It’s draft day! This time, for the NBA. I haven’t followed the NBA Draft as much, but I know that the top 3 prospects should be going in the top 3 without question. Those prospects are: Jabari Smith (Auburn), Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), and Paolo Banchero (Duke). My personal favorite out of those three is Paolo Banchero, but I do like all three. The most interesting prospect in the draft is by far Chet Holmgren. He’s 7 feet tall, with not a lot of muscle on him. If he can put some muscle on him, I think he could be the best player out of this class. My favorite prospect is Purdue guard Jaden Ivey. He’s so exciting to watch in what was a very talented Big Ten conference this past college basketball regular season. I have no time to do a mock draft unfortunately, as I spent the past week at the U.S Open and heading to my summer house and getting that all set up. However, I was able to write down some key things you should know, including the draft order, which will be updated as the draft unfolds.
NBA Draft Order
1st Round:
1. Orlando Magic – Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga
3. Houston Rockets – Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn
4. Sacramento Kings – Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
5. Detroit Pistons – Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
6. Indiana Pacers – Bennedict Mathurin, F, Arizona
7. Portland Trail Blazers – Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from LAL) – Dyson Daniels, G, G League Ignite
9. San Antonio Spurs – Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor
10. Washington Wizards – Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (from NYK) – Ousmane Dieng, F, France
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LAC) – Jalen Williams, G, Santa Clara
13. Detroit Pistons (from NYK via CHA) – Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
14. Cleveland Cavaliers – Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas
15. Charlotte Hornets (from NO) – Mark Williams, C, Duke
16. Atlanta Hawks – AJ Griffin, F, Duke
17. Houston Rockets (from BKN) – Tari Eason, F, LSU
18. Chicago Bulls – Dalen Terry, G, Arizona
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (projected trade to MEM) – Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest
20. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) – Malachi Branham, G, Ohio State
21. Denver Nuggets – Christian Braun, G, Kansas
22. Memphis Grizzlies (projected trade to MIN) – Walker Kessler, C, Auburn
23. Memphis Grizzlies (from PHI) – David Roddy, F, Colorado State
24. Milwaukee Bucks – MarJon Beauchamp, G, G League Ignite
25. San Antonio Spurs (from BOS) – Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame
26. Dallas Mavericks (proposed trade to HOU) – Wendell Moore Jr., F, Duke
27. Miami Heat – Nikola Jovic, F, Serbia
28. Golden State Warriors – Patrick Baldwin Jr., F, Milwaukee
29. Memphis Grizzlies (projected trade to HOU via MIN) – TyTy Washington Jr., G, Kentucky
30. Denver Nuggets (from OKC via PHX) – Peyton Watson, F, UCLA
2nd Round:
31. Indiana Pacers (from HOU via CLE) – Andrew Nembhard, G, Gonzaga
32. Orlando Magic – Caleb Houstan, F, Michigan
33. Toronto Raptors (from DET via SA, WAS and CHI) – Christian Koloko, F, Arizona
34. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jaylin Williams, F, Arkansas
35. Los Angeles Lakers (from ORL via IND and MIL) – Max Christie, G, Michigan State
36. Portland Trail Blazers (proposed trade to DET) – Gabriele Procida, G, Italy
37. Sacramento Kings (projected trade to DAL) – Jalen Hardy, G, G League Ignite
38. San Antonio Spurs (projected trade to MEM) – Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from SA via UTA) – Khalifa Diop, G, Spain
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from WAS via CLE) – Bryce McGowens, G, Nebraska
41. New Orleans Pelicans – E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State
42. New York Knicks – Trevor Keels, F, Duke
43. Los Angeles Clippers – Moussa Diabate, F, Michigan
44. Atlanta Hawks (projected trade to GS) – Ryan Rollins, G, Toledo
45. Charlotte Hornets – Josh Minott, F, Memphis
46. Detroit Pistons (projected trade to DEN) – Ismael Kamagate, C, France
47. Memphis Grizzlies (from CLE via NO and ATL) – Vince Williams Jr., F, VCU
48. Minnesota Timberwolves (projected trade to IND) – Kendall Brown, F, Baylor
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from SAC via CHI, MEM and DET) – Isaiah Mobley, F, USC
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (from DEN via PHI) – Matteo Spagnolo, G, Italy
51. Golden State Warriors (projected trade to ATL) – Tyrese Martin, F, UConn
52. New Orleans Pelicans (from UTA) – Karlo Matkovic, C, Serbia
53. Boston Celtics – JD Davison, G, Alabama
54. Washington Wizards (from DAL) – Yannick Nzosa, C, Spain
55. Golden State Warriors – Gui Santos, F, Brazil
56. Cleveland Cavaliers (from MIA via IND) – Luke Travers, G, Australia
57. Portland Trail Blazers (from MEM via UTA) – Jabari Walker, F, Colorado
58. Indiana Pacers (projected trade to MIL) – Hugo Besson, G, France
My 5 Favorite Players in the Draft (not actually my top 5 prospects)
1. G Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
2. F E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)
3. G Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)
4. F Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)
5. F Keegan Murray (Iowa
Top 5 Prospects
1. C Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
2. F Paolo Banchero (Duke)
3. F Jabari Smith (Auburn)
4. G Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
5. F Keegan Murray (Iowa)
The draft starts 30 minutes from now, so get on ABC and ESPN at 8 PM ET for the NBA Draft! The Orlando Magic are on the clock.
Calhoun's Corner 