Category: 2022 NBA Draft

How a second workout may have sealed Pacers’ decision to draft Bennedict Mathurin

Mathurin worked out with the Pacers early this month, and the decision to draft him may have been solidified after that visit.

Arizona sophomore Bennedict Mathurin worked out with the Indiana Pacers early this month, and the decision for the organization to draft him may have been solidified after that visit.

The Pacers selected Mathurin with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday and formally introduced him on Friday, along with Andrew Nembhard (31st pick) and Kendall Brown (48th pick). The trio is expected to be key additions to a Pacers team in the midst of a rebuild.

Indiana identified Mathurin early in the process as a prospect it could target in the lottery. They brought him in for a workout on June 10 and were thoroughly impressed with his performance on the court, and what followed that session, according to head coach Rick Carlisle.

He had his workout in the morning and then we had lunch with him. He was going to be staying overnight that evening and traveling out the next day so he asked if the gym was open and if he could come back at 8 o’clock at night to work out and work on some things. I said, ‘Sure. How about if I meet you in the gym?’ He said, ‘Yeah, that’d be great.’ We got together and had about an hour session working on footwork and stuff like that.

Mathurin entered the pre-draft process highly touted for his work ethic and leadership inside of the locker room. It started when Mathurin was with the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City, and continued at Arizona and, now, in the NBA.

Carlisle and the Pacers knew Mathurin would fit in well.

It told me a lot about him as a guy that really has a great intellectual curiosity for the game and a great love of the game. Guys that have a chance to really succeed and achieve in the league have a real fascination with self-discovery of getting better and he is one of those guys. I could tell that evening it was clear to me that this is our kind of guy.

The Pacers add a player in Mathurin known as a knockdown shooter with a great ability to score. He will need to improve as a defender but has the size at 6-foot-6 and strength needed to emerge on that end of the floor and hold up against NBA competition.

The organization opted at the trade deadline to reset the roster a bit after sending Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton. They appear to have added some great pieces on Thursday as they look to continue building toward the future.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=49381,73125,45038]

[mm-video type=video id=01g6az407vtap12gv711 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g6az407vtap12gv711/01g6az407vtap12gv711-98a4430fef1ff7e67f353f703119aeca.jpg]

[listicle id=77622]

Paolo Banchero, Caleb Houstan excited for new beginning in Orlando

Banchero and Houstan hadn’t met each other prior to the draft, but the two are both eager to get to work with the Magic.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero and Caleb Houstan hadn’t met each other prior to the NBA draft, but the two are both eager to take the court together for the Orlando Magic.

The Magic selected Banchero with the first pick on Thursday and then took Houstan early in the second round at No. 32. The two players are the latest additions to the roster, and are each expected to help the team reach the next level under second-year head coach Jamahl Mosley.

They share many of the same qualities that stood out to the team.

“We are adding two great young men who are going to bring character and team orientation in a winning way of working, in addition to the amazing set of skills and talent they are going to bring to our team,” Magic president Jeff Weltman said. “We went into this draft looking to add skill, size, shooting, IQ, integrity, positional versatility and with these two young guys, we think we checked all of those boxes.”

Banchero was an All-American last season at Duke after averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals. He is the fifth Blue Devils player to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA and the first since Zion Williamson in 2019.

The 19-year-old was among the three front-runners to be the No. 1 pick, along with Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren and Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. The team ultimately felt as though Banchero was the top college player in the country last season and drafted accordingly.

From afar, Houstan was as equally impressed with Banchero.

“I really don’t have to say too much, he is the No. 1 pick,” Houstan said. “Obviously, the size and skill at his position being able to score the ball all over the floor … He does it all. It is really exciting to play alongside him and I can’t wait.”

In addition to Banchero, Houstan also brings an all-around game to the Magic, as well.

Houstan, who previously played at the Montverde Academy roughly 30 minutes west of Orlando, averaged 10.1 points, four rebounds and 1.4 assists last season at Michigan. He started every game for the Wolverines and led the team with 60 3-pointers.

He had an inconsistent season but was highly touted entering the program last year. The Magic will certainly hope to be able to tap into his potential on the court as he projects to fill several needs for the team.

“(I watched) him at Montverde shoot the lights out for a couple of years,” Banchero said. “A very smart player and great size — really can do it all. He is really just able to affect the game in a lot of ways on both ends. I’m excited to get on the court with him.”

Added head coach Jamahl Mosley: “He is going to fit right in.”

Banchero and Houstan are each expected to play in the Las Vegas Summer League, which tips off on July 7 as the Magic host the Houston Rockets in the first game of the competition. It will serve as the first opportunity for fans to see their top pick in action.

He will be equally as excited to hit the hardwood.

“(I’m excited) to get out there and play and compete again,” Banchero said. “I’m really just looking forward to getting back to bumping live, playing 5-on-5 and getting on the court with other guys and competing.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=77454,76414,76268]

[mm-video type=video id=01g69grqtm6b9m5ebf58 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g69grqtm6b9m5ebf58/01g69grqtm6b9m5ebf58-ed0a0c161e14eadcbf714adc244c5509.jpg]

[listicle id=77622]

2022 NBA draft grades and analysis for every first-round pick

Rookie Wire went through and graded all 30 picks from the first round of the draft now that the smoke has cleared from the evening.

The smoke has cleared on the NBA draft as the basketball community has had some time to reflect on the selections, trades and other moves made on Thursday.

Of course, the Orlando Magic made the first splash of the night after taking Duke forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick. The choice may have been a surprise to those around the sport, but it wasn’t to those in charge of making the selection.

Elsewhere, several teams made trades to help themselves now or in the future. There were some winners and losers, and other teams that genuinely confused everyone with some of their moves. The festivities will certainly give fans plenty to talk about in the coming days.

Now that we’ve had some time to evaluate the picks and trades from Thursday, Rookie Wire went through and graded all 30 picks from the first round.

Stephen A. Smith picks Pistons as the winners of 2022 NBA draft

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes the Detroit Pistons were the clear winners of the 2022 NBA draft.

The 2022 NBA draft on Thursday allowed a lot of young men to realize their dreams of being able to play in the NBA and continue their basketball careers.

With the draft over, now is the time to analyze and figure out who the winner was on a big night in the league. A lot of teams were able to hit on the right picks and continue to build their franchises for the future and build a core they hope can lead to success.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was asked to pick a winner on the night and he focused on the Detroit Pistons who were able to select Purdue star Jaden Ivey as well as swing a deal for athletic big man Jalen Duren. The Pistons sent the 2025 first-round pick they acquired in the Jerami Grant trade to the New York Knicks in order to bring Duren to Detroit. They will join a core that features 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and Isaiah Stewart.

Smith on the Pistons as the winners of the draft:

I just think that I got to look at the Detroit Pistons. With Ivey, with Duren, and these boys, they got some young talent and this kid Ivey, I wanted to Knicks to get him so bad. He’s special. He really, really is and I’m not saying that he’s that dude, the Dwyane Wade type, Kendrick Perkins, because I didn’t see him that much at Purdue, but what I will tell you is that when I’ve envision him with Cade Cunningham, I think they drafted him because they believe he could potentially be that kind of player, because he’s 6-foot-4. So you’re a tweener. You’re usually a shooting guard like the Kobe Bryant’s of the world and others who were around 6-foot-6 or so, he’s not that tall. He’s not that big, but I think that he can grow even more. I think that definitely he’s got the athleticism. He’s got the fire. He wants it bad and you can see it and I think that him out Cade Cunningham, it could be some special things developing in Detroit. Thing Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars with Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson coming off the bench in their title days and stuff like that. When you talk about Cade Cunningham with Ivey, I think they got the potential and this kid Duren is a rim protector, and I think he’s incredibly athletic and I think he’s got a lot of potential and everybody’s been raving about him. So I’m gonna go with the Detroit Pistons.

It remains to be seen how Ivey and Duren will fit in with Cunningham and the rest of the Pistons, but on paper, it looks like a seamless fit. Coach Dwane Casey and co. should be able to figure out how they fit on the floor for their rebuild.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=77499]

[lawrence-related id=77454,77466,77426]

The 10 best picks in the 2022 NBA draft

It was an eventful 2022 NBA draft and many teams made very good moves to get better. Rookie Wire took a look at some of the best ones.

It was an eventful 2022 NBA draft and many teams made very good moves to get better.

Teams like Oklahoma City, Houston and Orlando made big splashes and picked up great prospects for the future. With all that being said, some of the best picks were made by teams all over the NBA.

Here are the 10 best picks in the 2022 NBA draft that could shake up the league for a long time to come.

Paolo Banchero reacts to becoming the No. 1 overall pick by the Magic

Banchero was made aware just seconds before the pick was in that the Magic had taken him, and was moved to tears when it happened.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero was made aware just seconds before NBA commissioner Adam Silver called his name that he’d be the No. 1 pick by the Orlando Magic, and the former Duke standout was moved to tears when it happened.

“Hearing the commissioner call my name was a priceless moment,” Banchero said. “It brought me to tears. I’ve never been brought to tears about anything that was positive so that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.”

The Magic gave the NBA its first major shake-up on draft night by taking Banchero first on Thursday. The team had been heavily linked to Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. and, to a lesser degree, Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren, which made its selection rather surprising.

Banchero notably never worked out with the Magic ahead of the draft, nor met with them in Orlando. He did stay in touch throughout the process and submitted all of the necessary medical information to officials.

To those in charge of the decision, Banchero was the right pick all along.

“We feel that this is a 19-year-old who has so much growth potential,” Magic president Jeff Weltman said. “We feel he was the best player in college basketball and we feel that he will continue to grow every year for many years to come. He is a hard worker, incredibly talented and we’re thrilled to add him to our team.”

Banchero, who was a consensus second-team All-American, averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 39 games. He led all true freshmen in the country in scoring and ranked sixth in rebounding and fifth in field-goal percentage (47.8).

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward has the size and physicality that should translate well to the Magic. He is highly touted for his versatility and ability to affect games on both ends of the floor, something the Magic were enamored with.

“I think the one thing we constantly talk about is the versatility and the ability to play both sides of the ball,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said of Banchero. “Guard multiple positions but also be a playmaker, decision-maker and he is a giver and a distributor, and that is going to be a great addition to our team.”

Banchero will join a Magic roster with several up-and-coming players, including Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner among others. He also has a connection with R.J. Hampton as they are each represented by former Magic guard Mike Miller.

He will arrive in Central Florida on Friday and formally meet everyone within the organization, likely for the first time. He is eager to get to work with everyone as a new chapter begins.

“I’m super excited to begin my career with the Magic,” Banchero said. “They have a lot of talent. They have a lot of team guys like myself and I think I’ll fit right in with them. I’m excited to turn it around, for sure.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=76749,76414,76268]

[listicle id=77440]

2022 NBA draft first round results: See the top 30 picks

See all 30 picks in the NBA draft first round, led by No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero.

There was a major shift atop the NBA draft board on Thursday night that developed not long before the first overall pick was announced.

All indications were that the Orlando Magic would select Jabari Smith Jr. with the first pick, followed by Chet Holmgren going to Oklahoma City with the second selection, and Paolo Banchero landing in Houston at third overall.

Instead, Banchero vaulted both Holmgren and Smith, and become the fourth No. 1 pick from Duke University in the modern draft era.

Here are the full draft results from the Barclays Center on Thursday night:

Rockets draft Jabari Smith Jr. with third overall pick

With the third pick in the draft, the Rockets selected Smith from Auburn in an unexpected turn of events.

With the third pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets selected Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. on Thursday in an unexpected turn of events.

Smith was widely expected to be the No. 1 pick of the Orlando Magic but the team ultimately chose Duke forward Paolo Banchero instead. Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren went to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2, leaving Smith for the Rockets.

The change of events even surprised Smith himself.

He only worked out with the Magic and Thunder ahead of the draft. He felt as though he wouldn’t slip further than the Thunder, and prioritized meeting with the top two teams. Smith didn’t even meet with the Rockets at the draft combine last month.

Smith, who was voted a consensus All-American, averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, two assists, 1.1 steals and one blocked shot on 42% shooting from 3-point range last season. He set the Auburn single-season freshman record for points (576) and 3-pointers (79).

The 19-year-old figures to join the Rockets’ starting lineup next season. He projects to be a potential franchise cornerstone and should fit in well next to the likes of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun among other players.

The Rockets, for the second year in a row, have multiple picks in the first round. They also have the 17th pick and last week acquired the 26th pick from the Dallas Mavericks in the trade involving Christian Wood.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01g69hz6b48s95p488gw playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g69hz6b48s95p488gw/01g69hz6b48s95p488gw-ecc0ca8d5fad94e8abd14f325cc16b70.jpg]

[listicle id=77221]

Chet Holmgren picked 2nd overall by Thunder in NBA draft

The All-American joins a young roster headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey among others.

With the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday selected All-American Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga University.

Holmgren entered the draft viewed as one of the front-runners to be the No. 1 pick by the Orlando Magic, along with Duke forward Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. from Auburn. Orlando took Banchero with the first pick, clearing the way for the Thunder to take Holmgren.

The Thunder were said to be locked in on Holmgren throughout the pre-draft process. They hosted him for a recent workout as the 7-footer had the opportunity to meet with Sam Presti and several members of the organization ahead of the draft on Thursday.

Holmgren, who was named a consensus All-American, averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists last season. He emerged as a strong prospect on both ends of the court and shot 39% from 3-point range on 3.3 attempts per game.

The 20-year-old was rumored to prefer to land with the Thunder given their roster and long-term outlook in the frontcourt. He projects to fit in well with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, and is viewed as a key building block for the future.

Holmgren is said to have perhaps as much upside as any player in the draft this year. Joining a team in the midst of a rebuild, Holmgren will have the opportunity to log plenty of minutes next season and begin developing alongside a promising young nucleus.

The Thunder also have the 12th and 34th picks in the draft.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=77267,76192,37122]

[mm-video type=video id=01g65nk51t6s0jzg8esx playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g65nk51t6s0jzg8esx/01g65nk51t6s0jzg8esx-73151f5e8a79c88fcf676d6547189aad.jpg]

[listicle id=77221]

Magic select Duke’s Paolo Banchero with 1st pick in NBA draft

Banchero becomes the fourth No. 1 pick in team history, joining Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber and Dwight Howard.

Orlando Magic president Jeff Weltman this week said the team prides itself on being buttoned up and keeping its plans in-house, away from the general public.

On Thursday, the Magic can take a victory lap for their latest efforts.

Weltman and the Magic side-stepped nearly every reported expectation to select Duke forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Banchero beat out Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. to become the fourth No. 1 pick in team history.

Throughout the pre-draft process, Smith was widely reported to be the top choice with Holmgren going to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2. Banchero was expected to fall to the Houston Rockets with the third pick, behind Smith and Holmgren.

However, the odds began to change in favor of Banchero going No. 1.

Just ahead of the start of the draft, speculation began to swirl that Banchero could become the choice for Orlando. The news was rather surprising considering Banchero did not have a workout or meeting with the team ahead of Thursday.

The Magic front office has selected players previously without meeting them ahead of the draft, though. Jalen Suggs, the fifth pick last year, did not meet with the Magic prior to the draft, and neither did Jonathan Isaac in 2017 when he was the sixth pick.

[mm-video type=video id=01g5s5spee2rebcw7t5e playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g5s5spee2rebcw7t5e/01g5s5spee2rebcw7t5e-f40e34e7ae5d4ca730894c9ade950219.jpg]

Banchero joins Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993) and Dwight Howard (2004) as No. 1 picks in team history. He is projected to become a key addition to a nucleus that features Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner among others.

The Magic are expected to be back on the clock with the 32nd pick.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=76749,76414,76268]

[listicle id=77221]