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The NBA will welcome its newest class of rookies to the league on Thursday night at the 2022 Draft from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Draft night is always a time for trading, and this year should be no different. There have already been a few exchanges in the hours leading up to the draft. The top three picks could be pretty predictable, but things could really get crazy in the middle of the lottery until the first round. Several teams had multiple first-round picks and extra draft capital to swing deals that could significantly alter the league landscape at the start of the 2022-23 season.
USA TODAY Sports will recap the entire 2022 NBA draft with all 58 picks (two second-round picks waived), plus pick-by-pick analysis of Jeff Zillgitt, Cydney Henderson, Matt Eppers and Larry Starks on each of the first round selections.
FIRST ROUND
1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, Duke
The Magic need help on the offensive side. The team finished last season 28th in effective field goal percentage, 28th in free throw rate, 27th in offensive rebound percentage and 23rd in turnover rate. Look no further than Paolo Banchero, who can add versatility to the Magic’s offense with his physical tools (size, strength, speed) and skills on the pitch. He can pass, handle the ball, drive to the basket and finish near the edge and has solid footwork. He’s easily the most NBA-ready player in the top five. The 6-10 Banchero averaged 17.2 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, in addition to 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in his only season at Duke, which marked the last season of Mike Krzyzewski.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Holmgren has immense potential, with an impressive skill set for a modern NBA big man. With his elite rim protection and shot blocking, he fills an immediate need for the Thunder as an inside defender. He has a versatile attacking game and has shown his ability to handle the ball, shoot from outside and finish on the edge. Holmgren will need to add strength to reach his peak on offense, but the Thunder can give him time to develop behind top options Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.
3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, Auburn
Smith was expected to be the No. 1 pick, but instead became No. 3. He only worked for the Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith has averaged 42% on his 3-pointers (5.5 attempts), which could make him a good fit for Houston. At its size, it is difficult to defend. And he was also a quality defenseman at Auburn.
4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, Iowa
With a point guard in place in De’Aaron Fox, the Kings bypassed Jaden Ivey and took Murray, an effective winger. Murray, who improved dramatically from his first through second season, averaged 23.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 39.8 % out of 3 points. Murray, 21, is one of the oldest lottery picks and could have an immediate impact on Sacramento. Like Banchero, Murray is ready for the NBA.
5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Ivey has only worked for the Pistons and Magic. He uses his speed to blow through defenders, who will struggle to slow Ivey down in transition. He can explode into the lane like Ja Morant and has the rebound to finish. The son of Niele Ivey, women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame and former women’s varsity champion.
6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
One of the biggest lifters in the months leading up to the draft, Mathurin has the shooting touch and the size to fill a 3-and-D role on the wing for the Pacers. Mathurin shot 42% from 3-point range his senior year at Arizona and showed great speed and athleticism. He can play with the ball alongside Tyrese Hailburton and Chris Duarte, while helping to boost a Pacers offense that was 18th in efficiency and 25th in 3-point shooting.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky
Sharpe is one of the biggest mysteries in the draft. He signed up at Kentucky in January, didn’t play a second for the Wildcats, and once he was deemed eligible for the draft, he got in. While teams only had high school and AAU-like videos on Sharpe, he’s a gifted scorer with his jump and rim shot. He’s an explosive jumper who likes to transition out and dunk. Wildcats coach John Calipari says if Sharpe returns to Kentucky next season, he’ll be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. Instead, he ends up the No. 7 pick and backcourt mate of Blazers star Damian Lillard.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers): Dyson Daniels, G League Ignite
It’s a wonderful opportunity for New Orleans to add another quality player to a playoff squad that should be better next season with the return of Zion Williamson. The Aussie got a taste of NBA-level play during the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars contest in February and he held on. The 6-8 Daniels is a great guard who started playing professionally as a teenager in his native Australia.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
Spurs have three first-round picks and used their first to select Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan. Sochan is giving Spurs some size on the wing to compliment All-Star Dejounte Murray. He’s a versatile defender and strong rebounder, averaging 6.4 rebounds at Baylor in 2021-22. He runs the field well and scores effectively inside the 3-point line. Sochan can shoot the 3 but needs to improve his percentage. He averaged 9.2 points for the Bears.
10. Wizards of Washington: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
With a potentially growing roster this summer, the Wizards need talent and have landed on one of the best players left. Davis made a huge leap as a scorer and rebounder in his second year at Wisconsin, going from 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds to 19.7 and 8.2. He can score and create in the mid-range but will need to improve his outside shooting.
11. New York Knicks: Ousmane Dieng, New Zealand Breakers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)
13. Charlotte’s Hornets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans)
16. Atlanta Hawks
17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)
18. Chicago Bulls
19. Minnesota Wolves
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)
21. Denver Nuggets
22. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah)
23. Philadelphia 76ers
24. Milwaukee Bucks
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston)
26. Houston Rockets (from Dallas)
27. Miami Heat
28. Golden State Warriors
29. Memphis Grizzlies
30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City)
SECOND TURN
31. Indiana Pacers (from Houston via Cleveland)
32. Orlando Magic
33. Toronto Raptors (from Detroit via San Antonio, Washington and Chicago)
34. Oklahoma City Thunder
35. Los Angeles Lakers (from Indiana via Milwaukee and Orlando)
36. Detroit Pistons (from Portland)
37. Kings of Sacramento
38. San Antonio Spurs (from LA Lakers via Chicago and Washington)
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Utah)
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Washington via Cleveland)
41. New Orleans Pelicans
42. New York Knicks
43. Los Angeles Clippers
44. Atlanta Hawks
45. Charlotte’s Hornets
46. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn via Detroit)
47. Memphis Grizzlies (from Cleveland via New Orleans and Atlanta)
48. Minnesota Timberwolves
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Chicago via Memphis, Detroit and Sacramento)
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver via Philadelphia)
51. Golden State Warriors (from Toronto via Philadelphia)
52. New Orleans Pelicans (from Utah)
53. Boston Celtics
*54. Milwaukee Bucks (lost)
*55. Miami Heat (from Philadelphia via Denver; lost to Miami)
56. Washington Wizards (from Dallas)
57. Golden State Warriors
58. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Miami via Indiana)
59. Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis via Utah)
60. Indiana Pacers (from Phoenix)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2022 NBA Draft follow-up: Every first-round pick and analysis
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