Final 2022 NBA Mock Draft: What will happen on Draft Night?
By Mike Luciano
The Trail Blazers have been trying to deal this pick to get another proven vet alongside Damian Lillard. If they hold on to this pick, Griffin looks like the unquestioned best player left on the board. With a 45% success rate from deep and a muscular frame, Griffin’s potential is genuine.
Griffin, the son of Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, is an uber-versatile two-way stud who could start right away in Portland. Griffin received inconsistent playing time at Duke, but minutes should not be hard to come by on a Blazers team critically lacking in depth.
NBA Mock Draft: Dyson Daniels has star potential.
The Pelicans are quietly building something worth talking about, as a three-headed monster of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum stands out as one of the West’s best trios. Adding another backcourt ball-handler should be high on the priority list, and that’s where the smooth 6-7 Daniels fits in.
A tremendous defender who can handle the rock and pull up in transition, Daniels profiles as a scorer that can lead a second unit while causing havoc as an oversized point guard. New Orleans already has a playoff-caliber squad, and Daniels will make things that much stronger.
Taking a center here might appeal to some, but Mathurin represents a Lonnie Walker replacement who should be an absolute menace on the defensive end. Gregg Popovich and the Spurs had to like the improvement they saw on the offensive end, as Mathurin’s scoring jumped up while he kept his quality 3-point shot.
If San Antonio keeps riding with Jakob Poeltl at center, using their best draft capital on a player like Mathurin would help Dejounte Murray and the rest of the squad capitalize on their late-season momentum. Even if he’s not a great passer, Mathurin has a reasonably high floor.
The Wizards have reportedly been looking around the league as they try to find an elite starting point guard. If that fails and they hold onto the pick, taking the best pure point in the class in Washington makes too much sense after a very solid season with the Wildcats.
With a 6-9 wingspan and solid vision, Washington paired those traits with a bucket-getting demeanor that will play well in the capital region. The Wizards could make a playoff run if Washington develops quickly and Bradley Beal decides to come back to town.