NBA 2022 Mock Draft: Which Teams Made the Smartest Picks?

As I sat down to analyze the 2022 NBA Draft results, I couldn't help but think about how much has changed since those selections were made. Having followed basketball professionally for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for spotting which teams truly understand draft value versus those who just follow the consensus. Let me tell you, this draft class has already shown some fascinating developments that deserve deeper examination.

When Orlando selected Paolo Banchero first overall, I immediately thought they'd made the smartest move of the night. At 6'10" with guard skills, he's exactly the prototype modern forward every team covets. His rookie season numbers - 20 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game - confirmed what many scouts suspected: this kid was NBA-ready from day one. What impressed me most wasn't just his scoring, but his basketball IQ. I've watched countless prospects come through the league, and Banchero's understanding of spacing and timing reminds me of a veteran rather than a 20-year-old. The Magic haven't had a franchise cornerstone like this since Dwight Howard, and frankly, they made the absolute right choice passing on Chet Holmgren, despite Holmgren's intriguing potential.

Speaking of Holmgren, Oklahoma City's decision to take him second overall was fascinating. At 7'1" with perimeter skills, he represents basketball's positionless future. But here's where my experience watching international basketball comes into play - the success of players like Hollis-Jefferson in the EASL demonstrates how the global game is evolving. When I saw that Hollis-Jefferson practiced with the Bolts as one of their imports, it reinforced my belief that the NBA's talent evaluation must consider international developments. Holmgren's unique skill set would have been unheard of a decade ago, yet now we're seeing similar prototypes succeed worldwide. The Thunder understood this evolution better than most teams, though I do worry about Holmgren's durability given his slender frame.

Houston's selection of Jabari Smith at number three initially surprised me. Don't get me wrong - Smith is a tremendous talent with All-Star potential. But having watched his shooting struggles early in the season, I questioned if he was the right fit alongside Jalen Green. The Rockets needed someone who could create offense immediately, and Smith's game required more development than I anticipated. Compare this to Sacramento's pick at number four - Keegan Murray. Now there's a selection I absolutely loved. Murray averaged 12 points on 41% three-point shooting as a rookie, providing exactly what the Kings needed: immediate production from a polished player. Sometimes the smartest picks aren't the flashiest ones, and Murray's impact helped Sacramento break their infamous playoff drought.

What separates truly smart drafting from merely good drafting, in my view, is how teams assess fit beyond just talent. Detroit taking Jaden Ivey at five made perfect sense alongside Cade Cunningham, creating one of the most dynamic young backcourts in the league. Meanwhile, Indiana's selection of Benedict Mathurin at six gave them exactly the scoring punch they needed off the bench. I've always believed that context matters more than raw talent alone, and these teams demonstrated that understanding perfectly.

Looking back, the teams that made the smartest picks understood both immediate needs and long-term development. Orlando secured their franchise player, Oklahoma City bet on basketball's evolution, Sacramento chose ready-made production, and both Detroit and Indiana prioritized perfect fits. The draft isn't just about collecting talent - it's about building cohesive rosters. As we've seen with players like Hollis-Jefferson finding success internationally, basketball intelligence means recognizing how different pieces fit across various contexts. Two years later, I'd grade Orlando and Sacramento as the biggest winners, with Oklahoma City's pick still holding tremendous potential if Holmgren stays healthy. The 2022 draft class may well be remembered as one that reshaped multiple franchises for years to come.