2022 NBA mock draft 1.0: Predicting the first round after NCAA Tournament

Here’s a look at how the NBA draft might play out with March Madness wrapped up.

By Chinmay Vaidya Apr 5, 2022, 8:48am PDT

Georgia State v Gonzaga — Chet Holmgren of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Georgia State Panthers during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

With the 2022 NCAA Tournament complete, it’s a good time to take a look at the 2022 NBA draft and mock out the first round. While the draft order is not set, we’ve taken the liberty of setting the order courtesy of Tankathon.com. The Indiana Pacers have wound up with the No. 1 selection, while the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder hold three first-round picks each. The Portland Trail Blazers have two lottery selections and could end up with another pick if they deal star point guard Damian Lillard.

Even with a lot of things in flux, here’s how the first round of the 2022 NBA draft looks based on our simulation order.

No. 1 - Indiana Pacers - Paulo Banchero (Duke)

No. 2 - New York Knicks - Jaden Ivey (Purdue)

No. 3 - Detroit Pistons - Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)

No. 4 - Orlando Magic - Jabari Smith (Auburn)

No. 5 - Houston Rockets - Keegan Murray (Iowa)

No. 6 - Oklahoma City Thunder - Ochai Agbaji (Kansas)

No. 7 - Portland Trail Blazers - Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)

No. 8 - Sacramento Kings - Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky)

No. 9 - New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers) - AJ Griffin (Duke)

No. 10 - San Antonio Spurs - Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)

No. 11 - Washington Wizards - Jalen Duren (Memphis)

No. 12 - Portland Trail Blazers (via Pelicans) - TyTy Washington (Kentucky)

No. 13 - Houston Rockets (via Nets) - Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)

No. 14 - Charlotte Hornets - Jaden Harden (G-League Ignite)

No. 15 - Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) - Walker Kessler (Auburn)

No. 16 - Atlanta Hawks - E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)

No. 17 - Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers) - Tari Eason (LSU)

No. 18 - Minnesota Timberwolves - Blake Wesley (Notre Dame)

No. 19 - Chicago Bulls - Mark Williams (Duke)

No. 20 - San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors) - Christian Koloko (Arizona)

No. 21 - Memphis Grizzlies (via Jazz) - Dyson Daniels (G-League Ignite)

No. 22 - Denver Nuggets - Max Christie (Michigan State)

No. 23 - Milwaukee Bucks - Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee)

No. 24 - Brooklyn Nets (via 76ers) - Malaki Branham (Ohio State)

No. 25 - Dallas Mavericks - Nikola Jovic (Mega Basket)

No. 26 - San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics) - Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke)

No. 27 - Golden State Warriors - Julian Champagnie (St. John’s)

No. 28 - Miami Heat - Kendall Brown (Baylor)

No. 29 - Memphis Grizzlies - Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)

No. 30 - Oklahoma City Thunder (via Suns) - Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee)