Raphielle Johnson
Thu, June 23, 2022 at 9:03 AM·23 min read
In this article:
Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant
|F|#9
Jabari Smith Jr.
American basketball player
Chet Holmgren
American basketball player
Editor’s Note: Now, all our premium tools for Fantasy, DFS, and Betting are included in one subscription at one low price. Customers can subscribe to NBC Sports EDGE+ monthly for $9.99. Click here to learn more!
Draft day is finally here, and the expectation is that things could begin to get wild once the Kings are on the board with the fourth overall pick. But that may be a bit late, as on Wednesday it was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Pistons and Trail Blazers have agreed to a trade centered around Jerami Grant. In exchange for Grant, the Pistons will receive a 2025 first-round pick (via Milwaukee; top-4 protected) and a 2025 second, with the two teams also exchanging 2022 second-round picks (Detroit's 36th overall for Portland's 46th overall). And this isn't all, either. Denver will receive a 2025 second-round pick from Portland, with Detroit receiving the most favorable 2026 second-round pick between Portland and New Orleans.
The exchange of 2022 second-round picks isn't a huge deal here. What is? Portland holding onto the 7th overall pick, which could be included in another trade. According to Yahoo's Chris Haynes, that selection could be used in an attempt to acquire Raptors wing OG Anunoby. With the Trail Blazers rebuilding around Damian Lillard, time is obviously of the essence with regard to building a contender. It's quite clear that the front office is going all out in its quest to construct a rotation that can be a factor in the West.
With that bit of business cleared up, let's get into the final pre-draft mock, with the betting lines offering up a major curveball in the early hours of Thursday morning. Paolo Banchero, whose odds of going first overall improved earlier in the week, was being listed on multiple sportsbooks as the favorite to hear his name called first (-200 on PointsBet, with Jabari Smith second at +120). To say that shift is interesting would be a major understatement. And the lines would shift in the opposite direction once Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that a top three of Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Banchero appeared to be "increasingly firm."
- ADVERTISEMENT -
First Round
1. Orlando: PF Jabari Smith (Auburn)
Smith was the betting favorite to be selected first overall, with PointsBet listing his odds at -450 as of Wednesday night. And after that strange period in which we saw Banchero's odds receive a significant boost, Smith is back on top of the boards. The former Auburn standout's offensive skill set is enticing, even with the need to continue to improve his scoring in the mid-range, and he's also a solid defender whose motor cannot be questioned. Depending upon the matchup, Smith can be used at either the four or the five, and in time the three may be included if the young phenom can tighten up his handle. With there still being no concrete timetable for a Jonathan Isaac return to the court, adding Smith to the fold can help in that regard as well.
2. Oklahoma City: C/PF Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
Many have viewed Holmgren as the most likely alternative to Smith to be the first overall pick, but that may not be the case based on the shift that occurred early Thursday morning. PointsBet has the former Gonzaga center at -130 to be selected second overall, and Oklahoma City would be a very good fit for Holmgren. Being able to have him progress alongside Aleksej Pokuševski would make for a very interesting watch in Oklahoma City, and the Thunder also have young frontcourt players such as Darius Bazley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl on the roster. Fantasy-wise, the biggest concern would be Oklahoma City not hesitating to shut Holmgren down late in the season, as they did with Josh Giddey.
3. Houston: PF Paolo Banchero (Duke)
As noted above, Banchero's odds of going first overall experienced a boost earlier in the week, and there has now been another shift in his favor. Banchero was the betting favorite to go first overall as of early Thursday morning, but that has since changed. The former Duke standout heading to Houston would make him an incredibly valuable fantasy rookie due to his playmaking ability, and the fact that the Rockets have been operating without a "traditional" point guard, with Kevin Porter Jr. filling that role last season. Also, those hoping for an Alperen Şengün fantasy breakout should not be too concerned, as he and Banchero can play alongside each other.
4. Sacramento: PF Keegan Murray (Iowa)
This is where things could get fun. It's been reported that the Kings could be interested in moving this pick if the price is right, with Jaden Ivey (-171 to go 4th overall on PointsBet) being targeted by multiple teams. If not, who will be the best available player on Sacramento's board? A case can certainly be made for Ivey, but there are questions regarding the fit due to the presence of De'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitc . Another option would be Murray, a versatile forward who was one of college basketball's most improved players this past season. As of Thursday morning, Murray was listed at +150 go be selected here by PointsBet.
5. Detroit: PG/SG Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
As noted in the introduction the Pistons have already been active, making the deal that will send Grant to Portland. Ivey would be an interesting fit here with the Pistons having selected Cade Cunningham last season. The partnership of Cunningham and Killian Hayes did not work, with both playing their best basketball down the stretch, as Dwane Casey did more to stagger their minutes. Ivey would be a better fit alongside Cunningham due to the combination of athleticism and perimeter shooting ability, as Hayes has lacked the latter in his two NBA seasons.
6. Indiana: SG Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)
The Pacers are another team that could be active beyond the draft on Thursday, as veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon's name has come up quite often in trade rumors. Given his recent injury issues, and the arrival of Tyrese Haliburton at the trade deadline, moving Brogdon and freeing up cap space could be appealing. Mathurin is a highly athletic off-guard who has made notable strides as a scorer. He defends his position well, and the tools that Mathurin brings to the table would help the Pacers account for Brogdon's exit if they were to make a deal.
7. Portland: SG/PG Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite)
The Blazers have already made one deal in an attempt to rebuild their roster around Damian Lillard; could this pick be moved in order to make another? Daniels' defensive ability is his calling card right now, but he did show signs of promise offensively as his lone season in the G League reached its conclusion. With this being a point in the draft where it may be tough to find players capable of helping a playoff hopeful immediately, it would not come as a surprise if the Blazers used this pick in order to sweeten another trade. In fact, Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported Wednesday night that Portland could look to use the 7th overall pick in an attempt to acquire Raptors wing OG Anunoby.
8. New Orleans (from Los Angeles Lakers): PG/SG Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky)
Sharpe is the "mystery man" of this draft class, due to the fact that he did not play at all after joining the Kentucky program in January. New Orleans has a young, talented roster that will only get better with the return of Zion Williamson, and there may not be a lot of pressure on a lottery pick to contribute immediately for that reason. Reports of how Sharpe performed in pre-draft workouts have been all over the place, with some saying that he didn't exactly set himself apart from the field, and others being highly complimentary of the young guard. Being able to learn the ropes from a guard like C.J. McCollum wouldn't be the worst thing for Sharpe, and it should also be noted that Kira Lewis Jr. is still working his way back from a torn ACL.
9. San Antonio: C Jalen Duren (Memphis)
Duren is an athletic center who does the majority of his damage on both ends of the floor in the paint. He runs the floor well and is also a good rim protector, but the effort level has been an issue at times. San Antonio would be a good spot for him to land, between the presence of Gregg Popovich and the way in which the team makes use of its G League affiliate. With Jakob Poeltl heading into a contract year, and backups Zach Collins and Jock Landale both on partially guaranteed contracts for next season, that could factor into San Antonio's thinking there.
Reply With Quote
