, Houston and Denver all trying to trade up — I’m loving this! Updated tables below.
6/15 update: (update 2) Added sortable pick variance chart to analyze draft range across all of our featured mock drafts for the top prospects
(update 1) Another trade–and new picks from Tankathon! Houston now owns the 26th pick after trading Christian Wood to Dallas. Updated mock draft comparison below. Givony updated the 26th pick description in his latest ESPN mock draft pick but kept MarJon Beauchamp as the pick.
6/14 update: Updated mock drafts released this morning from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, and Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation. Ben Mathurin moving up after pre-draft workouts.
6/13 update: New picks today from Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer via their NBA Draft Guide
Also, the Nuggets just made a trade with OKC to acquire the 30th pick in the 1st round:
Draft month has arrived which means mock draft updates will be coming quickly. I’ll be updating this page every time that new picks are posted leading up to the big day on June 23rd. We can expect updated picks next week and, for some, again the week of the draft based on new intel from team workouts, interviews, and medicals that have been happening over the last few weeks. For now, we have new picks from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, Tankathon.
This mock draft comp also features the debut of the Hoops Distillery 1st round picks. In order to get your wheels turning as you analyze the chaos that could ensue on draft day, I tried to make realistic picks based on team needs that strayed from the consensus, in order to serve up some artisanal food for thought based on what teams could do, but not what they should do. In the end, it looks like there could easily be a few trades that turn all of the mock drafts upside down, but also make for a highly entertaining evening.
Since the May mock draft comparison post, there was also some movement on the 23rd pick (in case your missed it):
If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
Pre-draft season is here along with updated mock drafts from Jonathan Givony + Jeremy Woo/ESPN-Draft Express, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon,, and new picks from Hoops Distillery!
With March Madness on the horizon we have a new batch of big boards to compare including picks from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, and the best available from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express. Will Brandon Miller overtake Scoot for the #2 spot?
March has arrived with updated mock drafts from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation. Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic….and an updated mock from Hoops Distillery.
New mock drafts for February are here–including two updates from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Tankathon–and fresh picks from Hoops Distillery. Jarace Walker and Gradey DIck moving up in this recent batch.
We now have five mock drafts to compare, including Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today Tankathon, and the first Hoops Distillery mock draft of 2023!
We finally have a few 2023 big boards to stack up against each other. So, here’s our first #bigboardcomp of the year featuring boards from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express and Tankathon.
The Thunder and Kings came away as the big winners of this year’s draft lottery last month, moving up into the top 4. Meanwhile, pre-draft workouts are in full effect, trade rumors are swirling, and teams are constructing their contingency plan. And with that, it’s time for our Hoops Distillery mock draft, using the official NBA draft order. But this time, as opposed to making one pick per team and moving onto the next, I take time to explore different scenarios that lottery teams may face on draft day.
Although the national media is focusing on the tough choices to be made with the top 3 picks (logically, with Chet, Paolo, and Jabari), I’m equally interested in teams that might move up or down (and for that case in and out) of the draft. Teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Grizzlies all have multiple 1st round picks, plus 2nd round picks, but do not necessarily have the roster spots for so many new guys. This should create greater chance of movement during the draft. Other teams like the Sixers, Lakers, and Jazz don’t have any 1st round picks and might want to trade into the draft, while teams like the Pistons, Kings or Pacers may want extra picks to build up their rosters.
Equally important to factor in are the many veteran players rumored to be on the trading block, including Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremi Grant, Gordon Hayward, Russell Westbrook, Duncan Robinson and Christian Wood, as well as teams that may need to make a consolidation trade, packaging a few players to get a higher level starter, such as the Hawks and Grizzlies. With more teams pushing for the play-in tournament these days, trading picks or young guys for an established veteran will be enticing for teams looks to fast track their progress (or to appease impatient owners). I tried to take all of these factors into account in making my picks and analysis.
This is a great opportunity for the Magic to add top flight talent once again, but also quite a lot of pressure to get the pick right. And in this draft, with Banchero, Smith, and Holmgren, that may be even more of a challenge than most years. In terms of team needs, power forward and center are low on the list, but with such a young team the Magic are better off taking the best player available. That being said, the need for an alpha scorer will be critical to them returning to playoff contention. Based on his all-around versatility offensively and defensively, Jabari is the right pick here. He’ll help the Magic from day one with elite defense on opposing wings and provide knock down shooting that will open up space for the Magic’s playmakers. Jabari’s strong character and work ethic should also give Orlando confidence that his game will continue to evolve to what should be an all-start level.
Proposed closing lineup: Fultz, Suggs, Wagner, J. Smith, Isaac = top 10 defense
Why not Chet? Chet would be a solid pick as well, but it’s unlikely that he’ll ever be a #1 offensive option which is what Orlando desperately needs. And if he is able to develop his game to be at that level, it will take time to strengthen his game and his body. It’s hard to tell if Orlando’s front office has that much patience.
Why not Paolo? While Paolo may be the most capable to help Orlando’s offense next season, he is best with the ball in his hands–a guy you run your offense through, and they already have that in Franz Wagner, plus a guard trio of Suggs, Fultz and Anthony who also need the ball. Paolo is also the worst of the three defensively.
IF: the Thunder, Rockets or Kings try to trade up for #1 to get the guy they want
THEN: they should consider trading down based on the package coming their way which would have to include the others teams top 4 pick this year + a young player or more future 1st(s). As Boston showed in 2018 with the Fultz/Tatum draft day deal, it can be a win-win situation to trade down.
This is what we know about OKC: they have a dozens of picks in the next few years, they already have great playmakers in SGA and Giddey. This is what we assume: they won’t want to be too good too fast so that they can increase the odds of having a high lottery pick again next year, since rumor has it they desperately want Victor Wembanyama. If they can roll out a lineup with Chet, Wemby and Poku in October 2023, NBA Twitter may breakdown! As for this pick, Chet is perfect for them because they don’t have to rush his development and already have versatile players in their lineup who can help create shots for him, reduce the amount of wear and tear on him from big centers, and let him do unicorn stuff all over the court, while improving what was already a very solid defense.
Why not Paolo? Although OKC would benefit from Paolo’s scoring and immediate impact, they already have playmakers who need the ball in their hands which means they may not be able to take full advantage of his talent. And as we said, they will be looking to tank next year, not win a couple of extra games where Paolo gets hot and drops 35. Plus, they won’t like that he is a minus on defense.
Won’t be surprised if they pick: Jaden Ivey
IF: Orlando takes Chet Holmgren at #1
THEN: Thunder should either take Jabari Smith or listen to offers to trade down, especially if they have Shaedon Sharpe, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray or someone like Dyson Daniels in the same tier with Smith and Banchero.
In contrast to the Magic and OKC, Paolo fits in nicely with Houston since they need to keep adding young talent in the front court to compliment Jalen Green, and can definitely utilize his playmaking ability. Many will argue that a core of Green and Banchero will never be good enough defensively to do much damage in the playoffs. This is certainly valid, but Houston is too early in their rebuild to worry too much about that. And although the media and fans focus on championship rings, Rockets ownership has always seemed equally focused on selling tickets and continuing their strong marketability in China.
IF: Sacramento offers Davion Mitchell + #4 for #3 in order to get Banchero for themselves
THEN: assuming Houston is a big fan of Mitchell and not interested in KPJ at point guard long term and have one of Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, or Dyson Daniels rated in the same tier as Banchero, they should take this offer and make the pick at #4–or they could also look to trade down again with the Pacers, Knicks, Hornets or Pelicans to grab more assets.
Sharpe is this year’s mystery man in the draft after reclassifying, then sitting out for Kentucky this season. Scouts know his game from his prep days and it’s safe to assume he will impress in individual workouts. That should be just enough to warrant the Kings swinging for the fences on his all-star upside at shooting guard. We know the Kings desperately want to make the playoffs next season, but Sharpe may be able to get pro reps on the fly as 4th option to Fox, Sabonis and Barnes while providing them with more scoring punch and athleticism immediately.
IF: anyone in the top 3 is willing to trade down
THEN: the Kings should jump on it! Paolo or Chet would fit nicely with their core
IF: team owner, Vivek Ranadive, overrules GM, Monty McNair, making him pick a win-now player
THEN: McNair is better off going with Keegan Murray or Dyson Daniels
IF: Detroit offers Jeremi Grant for #4
THEN: Kings should say no, but, sadly, Ranadive may make them say yes. It’s doubtful that any rational NBA exec (or fan) would think that spending $90-$110m on Fox, Grant, and Sabonis will result in deep playoff runs
The Pistons are in a good spot here. Although it seems like a huge loss to drop in the draft lottery, at #5 they’ll have the opportunity to take whoever they have highest on their board out of Sharpe, Ivey or Murray. Plus, they have Grant to shop around to get more assets or trade up. Ivey and Murray are both available here and either would fit in nicely, and benefit greatly, from playing with Cade Cunningham. Of the two, Ivey would make their offense more explosive and dynamic with his uber-athleticism. He could play on or off the ball, get out in transition, and help to open up a lot of space for himself and others if he can consistently hit the three ball.
IF: Ivey gets picked in the top 4
THEN: Pistons should take whoever wasn’t picked from Sharpe, Banchero, Jabari or Chet
IF: Sacramento takes Murray, leaving Pistons with a choice of Ivey or Sharpe
THEN: boring answer, but they should take whichever of the two they have rated higher on their board based on all of the additional intel that isn’t available to the public
It’s hard to tell if the Pacers have a head start on their retooling after what seems like a highly successful Haliburton trade heist, or if they are still stuck in between rebuilding and winning until they can rid themselves of Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield, and possibly Myles Turner. Both might be true. In either case, Murray will fit nicely as one of the best players left on the board, plus a good fit at a position of need. He’ll give them much needed help as a wing scorer and defender, while being an ideal running mate with Haliburton.
IF: the Lakers offer Russell Westbrook for Hield and Brogdon + 2 future 1st round picks
THEN: Pacers take it and then look to buy out Westbrook
IF: Rick Carlisle suddenly realized he left a championship caliber team to join a rebuilding team and decides to ‘fake’ retire to get out of Indy
THEN: Pacers pivot and hire Kenny Atkinson to maximize player development over the next three years
IF: the Pacers pick Dyson Daniels
THEN: it may mean (1) they are trading for a starting forward and don’t want Murray, (2) they are truly looking at best player available and don’t mind taking their time getting back to the playoffs, or (3)
Jeremy Sochan seemed like the most logical pick for the Blazers here, who have needed a strong presence at forward for years. But after hearing the rave reviews of Daniels workouts, plus his 2-inches of growth to almost 6’8″ with shoes, he now has to be the pick. That is, assuming the Blazers don’t trade out of the draft which is sounding like a strong possibility with Jeremi Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Julius Randle all on the menu. At 6’8″, Daniels can easily be a wing creator which is a huge position of need for Portland. He can also help fill the ballhandling and playmaking gap leftover from the CJ McCollum trade.
IF: Pistons off the Blazers Jeremi Grant or Indiana offers Malcolm Brogdon for #7
THEN: Portland, on paper, need to win now to satisfy Damian Lillard, so Grant seems like a worthwhile gamble while Brogdon does not. Grant is a year younger and much less injury prone, while providing an instant answer at forward, improved team defense, and potent perimeter offense in combination with Dame and Anfernee Simons (who still needs to be resigned)
IF: new hire, Mike Schmitz convinces Joe Cronin to trade Dame for the #1 pick to grab Chet Holmgren
THEN: Blazers fans will have instant PTSD flashbacks to Sam Bowie and Greg Oden which could result in violence, anxiety or depression
IF: Daniels has already been picked
THEN: Blazers should go with Murray, Sochan, Ben Mathurin or one of Jalen Duren/Mark Williams (if they are thinking of moving on from Jusuf Nurkic)
IF: the OG Anunoby rumor is true and he forces his way out of Toronto?
THEN: the Blazers should go for it, as long as the price isn’t excessive. Almost every team in the league would love to have someone like Anunoby on such a reasonable contract, and he still has some untapped offensive upside that the Blazers would welcome with open arms
On the surface, the Pelicans are in a great position after overachieving in this year‘s playoffs. They made a smart trade with the Blazers for CJ McCollum and Larry Nance, who both made a huge difference in the postseason. Plus, they seem to have hit on all of last year‘s draft picks. Yet, their success still rests on the health, production, and longevity of Zion Williamson. Because of this and Zion’s contract situation, they have a very challenging decision to make: work to help Zion get healthy and back in good shape, banking on him being your franchise player or trade Zion and bring back a package of players and picks that could set them up for next season and in the future. Assuming they choose the former, Mathurin happens to be a great fit at shooting guard, providing reliable shooting and straight line slashing that should make the Pels offense even more dangerous as a compliment to their big three. Mathurin also may have quite a bit of defensive upside based his combination of strength, size, speed, and athleticism.
IF: Zion asks to be traded
THEN: Pelicans shouldn’t settle for anything less than an all-star caliber player in return (see Bradley Beal) or a high upside young talent (see RJ Barrett)
IF: the Blazers or Pacers pick Mathurin
THEN: Pelicans should look at Daniels, Sochan, or Malakhi Branham
As usual, it’s tough to have a pulse on what the Spurs may do. They are so rarely in the lottery, and when they were last year, they shocked everyone with Josh Primo at #12. Will Pop keep coaching? Do they want more young players on their roster? We shall see. But in the meantime, what we do know is that Dejounte Murray has emerged as a two-way, all-star level player and Devin Vassell seems ready to make a big jump in the upcoming season. Yet, with all the prospects on their roster the Spurs have been without an alpha dog scorer since DeMar DeRozan left. This is why Johnny Davis makes a ton of sense here. His ability to create shots and hit tough ones would be a perfect compliment to their existing core. Davis plays hard, is happy to share the ball and is a tough-nosed defender–all things that the Spurs highly value.
IF: Johnny Davis has already been picked or the Spurs plan to go after a shooting guard via trade or free agency (see Zach LaVine)
THEN: San Antonio should look at Sochan, Mathurin or either one of Duren or Williams as long-term options at center
IF: the Spurs don’t want to make all three of their first round picks
THEN: they should give a call to the Sixers, Lakers, Jazz, Suns or Celtics–none of whom have a 1st rounder in this draft
Won’t be surprised if they pick: AJ Griffin or Jalen Duren
The Wizards are another team in a tough position–stuck in between rebuilding and building around Bradley Beal. Assuming the rumors are true, and Beal does resign, it makes little sense for the Wizards to add another young player to their roster. Instead they will look to trade this pick with a couple players as part of a package to get a point guard like Jalen Brunson….or maybe even…(gulp)…Kyrie Irving. The Wizards may actually be an interesting trade partner for the Pistons if they like the idea of pairing Beal with Jeremi Grant. Combining Grant, Beal, and Kuzma would make for a potent offensive trio. If they do feel like they can sign a veteran point guard via free agency (see Ricky Rubio), they have the luxury of taking the best player available here which is most definitely Jeremy Sochan. Although he is a bit redundant with the versatility and skill set of Deni Avdija, they would still be best served to take him as the best player available and help continue to develop his game. His defensive versatility and playmaking skills for his size are excellent. An improved shooting stroke should give him starter upside. And if he develops quickly, he could be a key part of the Wizards getting back into the playoffs sooner than later.
IF: Beal asks to be traded
THEN: Wizards should go after Zion and pair him with Porzingis to form the most fragile and interesting front court combo in years. It may not win games, but it would sell tickets and jerseys
Won’t be surprised if they pick: TyTy Washington, Jalen Duren
With a glaring need at point guard and rumored target Jalen Brunson most likely resigning with the Mavericks this off-season, the Knicks will have to choose whether to fill that hole in the draft, free agency, or via trade. With the regression of Julius Randle‘s game last season, the Knicks would be smart to continue drafting high upside players and focusing on player development. TyTy Washington would give the Knicks, what they hope could be, their point guard of the future. And while it may be tempting to start Immanuel Quickley at point, he seems better suited as a 3rd guard/microwave scorer off the bench. Washington is a solid shooter with a great floater game, similar to Quickley, who makes very good decisions with the ball and can provide leadership. Whether he starts this year or next, he should eventually replace Derrick Rose and be a solid starter. The Knicks will take a hard look at Duren and Williams here as options at center, but their need for shot creation and shooting is too important right now and fans are tired of the team’s dice rolls on semi-broken down, veteran point guards. That said, they may have an opportunity to trade up with the Blazers or trade down by dealing with the Hornets, who should be willing to trade 13 and 15 to move up and have their choice between the centers.
IF: Randle has a nervous breakdown anticipating another season of never-ending media and fan scrutiny
THEN: find a way to trade him for the Blazer’s #7 pick or maybe even D’Angelo Russell or Westbrook–then start Obi Toppin in his place
IF: Tom Thibodeau plays Barrett 47 min per game to secure the 12th seed
THEN: fire Thibodeau ASAP and bring in Juwan Howard as head coach, and someone who can focus on player development and attract free agents
IF: Charlotte is game to trade 13 + 15 for 11
THEN: Knicks should look to add a point guard like TyTy or Dalen Terry and also a center like Duren or Williams or a shooter like Branham
Won’t be surprised if they pick: Jaden Hardy, Jalen Duren
The Thunder who have already taken Holmgren with the 2nd pick have various options here. They can trade out of the draft for another young player, cash and/or future picks or take the best player available once again. In this case, making the pick seems like the best option as AJ Griffin has dropped to number 12 and has been widely considered a top 7 or 8 prospect. Griffin, who many believe is still not fully recovered from multiple knee surgeries, are hoping that he will regain some of the elite athleticism that made him one of the top high school prospects in the nation. After posting stellar shooting percentages at Duke, Griffin has a ready-made skill that he can bring to any team. And with the playmaking of SGA and Giddey, he will immediately put that shooting to good use with many open looks from three. At 6’6′ with a strong physique, he will most likely be better suited to play PF in the near term, which is a position of need for the Thunder.
IF: a team calls for the pick because they want Griffin, Duren, Branham or Mark Williams
THEN: Sam Presti should hang up and make the pick. The amount of quality guys on the board is too high here, and cost control is always nice as the Thunder continue to take swings at drafting future stars. Plus, the Thunder definitely don’t need more draft picks
IF: the Lakers hire Magic to convince Presti to take Westbrook back, but only offer Kendrick Nunn, THC and a guaranteed $10m/year President of Basketball Operation position with the Lakers
THEN: Presti should send a kind thanks, no thanks
The Hornets, who are rumored to be after one of the top centers in the draft, may trade up to make sure they get one. If either one of Duren or Williams is available here, they will be very happy. Given the choice of the two, they should opt for Williams. Although Duren is the more physically imposing player and is younger than Williams, they will worry about Duren having a lower floor due to his lack of offensive game. Duren may prove to be a DeAndre Jordan-style vertical lob threat and enforcer on defense, but Williams may have the offensive upside of a Jarrett Allen, as he has shown flashes of some touch from the outside which the Hornets would gladly welcome to open up driving lanes for LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. In addition, we’ve seen what Williams can do on defense to block and alter shots, aggressively protect the rim, and even switch onto smaller players, as needed
IF: both Duren and Williams have already been picked
THEN: the Hornets should look to deal some combination of Hayward, Rozier, or Oubre for a center like DeAndre Ayton or Myles Turner, or look for another short term fix like Derrick Favors or Richaun Holmesor look at signing a free agent like JaVale McGee or Isaiah Hartenstein
The Cavs overachieved last season and have franchise pillars Evan Mobley and Darius Garland in place for the long haul. While Isaac Okoro should tenaciously study the manuscript of Marcus Smart‘s ‘How I Evolved My Offensive Game‘, the team did pick up Caris LeVert which helped their offensive attack towards the tail end of the season. Not knowing if they the team can come to an agreement with Collin Sexton on a new deal or if they want to extend LeVert makes it important to draft a guard or wing scorer as insurance, and Branham fits the bill perfectly. After a breakout season at Ohio State, Branham provides a versatile scoring threat who can hit tough shots facing the basket or posting up. He’s also a solid defender and hard worker–both traits that should win him immediate playing time in a Cavs lineup that should be playoff bound once again.
IF: the Cavs have any chance of resigning Ricky Rubio
THEN: they should do it if the price is reasonable! Rubio was the key to their team chemistry and had a huge impact on Garland’s development last season. That being said, the days of overpaying vets like Rubio and Love will soon be coming to an end as the young guys start to get second contracts, so they may have to convince Rubio to take a discount, but in return give him more years
IF: Sexton asks for a contract that is completely unreasonable
THEN: Cavs should focus on a sign and trade deal to make sure to get something in return. Apparently the Pistons and Pacers are highly interested, but may opt to give Sexton an offer sheet rather than be a trade partner
The Hornets are back on the clock here at 15 and it seems doubtful that they’ll actually make this pick. They already have a lot of youth on their team and may be better off packaging one of their two 1st’s with a player or two to upgrade their roster. On the other hand, the youth they have isn’t that impressive (see James Bouknight and Kai Jones), they may not want to resign Oubre to the money he’s looking for, and they may lose PJ Washington in free agency. If they can hit on this pick with at least a rotation level role player it could help quite a bit in the long run in terms of cap management/roster building. After this year’s playoffs, the ‘in style’ position that is most likely to be copycatted is the Grant Williams/PJ Tucker archetype which combines an undersized but very strong forward with a high basketball IQ, three point range, and the possibility of slowing down Giannis in a playoff series. Liddell fits this mold well. He is a smart, high-motor guy who plays hard and is a proven scorer–a combination that would work well on almost any team’s roster, but especially here as they fill a possible void left by Washington.
IF: Nets call asking for a package of Rozier, Oubre and two 1sts for Ben Simmons
THEN: Hornets should think long and hard about accepting and then rush to collect intel as fast as possible about Simmons actual mental health situation before accepting
IF: Indy calls and offers Brogdon for Hayward in a ‘always injured/change of scenery’ veteran swap
THEN: Hornets should take the deal. Brogdon is younger and his contract goes a year longer to 2025, and he is exactly the type of veteran leader that could stabilize their roster and mentor the young guys. It’s still highly questionable if Brogdon would like to be in Charlotte, starting all over again with a young team.
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Draft season is now in full session, as we have the official order of picks from the beloved NBA Draft Lottery. And with that, a full round of new mock drafts from the best of the best, including Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, and Tankathon.
All of these picks were made prior to the NBA Draft Combine this week, so I would suspect that updated versions will be out this week or next, with guys like Terquavion Smith and Jalen Williams solidly in the first round after their impressive performances.
The biggest mover this month was Ousmane Dieng, who went from the 18 to 30 range up to the 12 to 17 range, as draft analysts suspect that he could be this year’s upside homerun swing for teams picking in the middle of the 1st round. Lots of movement in the 18 to 30 range this month too, as Duke starters have made their way back into the late 1st round, with both Wendell Moore and Trevor Keels perceived as high-floor guys. Leonard Miller, Jake LaRavia, and Bryce McGowens are on many mocks as well, while Jean Montero, Ismael Kamagate and Christian Koloko haved moved into the 30 to 40 range.
If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
Some fresh picks to compare from Jeremy Woo/SI, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, ESPN-Draft Express/Jonathan Givony, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, and Tankathon. Wemby + Scoot we know, but then what…
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Post March Madness + NBA playoff time = early entry commitments and the start of pre-draft workouts. And with that, we have new 1st round picks to compare from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, and Rafael Barlowe/NBA Big Board.
The top four that has been in place for a few months has now become a top five with Keegan Murray going to Indiana at #5 across all of these mocks. Shaedon Sharpe who has now officially declared for the draft is firmly in the #6 to #8 range. Dyson Daniels seems to be making a move up some mocks, as does Malaki Branham, while draft analysts are cooling a bit on AJ Griffin and TyTy Washington. There’s lots of pick variance on Ousmane Dieng and Nikola Jovic, as everyone continues to watch tape and compare them to domestic prospects. It also feels like Patrick Baldwin and Jaden Hardy could quickly jump back into the #15-20 range, as they still both have very high (perceived) ceilings even after highly disappointing seasons.
I wanted to send a special shout out to Chad Ford, who retired this month and passed the reigns over to Rafael at NBA Big Board. Chad’s draft wisdom, enthusiasm, and intel will be sorely missed moving forward. He’s been a true inspiration to so many draft analysts and draft enthusiasts and we’ll always be indebted to all of his hard work.
There will be more mock drafts posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. And remember, if you ever want to look back to see what the picks looked like a month ago or 6 months ago, you can always find them here.
If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
This month, we feature our own 1st round picks stacked up with picks from Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/Ther Ringer, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, ESPN-Draft Express/Jonathan Givony, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, and Tankathon.
Note: If the table is not loading correctly on your mobile device via Twitter,then copy and paste this link in your browser and view the post on my site at https://hoopsdistillery.com/mockdraftcomp-march22/.
4/9 update: Added new picks from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today which I had missed on Twitter from late March. Kalbrosky has Malachi Branham at #10 and very interesting 20-30 range which includes Terquavion Smith at #21, while Givony has Ousmane Dieng at #18.
4/2 update: New picks added from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, who has Mathurin jumping Griffin at #6 (a much safer pick for the Kings), Sochan at #9, and Dyson Daniels and Mark Williams moving into the lottery.
After two weeks of March Madness, the next round of mock drafts have been released and are ready to put head to head. I’ve added 1st round picks from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, and Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation. Keegan Murray seems to have jumped Johnny Davis. Jeremy Sochan and Tari Eason are now lottery picks across the board, while TyTy Washington and Kendall Brown have moved down a bit. Also, Kennedy Chandler has reappeared as a consensus first round pick after Tennessee’s tourney run, and Mark Williams has jumped Walker Kessler on some mocks, thanks to his impressive play for Duke.
In case you missed previous #mockdraftcomp’s, I’ve added a new sortable chart showing the pick variance for the top prospects across the mock drafts, to save everyone a bit of time. The results are becoming even more interesting as we compare month over month and see that there is agreement forming across draft analysts on the top 10 picks.
There will be more mock drafts posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
After having consumed a huge amount of mock drafts, big boards, player analysis and draft combine coverage, it’s time to take a multi-dimensional look at the choices each lottery team may face on draft night.
With this year’s Draft Lottery in the rearview mirror, we have a full batch of eight shiny, new mock drafts to compare. featuring 1st round picks from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, ESPN-Draft Express/Jonathan Givony, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today and Tankathon.
Post March Madness + NBA playoff time = early entry commitments and the start of pre-draft workouts. And with that, we have new 1st round picks to compare from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, and Rafael Barlowe/NBA Big Board.
Note: If the table is not loading correctly on your mobile device via Twitter, then copy and paste this link in your browser and view the post on my site athttps://hoopsdistillery.com/bigboardcomp-march22/.
Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith in the top two spots with Jeremy Sochan, Dyson Daniels, and Malaki Branham all firmly in the into the Top 20 in this new set of big boards to compare from Sam Vecenie/Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, and Chad Ford/NBA Big Board.
There will be more big boards posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. Also, if I’m missing any big boards that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
After two weeks of March Madness, the next round of mock drafts have been released and are ready to put head to head. I’ve added 1st round picks from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon, ESPN-Draft Express/Jonathan Givony, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, and Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation.
Conference play is in full-swing, and with it, a new round of mock drafts for February to compare and analyze, including Tankathon, ESPN/Draft Express’s Jonathan Givony, NBA Big Board’s Chad Ford, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.
Two new big boards to compare, both with Jabari Smith in the top spot, from Chad Ford/NBA Big Board, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report and Sam Vecenie/The Athletic.
3/7 update: Fresh update with pick released in the last week from Tankathon.com and Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report. Shaedon Sharpe included in both of these and Malaki Branham entering the 1st round conversation.
2/24 update: New picks added from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express. EJ Liddell and Ousmane Dieng are both in his top 20, while Jeremy Sochan and Patrick Baldwin are in the 25-30 range.
With March Madness on the horizon, some very interesting mock drafts were released last week from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, and Chad Ford/NBA Big Board, and not surprisingly, there’s been a lot of movement. While Vecenie is refraining from adding Shaedon Sharpe until he confirms he’ll enter the draft, the others have him going in the 5-7 range. AJ Griffin has moved up to a consensus top 6 pick, TyTy Washington, a consensus top 10 pick, and Walker Kessler has solidified his position in the first round.
Also notable, are the changes tides with Duke’s prospects over the last month: Mark Williams has moved up into the mid-to-late first range, while his fellow teammates Wendell Moore and Trevor Keels are not even picked to go in the 1st round on two of these three mock drafts. Same goes for Kennedy Chandler, who analysts have cooled on quite on a bit.
In case you missed my last #mockdraftcomp, I’ve added a new sortable chart showing the pick variance for the top prospects across the mock drafts, to save everyone a bit of time.
There will be more mock drafts posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
March Madness has arrived along with three new big boards to compare from Chad Ford/NBA Big Board, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer and Sam Vecenie/The Athletic.
A fresh round of mock drafts for January from ESPN/Jonathan Givony, Chad Ford/NBA Big Board, Bleacher Report/Jonathan Wasserman, The Athletic/Sam Vecenie, and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today. Compare and enjoy!
A fresh set of Top 50 big boards to start off the new year from Jonathan Givony/ESPN, Chad Ford/NBA Big Board, and Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today.
2/20 update: New board added from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, with Tari Eason all the way up at 12, Christian Braun at 20, and David Roddy at 29.
Jabari Smith in the top spot with Jaden Ivey, AJ Griffin and Johnny Davis moving up, in this new set of big boards to compare from Sam Vecenie/Athletic and Chad Ford/NBA Big Board. We also have the first sighting of Shaedon Sharpe in the top 10 as rumors swirl as to which draft he’ll enter.
There will be more big boards posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. Also, if I’m missing any big boards that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
College basketball is back, along with G League and OTE, which means we have a fresh set of big boards to compare featuring Chad Ford at NBA Big Board, Sam Vecenie at The Athletic, and Jonathan Wasserman from B/R.
Our first official mock draft comparison with the start of this year’s college basketball season featuring B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, Jonathan Givony from ESPN/Draft Express, Jeremy Woo from Sports Illustrated, and Bryan Kalbrosky from USA Today, and Tankathon.
The 2022 NBA Draft scouting season has officially arrived with fresh big boards from ESPN, SI, and Tankathon. Will it be Banchero, Holmgren or Hardy at the top?
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January 30 update: Fresh 1st round mock draft from Jonathan Givony/ESPN and top 15 picks from Chad Ford/NBA Big Board–both of which include Shaedon Sharpe.
January 13 update: New picks added from Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated and Tankathon.com.
Happy New Year to everyone–here’s to a healthy, non-mask wearing 2022, without players in health and safety protocols or game cancellations!
A fresh round of mock drafts were released last week from Bleacher Report/JonathanWasserman, The Athletic/Sam Vecenie, and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, so I wanted to create a new post that helped us compare and analyze all of them. Although the picks have changed a good amount since mid-to-late December, I opted to leave the 12/22 ESPN picks from Jonathan Givony until they post an updated version.
Big movers included Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis, who was amazing in a few games, most notably in a big W against Purdue, in which he went head to head with (consensus #4 pick (for the time being) and fellow top SG prospect) Jaden Ivey. Tari Eason from LSU and Keegan Murray from Iowa are also on the rise, while hype seems to have cooled off a bit on Trevor Keels and Jaden Hardy after some subpar performances. Newcomers to the 1st round, for us to keep an eye on, include Blake Wesley from Notre Dame and Jeremy Sochan from Baylor.
In case you missed my last #mockdraftcomp, I’ve added a new sortable chart showing the pick variance for the top prospects across the mock drafts, to save everyone a bit of time. And as you’ll see the overall variance has decreased quite a bit in just a month’s time. Some of the numbers are thrown off a bit by the aforementioned ESPN picks, as Johnny Davis, for example, was #16 way back, two weeks ago–a level he will most likely never go back to unless he steal laptops, borrows money from Penny Hardaway, and/or has a couple of DUIs next month.
There will be more mock drafts posted in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back for updates and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. If I’m missing any mocks that you feel belong alongside the ‘All-NBA level’ draft analysts I currently include, leave a comment or DM me on Twitter.
The 2021 NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror and it’s not time to officially shift focus to the 2022 mock draft comparison featuring B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, Jonathan Givony from ESPN/Draft Express, and Tankathon.
The Banchero vs. Holmgren, begins. Take a look at how B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman’s mock draft compares to last month’s version from Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz from ESPN/Draft Express.