Enjoy Basketball: Reviewing the 2022 NBA Draft

Welcome back to another edition of Enjoy Basketball!

We're ending off our draft coverage this week with a review of last nights main event. But before we get into that, we'd like to ask you to check out our new TikTok page, where Kenny breaks down the latest NBA happenings. We're already at nearly 8,000 followers over there, so go help us get to 10k just in time for free agency season to kick off!

Lottery Pick Grades

#1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero - F, Duke

Grade: A-

It seemed for weeks that Jabari Smith was the presumptive #1 pick, but a late change of heart saw the Orlando Magic take Paolo Banchero first overall. It was hard to go wrong with any of the top three guys, and Banchero is no exception. He was downright dominant at Duke and seemed to always save his best performances for the big games, most notably an early-season victory against Chet Holmgren and Gonzaga. Banchero gives Orlando a true #1 scoring option and, with a stretch big next to him in Wendell Carter Jr, he'll have all the room he needs to operate inside the arc. Defensive questions aside, Banchero has true star potential and is a safe pick at #1.

#2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren - C, Gonzaga

Grade: A

Oklahoma City just landed a player with a once-in-a-generation combination of size, defense and shooting. Holmgren was a force to be reckoned with at Gonzaga on both sides of the ball. At his best, Holmgren is a downright dominant shot blocker, surgically-precise shooter, and a raging bull in transition. His weight is still a concern, but Holmgren will have all the time in the world to bulk up and adapt to the NBA game on an OKC team which isn't afraid to give big minutes to developing talent.

#3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith Jr - F, Auburn

Grade: A+

The Houston Rockets have to be absolutely thrilled to see Smith fall to #3 after being mocked as the top pick for months. His fit with Alperen Sengun is sublime thanks to his elite shooting for a big man and defensive versatility which allows him to take on a whole hosts of assignments for a Rockets defense that will absolutely need it. With Jalen Green taking on the brunt of the scoring load, Smith won't have to carry the offense as much as he did in Auburn.

#4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray - F, Iowa

Grade: C-

Murray is a decent fit in Sacramento, and, with one of the highest floors in the draft, he should be ready to contribute right away. Well-rounded on both sides of the ball, Murray might not have the star potential of some other top picks but he might have the best odds of being a high level starter. The problem for the Kings is who else was on the board. Jaden Ivey is an incredible talent who received interest from a number of teams looking to trade up. While the Kings may not have room in their backcourt for Ivey, they should have used his value at pick #4 to trade down and acquire some more assets.

#5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey - SG, Purdue

Grade: A+

Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, that's really all you have to say.

Detroit have drafted the consensus best guard in back-to-back draft classes, even better they complement each other perfectly on paper. Ivey is a multi-level scorer, explosive athlete, and plus defender who is reminiscent of scoring guards like Dwyane Wade. With a starting backcourt locked down for years to come, and max-level money to throw at free agents like DeAndre Ayton and Miles Bridges, the Pistons future is looking bright.

#6. Indiana Pacers: Benedict Mathurin - SG/SF, Arizona

Grade: B+

A multi-level scorer in college with elite handles and the size and length to guard NBA bodies, Benedict Mathurin is the type of high-upside pick who would fit on most teams, and that's no exception with Indiana. Just like Detroit, Indiana appears to be locking up their own young backcourt with Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton.

The only question that could be asked is whether Indiana should have taken the higher-potential guard on the board in Shaedon Sharpe, but Mathurin is a safer pick for a Pacers team looking to start their rebuild off right.

#7. Portland Trailblazers: Shaedon Sharpe - SG/SF, Kentucky

Grade: B-

With Damian Lillard's prime nearing it's end, the Blazers decided to swing for the fences with their pick rather than play it safe. Shaedon Sharpe has superstar leaping ability, an incredible high school mixtape, but little else to go off of. All the indicators point towards him being a special talent, but he wasn't played meaningful organized basketball in over a year. That being said, his college coach John Calipari said he was worthy of the #1 overall pick, despite him never playing a game for the Wildcats. It's one of those picks that make the Blazers front office seem like geniuses if it lands, and idiots if it doesn't. For now, it's just a big roll of the dice for a team with only so many rolls left.

#8. New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels - PG, G League Ignite

Grade: A

Dyson Daniels has surged up draft boards over the past month and ridden his late hype all the way into the top ten. The highest selected player this year from the NBA's G League Ignite program, Daniels proved himself as a playmaker and a defender on the professional level last season, a combination of skills that makes him incredibly versatile. He can be used as a point guard, secondary playmaker, wing defender you name it. For a Pelicans team looking to compete now and into the future, Daniels is the perfect mix of current ability and potential to make an impact now but still have the chance of being something special down the line.

#9. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan - F, Baylor

Grade: C+

Sochan wasn't even a top 100 recruit coming into college, but he leaves just one year later as a top ten pick due to his incredible upside on the defensive end of the court. At 6'9" with a long wingspan and good lateral quickness, Sochan has the build to be a true 1-5 defender in the NBA, and few teams are better at helping players reach their full potential on that end than the San Antonio Spurs.

That being said, Sochan isn't much of a shooter, which will make him a tough fit with the Spurs current starting center Jakob Poeltl. If he can improve his shot this could end up looking like a steal, but that's a big if for now.

#10. Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis- SG, Wisconsin

Grade: B+

Davis, like Dyson Daniels, is a good pick for the present and the future. In the short term, Davis will be a solid rotation guard behind Bradley Beal who can bring some much-needed perimeter defense and long-term he has the scoring prowess and two-way ability to be a key player on a winning team. He might not answer all of Washingtons problems, but he solves enough to be worthy of the selection.

#11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via trade with NYK): Ousmane Dieng - PF, New Zealand Breakers

Grade: B-

The Thunder traded three future first round picks get their guy in Dieng, even though they might not have needed to trade up quite that far. Ousmane Dieng is an interesting prospect with A+ physical measurements who showed brief flashes of stardom in the ABL, just the type of guy a heavily rebuilding team like OKC should be looking at. But it doesn't feel like they needed to trade up all the way to 11 to make it happen, especially considering the draft needs of the teams directly behind them.

#12. Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams - SG/SF, Santa Clara

Grade: A-

Williams made a meteoric rise up draft boards following a monster performance at the NBA combine that's catapulted him all the way into the lottery. He's a talented shooter, spectacular ballhandler in isolation (just look what he did to Chet Holmgren), and has as long a wingspan as any guard in the league. It might be higher than most people had him, but Williams will fit in well on this young OKC team.

#13. Detroit Pistons (via trade with CHA): Jalen Duren - C, Memphis

Grade: A+

The Pistons get their second A+ selection of the draft with a masterful trade to jump back into the lottery, and they only had to give up a 2023 first rounder from Denver along with four seconds to do it. That in-and-of itself is impressive, but we haven't even gotten to who they drafted!

Jalen Duren is as physically imposing as they come on the inside. A traditional center who is efficient around the rim, a constant lob threat and a stalwart rim protector, Duren is the perfect fit alongside Ivey and Cunningham at the center (both literally and figuratively) of the Pistons rebuild.

#14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji - SG/SF, Kansas

Grade: B+

A seasoned four year wing who can make an impact on both sides of the court, the hard-working Agbaji is a solid pick for a Cavaliers team looking to establish a strong defensive identity. He might be one of the oldest players in the draft, but few players are better equipped to make an impact right away. For a Cleveland team that missed last year's playoffs by a single game, Agbaji might be the piece that pushes them over the edge.

Best of the rest (of the first round)

#15. Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams - C, Duke

Charlotte only needed to look a couple hours away to find their center of the future. Mark Williams is a dream fit next to LaMelo Ball because of his crazy efficiency around the rim (72% fg) and adept PnR skills. But his biggest contribution will be on the other side of the ball. Williams is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and his rim protection will go a long way towards shoring up the Hornets leaky defense.

#17, Houston Rockets: Tari Eason - F, LSU

The Rockets are another team with work to do on the defensive end, and few players in this draft can help more in that regard than Eason. Almost nobody in college basketball last season was more impactful on a per-minute basis than Eason, and, with Christian Wood heading out the door, Houston have the minutes to help Eason grow and develop on the offensive end.

#27. Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic - Mega Basket

Nikola Jovic was a projected top 20 pick for much of this draft cycle so it's a bit of a surprise to see him go this low. But the Heat certainly aren't complaining. Jovic is a big man with guard tendencies, he can playmake, take guys off the dribble, and shoot the three to an extent. For a Miami Heat frontcourt without a lot of spacing and creation, Jovic will bring a new dynamic that could end up surprising a lot of people in South Beach, although lets hope they don't confuse him for one of Jokic

Second Round Sleepers

#33. Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko - PF/C, Arizona

The reigning Pac-12 DPOY, Christian Koloko is the type of mobile big man who will fit in perfectly in the Raptors lengthy system. He even showed signs of a budding long range shot at the combine which would increase his value exponentially.

#46. Denver Nuggets: Ismael Kamagate - C, Paris Basketball

Another reigning DPOY, this time of the French pro league, Kamagate may not be the youngest player in the class, but he has the physical tools and defensive acumen to be a successful center in the NBA. We love this pick for the Nuggets as a defensive-minded backup behind Nikola Jokic.

#57. Portland Trail Blazers: Jabari Walker - F, Colorado

Walker had a great sophomore season at Colorado, earning all Pac-12 honors. He's a great rebounder for his height, an above-average defender and can hit the occasional three pointer. At the 57th pick in the draft, Walker provides great value and he could have a role to play off Portland's bench this season.

Winners and Losers

Time for some good old-fashioned audience interaction. BeeHiiv recently added a new poll feature that we've been dying to try out, and what better time to use it than on draft day? Tell us below who your biggest winner and loser of the NBA draft were! If they aren't on the list, click other and comment your team of choice.

That's it for todays newsletter! We wish everyone a wonderful weekend and hope that nobody favorite team drafted a bust. Keep posted next week as we cover NBA free agency and feel free to send us suggestions for what you want see us cover on the newsletter this offseason.

Until next time,

-Spencer Poole

Last Trivia Answer: Dwight Howard is the answer to Wednesdays trivia question. He attempted 39 free throws in January 2012 and then again in March 2013.

Trivia Question: The 2022 draft was just the 6th time in NBA history that the top three picks have all been freshman in college. When was the last time this happened and who were the three players?