With just three weeks to go, every team in the NBA will look to improve their future through the 2022 NBA Draft.
This year’s draft, scheduled for June 23, offers plenty of talent at the top of the draft board for the Orlando Magic to reflect on their #1 overall pick, which they won in the NBA Draft Lottery last month.
This year, there doesn’t appear to be a “clear” favorite for who has the best prospect in the draft class, but the Magic is focused on Jabari Smith Jr. of Auburn, sources tell SI Fastbreak.
At around 6ft 10 and with a wingspan of almost 7-2, Smith has a unique goal-scoring skillset and the potential to defend virtually any position on the ground.
Jabari Smith, arguably the most talented top scorer in the draft, has a chance to quickly develop into an All-Star-like offensive talent in this league, something Orlando badly needs at both forward positions right now.
Several league executives anticipate that Magic Smith will be the first overall pick in a few weeks, opening the door to a world of opportunity moving down the draft board.
Should Jabari Smith indeed be the first player selected for the 2022 NBA draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder face a big decision over who to draft between Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero.
Every player has fans in Thunder’s front office, with Holmgren filling more of a need this team has in their front court at the moment. If Oklahoma City gets their second overall win with Chet Holmgren, the Houston Rockets will get everything they wished for in Duke’s Paolo Banchero during this pre-draft process.
Banchero has been on Houston’s radar for quite some time, and if they do end up picking No. 1 in the draft lottery, several NBA scouts have said the Rockets would seriously consider picking Paolo Banchero first, in front of the likes of Smith and Holmgren.
While everything can change over the next few weeks leading up to the 2022 NBA draft, the Magic, Thunder, and Rockets all seem to have a clear idea of who the guy at the top of their draft boards is.
For the Magic, Jabari Smith Jr. is ticking more boxes right now, which is expected to make him the third No. 1 in Orlando Magic history.
Sacramento King’s draft plans
This year’s draft is expected to start with the No. 4 overall pick currently held by the Sacramento Kings.
Looking for ways to build up now and potentially make the playoffs in the 2022-23 season to end a 16-year playoff drought, the Kings are expected to do well ahead of the 2022 NBA draft on their Purchases will be aggressive draft pick, sources said.
Talents such as Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers), Julius Randle (New York Knicks), John Collins (Atlanta Hawks) and Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons) have been raised in league circles in connection with the Kings and their fourth overall draft pick. To date, no formal trade offers involving the above players have been made for this selection.
It is expected that after the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Finals, Kings general manager Monte McNair will work closely with newly hired head coach Mike Brown to get a feel for how the organization needs to build its roster in the offseason. Sacramento already has the blueprints of a plan starring De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis and is not afraid to make big strides before or during the draft.
Effective immediately, all players except De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Davion Mitchell are said to participate in trade talks with the Kings.
The New York Knicks were recently mentioned as a team keen on moving up the draft, most likely related to their interest in Purdue’s Jaden Ivey.
Should New York appear aggressive in attempts to move up in this year’s draft, Sacramento will definitely be interested in hearing what the Knicks have to offer, especially with Randle on the table in trade talks.
Fallout in Utah continues to evolve
The lack of success over the years in the postseason has begun to take its toll on the Utah Jazz as an organization. Not only does All-Star Donovan Mitchell’s long-term future at the organization hang in the balance, but the futures of All-Star center Rudy Gobert and head coach Quin Snyder also loom over the heads of the Jazz front office.
While some in the Utah front office question Gobert’s long-term effectiveness alongside Mitchell and his ability to potentially elevate the Jazz to Western Conference championship contender status, the league-wide expectation right now is for Utah to have both All-Star talents , barring a massive change in sentiment from general manager Justin Zanik and owner Ryan Smith.
The focus of this franchise is head coach Quin Snyder and whether or not he will actually be the head coach of the Jazz in the 2022-23 season. Not much has been said about what Snyder is thinking about, but the possibility of him sitting out next season and leaving jazz is very real.
The move from the league’s best record of the 2020-21 season to losing in the first round of the playoffs this year has put a lot of pressure on everyone associated with the Utah Jazz, and Snyder has been at the forefront of that discussion .
Utah wants to keep its head coach, however, and ESPN has reported that the team recently offered its head coach a new extension. No decision has been made and talks are expected to continue well into the off-season.
As for what that squad looks like next year, the Jazz is expected to look for ways to surround Donovan Mitchell with other capable goalscorers and presenters. Veteran point guard Mike Conley is said to be in the trade market but the 34-year-old has attracted very little interest league-wide, especially as he is set to make $22.7million in the 2022-23 season with a partial guarantee clause in his contract for the 2023/24 season.
Royce O’Neale and Rudy Gay are two veteran players who could very well move to teams that currently have trade exceptions that add up to the value of their respective contracts.
The Jazz have no draft picks in the upcoming 2022 NBA draft and are expected to already be a tax-paying team with the roster they currently have in the offseason.
Other notes and rumors from the NBA:
Boston Celtics – With a view to extending his rookie deal in the offseason, sources told SI Fastbreak that third-year forward Grant Williams would like to stay in Boston long-term. Williams was a breakout staffer from the bench for the Celtics in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks – There is a mutual interest between Jalen Brunson and the Dallas Mavericks in striking a new deal in the offseason. Dallas has the most money to offer Brunson if he becomes a free agent this summer, and they’ve proven they pose a serious threat in the Western Conference this season.
intense heat – Team President Pat Riley and the Miami Heat front office have already begun preparations for what they believe will be a crucial off-season for their franchise. The Heat still believe their All-Star trio of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry can reach the NBA Finals, but many in the league are anticipating Miami and are inquiring about the availability of Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal and Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell in the off-season.
Philadelphia 76ers – There is currently no interest in the 76ers’ front office in moving former first-round pick Tyrese Maxey, even if Philadelphia is able to land another All-Star for the pairing with James Harden and Joel Embiid by getting him involved in a trade. However, interest in Bradley Beal in the Sixers’ front office remains high.
Related stories to NBA rumors:
- Potential NBA Draft Night Trades for Non-Playoff Teams: The NBA offseason started earlier than 14 different franchises had hoped, and while some of those teams are rebuilding, others will try to take some steps to get back into postseason competition. CLICK HERE.
- The New York Knicks’ off-season point guard options: That The New York Knicks will look to address the future of their backcourt in the offseason by possibly bringing in a new senior point guard. CLICK HERE.