With Tuesday night’s lottery results now official, the top 14 slots for the 2022 NBA draft have been set. The lottery order is as follows:
Orlando Magic- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Sacramento Kings
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Lakers)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s great news for the rebuilding Magic, who finished dead last in the Eastern Conference this season and had the NBA’s second-worst record (22-60). They entered the night tied for the best odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick at 14.0%, and will be picking first in the draft for the first time since 2004, when they selected Dwight Howard.
This time around, the Magic appear likely to draft a big man once again. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero, all power forwards or centers, are widely considered to be the top prospects in the 2022 class. Orlando could add one of them to a core that includes 2021 lottery picks Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.
The Thunder are one of the night’s other big winners, moving up from fourth in the pre-lottery order to No. 2 overall. The rebuilding squad is loaded with first-round picks over the next five years, and will have the opportunity to draft a potential franchise player next month to complement guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. Oklahoma City is the only team with two picks in this year’s lottery, having acquired the No. 12 overall selection from the Clippers.
The Rockets will have a top-three pick for a second straight year after nabbing Jalen Green second overall in 2021. They’ll be followed by the Kings, who moved up from seventh in the pre-lottery order to No. 4 in the draft, making good on their 31.9% chance to jump into the top four.
It’s the fourth consecutive time that the seventh team in the lottery standings has moved into the top four. The Pelicans (Zion Williamson), Hornets (LaMelo Ball), and Raptors (Scottie Barnes) did it in 2019, 2020, and 2021 after the NBA revamped its lottery format ahead of the 2019 event.
The Pistons, Pacers, and Trail Blazers were among the biggest losers on lottery night. Detroit moved down two spots, from No. 3 to No. 5, while Indiana and Portland both dropped one spot from their place in the pre-lottery order, landing at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
Since the Lakers’ first-round pick stayed at No. 8, it will head to the Pelicans rather than the Grizzlies — Memphis would have received it if it had fallen out of the top 10.
The rest of the lottery played out as expected, with the Spurs, Wizards, Knicks, Thunder, Hornets, and Cavaliers rounding out the top 14.
Of course the Detroit team gets screwed. It truly is Detroit vs. everybody! Good news is the Pistons have a great GM as in “Troy we trust”.
Get rekt
You picked first last year
Quit living in the past man
Since 1993, the Pistons have moved up only once in the lottery and that was last year….they get screwed every time they’re in the lottery…so there!
Those frozen envelopes strike again!
What about in 2003 when they jumped from 6 to 2? I’m sure you try to forget that though as Darko was picked ahead of 3 hof’ers.
If I were John Hammond I would consider trading down to the AJ Griffin-Keegan Murray range with Carter and Wagner already in place.
Maybe that’s overthinking it though, just take Smith.
If I’m the pelicans I’m looking to move that pick for veteran PG
I might consider a veteran PG if Washington and Sharpe are off the board. I can’t think of a veteran PG that would be available that I’d give up the 7th pick for when you have 2 playmakers in McCollum and Zion already there .
SGA for a multi pick package? New lineup would be SGA McCollum BI Zion and JV. Bench is Herb Jones, Alvarado, Murphy Hayes, Nance. And you can still make moves. Then I would deal Zion and move Herb Jones into Zion spot.
Might have worked if OKC didn’t end up in the top 3. Now I think they take one more blue chip prospect to finish their core, sign some free agents and start competing for the 8 seed.
Maybe get extra creative and go for Dort. Imagine having Dort Jones and Alvarado.
Wonder why people keep thinking SGA is on a trading block….he not. He’s never been since getting to okc, yet people keep proposing trades like he is. He signed a max that is starting in 22. He’s not.going.anywhere.
OKC likes resetting and Presti could get a huge overpay here. I’m not say they want to trade SGA. in answering the previous comment about vet PG, most veteran PGs are overpaid right now. I like him or Dejounte. That’s all I’m saying
Given his age and future production, it would take another PG13 type of trade. The thunder have 87 draft picks in the next few years. They don’t need more first rounders from teams that would win a lot and send back late first rounders.
You might as well start talking about trades for Trae Young or Cade Cunningham while you’re shooting for the moon in dream land I guess.
It was fairly widely reported that they shopped him, perhaps just to check his value, just before signing the extension.
Also it was reported he was in some trade talks for top players as well.
I dont think they are looking to move him, but also wouldnt be opposed if the right deal comes along.
At 1st in theory I kind of agreed with you post. I like SGA but I don’t think OKC is that hyped on moving him. Then you mentioned dealing Zion? No one should consider moving Zion unless Cuban goes off his rocker and offers Luka.
Zion is a BUST AND LAZY to boot. Who would give up anything of value.
Zion is in no way, shape or form a bust, yes he’s dealt with injuries, but when he is on the court he’s averaging 25.7, 7, 3 to go along with an all-star appearance, and he’s still only 21. If anything he’s a building block. Was Joel Embiid a bust when he missed his first 2 seasons because of injuries?
Magic best fit imo is Ivey. But #1 is too high for him. Or is it ?? Banchero is the most ready top player to play next yr.
To me best player is Smith or Banchero. You can’t go wrong with either one. Magic just need to pick one. Then if they have to. They can make another move during season. Issac was looking good till he got hurt. He was looking like a solid 4 to me. Carter is another big who is solid. But he is a 4-5.
I really like Issac and believe in him. But this is Business. Magic take Jabari Smith.
Knicks should be talking to Magic about Fultz. Cause I doubt they would move Anthony. Fultz has to be given the starting PG next yr.
I meant Suggs should be given starting PG.
Thunder will take whichever one Orlando doesn’t….I just hope they pass on Chet.
Definitely pass on Chet. Thunder get their starting PF for yrs. I still like Pokusevski. But he’s more a stretch 4.
LOL Knicks
Kings biggest winner. If Ivey is gone which I doubt. They can move down and get another asset or player.
Smith — Banchero are going 1 and 2. Order don’t really matter. So the Rockets have a big decision to make. Do they have patience to wait on Holmgren. Can they get Zion to give him some Weight. Rockets can not take Ivey with Green there. Unless it’s to trade him. This will be the turning point of draft night to me. What do the Rockets do ??
Tim Duncan should had been a Celtic they screw them that year
I don’t think much of Griffin as a basketball guy, but he must be awesome at fantasy, because he sure can “win” those trades with his disappearing draft pick trick.
He traded POR his NOP pick #5 – #14 for CJM. It finishes #15 via play-in success (and the pick is off to CHA). Tough luck, but it must roll over, right? Yes, but not really. For some reason it doesn’t roll over to the NOP pick next year, or convert to the LAL pick at #8 this year (which would make the most sense since he traded a pick estimated to fall in that range). Instead it converts to 2025 MIL pick. Operating without the special vision of GM Cronin, it appears to me that POR didn’t do that well.
He traded MEM the LAL pick #11 – #30 in the Adams/Bledsoe-JV trade (in which MEM also got #10 for #19 last year). Comes in at #8. So, MEM doesn’t get the pick, but it must roll over, right? No, it converted immediately to two 2nd round picks.
I can honestly see Charlotte attempt to trade up a few picks just so they can get either Mark Williams or Jalen Duren.
18th straight season in which the Knicks FAILED to improve their draft positioning through the lottery.
18 years in the lottery in a row, well aint that a b****!
Who do you guys think the Kings will draft???
Hard to tell with the Kings but unless Holmgren falls to 4th I’d try to move back and pickup AJ Griffin.
Ivey ….
Holmgren, better fit next to Sabonis
Wildboyz, they’re too similar, no? Stretch 4’s?
1-2: It’s Holmgren and Smith, in whatever order, at the top of this draft. That’s been the case for months. Right now, I think the Magic will take Holmgren, and OKC will then take Smith. But I haven’t read anything accounting for these two teams being up here.
3-4: Banchero and Ivey seem the most consistent in the top 5, but there’s more flexibility here. HOU could take Banchero, and SAC could take Ivey.
5-on: Lots of different views from here. Knicks look a bit too far down, but lots can happen.
The 11th, next year’s 1st and a future 2nd to the Kangz for the rights to Jaden Ivey.
Magic need better center.bamba so inconsistence.chet holmgreen is their answer.but smith is good for them too bcoz wagner can play as sf.he played as sf in this season.sf in pf body.
Congrats to OKC and Kings, winners in this lottery. Should Indy trade or keep the 6th pick?
1. Magic- Chet Holmgren
2. OKC- Jabari Smith
3. Rockets- Paolo Banchero
4. Kings- Jaden Ivey
5. Pistons- Shaedon Sharpe
6. Pacers- Keegan Murray
7. Blazers- AJ Griffin
8. Pelicans- Benedict Mathurin
9. Spurs- Johnny Davis
10. Wizards- Jalen Duren
11. Knicks- traded (Malakai Branham)*
12. OKC- Ousmane Deing
13. Hornets- Tari Eason
14. Cavs- Jaden Hardy
15. Hornets- traded (Jeremy Sochan)*
16. Hawks- Ochai Agbaji
17. Rockets- TyTy Washington
18. Bulls- Mark Williams
19. TWolves- Wendell Moore
20. Spurs- Nikola Jovic
21. Nuggets- Dyson Daniels
22. Grizzlies- Walker Kessler
23. Nets- Kennedy Chandler
24. Bucks- MarJon Beuchamp
25. Spurs- EJ Liddell
26. Mavs- Blake Wesley
27. Heat- Kendall Brown
28. Warriors- Patrick Baldwin Jr
29. Grizzlies- Bryce McGowens
30. OKC- Christian Braun.
The two trades:
-Knicks trade Juilus Randle, Kemba Walker, Pick 11, and 2 future first and a pick swap for Zion Williamson, DeVonte Graham and Garrett Temple.
-Hornets trade Gordan Hayward, Mason Plumblee, pick 15 and 2 future firsts for Rudy Gobert and Rudy Gay.
Simmons > russ :Hey, i love if my bulls draft mark william.but i dont think he will be there at 18th.u put eason,agbaji,and hardy to high.mark williams will come earlier than them
I don’t think he will. I think pre draft rankings on lottery centres are always a little high.
For example using nbadraftroom
2018
Rob Williams was mocked at 15 and went 27
2019
Brandon Clarke was 11 and was drafted 21
Goga was mocked 12 and drafted 18
Kabengele was mocked 16 and drafted 27
Claxton 20 and drafted 31
Bol Bol 23 and drafted 44
Bruno Fernando 25 and drafted 34
2020
Precious Achiwura 14 and drafted 20
2021
Sengun 9 and taken 16
Garuba 12 taken 23
You get the point.
I think Williams slides a little.
Not to mention the teams above I don’t think need centre’s. Cavs won’t take a centre, Rockets shouldn’t, hawks shouldn’t, Jazz after a Gobert trade maybe… Hornets having got Gobert won’t. Which leaves OKC at 12 that could take him but I doubt it
Simmons>russ : i hope ur right and im wrong. I really2 want bulls draft him.
Bulls can get a rim protector in FA. Better to get a vet and make him part of rotation right away. McGee is a FA and Suns are not looking to pay.
At #18 Bulls need scoring or shooting or both. Hardy and Christie both should be there.
The lottery is stupid. Base it on win-loss only. The Rockets and Pistons got screwed.
That is good, right?