2022 NBA Mock Draft 8.0: Dyson Daniels, Jalen Williams biggest first-round risers
The NBA draft is less than three weeks away and the order at the top is starting to take shape. The top four players — Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jaden Ivey — have remained consistent all season long, but it's the options at Nos. 4-8 that have heated up a bit with G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels entering top-five consideration and NBA draft combine standout Jalen Williams solidifying himself as a projected first-round draft pick.
Yahoo Sports takes a look at the top five picks, plus the most recent moves in the first round and projected picks for all 30 slots.
1. Orlando Magic: F Jabari Smith
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 220 pounds | Class: Freshman | Auburn: 16.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Smith is still the safest option at No. 1 and has interviewed incredibly well for teams at the top. He's not the consensus overall top pick in the draft, but his upside is incredible with his 3-point shooting (averaging 42% from deep) and his footwork in the paint.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: C Chet Holmgren
Ht./Wt.: 7-0, 196 pounds | Class: Freshman | Gonzaga: 14.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.7 bpg
Oklahoma City and general manager Sam Presti have three first-round draft picks and still could tank next year to potentially go after either Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson. Holmgren is the best option at No. 2 and has the potential to change the way the game is played at center at the NBA level.
3. Houston Rockets: F Paolo Banchero
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 250 pounds | Class: Freshman | Duke: 17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.2 apg
Banchero feels like a lock at No. 3 with his incredible instincts as a primary ball-handler and his size. It wouldn't be wise for Houston to pass on Banchero with the young talent the Rockets have coming up in the organization.
4. Sacramento Kings: G Jaden Ivey
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 195 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Purdue: 17.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.1 apg
The Kings could trade this pick and are a huge target for teams that need a versatile ball-handler and scorer. Sacramento has drafted two high-level guards in the last two drafts, and the Kings either need to draft the best-available player in Ivey (a possible Ja Morant 2.0), or trade down to a team that needs a guard and then target either Jalen Duren or Mark Williams for some size.
5. Detroit Pistons: G Shaedon Sharpe
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 215 pounds | Class: Freshman | Kentucky: Did not play this season
The Pistons might be the best-case scenario for Sharpe. The troubled guard left Kentucky after empty promises and never played a college game. If a team is going to take a gamble on Sharpe's potential, it needs to be a team in the rebuild process. Cade Cunningham is the perfect point guard to create for Sharpe, and there wouldn't be immense pressure on Sharpe to produce right away.
6. Indiana Pacers: F Keegan Murray
Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 215 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Iowa: 23.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg
7. Portland Trail Blazers: G Dyson Daniels
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 200 pounds | Australia | G League Ignite: 11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg
Daniels had a great showing at the combine with his pro day and interviewed well with teams. After a slow start in the G League, Daniels surged to close the season, creating for others and showcasing his size and length against much stronger opponents. His upside is off the charts and there has been some chatter that he could sneak into the top five after strong team workouts.
8. New Orleans Pelicans: G Benn Mathurin
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 210 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Arizona: 17.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.5 apg
9. San Antonio Spurs: F Jeremy Sochan
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 230 pounds | Class: Freshman | Baylor: 9.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Sochan had one of the best pro days during the draft combine and showcased his speed and consistent 3-point jumper — something that he struggled with at Baylor. The NBA spacing and pick-and-roll option caters to Sochan, and he will undoubtedly be a much better pro than his one year in college would indicate.
10. Washington Wizards: G Malaki Branham
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 180 pounds | Class: Freshman | Ohio State: 13.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg
11. New York Knicks: F A.J. Griffin
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 222 pounds | Class: Freshman | Duke: 10.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: G Johnny Davis
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 194 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Wisconsin: 19.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 apg
13. Charlotte Hornets: C Jalen Duren
Ht./Wt.: 6-11, 250 pounds | Class: Freshman | Memphis: 12 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg
14. Cleveland Cavaliers: F Tari Eason
Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 216 pounds | Class: Sophomore | LSU: 16.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg
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15. Charlotte Hornets: G Blake Wesley
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 185 pounds | Class: Freshman | Notre Dame: 14.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.4 apg
16. Atlanta Hawks: F Ousmane Dieng
Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 185 pounds | France | NZ Breakers (NBL): 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
17. Houston Rockets: G TyTy Washington
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 197 pounds | Class: Freshman | Kentucky: 12.5 ppg, 3.9 apg
18. Chicago Bulls: C Mark Williams
Ht./Wt.: 7-0, 242 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Duke: 10.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3 bpg
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: F Nikola Jovic
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 205 pounds | Serbia | Mega Basket: 10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg
This is the most Tim Connelly pick ever. Connelly already had success drafting another Nikola back in 2014, and the secret is out. The new Nikola showed up to his pro day in Chicago with a Luka Doncic-like grin throughout the workout and hit 10 consecutive corner threes in the 30-minute span that impressed scouts. Jovic is a project, but his personality is contagious.
20. San Antonio Spurs: G Kennedy Chandler
Ht./Wt.: 6-0, 171 pounds | Class: Freshman | Tennessee: 13.3 ppg, 4.9 apg
21. Denver Nuggets: G/F MarJon Beauchamp
Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 175 pounds | G League Ignite: 15.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg
22. Memphis Grizzlies: G Ochai Agbaji
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 215 pounds | Class: Senior | Kansas: 18.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg
23. Philadelphia 76ers: G Jalen Williams
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 209 pounds | Class: Junior | Santa Clara: 18 ppg, 4.2 apg
Williams was the best player on the court in both days of the draft combine scrimmages. He got to the basket with ease, shot the ball well and had some of the best finishes in transition. Defensively, he fought through screens to keep his man in front and was effective in help-side defense, shooting the gap for steals and tips. Last year, Josh Primo (No. 12 pick, Spurs) and Bones Hyland (No. 26, Nuggets) were the biggest surprises of the first round, and Williams could be that guy this year.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: F E.J. Liddell
Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 240 pounds | Class: Junior | Ohio State: 19.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.5 apg
25. San Antonio Spurs: G Jaden Hardy
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 198 pounds | G League Ignite: 17.7 ppg, 3.2 apg
26. Dallas Mavericks: F Kendall Brown
Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 205 pounds | Class: Freshman | Baylor: 9.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg
27. Miami Heat: G Wendell Moore Jr.
Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 213 pounds | Class: Junior | Duke: 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg
28. Golden State Warriors: C Walker Kessler
Ht./Wt.: 7-1, 245 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Auburn: 11.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.6 bpg
29. Memphis Grizzlies: G Dalen Terry
Ht./Wt.: 6-7, 195 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Arizona: 8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.9 apg
Terry elected to stay in the draft after not participating at the combine, outside of his agency's media day. The Grizzlies have an established backcourt with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks and can afford to take a player like Terry, whom they can mold the next couple years as a secondary option on the young, talented team.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder: G Christian Braun
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 218 pounds | Class: Junior | Kansas: 14.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg