In his latest 2022 NBA mock draft, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony wrote that the order Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Paolo Banchero will be taken remains as uncertain as it has been since the lottery.
“While the Big Three of Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero have remained consistent, the order in which those three players are selected remains less than locked in as private workouts continue.”
For the longest time, the majority opinion held Smith Jr. would go to the Orlando Magic, Holmgren would go to the Thunder and Banchero would go to the Houston Rockets.
But that opinion has been shaken, and betting lines have shifted from Smith Jr. being the overwhelming favorite to Smith Jr. and Holmgren being a toss up for the first pick.
Givony, though, still has Smith Jr., Holmgren and Banchero going in that order in his latest mock. The 2022 NBA draft is just a week away on June 23, so the rumors and reports out there are only going to get louder.