2022 NBA Draft: New name atop Big Board; Cavs guard/wing targets
A new No. 1
In December’s big board, our prospect rankings were pretty similar to most NBA big boards out there. It’s still clear to me that Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith are the three guys that will be atop big boards until draft night.
Banchero took a hold of the top spot in our first rankings, and he’s still having a great season. The big man from Washington is averaging 18 points per game, while also collecting over seven rebounds each night. His offensive arsenal is very impressive. He can hit the defense with a pull-up jumper, or drive right around them for a dunk. Banchero’s three-point percentage has dropped below 35 percent, but his mechanics are there, so his shooting will get better with time.
Any team that can get their hands on Banchero should consider themselves lucky. His athleticism and movement as a 6-foot-10 forward is spectacular. However, unfortunately for him, he’s dropped to number two in our latest big board. Who ascends to number one then you ask? None other than Jabari Smith.
Smith was looked at as a mid-level lottery pick before the season started, but boy has he sky-rocketed past expectations. He’s averaging over 16 points per game, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out two assists. His overall game is the best I’ve seen coming out of college since Kevin Durant, though. Ironically enough, his body is similar to Durant’s, too.
He’s a 6-foot-10 wing/forward who can pull up from anywhere on the court and hit a shot. Just watching one game of Smith’s will convince you that his exceptional talent will carry over well to the NBA. He’s shooting over 45 percent from the field this season, while also connecting on nearly 46 percent of his three-point attempts. It’s a joy to watch him play, and I can only imagine how good the Cavaliers would be if they were somehow able to acquire him. Unfortunately for them, he’ll be long gone when the Cavs turn in their pick card.
The odd man out right now is Chet Holmgren, and it really isn’t his fault. He’s on a team with college basketball veterans like Drew Timme, so the spotlight is not always on him. Even still, I’m still very confident he will be a good NBA player. His shot blocking instincts remind me of another young man who wears number four for the Cavaliers, in Evan Mobley.
On top of that he really can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. But, the most important thing Holmgren must improve on before getting to the NBA, is his strength. Standing at 7-foot and weighing only 190 pounds will get you out-muscled at the next level. One thing Holmgren has going for him is that he’s the best rebounder of the top three.
The rest of the prospects on our big board didn’t move around that much over the past month. Holmgren, Banchero, and Smith are the clear three favorites to go 1-2-3. Behind those three is a crop of players that have games that can translate to the NBA very well.
Jaden Ivey and Jaden Hardy are both guards who can shoot the lights out of the gym. Jalen Duren also continues to impress, even though his Memphis team is not very good. Other than those five, our new big board has a bit of a shake up. Guys like Johnny Davis from Wisconsin and TyTy Washington are shining as the best players on their current teams.
So, let’s check out my latest big board. After the big board, I’ll take a look at some of the best late round one prospects, which is where the Cavaliers will be drafting if they can keep winning, and retain their first-rounder.