The 2022 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, and a number of teams at the top of the draft will hope that they can bring in impact players that can change their fortune for years to come.
While there are obviously excellent players throughout the draft, many NBA Draft experts believe that there is a very defined top-three list of prospects in Auburn forward Jabari Smith, Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren, and Duke forward Paolo Banchero.
These three have long been the top prospects in the draft class, and it now appears that there may be a clearly defined order that they will be selected.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday morning that there is an “increasingly firm” order for how these three prospects will be taken. He says Smith will likely be headed to the Orlando Magic (who won the draft lottery in May, as seen above), Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Banchero to the Houston Rockets.
This report from Wojnarowski was far different than the odds initially suggested Tuesday morning, with sportsbooks initially listing Banchero as a -200 favorite to go first overall to the Magic.
These reports obviously carry a ton of merit, and sportsbooks have flipped to Smith now being the overwhelming favorite to be selected with the first overall pick.
Many are conflicted regarding Wojnarowski’s reports, believing that he should not have reported this and left some suspense as to who will be taken at what pick.
https://twitter.com/juniormaruwa/status/1539956897029160961
This trend of picks being spoiled before they are even seen on television has been a constant trend over the past few years of the NBA Draft.
While there is still time for teams to change their decision, it appears that the top three teams in the NBA Draft may have their guy decided on with time counting down before they need to make their selection.
[Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter; photo from David Banks/USA Today Sports]