The 2021-22 regular season is now complete, so we have a much better picture as it pertains to the 2022 NBA draft order in June.
In the first round, where the Houston Rockets own both their own pick and one from Brooklyn, the order is set from No. 15 onward. These are for playoff teams, such as the Nets, who are at No. 17 overall.
The top 14, however, won’t be set until the May 17 draft lottery. That weighted lottery determines the top-four picks, with the next 10 slots seeded by record (the worst record goes first and the best record last).
Because the Rockets finished the regular season with the NBA’s worst record (20-62), they are now guaranteed a top-five draft pick — because even if they do not win one of the four lottery picks, they would inherently have the worst record among non-lottery teams.
Given the additional clarity on the order, let’s check in with the experts and peruse the latest wave of mock drafts for the 2022 first round.