2022 NBA Draft Thread

[CP War Hawks]

From the list I've seen plenty of Devoe. Liken him as a particularly vagabond version of Russell. The Bean guy is the most interesting. His numbers all check my boxes. Not much vids on him, he just needs to pass my eye test, but wouldn't be opposed with the 2nd rd pick.

[Jamaaliver]

If we're looking for a home run swing at 16, this might be an option. He was considered a likely top-10 pick 9 months ago before injuries and poor coaching wrecked his season.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Roddy might have some Draymond-type qualities to him as an undersized big man or an oversized wing. He would be a mismatch nightmare off the bench as a small ball Center next to Okongwu.

The kid has some smooth ballhandling skills to weigh 255 pounds.

The Top Bigs in the 2022 NBA Draft

David Roddy (Colorado State, SF/PF, Junior)

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Signature strengths: Strength, offensive versatility

Archetype/projected role: Small-ball offensive specialist

At 6'6", 255 pounds, Roddy is so far out of the box that it's silly to even label him with a position. Though he operated mostly from the post at Colorado State, he's become an appealing NBA prospect for the improved shooting (43.8 percent 3PT) and face-up flashes. He graded in the 97th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler (50 possessions) and the 90th percentile out of isolation (49 possessions). He shot 42.6 percent off the dribble and 71.8 percent at the rim.

Despite his wide frame and weight, he moves well, can shake off the dribble, spin past defenders and pass on the move. He's undersized for a big, and it's tough to picture him guarding wings. But at some point, it's worth betting on outlier potential, as he's just too versatile, skilled and productive to nitpick in the late first or early second round.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

I know there are more than a few Eason fans here on the board. Enjoy.

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[CP War Hawks]

Might as well add this dude to the shortlist for pick 16.

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[Jamaaliver]

NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 100 Prospects

14. Malaki Branham, SG, Ohio State | Freshman

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 180 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 26

Spoiler:

Branham began the season under the radar and now enters the draft as a huge success story after evolving almost on the fly into a go-to scorer for Ohio State. He is still learning the nuances of the game and has average height for a wing, but he is long, defends, has polished shot-making skills and showed more capacity to play on the ball than expected. His lack of great size probably means he’s a true two-guard and limits some of his matchup versatility, which may cap his upside a bit. Still, it was hard not to be impressed with what he accomplished, with several huge games pointing to his potential as a scorer. Branham has another big leap ahead of him in the NBA, but he is young for his class, has been well ahead of schedule and could wind up in the late lottery with a strong predraft process.

15. Kendall Brown, F, Baylor | Freshman

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 12

Spoiler:

Although Brown didn’t end the season on a great note—his offensive struggles led to reduced minutes as the games got more important—he remains among of the more intriguing if-he-shoots prospects in this draft. He’s an elite athlete and smart cutter and finisher, and it’s impressive that he managed to be supremely efficient in his role as a true 18-year-old freshman. He’s also a big, rangy team defender who should offer versatility on that end. Brown’s shot isn’t broken by any means, but he does have a ways to go in developing consistency, and he’ll need to show signs of progress in workouts to maximize his draft stock. He’s also not a great ballhandler, which contributes to his shortcomings. But it’s hard to find big wings with Brown’s type of tools. If he can simply become a passable, confident shooter, he can be a pretty valuable role player in the NBA.

16. Ochai Agbaji, SG, Kansas | Senior

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 215 | Age: 22 | Last rank: 16

Spoiler:

Agbaji has more or less cemented himself as a top 20 pick, finishing his college career as the best player on a national championship team and looking prepared to play a supporting role in the NBA. He’s not flashy, but he has a physical presence that will help him defensively. He’s also become a very good shooter, and he’ll have a much easier time finding open shots while playing off of better shot-creators in the pros. He took a huge leap in terms of confidence as a senior and emerged as a consistent scorer. Agbaji isn’t much of a playmaker for teammates, so he’ll probably need to continue shooting at an elite clip in order to secure a high-value role in the long run. But teams feel comfortable with what he brings to the table now, even if there’s not immense upside here.

20. Ousmane Dieng, G/F, New Zealand Breakers

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 185 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 41

Spoiler:

Dieng was projected in this range in December, saw his stock fluctuate as he struggled early, and is trending back toward a top 20 selection after making visible strides in the final stretch of the season. He looked much more confident and prepared to make an impact in the NBA, and his skill set at his size has always been broadly appealing. He’s on the younger end of draft-eligible guys, which helps, and as a tall, playmaking wing who can make shots and move the ball capably, Dieng has a lot of what teams look for in a developmental project. He’s not incredibly strong, explosive or physical, but it’s easy to see him turning into a useful player if the late-season returns point to his trajectory moving forward. There’s still some risk here if Dieng doesn’t put it all together, but it’s palatable in this part of the draft.

Sports Illustrated

[Jamaaliver]

NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 100 Prospects

26. Tari Eason, F, LSU | Sophomore

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 215 | Age: 20 | Last rank: 24

Spoiler:

While Eason is a divisive player among scouts due to his offensive limitations, it’s hard to deny his productivity, going from lesser-known transfer to one of the top players in the SEC. Eason’s value in the NBA will come more on the defensive end: he is athletic and rangy, has a nose for the ball and might be able to defend wings. But there are real questions about his jumper, his offensive game being primarily right-hand drives, and his reliance on converting random offense. The eye test doesn’t always match his impressive stats, but at some point those numbers become hard to ignore. Eason has built a fairly convincing first-round case, but his range is pretty wide, conceivably beginning in the late teens.

29. Nikola Jovic, F, Mega Basket (Serbia)

Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 210 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 32

Spoiler:

Jovic had a productive year in Serbia and has developmental appeal as huge forward with guard-like perimeter skills. He’s a terrific passer, can make jumpers off the dribble, and in theory could be an oversized playmaker, considering his feel and handle, but he’s not an efficient scorer and isn’t likely to make much of an impact defensively. Jovic likely has to improve in those two areas to stay on the floor, and considering he’s not very athletic or fast, it’s fair to wonder how often he’ll get to the rim and how much he’ll defend. Considering NBA’s premium on positional size and skill, he’s still an interesting bet, particularly if his shooting continues to improve, but he’ll need a good predraft process to firm up a first-round spot.

30. Keon Ellis, SG, Alabama | Senior

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 175 | Age: 22 | Last rank: 33

Spoiler:

Ellis put together an underappreciated year in a supporting role at Alabama, turning himself into a reliable 3-and-D wing who turns in heavy effort on both ends of the floor. He didn’t get to the rim a ton or dominate touches on a team that featured its guards more, but he was highly efficient, shot the ball well, and also led the team in steal rate by a wide margin. Ellis is a smart ball-mover who rarely forces things, and has the right type of skill set to fit on an NBA roster immediately. He’s not especially big for a wing, and he’s also quite slender, which will be a problem for some teams, but he’s physical in spite of that and has the type of wiry strength that should play up. He’s already 22, so the upside isn’t crazy, but Ellis clearly knows how to play and has the right type of skillset to help a team off the bench pretty quickly.

31. Christian Koloko, C, Arizona | Junior

Height: 7' 1" | Weight: 230 | Age: 21 | Last rank: 34

Spoiler:

Koloko remains in the late first-round conversation as a high-quality rim protector who anchored a very good Arizona team. He fell behind Mark Williams and Walker Kessler in the draft’s center hierarchy—he’s older than both and not as advanced offensively—but does offer upside with the way he changes shots and covers ground around the basket with his size and length. Koloko’s defensive impact is palpable and his immense physical progression over the past several years has been impressive, although there are still times he needs to play through contact better. His upside is almost entirely tied to his defense, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—he’s shown enough to project somewhat comfortably as a viable backup and worthwhile pick in this range of the draft.

36. David Roddy, F, Colorado State | Junior

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 255 | Age: 21 | Last rank: 36

Spoiler:

Roddy emerged as one of college basketball’s most unique stars and legitimized himself as an NBA prospect in the process. Coupling guard skills, shot-making chops and passing vision, Roddy’s hefty frame belies the fact he’s actually quite athletic. He’s emerged as a dangerous three-point shooter and a serious matchup problem. The main question is how he’ll make a living defensively, as he’s not especially tall for a four, and may not be quick enough to guard wings. Still, Roddy is dangerous from all over the floor on offense, and a highly intelligent and crafty player who NBA teams are taking seriously. His skill set and feel may be good enough that it plays up regardless of what position label you want to slap on him.

Sports Illustrated

[Jamaaliver]

A guard prospect to consider in the 2nd round of the draft.

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Andrew Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga | Senior

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 195 | Age: 22

Nembhard put everything together in his final year of college, and looks like one of the better options in a thin point guard class. He has great size for his position, high basketball IQ, has made big strides as a shooter and plays defense, a package of strengths that profile pretty nicely into a backup point guard role. Although he’s not likely to be a big time scorer and sometimes struggles with high ball pressure, he impacts winning and has a chance to help a team right away with his ability to manage the game and distribute the ball where it needs to go. Nembhard doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he could have a solid career if he keeps improving, and arguably makes for a better bet than developing a teenage guard in this part of the draft.

Sports Illustrated

[Jamaaliver]

This kid is projected to be drafted in the 20s range of the 1st round:

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Bryce McGowens, SG, Nebraska | Freshman

Height: 6' 7" | Weight: 180 | Age: 19

McGowens had a very productive year in a horrible team context, and while he wasn’t blameless for Nebraska’s struggles, he’s an interesting first-round candidate with some obvious upside considering his size and scoring instincts. His jumper and shot selection need work, but on-ball creators with his type of size aren’t easy to find. He’s not extremely strong or explosive, but players with his type of frame and ball skills tend to get multiple opportunities to stick. McGowens has to improve defensively and share the ball more, and a team will have to develop his habits in addition to his skills, but in a better situation it’s easy to imagine his talent playing up. It’s just going to take some time, potentially in the G League.

Sports Illustrated

[Jamaaliver]

I wouldn't waste a draft pick on this dude, but I'd look to sing him as an undrafted free agent and bring him to Summer League with us. He could be a useful player off the bench eventually. He is not mobile or athletic...just big.

But we could use an infusion of toughness. I'd love to see us throw him out there against Embiid or Bam Adebayo. Neither would be able to move Kofi, he's just that strong.

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[Jamaaliver]

In no order for this team:

Dyson Daniels
Ben Mathurin
Kendall Brown
Tari Eason

Eason will be working out for Atlanta today.

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[Jamaaliver]

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Spoiler:

[Jamaaliver]

Defensive wing projected outside the lottery. Dude has no offensive skills in the halfcourt. Think Tony Allen with hops.

He could go anywhere between 16-30.

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Kendall Brown, F, Baylor | Freshman

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18

Although Brown didn’t end the season on a great note—his offensive struggles led to reduced minutes as the games got more important—he remains among of the more intriguing if-he-shoots prospects in this draft. He’s an elite athlete and smart cutter and finisher, and it’s impressive that he managed to be supremely efficient in his role as a true 18-year-old freshman. He’s also a big, rangy team defender who should offer versatility on that end. Brown’s shot isn’t broken by any means, but he does have a ways to go in developing consistency, and he’ll need to show signs of progress in workouts to maximize his draft stock. He’s also not a great ballhandler, which contributes to his shortcomings. But it’s hard to find big wings with Brown’s type of tools. If he can simply become a passable, confident shooter, he can be a pretty valuable role player in the NBA.

Read more at: https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article261113862.html#storylink=cpy

[Jamaaliver]

3 & D prospect likely taken in the 2nd round.

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Jalen Williams, SF, Santa Clara | Junior

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 195 | Age: 21

Williams wasn’t really on the NBA’s radar entering the season, but showcased a polished all-around game at Santa Clara and emerged as one of the best players in the West Coast Conference and a draftable prospect. He’s not an overwhelming athlete, but he’s an above-average passer and smooth ball-handler and should make enough jumpers to keep defenses honest. His upside isn’t crazy high, but Williams has the makings of a useful lineup-blending wing and looks like a viable second-round sleeper who could potentially earn a guaranteed deal. Feel and size tend to be nice calling cards, and his offense could take off when tasked with less responsibility.

Read more at: https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article261113862.html#storylink=cpy

[Jamaaliver]

Projected to be drafted towards the end of Round 1: 24-30

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Christian Braun, F, Kansas | Junior

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 220 | Age: 21

Credit Braun for taking a substantial all-around leap this season, filling a secondary scoring role Kansas badly needed and putting himself in position to get a real chance at the NBA. He’s more of a play finisher than anything else, but he’s a good athlete who’s effective around the basket and in the open floor, and can elevate to block shots. His passing skills have gotten better, which is notable. There are still some issues here: he’s stiff physically, shoots a flat, inconsistent ball, isn’t a naturally creative ballhandler, and lacks much of an in-between game. If his defense plays up and he diversifies his offense, there’s a chance he finds a niche. He helped himself in the NCAA tournament, but there are a number of players at his position with more intriguing long-term upside.

Read more at: https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article261113862.html#storylink=cpy

[Jamaaliver]

Tweener forward with solid production and limited upside. Mid first round pick: likely 18-23 range.

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E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State | Junior

Height: 6' 7" | Weight: 240 | Age: 21

Steady progression into one of the most reliable players in the country solidified Liddell as a first-round caliber prospect. Despite being undersized for a power forward, his diversity of on-court strengths should give him a pretty navigable pathway to success. He’s become a consistent shooter with his feet set, he’s expanded his game as a passer, and he can face up slower bigs and weaker wings off the dribble, in addition to his play on the glass. If Liddell can help defensively on bigger wings and smaller bigs while fitting in on offense, there's a pathway to success in the mold of smaller fours like P.J. Washington or Grant Williams. Liddell is more mobile than both those guys, and while his upside isn’t immense, he should be able to stick as a positive contributor in the NBA.

Read more at: https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article261113862.html#storylink=cpy

[CP War Hawks]

Not a target for us unless they can acquire a late 1st, but I like Chandler. 6-0 and dunks easily w/o getting very high which indicates elite length.

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