The 2022 NBA Draft is already here, but its mysteries have yet to be solved. Simulated drafts have been presented, some consensus has been formed and excessive fan reactions are already beginning.
Who ends up being the best of our long-awaited first three, Paolo, Chet or Jabari? How will Jaden Ivey handle the main guard duties if asked? Will AJ Griffin may find his best form again. Can Keegan Murray score in the NBA like he did in college? What about the defense?
We won’t find the answers to those questions tonight, but CBS Sports NBA Draft analysts Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone are here to assess the values the teams draw from their picks as the night goes on. Stay tuned here and watch our free NBA Draft coverage all night on CBS Sports HQ here and on the video player on this page.
First round of the 2022 NBA Draft
Ratings by Gary Parrish
1. Orlando Magic: PF Paolo Banchero, Duke
Although I would have taken Chet Holmgren, I can’t say it’s wrong to take Banchero. I think he will be the most impressive player since the jump and the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year. This is reasonable, though surprising. He’s a great, strong and skilled striker who could be an amazing building block in Orlando. Grade: A
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: C Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Concerns about Holmgren’s light frame are legitimate, but it’s such a unique prospect with incredible potential that it’s the right choice here. This 7-foot edge protector can also bounce you off as a guard and make 3-point pointers reliably. It has the highest ceiling of this project and therefore should not go down like here. Grade: A +
3. Houston Rockets: PF Jabari Smith, Auburn
For much of the draft process, Smith was assumed to be the No. 1 general election. And in a class with three high-level senior men’s prospects, Smith became an easy choice when he fell to third place overall. Smith has yet to develop in many ways, but he is already a great shooter and a changeable defender who plays with undeniable energy and fits in very well with Jalen Green. Grade: A +
4. Sacramento Kings: PF Keegan Murray, Iowa
I like Murray, but it’s not what I would have done. I would have been caught by Jaden Ivey. But he made it clear he didn’t want to be there. I don’t think it’s enough to explain that he didn’t take it, but I do understand where the Kings were going with this move. Murray was a great player this season – the second best college basketball player in the country. Grade: B
5. Detroit Pistons: SG Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Ivey is an explosive athlete who plays great and is able to attack the edge in several ways. Comparisons with Ja Morant don’t really add up for Ivey, but he’s an exceptional player. There are questions about whether he will really be a base in the NBA, but he is now paired with Cade Cunningham, a natural dealer. Grade: A +
6. Indiana Pacers: SG Benedict Mathurin, Arizona
More than any other projected lottery selection, Mathurin is the one that garnered the most shares after evaluating it compared to what I thought during the season. Do you dive in, and what don’t you like? He is a 6-6 athletic winger who can do many things and has All-Star potential. Grade: A
7. Portland Trail Blazers: SG Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky
This choice is interesting because it looks like with the Jerami Grant trade the Blazers are trying to do well now. And Sharpe is an interesting fit from that perspective. But few players in this class have higher ceilings than him. He’s an explosive goal scorer with a ridiculous size for the wing and athletics, and could one day be a positive defender with those tools. He probably isn’t ready to do it right after not playing last season in Kentucky. Grade: B +
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from the Lakers): SG Dyson Daniels, G League
Daniels isn’t the perspective that previous Ignite stars have been, but he’s still a fascinating guard with size he can play with or without the ball. His jumper, right now, is the area of greatest concern, but if the Pelicans can fall, he has a high roof. And this Pelicans team is very close to being a legitimate contender, although much of that falls to Zion Williamson. Daniels fits very well into this core as probably the best perimeter advocate for this project. Grade: A +
9. Sant Antoni Spurs
10. Washington Wizards
11. Knicks of New York
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. Charlotte Hornets (via Pelicans)
16. Atlanta Hawks
17. Houston Rockets (via Nets)
18. Chicago Bulls
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
20. San Antonio Spurs (of Raptors)
21. Denver Nuggets
22. Memphis Grizzlies (Jazz)
23. Philadelphia 76ers
24. Milwaukee Bucks
25. San Antonio Spurs (of the Celtics)
26. Houston Rockets (from Mavericks)
27. Miami Heat
28. Golden State Warriors
29. Memphis Grizzlies
30. Denver Nuggets (from Suns to Thunder)
Second round of the 2022 NBA Draft
Ratings by Kyle Boone
31. Indiana Pacers (from Rockets to Cavaliers)
32. Orlando Magic
33. Toronto Raptors (from the Pistons to the Spurs, Wizards and Bulls)
34. Oklahoma City Thunder
35. Los Angeles Lakers (from Pacers through Bucks and Magic)
36. Detroit Pistons (from Blazers)
37. Sacramento Kings
38. San Antonio Spurs (from the Lakers through Bulls and Wizards)
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from the Spurs via Jazz)
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Wizards to Cavaliers)
41. Pelicans of New Orleans
42. New York Knicks
43. Los Angeles Clippers
44. Atlanta Hawks
45. Charlotte Hornets
46. Portland Trail Blazers (from Nets via Pistons)
47. Memphis Grizzlies (from Cavaliers to Pelicans and Hawks)
48. Minnesota Timberwolves
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Bulls to Grizzlies, Pistons and Kings)
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (from the Nuggets through the 76ers)
51. Golden State Warriors (from Raptors to 76ers)
52. New Orleans Pelicans (of Jazz)
53. Boston Celtics
54. Washington Wizards (of Mavericks)
55. Golden State Warriors
56. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Heat to Pacers)
57. Portland Trail Blazers (from Grizzlies via Jazz)
58. Indiana Pacers (de Suns)