2022 NBA Mock Draft: An early look at the top prospects next year

Rookie Wire took an early look at the next crop of players set to enter the NBA in 2022.

With the basketball world one month removed from the NBA draft, some have started to look ahead to the next rookie class that features some high-profile prospects.

The top of the class is highlight by Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Paolo Banchero. The two players will likely trade places atop draft boards throughout much of the next season as both project to be franchise-changing prospects at the next level.

Of course, with the NBA draft set to take place on June 23, 2022, plenty will change over the course of the next 10 months. However, it can be a productive exercise to see how prospects have improved their stock and how others dropped on draft boards over time.

Rookie Wire took a very early look at the next rookie class and some of the top prospects to monitor as the 2021-22 season approaches in a couple of months.

Note: The order of the draft was determined by the reverse championship odds set by Tipico Sportsbook. The 2022 draft will only have 59 picks after the Bucks were stripped of their second-round pick by the NBA due to a tampering violation last year in free agency.