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 were already 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 field. 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 lone 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 is averaging 42% on 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 TUSEN, 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
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers)
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Wizards of Washington
11. New York Knicks
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 Tracker: Every First-Round Pick and Analysis
