Who won the NBA Draft in 2022?

Last night was the NBA draft where young talented prospects from around the world get the opportunity of a life time to shake the commissioners hand after being called upon by the teams that selected them. With the draft being so unpredictable we had teams end the night as huge winners. Let’s focus on the biggest winners of the 2022 NBA draft and see who came out on top as the biggest winner by the end of the night. 

Orlando Magic:

Round 1 Pick 1: Paolo Banchero

The Orlando Magic entered into this draft toted as one of the worst franchises in the NBA. They had not drafted a star caliber player since they took Victor Oladipo in the 2013 draft and even then he did not blossom into an all star until he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2017 along with Domantas Sabonis for Paul George. However, after the draft concluded it is clear that the Orlando Magic simply having the first pick made them winners but getting the best player in the draft makes them bigger winners. Paolo Banchero has superstar talent written all over him and though he has flaws on the defensive side of the ball, with his motor skills, he has polished offensive skills coming into the league at 6’10 250 pounds. Since he has great defenders around him in Orlando such as Jonathan Issac he will be a great addition as a team defender and will make an immediate impact to a franchise that hasn’t seen real star talent or success in a long time and is looking for a rejuvenation in the NBA.

Detroit Pistons: 

Round 1 Pick 5: Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren (Acquired in a trade with New York who got him from Charlotte)

The Detroit Pistons were another team that finished this most recent season with a disappointing record. It is clear that their roster aside from Jermai Grant is young and inexperienced which might not be good enough to contend now but can be good enough in a few years. With the Pistons already drafting Cade Cunnigham with the number one overall pick in last year’s draft it was critical that they added another young talented prospect alongside him. They did so by taking Jaden Ivey with the number five pick in the draft adding an explosive offensive weapon alongside Cunnigham. In addition they acquired Jalen Duren in a trade with New York who originally acquired him from Charlotte. Duren is a solid defensive player who could also provide great offensive production but he might not need to know that the Pistons have more offensive fire power. Overall, the Pistons have the potential to be a solid team in the near future and it will be interesting to see what the young talent they acquired can do this upcoming year with the players they already have on the team.

Houston Rockets:

Round 1 Pick 3: Jabari Smith Jr.,  Round 1 Pick 17: Tari Eason, Round 1 Pick 29 (Trade with Memphis): TyTy Washington Jr.

The Houston Rockets had three first-round picks coming into this draft after finishing with the worst record in the NBA with only 20 wins. With the Rockets having so many first-round picks they took full advantage of the opportunity to draft some incredible talent. To start, they selected Jabari Smith Jr. with the third overall pick and while he might have some flaws on the defensive end, he can certainly impact scoring and rebounding. On a team where he does not need to be the number one option, he can grow and develop into a better player on both ends of the ball without needing to carry the offensive load. With Smith being 6’10 it is clear he will have an advantage over many forwards in the NBA and has the potential to be a Michael Porter Jr. or Kevin Durant-type player. In addition the Rockets selected Tari Eason with the seventeenth pick in the draft who might become the best defender in the draft as he is a defensive stud. The last player they got in the first round is TyTy Washington Jr. who many scouts believed should have gone higher in the draft due to his ability to defend at a high level. Washington does need to improve his shooting abililty but he along with Tari Eason are great additions to a team with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. in the back court who provide great offense but not great defense.