The 2022 NBA Draft is done and dusted; the next generation of great basketball players know where they will be playing next season. But how much do you know about the top picks in the 2022 class?

In this article we will reveal the biggest strength of each of the top 14 picks, their biggest problem area and how they will fit within their new team in their rookie year and beyond.

·      No.1- Paolo Banchero-Orlando Magic

Banchero was a surprise pick at no.1, largely because the Magic didn’t even work him out and seem committed to Jabari Smith, but they went with Banchero because on paper he is the most likely player in this draft to become a franchise changing star.

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Biggest Strength- Offense. Banchero’s offense talents set him apart, he can do it all on the offensive side, from scoring to passing to cutting. He is not far off the complete package, and he is only 19.

Biggest Weakness- Defence. The biggest question mark surrounding Banchero is his defence, he has shown a willingness to take a back seat on defence and lacked the desire to improve.

Fit in Orlando- Banchero will go right in and take charge of this team despite being a rookie, this is his Magic now.

·      No.2 – Chet Holmgren - Oklahoma City Thunder

Chet Holmgren is the new unicorn of the NBA, the 7’1 Centre out of Gonzaga has quality on both ends of the floor and may just be a generational defender in NBA basketball.

Biggest Strength- Defence. Holmgren's size and mobility make him a defensive game changer, the 20-year-old may not be the whole package just yet, but he will instantly be the best defender on his team.

Biggest Weakness- Ball Handling. There aren’t any major weaknesses in Holmgren’s game, but he will need to improve his ball handling and playmaking to become a star on both ends.

Fit in Oklahoma City-Holmgren may still have a lot of growing to do but he will instantly provide rim protection and all-round defensive the Thunder desperately need.

·      No.3 – Jabari Smith – Houston Rockets

Smith was projected to go no.1 in the weeks leading up to the draft but no.3 is still a huge achievement, and this will only inspire him to show the Magic and the entire league why he should have been no.1. The 6’10 forward out of Auburn brings it on both ends and his best strengths will be showcased in Houston.

Biggest Strength- Shooting. Smith may just be the best shooter in this class, and it is arguably what sets him apart from Banchero & Holmgren.

Biggest Weakness- Shot Creation. Smith has the shot but his ability to create his own shooting opportunities is not there yet but at 19 years old it should come along.

Fit in Houston- Smith could be a star in Houston, with Jalen Green & Kevin Porter Jr feeding him the ball, looks to be a perfect fit.  

·      No.4 – Keegan Murray – Sacramento Kings

Murray was one of the oldest lottery picks but that takes nothing away from his talent. The 6’8 forward out of Iowa has shown the qualities to make an instant impact in the NBA. With a big jump he could prove a steal for Sacramento.

Biggest Strength- Defence. Murray has great ability on the defensive end with good quickness to be able to stay with players and the ability to recover.

Biggest Weakness- Playmaking/Creation. Murray is talented but he is not the whole package, he lacks the ability to create in the halfcourt while also struggling to play make at times.

Fit in Sacramento- Murray is NBA ready and that is exactly what the Kings need as they seek a playoff place in 2023.

·      No.5 – Jaden Ivey – Detroit Pistons

Jaden Ivey is arguably the most explosive guard in the draft. His scoring and athleticism giving off serious Russell Westbrook vibes and if he shows even half that on the floor for Detroit they are in for a treat.

Biggest Strength- Athleticism/Explosiveness. He may only be 6’4 but Ivey is incredibly quick with great hops which allow him to take advantage in the open court and at the rim.

Biggest Weakness- Shooting/Isolation play. Ivey is a great scorer, but his shooting is lacking as well as his isolation play. To fulfil his potential, he must improve this.

Fit in Detroit- Playing alongside Cade Cunningham and Sadiq Bey, the Pistons could become unstoppable in the open court, but their defence may struggle in the early years.

·      No.6 - Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers

Mathurin is one player that is NBA ready. The 3 & D wing out of Arizona has size and a smooth stroke to slot right in and maybe even become a perennial all-star with all things going right in his career.

Biggest Strength- 3-point shooting. Mathurin is a knock down shooter, who has great movement off the ball as well as a smooth stroke which make him a dynamite threat.

Biggest Weakness- Defensive consistency. The 20-year-old has shown an ability to be a good defender, but he is not always consistent, that must change if he is to be an NBA starter.

Fit in Indiana- Mathurin would fit well in any team but we don’t know what the makeup of the Pacers team will be come the start of the season, so it is hard to make a call.  

·      No.7 – Shaedon Sharpe – Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers may just have the steal of the draft in Sharpe. The 19-year-old is somewhat of a mystery having committed to Kentucky but then failing to play a game. However, his talent is undeniable, with elite athleticism, desire, and a near 7’0 wingspan for a 6’6 guard.

Biggest Strength- Shot creation/finishing. Sharpe has great size for a guard, and he has shown a great ability to create space and finish at the rim.

Biggest Weakness- Defence. Sharpe’s defending is the major question mark, he may never be an elite defender, but he can certainly put the work to become less of liability on that end.

Fit in Portland- There will be little pressure on him in his first few years which is great, and he gets to learn from one of the best guards in the league, Damian Lillard.

·      No.8 – Dyson Daniels – New Orleans Pelicans

Dyson Daniels is yet another great addition to an ever-improving Pelicans team. Having played last season with the G-League Ignite he will be ready to contribute right off the bat, with a unique set of skills. The 6’7 wing adds great size and length on both ends.

Biggest Strength- Defence. The 19-year-old Australian does it all on defence. With his size and length, he can guard multiple positions while also having the speed and footwork to stay with players.

Biggest Weakness- 3pt shooting. The style of player Daniels is make three point shooting a must to have a big impact on offense, while his shooting has improved it is still very inconsistent.

Fit in New Orleans- He will fit in well with the young core the Pelicans already have but may not get the chance to showcase his great playmaking ability.

·      No.9 – Jeremy Sochan – San Antonio Spurs

Jeremy Sochan was a slightly surprising pick at no.9 but that does not mean he is not very talented. The 6’9 forward from Baylor is one of the youngest players in the draft and has the upside on both ends to be worth the risk.

Biggest Strength- Defence. Sochan has great size and versatility on the defensive end which put fear into opposing players. Will be capable of guarding all five positions a year or two into in his NBA career.

Biggest Weakness- 3pt shooting. Sochan has shown himself to be a great cutter and finisher at the rim but if he can’t improve his 3pt shot he may not get to showcase that too often.

Fit in San Antonio- It maybe tough for Sochan early on, but San Antonio has a great reputation of developing young players.

·      No.10 – Johnny Davis – Washington Wizards

Davis is a great competitor with a fiery desire to win. The 6’5 wing out of Wisconsin will be able to provide an immediate impact while also having room for growth, especially on the offensive end.

Biggest Strength- Defence. Davis has good size for his position while also being deceptively strong. His footwork allowing him to stay with players and his strength allowing him to absorb contact.

Biggest Weakness- Shot creation/handle. While the Wizards did not draft him for these reasons, he will need to improve both his ability to create shots for himself and his handle.

Fit in Washington- Davis’ drive and competitive spirit make him a coach’s dream. But can the Wizards allow him to improve the weaknesses in his game, I’m not so sure.

·      No.11 – Ousmane Dieng – Oklahoma City Thunder (via New York Knicks)

The Thunder traded away multiple first round picks to take Dieng and it is no surprise. The Frenchman’s stock has been on the rise over the past few months, with the potential upside looking scary.

Biggest Strength- Length/fluidity. Dieng has great size and length, but he is also quite athletic, giving him great defensive versatility and the ability to produce offensively.

Biggest Weakness-Scoring/shooting. Dieng has not proven himself as a consistent scorer or shooter, these will be the main areas he needs to grow in his first few seasons.

Fit in Oklahoma City- OKC is a great place for Dieng to start out, he will get minutes, while also having the time to make improvements on his shortcomings.

·      No.12 – Jalen Williams – Oklahoma City Thunder

Jalen Williams really impressed during the combine, but few saw him going this high in the draft, having not seen him play against elite competition with Santa Clara. However, they appear to have drafted a hugely talented offensive player.

Biggest Strength- Scoring. Williams showcased a great scoring ability while averaging splits of 51/39/80 on high volume. If it carries over. Watch out!

Biggest Weakness- Defence. Williams defence will be a concern, but he has good size for a guard so could improve over time.

Fit in Oklahoma City- Just like Dieng, OKC is a great starting point for Williams, but he will need to showcase that scoring ability to get consistent minutes.

·      No.13 – Jalen Duren – Detroit Pistons (via Charlotte Hornets)

Duren is the youngest player in this draft class but at just 18 years old he is 6’10, 250lbs, with a 7’5 wingspan. The man is a beast and will continue to grow in the NBA, the scary part is, he could get bigger.

Biggest Strength- Lobs/Shot blocking. Duren is still a relatively raw talent but right off the bat he will be a pick & roll/lob threat on offense and rim protector on defence.

Biggest Weakness- Offense. Duren is only a young player, and we see it in his offensive game, he struggles scoring consistently, posting up and finishing at the rim.

Fit in Detroit- Duren is a great pickup for Detroit as he adds a new dimension to the team’s offense, they didn’t have last year, the lob threat.

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• No.14 – Ochai Agbaji – Cleveland Cavaliers

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Agbaji is one of the more experienced players in this draft class, having played all four years of college. Teams may view this as a downside to him, but his talent speaks for itself. At 22 years old the 6’5 wing is ready to make an instant impact in the NBA.

Biggest Strength- 3pt shooting/transition scoring. Agbaji is a dynamite catch and shoot player, who also has the speed and athleticism to dominate in the open court.

Biggest Weakness- Ball handling/playmaking. While Agbaji can knock down shots himself, he struggles to create for others and won’t be able to act as ball handler if Garland & Sexton are off the court.

Fit in Cleveland- Agbaji will slot right into the Cavaliers system, with the ability to become a legit 3 & D wing in this league.

Potential sleeper?

AJ Griffin-

Griffin was seen as a top 5 pick by many, but his injury history has teams worried. With the player having been through two knee surgeries already and he is still only 18.  

However, towards the end of the season we saw him be more explosive and aggressive which means he could be returning to his best level.

At the very least the 6’6 forward is an elite three-point shooter, with great size and physicality. The Atlanta Hawks selected him with the no.16 pick and in a few years’ time that could prove an absolute bargain.  

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