Quinn’s Mock for 2022 NBA Draft Lottery: Cavs add shot creation

Washington Wizards – Johnny Davis, 10th

In my opinion, the Wizards should trade Bradley Beal. Will they trade him? Probably not. I think that Washington is too focused on Beal getting the Wizards to the playoffs, which I don’t think can happen. Even with a potentially healthy Kristaps Porzingis, I don’t think that can happen. At this point, they should take someone who can be a solid player. Johnny Davis is one of the best players in the 2022 NBA Draft, and should go in the lottery. He averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per night in his second year for Wisconsin. However, his 3-point shot wasn’t that good, shooting 30.6% from 3 this season. Regardless, I still think he is the best bet for Washington at this stage.

Maybe they go for TyTy Washington Jr., as their point guard situation isn’t the best in the league, and getting a good backcourt partner with Beal would definitely help. Or maybe they go for the established player in Ochai Agbaji, and that could definitely make the Wizards better. But they already used the last two drafts on small forwards, in Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert.

New York Knicks – Ochai Agbaji, 11th

In the last few drafts, the Knicks didn’t really draft anyone who is a young prospect. They drafted Obi Toppin (24 years old) in 2020, Immanuel Quickley (22 years old) in 2020, and Quentin Grimes (22 years old) in 2021. So the Knicks don’t really draft one-and-done players, and Agbaji is probably the most NBA-ready prospect in this draft, already being 22 years old. Knowing the Knicks, they’ll try to regather their roster and aim for the playoffs like the 2020-2021 season, but I don’t think it will happen.

Maybe New York goes after TyTy Washington as well, as they also need a point guard, since Quickley is more of a 2-guard, and Kemba Walker is not getting any younger or improving for that matter. Or maybe they go for a combo guard in Dyson Daniels, but I really think that Agbaji is a Knicks-type pick.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Tari Eason, 12th

The Thunder don’t have to make all of their draft picks young players, they can go for some established talent to help the young players out. Eason is a 21-year-old forward who played for LSU this last year, winning SEC 6th man of the year. If Eason is a player that the Thunder select, I highly doubt he’d get a lot of playing time. OKC has a lot of young talent that they would like to play, and they can’t play all of them. The Thunder already have a plethora of guards on their roster, so a forward or big man is definitely a solid option.

OKC can go out and take a risk on Ousmane Dieng, a highly-touted international prospect. He’s a 6’10” forward who can playmake a bit and score as well. The next best center is Mark Williams out of Duke, and I think he will go around the 20’s in the draft. OKC shouldn’t want to reach in the draft and take Williams, and Eason is the best prospect and also can help build their core.

Charlotte Hornets –  TyTy Washington, 13th

TyTy Washington is a very good player, and definitely fits Charlotte’s needs. They have capable starters and backups at every position, besides point guard. Obviously, the Hornets have LaMelo Ball, but their backup point guard was Isaiah Thomas and he is set for free agency. Maybe Terry Rozier can play some point guard minutes, but he’s probably best suited as a 2-guard. The Hornets traded Ish Smith to the Wizards to get Montrezl Harrell to come off the bench, and he was a solid backup point, and now they don’t really have a good backup.

Charlotte could go after Ousmane Dieng, who seemingly could go in the lottery. But the Hornets already have P.J. Washington, Miles Bridges, who should stick around one would think, Gordon Hayward, and Kelly Oubre Jr. at the 3 and 4, so that’s not their desperate need. Also, the Hornets have Kai Jones, Montrezl Harrell, and Mason Plumlee (sometimes P.J. Washington too) at the 5, so they’re fine at that spot.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Malaki Branham, 14th

Personally, I don’t think Branham is the best fit for the Cavs. If Washington were to fall to 14, I would hope for Cleveland’s sake that they’d take him. But according to a report from Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword and Right Down Euclid, he says that Branham is an option that the Cavs can take at 14. Personally, I think he’s one of the best players available at this stage, and could be a shot creation boost for Cleveland, as KJG’s Justin Brownlow highlighted.

Again, this is a mock draft, not my personal opinions on who should be taken where. Do I think Branham should go to Cleveland? No, I don’t like the fit. Will he go there? He seems like the most likely pick at this point, so that’s who I am predicting.

The Cavs’ biggest need as of now is point guard, as both Rajon Rondo and Brandon Goodwin are set to be free agents, while Rondo is close to retiring at 36 years old. Goodwin is a solid backup point, but can definitely be upgraded if possible. However, at this point, the point guards available aren’t projected to go in the lottery, so drafting one of them at 14 would definitely be a reach. Maybe Dyson Daniels, but I think he’s more of a combo guard more so than a point guard.

The 2022 NBA Draft lottery is coming soon, and until then, like I said, the lottery shakeout is unknown. Is my mock draft perfect? Nope, I doubt I got more than 5 picks correct, if the draft lottery stays the same.

I am not an NBA GM, and I don’t know what teams are looking at what players, so until June 23, I will not know what each team is deciding to do. Best of luck to everyone in the lottery.