by Ryan Mercier
The year is 2082. Still, no one knows what the Knicks received from the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 11 overall pick (Ousmane Dieng) in the 2022 NBA Draft. Center Jalen Duren has been in the Hall of Fame for years, but did he play for the Hornets, Pistons, or Knicks?
Draft night in the NBA never fails to marvel in confusion. Here are some thoughts on the easier to digest moments from the night, the top-5 picks and a few extras.
Orlando Takes Paolo Banchero at No. 1
The Magic had everything they wanted right in front of them. Not one, but TWO tall and alarmingly skinny guys available to take with the first pick in the draft. Instead, they took a man who stands 6’10” and already weighs 250 pounds.
Jabari Smith, presumed to go first, would have been a fine pick but perhaps a very odd fit in Orlando. All the Magic seem to do in recent years is find pieces from separate puzzle boxes and scream and throw things when they never make a clear picture. Although a case could be made a better pure shooter like Smith could fit, in that sense.
A lineup with Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Banchero all together could work, eventually. Maybe this puzzle fits. Jalen Suggs, with a chance to have a better sophomore season, could certainly coincide with those three plus someone like a Cole Anthony.
OK. Writing it all out, perhaps Orlando hasn’t changed a bit.
Chet and Jabari to OKC and Houston
Sam Presti has earned the trust of being one of the best talent evaluators out there and he is telling us Chet Holmgren will be good. Ignore the lanky body and believe that a 195-pounder can be a shot-blocker in the NBA.
In all seriousness, watching Holmgren mesh as a playmaker with Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has some fun NBA League Pass potential. A 7-footer who can bring the ball up on the break, combined with a 6’8” 19-year old that averaged 6.4 assists as a rookie, with the herky-jerky 24ppg scorer who also averages six dimes. Fun!
Houston, meanwhile, probably would’ve loved to add Banchero for some inside scoring to go with the exhilarating Jalen Green. However, Jabari Smith and Green together is a different mix which may be more exciting to watch. Hard to say if this is leading down a road to future playoff series for the Rockets, but Jalen crashing around the floor with the 6’10” Jabari knocking down threes is spicy.
The Kings are the Kings
Keegan Murray. I don’t see it.
Potentially, Murray could be a plus defender for Sacramento. He seems like the safe pick. The Iowa forward showed the ability to score under the basket with ease. Domantas Sabonis will have fun getting him the rock around the rim.
Again, it feels safe. Murray feels like a nice rotation player if he was selected in the back of the lottery. At No. 4 overall, the Kings may be looked down upon in draft history yet again.
Jaden Ivey to Deeeeeeetroit
The Kings would have gotten criticism for taking yet another guard high in the draft had they selected Ivey. They should have done it anyway.
Ivey Hivey, stand up! The Purdue product could absolutely end up being the best player in the 2022 draft. The Knicks seemed to think so, as they kept trying to trade for him long after the Pistons already took him.
He’s not a defender, maybe not a great shooter, and didn’t rack up assists. I don’t care. The burst and speed and explosiveness jumps off the screen. The pairing with the smooth and measured Cade Cunningham is perfect. The Pistons have something cooking here.
Lower Drafted Standouts
• In Kevin O’Conner’s board on The Ringer, he makes sure to tell you Nikola Jovic is NOT Nikola Jokic in his comps. Still, his name garners attention and the Miami Heat selecting him earns the same attention as well.
• Patrick Baldwin Jr. comes with some pedigree without the results he was looking for in college. Going to Golden State has to be his best possible landing spot.
• Speaking of pedigree, what if Jaden Hardy pans out for the Dallas Mavericks? It’s a great spot to take a scorer like him at No. 37 overall. Oh yeah, the Kings traded him away.
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