NBA Mock Draft 2.0
By Jim James
A few months after the first one, we’ve gotten the chance to let these prospects make a name for themselves and evaluate them so far. Here we go, the 2nd NBA Mock Draft by Jim James.
#1: Chet Holmgren
Growth since 1.0: +0 (#1 -> #1)
He’s the No.1 for me and always will be. A Demigod who has yet to decide whether to be a small forward or center, he is definitely the prize of this year’s draft class. Despite being 3rd in NBADraft.net and 2nd in NBA Draft Room, I’m sticking to my guns here.
#2: Paolo Banchero
Growth since 1.0: +0 (#2 -> #2)
I’m sorry for being the same as the 1st one here, but Banchero is only second because Chet is a freak of nature. Banchero has been on fire since the season started and will seriously challenge Chet for the No.1, in fact being No.1 on most mock drafts. I don’t see it happening, though.
#3: Jabari Smith Jr.
Growth since 1.0: +3 (#6 -> #3)
Almost consensus to be #4, I’ve picked Jabari Smith Jr. 3rd for a reason explained later. He’s stepping out of his father, Jabari Smith Sr, a former NBA player’s shadow at Auburn. He seems to be a typical Power Forward with shooting and a high ceiling. Potentially Dirk lite. One to watch out for.
#4: Jaden Hardy
Growth since 1.0: +1 (#5 -> #4)
Again, I put him down here for the same reason I did back in August. G-League players fall. In the first years of the G-League system, players who played for the Ignite Squad won’t get as much respect as those who played in college. I explained it better in the 1.0 post, you can read it there, but for Hardy, he is the pure-bred scorer of this draft class. NBA Draft Room compares him to a James Harden-lite with an even better shot. Woah. No doubt the best shooter in this draft class.
#5: Nikola Jovic
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #5)
Despite being unranked in the 1.0, he still appeared as the “Most similar name to a current NBA player award”, a close race between Makur Maker and Marcus Bagley. However, as those two are projected to be 2nd round, Jovic isn’t a player to be trifled with. He is a do-it-all 6’10” power-point forward with a shot. He could be the Serbian Kevin Durant.
#6: Jalen Duren
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #6)
I’m calling it; the boom-or-bust prospect of the class. He would have probably been top 4 in 2021’s class, but There are so many bigs in this class (Chet, Banchero, Jabari Smith, Nikola Jovic) that he falls. However, he is a traditional big man. No Dirk or Kevin Durant comparisons here. I’d say that he could either become a Cody Zeller/Frank Kaminsky or a prime Hassan Whiteside/Andre Drummond. However, he won’t have too much pressure with all the other big men in this draft class.
#7: Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #7)
I remember a few years ago, when Patrick Baldwin Jr. was the waaaaaaaaaaay too early #1 mock pick in this class. He was mid-first round when I put out 1.0, but is now climbing back up the charts as the 2022 draftees are getting the spotlight. I see PBJ as the 2nd best pure scorer in this class, of course behind Jaden Hardy. The Small forward could become a prime Carmelo Anthony lite.
#8: TyTy Washington
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #8)
TyTy is my “ty”pe of player. Has the speed of a rookie Pascal Siakam with the shot of JJ Redick. A PG on the bigger spectrum, 6’3”, TyTy is an underrated player in this draft class. NBA Draft Room has him as Brandon Knight, but I say he could become Trae Young lite. A steal to the team that drafts him.
#9: Jaden Ivey
Growth since 1.0: +4 (#13 -> #9)
Yeah, he’s going, no, FLYING, up my ranks here. Yeah, he’s going to be higher up in my next mock draft, I can just sense it. Another pure scorer, again, he’s going to be IN HIS OWN in this league. If you don’t get to TyTy Washington, you still have this guy.
#10: Caleb Houstan
Growth since 1.0: -2 (#8 -> #10)
Although I don’t see a superstar in the Canadian, I still see a Kyle Korver/JJ Redick style player in him, which could mean that you better get used to the name Caleb Houstan, as he’ll be around a long time.
#11: Ousmane Dieng
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #11)
NBA Draft Room compares him to Paul George. Nah, I don’t see that in him, but I do see a solid player, another great player for France, he is a good scorer from range and can provide as a fringe starter on a Championship Team, I predict.
#12: Trevor Keels
Growth Since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #12)
Maybe it’s too low for this youngster, 12th, but he had a great first game and has all the tools of a top 3 piece on any roster. A Lu Dort build but more skilled than Dort at the same age.
#13: Max Christie
Growth Since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #13)
A good all-round player but a twig. At 170 pounds needs to get some muscle. He has a good shot but has a comparatively low ceiling.
#14: Ibou Diano Badji
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #14)
I know, this is the surprise of the whole mock draft here. However, you can’t say that Cameroon hasn;t produced some gems at Center over the years, and Badji will be the latest. Forget Jalen Duren, Badji is the boom or bust prospect of the lotto.
#15: Daimion Collins
Growth since 1.0: -5 (#10 -> 15)
#16: Yannick Nzosa
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #16)
#17: Adrian Griffin Jr
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #17)
#18: Drew Timme
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #18)
#19: Bryce McGowens
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #19)
#20: JD Davison
Growth since 1.0: -13 (#7 -> #20)
#21: Bennedict Mathurin
Growth since 1.0: -7 (#14 -> #21)
#22: Roko Prkacin
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #22)
#23: Josh Minott
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #23)
#24: Jabari Walker
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #24)
#25: Brandon Huntley-Hatfield
Growth since 1.0: -21 (#4 -> #25)
#26: Kennedy Chandler
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #26)
#27: MarJon Beauchamp
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #27)
#28: Johnny Juzang
Growth since 1.0: NEw (Unranked -> #28)
#29: Hunter Sallis
Growth since 1.0: -26 (#3 -> #29)
#30: Julian Strawther
Growth since 1.0: New (Unranked -> #30)
Thats the 2.0 version of the 2022 NBA mock draft. I hop you liked it, and Jim james signing off.