2022 NBA Draft outcomes, takeaways: Magic trick specialists by taking Paolo Banchero at No. 1, setting off chaos

There are often not too many surprises within the NBA Draft this present day, however Thursday night time began out with a significant one because the Orlando Magic chosen Duke ahead Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 total choose. For weeks, the expectation had been that they’d take Jabari Smith out of Auburn, and it is nonetheless unclear if that was all an elaborate smokescreen or they modified their thoughts on the final minute.

The Magic reportedly by no means hosted Banchero for a proper exercise or interview in Orlando, which suggests it may very well be the latter.

In any case, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder then took huge man Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga as anticipated, whereas the Houston Rockets went with Smith to spherical out the top-three. The Rockets had in all probability been planning on Banchero, however Smith ought to nonetheless slot in properly as a sharp-shooting ahead to pair with Jalen Inexperienced.

In fact, no draft may very well be full with out the Sacramento Kings doing one thing out of the field, and so they took Keegan Murray with the No. 4 total choose regardless of nearly all prognostications suggesting that Purdue’s Jaden Ivey was the clear fourth-best participant. Maybe they really imagine in Murray, or maybe they have been cautious of taking a guard with their first choose for the third straight 12 months.

Both approach, it labored out for the Detroit Pistons, who have been joyful to take Ivey at No. 5. After getting Cade Cunningham with the primary choose final 12 months, they now have the makings of a terrific younger backcourt.

Underwhelming draft on the commerce entrance

Main as much as draft day, we heard loads about how there was potential for lots of trades involving present NBA gamers to go down. For instance, on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who’s as plugged in as anybody in terms of the NBA, stated to count on a variety of trades.

“Trades are the brand new free company this time of 12 months,” he stated. “Groups know that their finest likelihood to enhance is just not going to be in July in a free company, it may be across the draft with trades. I believe we’ll see a variety of them tomorrow night time.”

Issues did not fairly unfold that approach, although. Whereas a number of picks have been shuffled, as is the case yearly, there have been only a few trades involving established NBA gamers. Kemba Walker was traded from the Knicks to the Pistons as half of a bigger deal, and the 2 sides are anticipated to work on a buyout that might permit Walker to grow to be a free agent this summer time. Additionally, the 76ers and Grizzlies swapped gamers, because the Sixers despatched veteran ahead Danny Inexperienced and the No. 23 total choose to Memphis in trade for De’Anthony Melton.

There was additionally a commerce that went down the day earlier than the draft, because the Pistons traded ahead Jerami Grant to the Portland Path Blazers in trade for a 2025 first-round choose (by way of the Milwaukee Bucks, protected Nos. 1-4) and a number of choose swaps. These guys aren’t chopped liver, however none of these strikes may very well be thought-about landscape-altering, and even main. Thus, it is secure to say that the draft was underwhelming on the commerce entrance.

Knicks have a busy night time

The New York Knicks entered draft night time with simply two picks: Nos. 11 and 42. Even with the same old rumors, it appeared like it will be a simple night time. In fact, that is not attainable with this franchise, and three trades and hours of confusion later, they left with Trevor Keels (No. 42), three future first-round picks and a few further cap house.Within the first deal of the night time, they despatched the No. 11 choose (Ousmane Dieng) to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for 3 future firsts. Then, they packaged one of many firsts they bought from the Thunder and 4 future second-round picks to get the No. 13 choose (Jalen Duren) from the Charlotte Hornets. Lastly, they despatched Duren and Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons for an additional future first-round choose. For full particulars of all of the strikes, together with choose protections, go right here.

It is no secret that the Knicks’ prime precedence this offseason is Jalen Brunson. The lefty guard is hitting free company, and will command a major payday after impressing within the Dallas Mavericks’ run to the Western Convention finals. Along with hiring his dad as an assistant coach, the Knicks have additionally cleared out sufficient cap house to make a aggressive provide. The query, although, is whether or not these strikes have been value a shot at Brunson. If they are not capable of signal him, giving up a lottery choose to eliminate Walker’s wage is just not going to age nicely.

Knicks followers, to little shock, have been upset. Most notably, Stephen A. Smith and Spike Lee regarded despondent on ESPN’s draft night time broadcast.

Pistons win once more on draft night time

Final 12 months, the Detroit Pistons gained the lottery and chosen Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 total choose. After a little bit of a sluggish begin to his rookie season, he turned it on and regarded like the actual deal as a jumbo facilitator. Whereas the Pistons fell to the No. 5 choose within the lottery this 12 months, they have been as soon as once more huge winners on draft night time.

Before everything, they lucked into Jaden Ivey at No. 5. The Purdue guard was broadly seen because the clear fourth-best participant on this class, however the Sacramento Kings handed on him at No. 4 to pick Keegan Murray. Whereas Murray might wind up being a great participant, he doesn’t have the upside of Ivey, who’s an explosive athlete and has an opportunity to be a terrific multi-level scorer. In Cunningham and Ivey, the Pistons have their backcourt of the long run.

A short while later, the Pistons swung a commerce with the New York Knicks. They despatched a 2025 first-round choose by way of Milwaukee, which they acquired within the Jerami Grant deal earlier this week, to the Knicks in trade for no. 13 choose Jalen Duren and Kemba Walker. The latter will ultimately be purchased out. Duren is one other super athlete, although within the frontcourt, the place he regarded dominant at occasions for Memphis. Whereas nonetheless uncooked from a pure offensive ability standpoint, he is large, works laborious and will contribute defensively immediately.

After years of alternating between aimlessly rebuilding and chasing the No. 8 seed within the Japanese Convention, the Pistons lastly really feel like they’ve a plan and a younger core in place. There’s nonetheless an extended highway forward of them, however with Cunningham main the best way, the long run ought to be vibrant in Detroit.

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2022 NBA Draft order

* – choose a part of reported commerce