Perhaps the most intriguing prospect in all of this 2022 class, Chet Holmgren has the tools to be a big-time pro. Standing at seven feet tall with the ability to knock down jumpers & block shots, scouts & executives are drooling over his modern projection.
He has been effective during his time with Gonzaga, though his minute totals aren’t that of your typical top draft prospect. Indeed, Gonzaga tends to play their blue-chip freshmen less than your Duke’s & Kentucky’s would, but his lack of playtime might say more about his motor than the program.
Between this & his wiry frame, questions about Holmgren’s sustainability & how much of an impact he can make over physical 82-game seasons are valid. However, the upside here is unbelievable. Chet has all of the talent in the world, but adding more ball skills & improving physically will be key to his success professionally. Orlando could certainly go with a safer selection here than Holmgren, but between his upside and the amount of money owed to Jonathan Isaac over the next few seasons, going with a center who compliments Isaac’s skillset well makes sense.
Over the halfway mark in the NCAA season, Paolo Banchero looks like a still early favorite to end up as the top prospect in this class of 2022. He has continuously improved his game at Duke this season, doing a bit of everything for the Blue Devils. Banchero has an NBA-ready frame, ball skills, & improving range & defense.
He has worked his way up to a respectable 34 percent from deep, which is a great sign for the young forward but is something that should continue to be monitored. Banchero has also improved on defense, which was something that scouts were concerned would become more exposed against higher competition.
Banchero has all of the tools to be a great NBA player, and his progression over the last two seasons validates this. If not for positional needs, he is likely the number one pick in this draft to Orlando.
The shot will need to continue to develop, but a one-two-punch of Cade Cunningham & Paolo Banchero could end up being lethal & very sustainable long-term. It isn’t often that a franchise has the ability to go out & get the best player in the draft two years in a row, & in this mock Detroit does just that.