The 2022 NBA Draft is filled with intrigue, starting with the presumed top-3 prospects.
Auburn's Jabari Smith, Duke's Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren are expected to be the top three picks in Thursday's draft in some order. Orlando has the first pitch, with OKC and Houston rounding out the top three.
After the first three selections, it's unknown what Sacramento and the rest of the first round will do. Memphis center Jalen Duren has been projected anywhere from the mid-lottery to the late-teens. Durencould be the second center taken in the draft.
Draft day is less of a momentous occasion for the Grizzlies than in the past, a result of a strong season and a young, talented core. Memphis has picks Nos. 22, 29 and 47.
Follow along with our live draft tracker, with picks, trades and analysis below, from Thursday's draft in Brooklyn:
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2022NBA Draft— First round
1. Orlando Magic | Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
Instant grade:A
Analysis: A long, much-scrutinized draft process among the top three prospects ends with Banchero landing at No. 1 overall in Orlando. Banchero is the most advanced and skilled player in the draft. Banchero will instantly become the No. 1 offensive driver on the Magic.
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2. Oklahoma City Thunder | Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga
Instant grade: B
Analysis:Holmgren is a smart defensive player and rebounder, which will limit his "bust" potential. He can shoot the ball, and will fit into modern offenses with ease. But how much offense will he be able to drive? Will he be able to create his own shot consistently in the NBA? I'm skeptical.
3. Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
Instant grade:A
Analysis: Smith has loads of potential for a guy that may have been the best scorer in college basketball last year. Because of Auburn's offensive limitations around him, Smith had to (and specialized in) creating his own shot off the bounce in tight shot-clock situations. He'll need to show a little more ability at getting to the basket, but that ability is within him. Defensively, he won't be an elite two-way wing. But he should more than hold his own. He and Jalen Green will be a fun 1-2 combination for the Rockets to build around.
4. Sacramento Kings | Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
Instant grade:B
Analysis: Murray is not a good enough athlete to be a plus-plus defender in the NBA, but that's not why Murray is the No. 4 pick. He poured in the scoring in 2021-22 for Iowa in a variety of ways. Is that what the Kings, 29th in points allowed last season,need?
5. Detroit Pistons | Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
Instant grade: A
Analysis: Ivey's athleticism is off the charts, and in an NBA space-friendlyoffense he should benefit greatly. I love the Jaden Ivey-Cade Cunningham combination.
6. Indiana Pacers | Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis:The Pacers weren't going to find the No. 1 option they needed at No. 6, but they do pick a well-rounded, hard-playing guard in Arizona's Mathurin. His floor is a very good No. 3 guard for a good team who can defend and run a second unit. If his shot continues to improve, he can be a really good starting guard.
7. Portland Trail Blazers | Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis:Sharpe is a boom-or-bust prospect whose college career existed on paper but not on a basketball court. At Kentucky, where he enrolled midway through the 2021-22 season after reclassifying, he did not play. His high school film shows an advanced shooter with a good bit of potential. But it's been a while since he's played in a game.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from LA Lakers) | Dyson Daniels, F, G-League Ignite
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Daniels is an energy player that flourishes off the glass and with the ball in his hands. His jump shot is behind the rest of his game, but he'll fit on this Pelicans roster.
9. San Antonio Spurs | Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor
Instant grade:B
Analysis:Sochan was an irritant on defense at Baylor, but he's also a very good and high energy defender who will be able to defend multiple positions. His offensive contributions (an above-average passer but not a good shooter in college) will determine his NBA career.
10. Washington Wizards | Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis:Davis' breakout season was a function of increased volume, not increased efficiency, in his sophom*ore year at Wisconsin. There's no doubt that he can score, but his shot will need to be a bit better than 30% from 3. The Wizards need more guys that can score with the ball in their hands, and Davis can do that.
11. New York Knicks (pick reportedlytraded to OKC) | Ousmane Dieng, F, France
Instant grade:C-plus
Analysis:Dieng is a quality passer who shows offensive basketball IQ. But between his shooting and defense, he's a developmental prospect at this point. The Knicks could have used more immediate help.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers) | Jalen Williams, G, Santa Clara
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Williams is not a top-level athlete but can get to his spots and make shots. Unsure of what he can contribute as a defender or a passer, but OKC needs more offensive drivers.
13. Charlotte Hornets (pick reportedly traded to Detroit) | Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
Instant grade: A
Analysis: Detroit's interior is getting better and better with Duren, who has a lot of potential as a two-way center. Duren will hope for a similar offensive boost that Saddiq Bey hashad in Detroit. There shouldn't be too much internal pressure to play right away with Bey and Isaiah Stewart already in the frontcourt.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers | Ochai Ogbaji, G, Kansas
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Ogbaji is functionally a NBA shooter who did a lot of NBA-like catch-and-shoot and pull-up shotmaking in his senior season at Kansas. Ogbaji will play a lot for the Cavs' second unit, at minimum.
15. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans) | Mark Williams, C, Duke
Instant grade: A
Analysis:Williams is going to take some time to grow into what he'll be as a long-term pro, but he'll get plenty of on-court minutes to do so for the center-needy Hornets. Williams' ceiling is dependent on what kind of offensive player he'll be. Can he become a perimeter threat? If not, the Hornets will take the defense both inside and on pick and rolls, and muscle off the glass.
16. Atlanta Hawks | AJ Griffin, G/F, Duke
Instant grade: A
Analysis: The Hawks need some shooting depth, and Griffin (44.7% from 3) will provide just that. His length and athleticism means there could be a quality defender there, though he wasn't quite that at Duke.
17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn) | Tari Eason, F, LSU
Instant grade:C-plus
Analysis:Eason's energy and effort on defense helped him become a key member of LSU's 2021-22 team. I don't necessarily know what Eason's offensive contributions will be at the next level.
18. Chicago Bulls | Dalen Terry, G/F, Arizona
Instant grade:B-plus
Analysis:Terry was comfortable with the ball in his hands at Arizona. His length makes it possible for him to be a plus defender. Shotmaking consistency will need to improve, and you will hear that often in the back end of the first round.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (pick reportedly traded to Memphis) | Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Such a Grizzlies pick, this. LaRavia transferred into Wake Forest and nearly carried the Demon Deacons to the NCAA Tournament. The forward can defend multiple positions and was an efficient scorer in college. If his 3-point shot can become consistent, this will be a really, really good pick.
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto) | Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State
Instant grade: B-plus
Analysis: Branham can become an offensive driver on the Spurs' second unit as a rookie who can produce in multiple ways. He's got decent size, but he could struggle against larger wings.
21. Denver Nuggets | Christian Braun, G, Kansas
Instant grade:B-minus
Analysis: Braun was known as a shooter at Kansas but showed the ability to get to the rim more than he was given credit for in that offense. Is he a good enough athlete to hang defensively?
22. Memphis Grizzlies(from Utah) (pick reportedly traded to Minnesota)| Walker Kessler, C, Auburn
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis:Kessler ate up shots around the rim and was a really good defensive force when defending screen and rolls and pick and pops at Auburn. He took a big step toward becoming a future All-Defense center in the next level. Offensively, an inconsistent shot will need to improve, but he seems willing to work at it.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (pick reportedly traded to Memphis )| David Roddy, F, Colorado State
Instant grade: C-plus
Analysis: Roddy, a 6-foot-6, 255 pound forward, was a Third Team All-American who showed scoring ability from multiple levels. I'm not sure he'll be able to translate that to the next level. Does he have the mobility to defend in the NBA?
24. Milwaukee Bucks | MarJon Beauchamp, G, G-League Ignite
Instant grade: B
Analysis:Beauchamp will need to improve his defensive activity, but he has shown good scoring ability. Can he defend and help find shots for others?
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Boston) | Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame
Instant grade:B
Analysis: Wesley impacted games in multiple ways at Notre Dame, but can he do so in the NBA? I'm not sure what role he carves out in the next level.
26. Dallas Mavericks (pick reportedly traded to Minnesota via Houston)| Wendell Moore Jr., G/F, Duke
Instant grade: B
Analysis: Moore's rebounding was a pleasant surprise later in his freshman campaign at Duke. Offensively, he'll need to improve his shotmaking.
27. Miami Heat | Nikola Jovic, F, Serbia
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: Draft and slash? Jovic is a multi-level scorer who can distribute the ball. Can he play defensively at the next level? To play for Erik Spoelstra, he'll have to.
28. Golden State Warriors | Patrick Baldwin Jr., G, UW Milwaukee
Instant grade: B
Analysis:Baldwin is still the 5-star prospect who can still score in multiple ways. His freshman season under his father at Wisconsin-Milwaukee was a mess. If any team can help Baldwin, it is the Warriors.
29. Memphis Grizzlies (pick reportedly traded to Houston via Minnesota)| TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky
Instant grade: A-minus
Analysis: In a different offense, Washington is one of the nation's best point guards and a potential lottery selection. He'll thrive in the NBA game.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix) | Peyton Watson, F, UCLA
Instant grade: C
Analysis: Watson should have stayed in school, where a quality sophom*ore season could have made him a lottery pick in 2023.
