With the end of the 2022 NBA Finals, the 2022 NBA Draft is on everyone’s minds. The draft is a chance for highly scouted after top athletes in the country to begin playing at the highest level in a franchise. The “Draft Lottery” is a process through which the bottom-seeded teams have early picks out of the fresh young talent to help improve their franchise’s future.
Kobe Bryant being drafted by the LA Lakers or Stephen Curry by the Golden State Warriors as early picks have benefited these franchises. Therefore, just like a real lottery, there is always a lightning strikes chance of finding a prodigal athlete who will potentially revolutionize a franchise.
Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren are the names to look out for in the 2022 NBA Draft
It will always be unclear which team selects which athlete at what draft pick. However, it can be said with some amount of certainty that Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith will be the most hyped-up draft prospects. It is interesting to note that every NBA draft usually has 2 somewhat potential stars emerge.
Last year it was Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green. The year before that it was Anthony Edwards and Lamelo Ball. Look back even a year further and it was Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. This may seem like a reach but both Jabari and Chet have good chances of being impactful in the NBA.
Jabari Smith is a 6’10, 220 lbs power forward. He studied at Auburn College. There he averaged 16 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2 assists with the Auburn Tigers. It is still unclear how his game will grow and adapt in the NBA. He has a long wingspan, with good court vision and consistent mid-range and three-point shooting.
Chet Holmgren has been making waves through social media even before the NBA draft. He has shown a somewhat cocky and confident attitude even before joining the league. Holmgren is a 7-foot powerforward\ center for Gonzaga college. Moreover, he weighs only 196 lbs(88kg). This gives him an extremely lanky-looking frame much like Kevin Durant.
Perhaps Chet has reason to be confident. He was averaging 14 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.7 blocks in his stay with Gonzaga. Additionally, he is also remarkably efficient for a player that size shooting 60% from the field, 39% from the three-point line, and 71% from the free throw. These are remarkable stats at any level and Holmgren is favored to be drafted 1st.
Lottery teams that look to draft these potential game-changers ahead of 2022 NBA Draft
As already mentioned, the draft is based on a system that lets teams that had a bad regular season, secure a high pick. This also ensures some form of balance in the league. Be that as it may, it is also possible to trade draft picks and value them just like they do NBA players.
The teams that were at the bottom of the league this season are the Orlando Magic, the Detroit Pistons, the Houston Rockets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It is clearly difficult to predict which of these 4 teams will draft the two players. However, analysts have revealed that the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder have crept ahead in the chances of recruiting these two draft prospects.
The #Magic got their look at Chet Holmgren the last few days. All that seems to be left behind is noise and talk: https://t.co/Q5sKH1kKD6
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) June 17, 2022
Nothing is certain and last-minute trades during the draft are a common theme of the past in the NBA. Therefore, it cannot be said for certain, but the Magic and Thunder might just end up choosing these two players.