2022 NBA Mock Draft 4.0
By Jim James
It’s been a while since the last mock draft, and I wanted to make this sooner, but time passed weird. This draft appears to be the most up in the air draft probably since 2013. Player positions are significantly varied in many of these. We’re only doing the lotto here because I’ve filled this list with a lot of info. Don’t worry, I’ll make up for it in the last 2 mock drafts of the year. Anyway, this is the long awaited 4th edition of the NBA mock draft!
(Data Collected from 9 Mock Drafts)
#1: Chet Holmgren
Movement: +0 (#1-> #1)
# of 1st Places: 5
Most Often Position: 1st
Highest Position: 1st (CBS, ESPN, SI, Rookie Wire, SI Thunder)
Lowest Position: 6th (8 points 9 seconds)
Mock Drafts appeared in: 9/9
The man who never moved from 1st through 4 mock drafts, Chet may easily slip, the least consensus number one pick in years. He could dominate, but he may also be disappointing. He really needs to learn about dumbbells. However he’s still a very promising player and gets here for a reason
#2: Paolo Banchero
Movement: +1 (#3 -> #2)
# of 2nd Places: 3
Most Often Position: 2nd-3rd
Highest Position: 1st (8 points 9 seconds, Sir Charles in Charge)
Lowest Position: 4th (SI)
Mock Drafts appeared in 9/9
The number two eternal, but 266 days later, the top two stays the same. A great traditional big man, contrary to the unicorn-ish nature of the man above him. However, while he excels in Rebounding and is good everywhere else, it is to be seen whether he has the potential in this league to live up to his #2 pick bidding.
#3: Jabari Smith Jr.
Movement: -1 (#2 -> #3)
# of 3rd places: 3
Most often position: 2nd
Highest Position: 1st (nbadraftroom)
Lowest Position: 3rd (CBS, Sir Charles in Charge, SI Thunder)
Mock Drafts appeared in 9/9
Remember the Jabari Smith Jr craze where he was 1st in pretty much every mock draft? Well now while he is most often 2nd place, but I think he will fall to 3rd. He is not your average big man, and while he can rebound when he wants, he is best utilised away from the rim, with great jump shooting not just for his position, but for everyone. He also has guard-like quickness and is not too bad at perimeter defense but really excels at interior defense. Also, at just 18 (19 by draft day) he has elite potential and can switch to an oversized 3 role without too much difficulty. His lack of Center-like qualities and falterings in Post Skills and Strength suggest a change pretty heavily. He is also less NBA-Ready than some players below him, but that is to be expected of an 18-year old in a class of players up to 22.
4: Jaden Ivey
Movement: +0 (#4 -> #4)
# of 4th Places: 3
Most often Position: 4th-5th
Highest Position: 1st (nbadraftnet)
Lowest Position: 5th (nbadraftroom, CBS, SI Thunder)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 9/9
Interesting, nbadraftnet has predicted all the #1 picks in their mock drafts since 2014, and this is who they’re championing this year (at least right now), but no one else is. The player himself is also enigmatic. While having the skillset of a wing, he plays better as a guard. Ivey is someone who I think would flop as a 1, and should transition to a 2 or 3 in the NBA. He is oversized and would do well at 1 on the defensive end, but lacks Shooting and Ball-Handling, two traits necessary to succeed as a PG in today’s league. He can’t bring the ball up the court with NBA-level efficiency, and would be best as a Small Forward, taking the terminology SMALL Forward literally. Take Jabari Smith Jr for example, JSJ would dominate that matchup with superior size, defense, and traits that Ivey should be winning, like Jump Shot, dribbling, and speed Smith Jr wins. He might be too small at 6’4” to be a 3 but still lacks some critical features to be a 2. He is a project and could easily be a bust, but if treated correctly by his team has elite potential, but again, could easily bust, and teams could see him as too risky and he is the man in my opinion is most likely of the big prospects to fall far below where he is now. However for now he stays 4th on our mock draft.
5: Shaedon Sharpe
Movement: New (Unranked -> #5)
# of 5th Places: 0
Most often position: 4th
Highest Position: 4th (nbadraftroom, CBS, 8 points 9 seconds, SI Thunder)
Lowest Position: 12th (Rookie Wire)
Mock Drafts appeared in 8/9
While the top 4 seems untouchable in this draft again, Shaedon seems to be the guy most likely to be the “Scottie Barnes” of this draft and jump into the top 4. The CANADIAN seems a safer pick than Ivey. He has the Michael Jordan build as a 6’6” 200 pound Shooting Guard. He also has great and flashy dunking ability, a definite future dunk-contest contestant. While his ball handling could be better for his position and pick, he is an elite shooter, one of the best in the draft. However he is a selfish player but is 27 days younger than Jabari Smith Jr and should mature easily in the league. While Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Murray have been called the Maple Jordan, Shaedon Sharpe actually fits the mold.
#6: Keegan Murray
Movement: +6 (#12 -> #6)
# of 6th places: 4
Most often position: 5th
Highest Position: 5th (ESPN, SI, 8 points 9 seconds, Rookie Wire, Sir Charles in Charge)
Lowest Position: 6th (nbadraftnet, nbadraftroom, CBS, SI Thunder)
Most Drafts appeared in 9/9
The first thing that comes to mind is good now contributor, but not much room for growth. Murray is a PF, and with Holmgren, Banchero, and JSJ all being listed as PFs, Keegan Murray is 4th in his position despite being 6th on the board. He possesses the basic big man features while also being fast and having a good jumper. However, being almost 22, he doesn’t have the eye appeal of anyone coming before him. He also needs work on defense and strength, and could be bullied a lot by his matchups. I do see him as a potential ROTY candidate with his current ability and the perfect pick for a team like the Lakers. He also has good intangibles and could burst through his ceiling.
#7: AJ Griffin
Movement: +10 (#17 -> #7)
# of 7th Places: 2
Most often position: 8th-9th
Highest Position: 7th (SI, 8 points 9 seconds)
Lowest Position: 9th (CBS, Rookie Wire, SI Thunder)
Mock Drafts appeared in 9/9
These players keep getting younger. The freshman turns 19 in August, so he will be 18 on draft day. He has a dad who is a NBA assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, so he has a great understanding of the game, something that should surely boost his stock. He’s a versatile defender, is very gifted and is perfect for the natural style of the game, being a positionless player. He is tricky, skilled, and hard to guard. However, the main concern for him is injuries, as he is known to miss some significant time due to injury. However, if he can overcome that, he could be a steal.
#8: Jalen Duren
Movement: +2 (#10-> #8)
# of 8th places: 2
Most Often Position: 8th-13th
Highest Position: 6th (Sir Charles in Charge)
Lowest Position: 14th (nbadraftnet)
#9: Bennedict Mathurin
Movement: -4 (#5 -> #9)
# of 9th places: 2
Most often position: 9th-11th-12th
Highest Position: 6th (Rookie Wire)
Lowest Position: 12th (CBS, SI Thunder)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 9/9
#10: Johnny Davis
Movement: +5 (#15 -> #10)
# of 10th places: 4
Most often Position: 10th
Highest Position: 5th (Nbadraftnet)
Lowest Position: 11th (CBS, SI Thunder)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 9/9
#11: Jeremy Sochan
Movement: New (Unranked -> #11)
# of 11th places: 0
Most often Position: 8th-12th-13th
Highest Position: 8th (CBS, SI Thunder)
Lowest Position: 12th (nbadraft.net, SI)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 7/9
#12: TyTy Washington
Movement: -6 (#6 -> #12)
# of 12th Places: 1
Most often Position: 7th
Highest Position: 7th (CBS, SI Thunder)
Lowest Position: 14th (nba draft room)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 5/9
#13: Tari Eason
Movement: New (Unranked -> #13)
# of 13th Places: 1
Most often Position: 11th
Highest Position: 11th (nbadraft.net, SI)
Lowest Position: 14th (Rookie Wire)
Mock Drafts Appeared in 4/9
#14: Dyson Daniels
Movement: +5 (#19 -> #14)
# of 14th Places: 0
Most often Position: 10th-11th-12th-13th
Highest Position: 10th (ESPN)
Lowest Position: 13th (Rookie Wire)
Mock Drafts appeared in 4/9
That’s all, folks. Sorry for the lack of posts recently, it’s been busy recently. However, with Summer coming along soon, we’ll have a lot more. I’m Jim James, until next time.