2022 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Can the Toronto Raptors make a move?
By Mike Luciano
Scouting Report. 11. Pick Analysis. SG. G League. Jaden Hardy. player. 142
Hardy went from an elite shooter and a no-doubt Top 5 pick to someone making 35% of his shots in the G League. He needs to go somewhere that will gradually ease him into life in the NBA, and Washington could provide him with that opportunity given their backcourt depth.
With Bradley Beal’s situation up in the air, the Wizards could end up creating a young backcourt for the future based around Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Deni Avdija. He’s a risky bet, but Washington needs to be a bit risky to keep pace with the rest of the Southeast division.
NBA Mock Draft: Johnny Davis has been rising.
Wisconsin. Johnny Davis. 211. Pick Analysis. SG. Scouting Report. 12. player
The Grizzlies have to be thrilled that they have three first-round picks this year, and they’ll benefit from the Lakers’ misfortune to add a player that is averaging 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Badgers this season. If he gets a more consistent jumper, Davis could be an All-Star.
While Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. give Memphis a fantastic ceiling, adding another off-ball scorer next to Dillon Brooks might make a ton of sense. Davis is a terrific scorer with handles, versatility, and a feathery touch in the paint. A Sixth Man of the Year award might be in his future.
Pick Analysis. Iowa. Keegan Murray. 13. Scouting Report. PF/SF. player. 125
Murray has been putting up video game numbers for the Hawkeyes this season, showing that he is capable of playing both forward spots. A smooth athlete with a crisp shot and defensive IQ, Murray seems like a lock for the lottery given how he’s carried the Iowa offense this year.
The Hawks traded one of their wings in Cam Reddish, and DeAndre Hunter still needs to be extended. Atlanta is in a position where they might just need to take the best player available, and that philosophy could help the Hawks find a perfect tertiary scorer behind Trae Young and Clint Capela.
Pick Analysis. C. Christian Koloko. 14. player. Scouting Report. Arizona. 170
The Hornets are still in need of a rim-protecting center, so why not draft a 7-1 behemoth with a long wingspan and mobility? Koloko certainly has a better long-term outlook than Mason Plumlee. Averaging 3.2 blocks per game this season, Koloko can be a game-changer in the paint.
Charlotte might be worried about his fit in their up-tempo offense, but Koloko would be such a perfect fit for this team because of how his skills help improve both of their biggest areas of concern.