2022 NBA Draft team grades + Scouting Reports

 Atlanta Hawks: B- The Hawks took AJ Griffin with the 16th pick and traded their 44th pick for UConn guard Tyrese Martin. These two guys address a few areas of concern with the Hawks, perimeter defense being their main concern. Both Griffin and Martin are quick athletic guards with a great frame, but pretty similar players in terms of playstyle. Griffin, still only 18 years old, has a very large upside and with the right development program, can develop into a very solid role player. Martin has 4 years of college experience under his belt already, but still has room for improvement. Another area of concern with the Hawks was their overall energy and effort, especially on the defensive end. Griffin and Martin are two guys who have a great motor. These are two of the best perimeter shooters in this class, but the Hawks already have plenty of that with Young, Hunter, Bogdanovic, and Huerter who are all above average perimeter shooters.

Boston Celtics: C The Celtics took JD Davison with their sole pick in the draft. Davison at 19 years old has a very high upside, especially on the offensive end. Arguably the most athletic player in this draft class who thrives as a slasher. Main concern with Davison is that he is very undersized at 5’11. Boston’s biggest area in which they need help is perimeter shooting, and Davison has not shown he can shoot the deep ball at an efficient clip. Davison will likely spend time in the G League to gain experience, but could potentially fill the role of a facilitator behind Smart/White/Brogdon.

Brooklyn Nets: N/A

Charlotte Hornets: B+ The Hornets filled their biggest issue of an interior defensive presence/rim protector with Mark Williams. Williams is arguably the best rim protector in this class standing at 7’2 with a 7’7 wingspan and a 9’9 standing reach. At 20 years old, Williams still has a lot of room for development in terms of his offensive game. Williams is a very high impact basketball player. What he brings on defense with his length and natural instincts is so valuable. Mark Williams has a 9’9 standing reach (longest in the draft). Williams averaged 2.8 blocks per game in 23.6 minutes per game his last season in college. Williams also did a great job altering shots at the rim. Williams displayed great discipline in his ability to stay vertical and use his length to contest a shot without fouling. Mark Williams is also a great rebounder who uses his athleticism to rise over players to grab boards. He averaged 2.6 offensive boards a game in his final season at Duke. Williams does have pretty good lateral movement, but definitely struggled keeping up with quicker guards when defending the perimeter. He showed great recovery speed when guarding the PnR in drop coverage. One of Williams’s biggest intangibles is his motor. Mark Williams plays with a very infectious energy that helps the team. His offensive game is quite limited as most of his buckets were from put backs, dump-offs, or lobs. Williams only attempted one 3 in his 2 seasons at Duke. However, he had a significant improvement in his free throw shooting from his freshman to sophomore year with 53.7% and 72.7%, respectively. He has shown he has the ability to shoot from inside 15 feet, but not consistently or at a high volume. Standing at 7’1 with a 7’7 wingspan, Williams is a great lob threat. One area Williams excelled in was his rim running, Williams was great as the roll man in the PnR. Williams is a player coaches can count on to run the fast break and crash the board. He is a player who needs to know his role, and excel at it. The biggest area I think Williams stands out from the other true bigs in this draft is that he has shown he can play at a fast pace. He played in a very fast pace Duke offense and excelled in his role. The Hornets also traded for Bryce McGowens who is only 19 years old, but a very skilled scorer. McGowens is very good operating in the mid-post with his footwork and standing at 6’7, he can elevate over defenders. Main concerns with McGowens is his perimeter game which he shot at a 27% clip on 5 attempts per game in his only season at Nebraska. He can create for himself which is something the Hornets badly need, but needs to develop a consistent 3 point shot if he wants to excel.

Chicago Bulls: B The Bulls took Dalen Terry with their only pick, 18th in the first round. Terry is a very mature player already at just 19 years old. Terry is very comfortable handling the ball at 6’7. Terry is a very skilled passer and great at making plays for his teammates. A true combo guard who can pass, shoot, and rebound. Plays with a lot of energy and a very capable on ball defender with great lateral movement and length. Terry epitomizes a solid glue guy who makes the right reads and doesn’t turn the ball over.

Cleveland Cavaliers: B+ The Cavs are the only team that had 4 draft picks, and they took Ochai Agbaji, Khalifa Diop, Isaiah Mobley, and Luke Travers. Agbaji solidified himself as a top shooter in this class after shooting 41% from deep in his Championship senior season with KU last year. Agbaji is also an excellent perimeter defender with his great lateral movement and lower body strength. Agbaji has a high upside as a 3&D wing, which I think is the perfect role for him. Luke Travers and Diop are both very interesting prospects. Travers is good at putting the ball on the floor and getting downhill. He is a good finisher and has good touch around the rim. The Cavs have good perimeter shooters, but none that could attack closeouts and put the ball on the floor. Travers excels in this area, but he only shot 25% from deep last season with the Perth Wildcats. If he can develop a reliable shot, defenders will be forced to respect him and his ability to attack closeouts will be very useful. Diop, just 20 years old, standing at 6’11 with a 7’3 wingspan is pretty limited on the offensive end. Can be used as a lob threat/rim runner. Likely won’t see much time this season as the Cavs have good depth in the front court already. Definitely a guy to look out for in the coming years though. Isaiah Mobley, brother of Evan Mobley, has a pretty similar game to his brother. 6’10 with a 7’3 wingspan, and great mobile. He has a great handle for his size and good athleticism. Shot 36% from deep on 4 attempts a game in his final season at USC so he can stretch the floor. He is a very skilled passer and tends to make the right read. He can’t create for himself, and unlike his brother, he is not a good shot blocker/rim protector. I reckon he needs to lose some weight in order to keep up with the fast paced NBA game.

Dallas Mavericks: C+ The Mavs took Jaden Hardy with their only selection in the 2022 draft. Hardy is an interesting prospect out of the G-League Ignite team. Hardy was the #2 prospect out of high school but had a disappointing season with team Ignite. Hardy has all the tools necessary to be an elite scorer, but his overall decision making and shot selection led to a very inefficient scoring season. Shot just 27% from deep and 35% from the field. Hardy has a very good handle, is crafty with the ball, and has great footwork to create space. At 6’5, 185 lbs. Hardy has the ability to be a very capable perimeter defender, but his effort and energy does not always show on this end of the floor.

Denver Nuggets: B- The Nuggets took Christian Braun with their first pick at 21. Braun will fit perfectly in the Nuggets system who badly need a reliable wing who can knock down 3’s at an above average clip and play good defense. Braun has the size and quickness to be a solid defender in the NBA and has a very smooth stroke, shooting 39% on 3 attempts a game in his junior season at KU. Braun plays with a lot of energy, and this is another thing the Nuggets need. The Nuggets also traded for Peyton Watson, a huge gamble in my opinion. Watson was a top recruit coming out of high school in 2021, but had a nightmare freshman season at UCLA, barely cracking the rotation playing just 13 minutes a game. He has good vitals standing at 6’8 with a 7’0 wingspan and 34’’ vertical. Watson showed glimpses of the scoring machine he once was in high school, but could not sustain it consistently. Will be interesting to see how he develops. Nuggets also selected Ismael Kamagate from Paris BC. Kamagate is 6’11 with a 7’3 wingspan. Kamagate has great mobility and athleticism for his size, and even showed decent touch at times with his mid range game. He will likely be a rim runner/lob threat on offense. Most of his impact will be on the defensive end, though. Kamagate is a great shot blocker and creates a lot of disturbance when an opposing player is near the basket, something the Nuggets badly need. Not quick enough to guard NBA guards but he is an excellent weak side defender.

Detroit Pistons: A The Pistons took Jaden Ivey with the 4th pick. Will be interesting to see how they use him because he played the traditional point guard role in Purdue where he took a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore season. Alongside Cade Cunningham, he will either transition to a shooting guard or be their secondary ball handler/facilitator. Ivey is one of the fastest prospects in NBA history and thrives as a slasher, and is good at creating for his teammates off the drive which is something the Pistons could badly use. The Pistons also traded for Jalen Duren, 6’11 center out of Memphis. Duren, still only 18 years old, has a very high upside, both offensively and defensively. In his only season at Memphis, Duren did not attempt a single 3 but he has shown glimpses of a decent midrange jumper. Duren’s impact on the offensive end comes on the glass. Duren is a physically imposing force and really plays with an infectious energy. He has good athleticism for his size, and will only continue to get better as he is only 18 years old. He has a lot of time to work on an outside game which is vital in today’s NBA. Pistons were really lacking a reliable interior presence, and Duren fixes that with his length and great instincts. The Pistons also traded for Gabriele Procida out of Italy. Procida stands at 6’7, 195 lbs. with a 6’8 wingspan. Procida may have the best looking jumpshot in this class, but shot the deep ball at a 35% clip with Fortitudo Kigili this past season. He will be pretty impactful off the ball which is very valuable. He is a true spot up shooter who cannot really create for himself. Most underrated aspect of his game is his athleticism as he can really fly, and is comfortable playing with his head above the rim. Procida is a smart defender with active hands and good instincts. I do think he needs to muscle up a bit if he wants to be able to hang with stronger wings on the perimeter. Very interesting prospect, and likely will spend time in the G-League to start.

Golden State Warriors: B The Warriors selected Patrick Baldwin Jr. with their late first round pick. Baldwin Jr. was a top prospect coming out of high school and was originally projected to be a lottery pick, but after an injury-riddled freshman season at UW-Milwaukee his stock dropped quite a bit. He only played 11 games and did not play well for the majority of those. Baldwin Jr. has a very high offensive upside due to his already deep bag and size. Baldwin Jr. is 6’9 with a 7’1 wingspan with the mobility of a guard. He is great at creating space for himself in the midrange or the perimeter. He shot an abysmal 27% from deep on 6 attempts a game, but was on a small sample size so it is too early to give up on him as a shooter. Baldwin Jr. is currently a player who does everything at an average level, but nothing at an elite level. I could see him develop into a Michael Porter Jr. type of player easily. In the second round, the Warriors traded for Ryan Rollins out of Toledo. Rollins has a very smooth game, especially in the PnR. He is great at coming off screens and pulling up in the midrange, he did this quite efficiently in college. He shot the deep ball at a 32% clip but is not afraid to shoot it. Rollins is a solid defender as well, but nothing exceptional. I would guess he starts out in the G-League as the Warriors have an abundance of guards already.

Houston Rockets: A+ I believe the Houston Rockets had the best draft of any NBA team this year, and mostly due to their first 2 picks in Jabari Smith and Tari Eason. In the modern NBA, one of the most valuable skills a player can have is the ability to guard 1-5. Smith and Eason can both do this at a high level. Jabari Smith was selected 3rd overall, and for good reason. He is a 6’10 wing with a 7’2 wingspan who is only 19 years old. Smith really came out of nowhere with an incredible freshman season at Auburn. Smith shot the deep ball at a 42% clip on 5.5 attempts/game. He has a high release point on his jump shot making it nearly impossible to block at 6’10. If he can even somewhat mimic his production/efficiency from college, he will be a + on the offensive end. I think most of his impact will be felt on the defensive end, though. Smith is one of the true players that can guard 1-5 due to his great lateral movement, length, and athleticism. Tari Eason is one of the most underrated players in this draft, in my opinion. After transferring to LSU from Cincinnati, Eason really took his game to another level his sophomore season. Eason’s offensive game is very solid, shooting 36% from 3 on only 2.4 attempts/game. Most of his offensive production came in transition and putting the ball on the floor. He plays with great physicality and uses his big frame and speed to get by defenders and finish at the rim. He is extremely athletic and can also be used as a lob threat. But, like Jabari Smith, I think Eason’s impact will really be felt on the defensive end. He also has the ability to guard any position which is so valuable in today’s NBA. Eason’s off ball defense is also incredible. He does a great job breaking passing lanes, having active hands, and his gifted instincts make him so valuable. Eason also has an incredible motor, and I am interested to see how big of a role he gets his rookie year as he has a very similar playstyle to his teammate Jae’sean Tate. The Rockets also traded for TyTy Washington out of Kentucky. Washington is a 6’3 guard with a 6’8 wingspan. His game is still pretty raw but he has a high scoring and defensive upside. Washington’s best skill is his passing/playmaking. Washington is great in the PnR, especially when playing against drop coverage. He is a very accurate passer and tends to make the right read out of hedges/blitzes as well. Washington only turned the ball over 1.6 times per game playing around 30 minutes/game. Washington is very explosive with his first step and has a very smooth 1-2 dribble pull-up. He uses his tight handle and speed to attack closeouts very well to get downhill where he has great touch with his floater game. Washington is a pretty ball dominant player who doesn’t have much impact off the ball but he did shoot the 3 ball at a 35% clip.

Indiana Pacers: A The Pacers took Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin with the 6th overall pick in the draft. Mathurin is a very dynamic player with great speed and athleticism. He has great size at 6’6 with a 6’9 wingspan which gives him a lot of upside as a defender. There is no doubt in my mind that Mathurin will make an immediate impact on the offensive end. He is a 3 level scorer, and efficient at all 3 levels. Mathurin shot 38% from deep on 5 attempts/game in his college career. Mathurin really took a huge leap as a player from his freshman to sophomore year with his expanded role at Arizona. Mathurin has a very quick first step to blow by defenders and incredible body control when finishing at the rim. He will be a great fit alongside Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers selected Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard with the 31st pick. Nembhard is a player I am higher on than consensus. He has a very mature game and always seems to make the right read. I believe he can be a high level floor general in the NBA. He may have the highest basketball IQ in this class, his ability to scan the floor to find open looks is second to none. He is incredible in the PnR, he really makes the game look so easy and is able to control the game at his own pace. He isn’t the greatest shooter right now, shot 34% for his career from deep, but 38% on 4 attempts a game his final year. He’s a guy that will punish teams for going under on screens, and isn’t afraid to pull from range. Nembhard has a very reliable mid range jumper though which he likes to go to when he has to create for himself. I think he could be a very serviceable backup ball handler to Haliburton this season. The Pacers may have gotten the steal of the draft with Baylor forward Kendall Brown via Minnesota at 48. Brown is a hyper athletic wing at 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan. He is a true above the rim player with incredible explosiveness and great speed making him lethal in transition. Brown has great upper body strength which makes him dangerous in the open court. Brown’s impact will mainly be felt on the defensive end because of his versatility. One of the few guys in this draft that can guard any position at a high level. Brown is a type of player the Pacers badly need with his motor and athleticism.

LA Clippers: D The Clippers selected Michigan forward Moussa Diabate with their only pick in the draft at 43. Diabate is a guy that had very high expectations coming into his freshman season under Juwan Howard as one of the top recruits in the country, but had a rather underwhelming season. Diabate has great length at 6’11 and is pretty athletic for his size. However, he is only 210 pounds so the biggest concern for him is his strength. Diabate also needs a lot of improvement in his shooting if he wants to make it at the next level. He will not be able to hang with NBA bigs and is not a good enough shot blocker to make any real impact. Diabate is only 20 years old so there is lots of room for improvement but he is just too raw right now, and I doubt he sees any playing time at all his rookie year.

LA Lakers: D The Lakers selected Michigan State guard Max Christie with their only pick in the draft at 35. Christie is another guy who had high expectations coming in as a top recruit, but had a very underwhelming season. Christie is only 19 years old, and doesn’t turn 20 until the second half of the 2022-2023 season so he has a lot of upside. Christie was an incredible scorer in high school, but at the college level he just did not seem comfortable at all. Christie is an athletic guard but with good size, but is still very raw. He does not do anything at a high level, and definitely needs to work on his shooting, play making, decision making, and defense. Seems like a player the Lakers do not need, but will be interesting to see how he develops.

Memphis Grizzlies: B+ Memphis traded for Wake Forest Junior, Jake Laravia. Laravia had his breakout season after transferring from Indiana State. Laravia is a very efficient shooter, shooting 40% on C&S 3s but on very low volume so it's not clear how well it will translate to the next level. At 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan he has good defensive upside, but is currently a very average defender. He is a very average athlete, not too quick but has pretty good upper body strength. He did a good job jumping passing lanes and had active hands, averaging nearly 2 steals/game last year with Wake Forest. With the 23rd pick, the Grizzlies traded for Colorado State junior David Roddy. Roddy, a former 3 sport star athlete in high school may be the strongest pound for pound player in this class. Roddy is built like a football player at 6’5 250 lbs, but has incredible mobility and speed, especially for his size. Roddy is one of the most interesting prospects I have scouted given his skillset. Roddy was one of the best shooters in college basketball last season shooting 44% from deep on 4 attempts/game. He has a very good handle and quick first step to blow by defenders, and once he gets in the lane he is very difficult to stop because of how strong he is. Roddy is also a very good passer with great vision. Very high iq basketball player offensively, but will be interesting to see what kind of role he gets with the Grizzlies. His versatility on the defensive end is what makes him even more valuable. He can guard 1-4, but can hold his ground very well with bigger guys. Averaged a steal and a block per game his final college season. In the second round, Memphis traded for Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler. Chandler has good 3 level scoring upside as he is a great finisher and shoots the deep ball well. Chandler shot 38% on 4 attempts/game from beyond the arc. Chandler is one of the quickest players in this class, and uses it well to get downhill. Ambidextrous finisher with great touch around the rim. Chandler thrives in the PnR and will punish teams for switching bigger guys on him. Chandler is also a very good playmaker and will learn a lot under Morant and Tyus Jones. Only 19 years old, so has a lot of upside on the offensive end. Due to his size, I am not high on Chandler as a defender but he showed great instincts and high iq averaging 2.2 steals/game.

Miami Heat: B+ With their only pick in the draft, the Miami Heat selected Nikola Jovic with the 27th overall pick. Jovic is a 6’10 wing who only just turned 19 in June. Jovic had a very productive season in the ABA Liga. He is one of the most talented prospects in this draft given his skillset and size. Jovic has already established himself as a decent 3 level scorer, but has a high upside as a scorer. He shot the deep ball at a 35% clip this past season, but he was able to create for himself. Jovic is not the fastest guy, and does not have the tightest handle but he is excellent at creating space with this step back. As a slasher, he is solid but definitely needs to get bigger if he wants to keep up with the physicality of the NBA. Jovic can also only really drive to his right, which would get exposed in the NBA. He has a pretty quick first step when putting the ball on the floor attacking closeouts and is a good ambidextrous finisher around the rim with touch. Jovic has great footwork in the midpost as well, but has a relatively low release point so I believe he may need to work on his mechanics. Jovic is a very good passer as well. He can initiate offense in the half court, and is very good in transition. On the defensive end, he is a smart defender that can guard in space. I don’t believe his defensive ceiling is very high because of his athleticism, and is not strong enough to defend 4s and 5s in the NBA. Very solid on the ball and has good instincts though.

Milwaukee Bucks: B The 2021 NBA Champs are still in a contention window and they had a good draft adding pieces who can make an immediate impact. With the 24th pick, they took Marjon Beauchamp out of G-League Ignite. Beauchamp is a 6’7 wing with a 7’1 wingspan. Beauchamp has great athleticism with great speed and verticality. Offensively, Beauchamp is very good in transition and is a good slasher in the half court. He is a very good cutter and can also be used as a lob threat. He does not have much impact off the ball as his jump shot still needs some work. He is very ball dominant and is not a great playmaker. I believe Beauchamp’s impact will be really felt on the defensive end. His combination of quickness, length, and strength lead me to believe he can be an elite defender in the NBA. His versatility in guarding any position makes him very valuable to any team. The Bucks took Hugo Besson, 6’5 wing from France who played in New Zealand with their second pick. Besson’s impact will come on the offensive end as he is a solid 3 level scorer. Besson is a streaky shooter from range, but when he’s on he’s nearly impossible to stop. Besson can not only shoot off the catch, but he can also create for himself off the dribble. Besson is a very good passer and uses his gravity well to create for teammates. At 6’5, Besson has good defensive upside but currently struggles keeping up with quicker guards as he is a very average athlete. I think the Bucks could use another ball handler/floor general and they get that with Besson.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B After trading Walker Kessler to Utah for Rudy Gobert, the T-Wolves really only have one draft pick in Wendell Moore Jr.. Moore is a 3 and D prototype, but he brings a lot of value in other areas. Moore had his breakout season last year with Duke where he averaged a very efficient 13 PPG shooting 41% from deep with a 61 TS%. Moore is also a very underrated playmaker who makes the right reads and plays high iq basketball. He also does not turn the ball over very much, and actually averaged less turnovers his junior year despite a significant increase in usage rate from his sophomore season. Moore, still only 20 years old, has a lot of room for improvement as well. He has good 3-level scoring upside given his strength, physicality, and speed but is yet to prove his mid range game. Moore Jr. is a very solid on-ball defender already and has the frame to compete at the NBA level. His off ball defense can be bad at times as he has shown poor discipline ball-watching.

New Orleans Pelicans: A Over the past year, the Pelicans have built a system of relatively bigger players, who are versatile defenders but also skilled offensively and have added 2 more players that fit perfectly in the draft. The Pelicans took Dyson Daniels with the 8th overall pick. Daniels recently turned 19 years old, and spent last season playing for G-League Ignite. Daniels is a 6’8 point guard with a 6’11 wingspan, great upside on the defensive end. His combination of passing, defense, and high iq basketball sets him apart from other prospects in this draft. He will fit perfectly alongside McCollum, Ingram, Williamson, and Valancunias as a primary/secondary ball handler. Daniels struggled scoring the ball with Team Ignite, had shooting splits of .454/.300/.533. Definitely needs some work mechanically, but his role will be to facilitate so shouldn’t be a huge issue. Daniels versatility on the defensive end makes him so valuable given his frame and quickness. At pick 41, the Pelicans took EJ Liddell, who I think was the steal of the draft. Liddell is a great glue guy that plays hard and is a good locker room presence. Liddell does not do much at an elite level, but he does everything well. Liddell is a guy that can handle the ball well and make the right read every time. As a scorer, he was able to create for himself in college, but I think it may be different in the NBA due to his lack of explosiveness. Liddell took a huge stride on the defensive end from his sophomore to junior season at Ohio State, from averaging 1.1 blocks/game to 2.6 blocks/game. Liddell is a very versatile defender who is able to guard on the perimeter on an island against smaller guys, but can also guard bigs in the post because of his incredible lower body strength and frame. Liddell has incredible instincts on the defensive end, and has a pretty similar playstyle to his teammate Herb Jones.

New York Knicks: B- The Knicks traded both of their first round picks for future picks, and ultimately only had one pick at 42 where they took Trevor Keels out of Duke. Keels is a combo guard with great strength. He stands 6’4 with a 6’7 wingspan and is 220 lbs. with great upper body strength and good physicality. Keels is only 18 years old, and is still pretty raw but definitely has a high upside, especially offensively. Keels has a great feel for the game, and is a good playmaker right now, but struggled quite a bit scoring at an efficient level in his only season in college. Keels shot the deep ball at a 31% clip on nearly 5 attempts/game. Keels thrives as a slasher and is a great finisher, he is able to use his upper body strength to finish through contact and embraces physicality. Keels didn’t have the biggest role at Duke, but averaged 3.6 assists/40 minutes. His ability to make smart reads out of the PnR is one of his biggest strengths. Keels is a very good perimeter defender, and is comfortable on an island even against quicker guards. Keels has a great motor as well, and this is something the Knicks could definitely use. Keels has all the tools to be a very solid NBA player but he needs improvement in his shot creation and his outside jumper.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A I believe the Oklahoma City Thunder had the 2nd best draft of any team this year. With the 2nd overall pick, they took Chet Holmgren. Holmgren has the highest ceiling of any player in this class, but is far from that right now. Holmgren stands at 7’0 with a 7’6 wingspan, but the big concern is that he only weighs 195 lbs. Holmgren has the mobility of a guard, but needs to work on developing a tighter handle. Holmgren shot 39% from range on 3 attempts/game and could be very valuable in the PnP. I am interested to see how Holmgren is used on the offensive end because he is not a very good screener, and I do not believe he is ready for the NBA level physicality yet. Chet’s defensive upside is incredibly high as well. Holmgren averaged 3.7 blocks/contest in his maiden season at Gonzaga. Holmgren has great instincts and provides good versatility as he can guard the perimeter pretty well. Holmgren has great recovery speed as well as a help defender and uses his length to disrupt shots at the rim. With the 11th overall pick, the Thunder took Ousmane Dieng, forward/center out of the NBL in Australia. Dieng stands at 6’10 with a 7’0 wingspan and 215 lbs. Dieng is an extremely skilled player and has a very smooth game. Dieng is only 19 years old, but already has a pretty polished game. Dieng has the mobility of a guard with a good handle, but definitely room for improvement. Dieng likes to slash to the basket when creating for himself. Dieng excels in transition as he can push the ball up the floor with pace and finish or find teammates. Dieng is a very good passer, and is comfortable handling the ball in the half court and facilitating. Dieng has a good looking jumper, but was quite streaky in his only season in the NBL. He shot 27% on 4 attempts/game from deep, so this is an area he must improve. Dieng is not a great defender right now, but the upside is there. Dieng has shown to be a good weak side help defender and rotates very well. He was not a good rim protector, but he has a good feel which helps him disturb shots in the paint. Dieng is a player who cannot handle a lot of physicality though so he definitely needs to put on some muscle. With the 12th overall pick, the Thunder selected Jalen Williams, Junior out of Santa Clara. Jalen Williams had his breakout season this past year where he had an increased role and thrived in it, averaging a very efficient 18 PPG, 4 RPG, and 4 APG. Jalen stands at 6’6, 190 lbs. and a 7’2 wingspan making a perfect prototypical NBA build. Offensively, Jalen Williams is among the best in this class. In his junior year at Santa Clara, Williams shot 40% from deep on 3 attempts/game. Williams can score at all 3 levels efficiently. Williams is also a great playmaker, especially out of the PnR. He always seems to make the right read and limits turnovers while doing so. Williams is very quick as well which makes him so dangerous in transition, with his ability to read the floor and find teammates or finish at the rim. Williams' value is even higher because of his ability to create for himself. He has a very quick first step to get past his defender, and his bag is deep with his tight handle to go along with the stepback, hesi, and counters. Defensively, Williams is not great but the upside is there. Williams struggled at times defending on an island, his lateral quickness is a key area for improvement. He averaged 1+ steals/game every season in college, mostly because of his instincts and active hands. He is not very versatile as he can really only guard guys his size or smaller than him. With the 34th pick in the draft, the Thunder selected Jaylin Williams, forward out of Arkansas. Williams took a huge leap from his freshman year with his expanded role. Williams played a huge role in Arkansas’ Elite 8 run in the NCAA tournament, which raised his draft stock quite a bit. Williams stands at 6’10 with a 7’1 wingspan. Most of Williams' impact will come on the defensive end, but he does have stretch 4 potential. Offensively, Williams is good in the low post but needs work on his touch around the basket. Williams has great athleticism for his size, and is very active on the boards. Williams averaged 10 boards a night in his sophomore season. Williams is yet to prove that he has a reliable jumper but has shown glimpses of an outside shot. Most of Williams' points came out of the PnR as the roll man or on weak side cuts which he does very well. Williams is also comfortable handling the ball and is a very accurate passer when finding cutters down the middle or on the baseline. Jaylin Williams is one of the best defenders in this class as he uses his length and mobility very well. Williams’ energy on the defensive end is contagious and always gives max effort. Williams is good in drop coverage and has great recovery speed when needed. Williams is a very smart defender, when contesting shots at the rim, does a good job of staying vertical and not fouling. Williams is currently a decent rim protector, only averaging 1 block/game in his freshman year. Williams is not extremely versatile in who he can guard because he does not have the best lateral quickness, but his ability to recover if someone gets past him is great.

Orlando Magic: A The Magic took Paolo Banchero with the first overall pick in the draft, who is the most NBA ready player in my opinion. I believe Banchero is the best player in the class as he does everything on the floor at a high level. Banchero is 6’10, 250 lbs., with a 7’1 wingspan. Banchero is listed as a forward, but I believe he should be the floor general for the Magic. Banchero has a very high basketball IQ and the combination of his size, athleticism, and playmaking gives him superstar potential. Banchero can not only make plays for his teammates, but also for himself. Banchero is great at getting to his spots, primarily in the mid-post, and elevating over any defender for a bucket with elite footwork. Banchero can score at all 3 levels, but will likely need to improve on his perimeter jumpshot to take his game to the next level. Banchero shot 34% from 3 on 3.3 attempts/game in his only season at Duke. Banchero does provide off-ball impact as he is much better at shooting from deep off the catch, but also showed that he is good at creating space no matter where he’s at. Banchero can also put the ball on the floor and get to the rim using his large frame and physicality, and can finish well with either hand. Banchero is dangerous when he gets positioning in the low post as he can play bully ball with practically anyone for an easy basket. What makes Banchero so special is his ability to create for his teammates. Banchero has the mobility and handles of a guard which makes him so dangerous in the PnR as the ball handler. Banchero has exceptional vision and is very good at passing out of double teams because of his size. Banchero is a very accurate passer as well, always leading his teammate to the ball for optimal positioning. He uses his gravity really well to find open shooters/cutters. Despite his high usage rate and playstyle, Banchero only turned the ball over 2.4 times per game. Banchero is the most polished offensive player in this draft, but has a lot of 2-way upside as well. Banchero averaged 1 steal and 1 block per 40 minutes with Duke. He is a versatile defender as he can guard any position on the floor. However, the main area Banchero needs improvement on is his effort on the defensive end. There were several times where Banchero did not seem to be trying at all and gave up wide open looks, or easily let his man get by him. I do think this will improve with time as he is only 19 years old (!!). Banchero is a true student of the game, and one can tell by watching him play. The Magic took Caleb Houstan with the 32nd pick in the draft. Houston had a bit of an underwhelming freshman season after being one of the top high school recruits in the class of 2020, however this was due to his limited role. Houstan is only 19 years old, and stands at 6’8 with a 7’0 wingspan, and he will only continue to grow. I think he will end up being a very solid role player as a 3&D guy as he is a pretty good shooter off the catch, but has not been able to show that he can create for himself. The one criticism I have with Houstan’s jumpshot is that his release is a little slow, but I would guess that will improve with time. He is a very average playmaker and rebounder as well. Houstan’s mobility and length provides him great defensive upside, but still needs to work on his overall focus and effort.

Philadelphia 76ers: N/A

Phoenix Suns: N/A

Portland Trail Blazers: B With the 7th overall pick in the draft, Portland selected Shaedon Sharpe, who just recently turned 19 years old. Sharpe did not play a single game in college, but was a top recruit coming out of high school. Sharpe is listed at 6’6 with a crazy 7’0 wingspan. Sharpe is a very tough player to judge because he has not played any type of competitive basketball in 2 years, but he certainly has all the tools to be a great player in the NBA. Sharpe has great length and good athleticism giving him promising upside both offensively and defensively. Sharpe has a very quick first step to blow past defenders and is a good finisher at the rim, and can even finish through contact. Another thing I like about Sharpe is that he embraces physicality and that will translate well in the NBA. Some key areas of improvement for Sharpe are his ball handling, playmaking, and outside shooting. If he can develop these parts of his game, there is no reason he can’t be an elite level NBA player one day. Sharpe offers some defensive versatility as well with his ability to guard 1-4 pretty well. With the 57th overall pick in the draft, the Trailblazers selected Jabari Walker, forward out of Colorado. Walker fills a much needed role in the Blazers frontcourt. Walker is 6’8, 214 lbs with a 6’11 wingspan. Walker has one of the best motors among big men in this class. I believe most of his impact will come on the defensive end as he is a versatile defender who can guard any position due to his good lateral movement as well as his length and athleticism. Walker is a great help defender and does a great job of contesting shots at the rim. Offensively, Walker is valuable as well as he provides spacing with his ability to shoot the outside ball. Walker shot 40% from deep on 2.5 attempts/game during his 2 years at Colorado. Walker is still only 19 years old, but will definitely have to work on his offensive game i.e. ball handling, shot creation, and playmaking before he reaches his ceiling.

Sacramento Kings: A With the 4th overall pick in the draft, the Kings took Keegan Murray, forward out of the University of Iowa. I believe Keegan Murray is the best pure scorer in this draft. At 6’8, 215 lbs with a 6’11 wingspan, Murray has the potential to be an elite scorer in the NBA. Murray addresses a much needed issue with the kings, a guy that can score on all 3 levels at an elite level with the ability to create for themselves. Murray had his breakout season with Iowa last year after he got an increased role as the #1 scoring option. Murray averaged 24 PPG on 64% TS!! Murray is not the fastest or most athletic player but he is great in transition. He runs the floor well and is a great finisher. In the halfcourt, Murray will take advantage of any mismatch by putting the ball on the floor with the ability to go to his left or right and finish with either hand. Murray has great awareness off the ball, he is a great cutter in open space and is hard to stop when he has a full head of steam. Murray displayed great touch and footwork with his low-post game. Murray also has an excellent motor, he averaged nearly 3 offensive rebounds per game which was among the best in the country. He routinely crashes the glass and has great instincts and hands. Most of his perimeter jump shots were catch and shoot, but he showed some ability to create for himself with his sidestep and stepback to create space. Murray is also an incredible defender, averaged 1.3 steals and 2 blocks per game his sophomore season. Murray offers good versatility as he can comfortably guard wings/forwards but also has the ability to switch onto smaller and faster guards. Murray’s motor is what makes him great on the defensive end, he is always active on his feet. He made a huge impact because of his size, length, positioning, and instincts. Murray was excellent in breaking up passing lanes and then pushing the ball in transition. One area I think Murray can improve is his playmaking, just his overall willingness to find teammates using his gravity. I wouldn’t be surprised if Murray has one of the better careers in this class.

San Antonio Spurs: B+ With the 9th overall pick, the Spurs selected Jeremy Sochan, forward out of Baylor. At 19 years old, Sochan still has a lot of room for development along with his already skilled playstyle. Sochan is a very high impact basketball player. What he brings on defense with his defensive versatility is so valuable in today’s NBA. Sochan is one of the few players in this class who can truly guard 1-5. His incredible lateral movement allows him to keep up with quicker guards on the perimeter, and his big frame combined with his lower body strength allow him to guard bigs. As a defender, Sochan doesn’t have enough bounce yet to be a high-level rim protector but he has great instincts and patience around the rim. Since he is only 19 years old, I expect him to become more athletic and this will really help his rim protection. He averaged 1.3 steals per game and 0.7 blocks per game at Baylor. One of Sochan’s biggest intangibles is his energy and effort he gives. Sochan will dive for every loose ball, contest every shot, crash the boards, box out, and sprint the floor every possession. He shot 29.8% from 3 in his freshman campaign at Baylor, but he was not afraid to shoot the ball. He has a good looking shot though which makes me believe he could be a solid catch and shoot guy from deep. Sochan’s offensive game thrives when he puts the ball on the floor. He is a great finisher at the rim, and has shown good touch with his floater as well. Sochan showed glimpses of a mid range game in his sole season in college, but did not go to it that much. Sochan also showed glimpses of his post-up game in the low post displaying great footwork and looked comfortable doing so. Standing at 6-9 with a 7’0 wingspan, Sochan did a great job grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds using his verticality and athleticism. Sochan was occasionally used as a passing hub via a low-post entry and did a great job finding open shooters and cutters. He is a very accurate passer that tends to make the right reads on offense. One area in Sochan’s game really stuck out to me: his ability to run in transition. Although Sochan is not the fastest player, he takes very long strides to get down the court quickly and find open teammates or finish himself. He’s also able to bring the ball down the floor as he's shown he is very comfortable handling the ball. Sochan already has a pretty mature game especially for a 19 year old, but he does have a few weaknesses. First, he lacks the ability to create for himself. He has not shown that he can shoot off the dribble consistently, and is not fast enough to get past the NBA-level defenders. Second, Sochan’s handle is pretty good for a big man but it was sloppy at times giving up unforced turnovers. If he can develop a tighter handle, he will be able to facilitate in the half court. Third is his shooting which was very streaky in his only season in college. He shot 29.8% from 3 and 58.9% from the line; these are both areas he needs to be more effective in. If he can develop a consistent jumpshot, his offensive upside is very high. His last weakness is that even though he has great effort and energy, this has caused him to get into foul trouble at times. He needs to be more disciplined on close-outs but I suspect this will improve with time. With the 20th and 25th pick, the Spurs selected Malaki Branham out of Ohio State and Blake Wesley out of Notre Dame, respectively. Both of these guys are very similar in terms of their frame, both 6’5, 180 lbs with a 6’9 wingspan, and are also both 19 years old. Branham is a more polished scorer of the two with his ability to get to his spots and create for himself with his tight handle and craftiness with the ball. Branham is a score-first guard who will need to improve his willingness to pass. Branham thrived in the midrange, and displayed great touch with this floater game. Branham was also a good perimeter shooter shooting 42% on 3 attempts/game. Branham is great off the ball and was used a lot in curl/fade actions and the DHO where he was efficient. Branham’s main weakness is his athleticism and quickness which hurt him most on the defensive end. He often got blown by on the defensive end due to his mediocre lateral movement. However, he has a lot of upside as he is only 19 years old. Blake Wesley, unlike Branham, is athletically gifted and has a really quick first step to blow past defenders. Wesley is far from a 3-level scorer though, only shooting 30% on 5 3s/game and not very efficient from the mid range but is best when he puts the ball on the floor and drives to the basket. Wesley embraces physicality and is a good finisher through contact. Wesley is a willing passer and tends to make the right read especially when getting downhill.

Toronto Raptors: B With their only pick in the draft at 33, the Raptors took Center Christian Koloko out of the University of Arizona. Koloko played a valuable role in Arizona’s extremely successful season last year. Koloko really took a leap from his first 2 years in college to his junior year. Koloko is 7’1 with a 7’4 wingspan and is 22 years old. He was the defensive anchor for Arizona, and was one of the best rim protectors in the country averaging nearly 3 blocks per game, and 4.3 blocks/40 minutes. He creates a lot of havoc in the paint, and if he is not blocking the shot, he is altering the shot in some way with his length. One thing I noticed is that Koloko was very disciplined at staying vertical when contesting shots at the rim and not fouling which is a very valuable skill to have at a young age. An interior presence is something the Raptors badly need, but in their current switch-heavy defense, Koloko may not fit as he is not very versatile. For his size, he has pretty good mobility but I do not think he will be able to keep up with quick guards on the perimeter. He is best in drop coverage and has great recovery speed when hedging. Offensively, Koloko is pretty limited in terms of what he offers as he cannot shoot the ball at all. I would say he is an adequate low-post scorer. He primarily scored on off-ball motion plays like lobs and cuts out of the PnR. One thing I liked was his patience around the rim and would always wait to get the highest quality look. Apart from his versatility both offensively and defensively, I think the biggest area for improvement from Koloko is his strength. He definitely needs to add some more muscle if wants to be dominant on the glass and when posting up bigger NBA centers.

Utah Jazz: N/A

Washington Wizards: C+ With the 10th overall pick, the Wizards selected Johnny Davis out of the University of Wisconsin. Davis is one of the more overhyped prospects in this class, in my opinion. Davis stands at 6’5, 190 lbs but has the athleticism to be a solid swingman in the NBA. The biggest thing I like about Davis’ game is his confidence, and there is not a shot he does not like, or wouldn’t hesitate to take. However, this is also my biggest problem with him, he often settles for low percentage shots which leads to a lot of misses. He was extremely inefficient as a scorer because of this. Davis has a very active/aggressive playstyle which led him to grab lots of boards. Apart from his shot selection, the biggest area for improvement should be his willingness to pass. Although he was a score-first guard, there were many instances where he settled for a poor shot and missed open teammates for higher quality looks. Davis is arguably the best perimeter defender in this class. His ability to contain the ball on the perimeter is second to none. He has incredible lateral movement which allows him to stay with any person he is matched up against. He uses his strength and quickness very well to fight over screens to chase the ball handler. He has active hands and is good at breaking passing lanes. I would say his biggest attribute is his motor and overall will to win, and if he can improve his shot discipline he can be a great 2-way player in the NBA. The Wizards also drafted Yannick Nzosa out of Congo with the 54th pick, but I was unable to find sufficient film on him. From what I saw, he is extremely raw and provides little to no value on the offensive end and could be a decent rim protector in the future. He is only 18 years old, and I doubt he gets significant playing time his first few years in the league.