2022 NBA Draft: New name atop Big Board; Cavs guard/wing targets
2022 Big Board Top 10, as of Jan. 19
- Jabari Smith, Wing, Auburn
- Paolo Banchero, Forward, Duke
- Chet Holmgren, Center, Gonzaga
- Jaden Ivey, Guard, Purdue
- Bennedict Mathurin, Wing, Arizona
- Jaden Hardy, Guard, G-League Ignite
- Johnny Davis, Guard, Wisconsin
- Patrick Baldwin Jr., Wing, UW-Milwaukee
- TyTy Washington, PG/SG, Kentucky*
- Keegan Murray, Wing, Iowa*
(Dropped Out: Kendall Brown, Wing, Baylor and Jalen Duren, Center, Memphis)
(* New Addition)
So as you can see, we do have a new name atop the big board. Smith has been great this season, as his Auburn Tigers come into mid-week ranked number two in the country. The Tigers have a huge game this Saturday when they take on Kentucky. Speaking of Kentucky, the newest addition to the list is TyTy Washington, a combo guard from Kentucky.
In my fan guide last week, I wrote about Kentucky and Washington facing off against Tennessee and Kennedy Chandler. The Cats dominated the Volunteers 107-79, and Washington was great. He finished with 28 points, going 10-of-13 from the field, and also nabbing three steals. He’s by far the biggest riser on our big board this week. However, back to the big board, where Ivey, Mathurin, and Hardy are the next three up.
Ivey and Mathurin have been great this season, but Hardy has struggled a bit. Opting to skip college and play in the G-League, he’s looked out of place at times. On the plus side, his shooting stroke is the best in the 2022 NBA Draft, so he’ll never fall out of my big board.
Looking past that, Patrick Baldwin Jr. needs to start hitting more shots or he may find himself slipping out of the lottery. I don’t think Davis will be able to climb the board much higher. And finally, the addition of Keegan Murray was overdue.
Now with that in mind, here are some of the late-first-round prospects who could help and contribute right away for a young Cavs team.