2022 NBA Mock Draft: Version 1.0 midway through NBA season
Purdue University (NCAA). Jaden Ivey. player. 100. 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, 49% fg, 43% 3pt, 75% ft, 29 mpg. Sophomore, Guard. Pick Analysis. 5
Though maybe not the top prospect in this class, Jaden Ivey is the most electric player in college basketball. Ivey can run the floor, jump out of the gym, finish inside, and more. He showed flashes of NBA potential during last year’s NCAA Tournament, but his jumper was still not where it needed to be to go pro.
This year, though, he has been able to find his stroke from range & has also added a playmaking aspect to his game. Though he does not project as a primary playmaker in the NBA, he could certainly be an asset as a distributor from the off-guard spot. His speed, athleticism, & shooting give him immense potential.
Projecting what he might look like down the road is difficult, though. He stands at just six feet four inches tall, and though some of this is made up for with a solid wingspan, his size could very well limit him in the NBA. However, his combination of shooting and athleticism make him a pretty safe bet to at minimum carve out a scoring role in a rotation.
With all signs pointing to a rebuild in Indianapolis, the Pacers add the best player available in Ivey. He should give them a serious piece to begin building around, & at worst, he should be a valuable player in their rotation going forward.
18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks, 50% fg, 36% 3pt, 79% ft, 32 mpg. Pick Analysis. 69. Sophomore, Guard/Forward. University of Arizona (NCAA). Bennedict Mathurin. 6. player
After flirting with the second round of last year’s NBA Draft, Ben Mathurin’s decision to return to Arizona for his sophomore year turned out to be a great one. Mathurin has been one of college basketball’s top wings this year, playing a two-way game that will surely entice NBA franchises looking for an off-ball threat.
A prototypical 3&D prospect, Mathurin stands at six feet six inches tall and has proven to be a reliable spot-up man & defender in his two NCAA seasons. His ceiling isn’t incredibly high, due to his limited on-ball abilities, but players of his archetype go for a premium on the NBA market.
Teams should be enticed by his two years of experience, skillset, & solid athleticism from the wing. New Orleans’ problem for years now has been a lack of space, which is truly a problem considering that their best player (healthy) is a back-to-the-basket scorer. Getting the most out of Zion Williamson is clearly a top priority for New Orleans, & Mathurin should be able to help in a few different ways.