Grading the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft

The NBA draft wrapped up Thursday Night, and there were a lot of surprises. It's hard to know how well each player will do on their teams, but that doesn't mean you can't guess. In this article, I will grade every pick from the first round of the draft, and give a short description of the player's main skills and why their team chose to pick them. Grades will be based on pre professional production, team fit, and potential.

1. Orlando Magic select Paolo Banchero from Duke University

While Paolo Banchero wasn't the most pro-ready prospect in the NBA draft, he was a great choice for the Magic at number one overall. He is already an established scorer that can create shots for himself and teammates at a high level. Paolo just led the Duke Blue Devils to the final four, which shows that he's coming in ready to compete. He will fit well at the power forward for the Magic in between Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. and will be given the chance to be the first scoring option. There was a lot of outrage about Jabari Smith being a better option but I think Paolo is great and will have lots of NBA success.

Grade: A

2. Oklahoma City Thunder select Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga University

The main criticism of Chet Holmgren is that his frame won't work out in the NBA. He is a 7 foot, 190 pound hybrid position player who can shoot threes efficiently and averaged almost 4 blocks a game in college. Chet is the mold of a modern NBA big man because despite his size he can play any position. I have some issues with Chet and I'm not confident that he'll be able to reach his full NBA potential, but if there's any team that can take him there it's the Oklahoma City Thunder. He'll play significant minutes for a team that is focusing on developing it's young players, and I can see him becoming one of the most exciting players in the league.

Grade: B+

3. Houston Rockets select Jabari Smith Jr. from Auburn University

Smith was the expected number 1 pick but the Rockets were able to steal him at 3. He will contribute from the start as a knock down 3 point shooter and gritty defender. The rockets needed a player that compliments Jalen Green's athletic ability and could play as a shooter off the ball. Smith will fit this role perfectly and I expect him and Green to be one of the best duos in the NBA for years. If he can improve his shot creation and offensive decision making he will easily be the best player from this draft class.

Grade: A+

4. Sacramento Kings select Keegan Murray from the University of Iowa

Keegan Murray was probably the best player in college basketball last year playing at the University of Iowa. He is a leader that is always working to improve his game and make himself a better player, as you can see from his freshman to sophomore year stat jump. Murray will give the Kings a confident, efficient stretch 4 that will help out on both offense and defense. He is very mature and will be able to start on the Kings roster right away. Murray is a much better pick for the Kings than Jaden Ivey, judging from the fact that they traded away Tyrese Haliburton just last offseason to clear up space for DeAron Fox and Davion Mitchell. They needed a starting power forward and Keegan Murray was the best power forward available.

Grade: B+

5. Detroit Pistons select Jaden Ivey from Purdue University

This was the dream scenario for the Detroit Pistons and they now have the best young backcourt in the NBA with Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham. Ivey does everything on the offensive side of the ball, but is likely to focus on scoring and allow Cade to be the primary playmaker. Ivey will be great from the jump and will only continue to get better during his NBA career. He is not the best playmaker and struggles to make opportunities for his teammates, but he won't have to do this in a role where he can be a primary scoring guard. This pick is perfect for the Detroit Pistons and they should be very happy to have a stud like Jaden Ivey.

Grade: A+

6. Indiana Pacers select Bennedict Mathurin from the University of Arizona

Mathurin is a solid player but taking him with the 6th overall pick is a reach. He's a 2 dimensional player that won't give the Pacers much more than shooting and quick off-ball movement. He's a confident player that is very comfortable with the ball in his hands, especially in late game situations. His potential is not even close to as high as some of the other guys in this draft class and I don't expect him to develop into an all star level player. With a pick as high as 6 you're looking for a guy who will define the future of your team, and Mathurin will not define the future of the Indiana Pacers.

Grade: B-

7. Portland Trail Blazers select Shaedon Sharpe from the University of Kentucky

If Shaedon Sharpe had played more games on a professional stage he easily would have been a top 3 pick in the draft. He has insane athleticism that doesn't seem to be lost after a year with no 5 on 5 competition. His potential is sky high, he just needs a team that will give him time and help him develop new skills. The Portland Trail Blazers have a long history of developing guys like Sharpe, and I fully expect him to become a star if he keeps healthy relationships with the administration and his teammates.

Grade: A

8. New Orleans Pelicans select Dyson Daniels from the G League Ignite

Dyson Daniels is an oversized point guard standing at 6'8 who played with the G League Ignite last season. Daniels excels at basically every aspect of the game except scoring the basketball. He's a guy that could easily go out and get a triple double on any given night. He always puts in effort and leaves it all out on the court every night. Daniels will fill a hole for the Pelicans at point guard, and give them some much needed facilitation and defense. The Pelicans should trade some of their backup guards like Devonte Graham and Kira Lewis Jr. to clear up some space for Dyson Daniels to get as many minutes as possible. The Pelicans are a great fit for Daniels because with guys like Zion and CJ on the roster, he will not need to score the ball to have success.

Grade: B+

9. San Antonio Spurs select Jeremy Sochan from Baylor University

Jeremy Sochan was not worth picking in the top 10. He played off the bench for the Baylor Bears last season in a defined defensive role. The Spurs love players that can defend, so I'm not surprised they made this pick, but there were better players like Johnny Davis and AJ Griffin available. Sochan could become a very good defender in the NBA, but his offensive talent is limited. His 29.6% three point percentage wouldn't matter as much if he was able to make post plays or even just be a lob threat, but every part of his offensive game is at best average. He also needs to improve his IQ and decision making if he wants to make a difference on the Spurs. Sochan should have been picked in the 15-20 range and was a reach at number 9.

Grade: C

10. Washington Wizards select Johnny Davis from the University of Wisconsin

With this pick the Wizards were looking for their point guard of the future, and they found him. Davis is an offensive weapon with great shot creation and an ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor. If Bradley Beal leaves the Wizards this offseason, Johnny Davis will fill his role well and could be the number one scoring option. The Wizards will most likely give Davis 20+ minutes a night and a starting role from the beginning, and I expect him to thrive.

Grade: A

11. Oklahoma City Thunder select Ousmane Dieng from the New Zealand Breakers

Dieng is either a future superstar or a complete draft bust and there's no in between. He is a 6'11 point forward that repeatedly showed flashes of elite playmaking and defense while playing overseas. He just turned 19 years old, so he'll have a long time to develop his talents and become the player that his natural skills and size project him to be. The Thunder are a young team focused on developing their players, and they will most likely give a lot of attention to Dieng. I could see Dieng either becoming the steal of this draft, or a name we forget about.

Grade: A-

12. Oklahoma City Thunder select Jalen Williams from Santa Clara University

Jalen Williams was a star at Santa Clara and was the only west coast conference player taken in the lottery. He was the centerpoint of the offense and defense at Santa Clara, being tasked with controlling the ball and defending the other team's best players. He can play any position on offense because of his 6'6 frame and ball handling skills. There are concerns with how he will adjust to defending better, stronger NBA level players. He also struggles when on a larger stage, as his shooting percentage and decision making are much worse in big games. Unless a lot of minutes are committed to him I think he will have trouble performing in the NBA.

Grade: C

13. Detroit Pistons select Jalen Duren from the University of Memphis

Duren was an expected top 10, or even top 5 pick but he ended up falling to 13 where the Detroit Pistons traded up to get him. This pick won Detroit the draft as they now have two players that could be some of the best from this class in Duren and Jaden Ivey. At Memphis, Jalen Duren was a lob threat and interior defender that led the team to the NCAA tournament. He's the best pick and roll player in this draft class and could develop to be one of the best centers in the league. Detroit currently has Isaiah Stewart as their starting center, but I think Duren could replace him by the end of the year.

Grade: A+

14. Cleveland Cavaliers select Ochai Agbaji from the University of Kansas

Agbaji began his college career as a bench warmer and slowly became the best player on a championship winner. He's coming off a final four MVP and NCAA championship, so it's no surprise that he went in the lottery. He's 22 years old, which makes him older than most prospects, but he's ready to make an impact right away. His biggest strengths are catch and shoot 3's and leadership skills. If the Cavs decide to not bring Colin Sexton back, Agbaji will be their best backup guard right away and get a big role in the rotation. While he doesn't have the highest ceiling, he'll be ready to make an impact right away which the Cavs need.

Grade: B+

15. Charlotte Hornets select Mark Williams from Duke University

The Hornets are a talented young team, but they have had massive problems finding a starting center. They had two picks in the lottery at the beginning of the draft, but ended up trading the 13th pick away. Jalen Duren would have been a better player for the Charlotte Hornets, but they took Mark Williams because he will be more ready day one. Williams will have the opportunity to start at center if the Hornets don't sign or trade for a better center before the season. Williams averaged almost 3 blocks a game at Duke and was a big reason they made it to the Final Four. He is not a good perimeter player and will struggle a lot to defend new age centers like Nikola Jokic and Karl Anthony-Towns. This is a good pick for the Hornets because they filled a position of need, but they should have gone with Duren at 13 and traded this pick.

Grade: C+

16. Atlanta Hawks select AJ Griffin from Duke University

Adrian Griffin should have been a top 10 pick and the Atlanta Hawks got him at 16. Griffin makes being an elite scorer look easy, and could end up being one of the top scorers in the NBA. He's great at faking out defenders and driving to the rim through contact. Really his only negative is his injury history, but hopefully he'll be able to stay healthy in Atlanta. Griffin's potential is sky high and I expect him to become a secondary all star for Trae Young.

Grade: A+

17. Houston Rockets select Tari Eason from Louisiana State University

Most of Tari Eason's appeal comes from his basketball IQ and commitment to winning. For this reason, it doesn't make any sense that the Rockets took him. They're a team that won't be ready to compete for a championship for years, so they should have gone with a raw, high potential prospect. They have a lot of forwards on the roster after taking Jabari Smith with the 3rd pick, so there is a chance that Eason will barely play for them. He would have thrived in a situation where he could help a championship contending team or a team on the verge of the playoffs, and the Rockets don't fit either of these descriptions.

Grade: C

18. Chicago Bulls select Dalen Terry from the University of Arizona

Dalen Terry is a 6'7 point guard who excels at perimeter defense and playmaking. To succeed in the NBA he will need a lot of improvement to his scoring ability. This is a strange pick for the Bulls as they already have players very similar to Terry like Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. They most likely plan to transition him to a shooting guard or small forward, which is not a good choice. He needs a role where he can focus on his strengths, and the Bulls cannot give him this role.

Grade: D

19. Minnesota Timberwolves select Jake LaRavia from Wake Forest University

Jake LaRavia is a do it all guy who was a star at Wake Forest. His only downside is his athletic ability, but he is above average at most aspects of the game. He can play any role the Timberwolves want him too and make a difference right away. This is a low risk, low reward pick for the Wolves, which is great for a young team that just made the playoffs.

Grade: B

20. San Antonio Spurs select Malaki Branham from Ohio State University

If you're just looking at stats, Malaki Branham is one of the best players in this draft. He averaged almost 20 points a game at Ohio State while shooting over 40% from three. He is great at creating his own shots and always steps up big in late game situations. He's not very quick so he has lots of trouble getting to the basket but his shooting makes up for it. He will fit very well next to Dejounte Murray because he can let Murray handle the playmaking while he plays off the ball. Branham could have easily been a lottery pick, so the Spurs were very lucky to get him at 20.

Grade: A

21. Denver Nuggets select Christian Braun from the University of Kansas

The Nuggets came into the draft looking for a backup wing that can shoot 3's, and that's exactly what Christian Braun is. Because of his size he can play and defend 1-4 and will be a versatile player coming off the bench for Denver. He shot 38% from three at Kansas and will only become a better shooter over his career because of his dedication to becoming a better player. He is also very athletic and throws down exciting dunks all the time. Braun is a great offensive addition for the Nuggets and will help out a lot in the playoffs because he's used to performing well on a big stage.

Grade: B+

22. Minnesota Timberwolves select Walker Kessler from Auburn University

Walker Kessler has one skill that is above average, his shot blocking, other than that he's a slow, unconfident player with no real upside. Kessler succeeded on offense in college because of his teammate, Jabari Smith, who drew defenders off of him and opened up the paint. When Kessler has to go against great NBA defenders he will crumble under the pressure. Kessler should not have been a first round pick and will not have success in the NBA.

Grade: F

23. Memphis Grizzlies select David Roddy from Colorado State University

The Grizzlies acquired this pick in a trade with Philadelphia and they selected a raw, high potential guy in David Roddy. Colorado State was a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament because of Roddy's incredible season where he averaged about 20 points and 7 boards. He can score from anywhere on the court but especially behind the 3 point line where he shot over 40% in college. The Grizzlies have no serious needs so taking Roddy who can play rotational minutes and develop his game in the G league was a good choice.

Grade: B

24. Milwaukee Bucks select Marjon Beauchamp from the G League Ignite

Just a couple years ago Marjon Beauchamp was studying at community college in his hometown, now he's a first round pick in the NBA. In the G League, Beauchamp showcased his freakish athleticism and gritty defense. His skill set fits the Milwaukee Bucks culture and he will most likely play backup shooting guard or small forward for them. Beauchamp can make an instant defensive impact for the Bucks and one day could develop into a solid NBA starter.

Grade: B+

25. San Antonio Spurs select Blake Wesley from the University of Notre Dame

Blake Wesley is a young scoring machine and all around offensive threat. He can beat defenders easily with his dribble moves and because of his length finishing at the rim is easy for him. Wesley showed that he can take over games if he wants and his efficiency actually goes up later in games. I don't think Blake Wesley will ever be the number one player on a team but he can fit in with the Spurs as a spark plug off the bench.

Grade: A

26. Minnesota Timberwolves select Wendell Moore from Duke University

Moore spent 3 years at Duke where his role was an off the ball offensive threat. He excels at making plays in transition and his shooting improved every year over his college career. In the NBA, he probably won't amount to much more than an extra scorer who can help out when star players get injured.

Grade: C-

27. Miami Heat select Nikola Jovic from Serbia

Nikola Jovic showed at the draft combine that he could seriously be one of the best players in this class. His playmaking skill set is very unique for his size and makes him able to play any position. The Heat administration develops raw prospects with high potential every year, and it shouldn't be any different with Jovic. By the end of his career teams will regret letting him slide to 27.

Grade: A+

28. Golden State Warriors select Patrick Baldwin Jr. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

A year ago scouts thought Baldwin would be a top pick in the draft, but his decision to play at his dad's college instead of a big name school dropped his stock. He struggled shooting 3's and creating his own shots in college, both things he was incredible at in high school. He also fails to put in very much effort on defense and makes bad decisions on both sides of the ball. He could still develop to be the player scouts thought he would be in high school but it's unlikely.

Grade: C+

29. Houston Rockets select TyTy Washington Jr. from the University of Kentucky

The Rockets got a steal at the 29th pick with TyTy Washington. His ability to know where his teammates are at all times is incredible and he will only continue to grow as a playmaker. He has the ability to take over games with his scoring at times, but is an inconsistent shooter. His season was short at Kentucky because of an ankle injury, but in the time he played he looked like a future star. I think the Rockets got their point guard of the future here.

Grade: A+

30. Denver Nuggets select Peyton Watson from UCLA

Peyton Watson is an athletic wing who will give the Nuggets a boost of energy off the bench. Despite a disappointing season at UCLA, Watson declared for the draft because of his potential. He has above average ball handling skills for his size and is able to create lots of space with his dribble moves. He is a very inefficient shooter and will need to improve this if he wants to succeed. He has massive defensive upside as he averaged almost 2 steals and 2 blocks a game at UCLA, and could be the perimeter defender that the Nuggets have been looking for.

Grade: B+