Category: 2022 NBA Draft

Report: Jabari Smith Jr. expected to be drafted first by Magic

The order of the first three picks in the draft is reportedly becoming increasingly firm.

Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. is reportedly expected to be the first player drafted on Thursday by the Orlando Magic, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Smith is among the three front-runners to be the top pick with Duke forward Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren also in consideration. The trio has long been expected to be the first three players drafted on Thursday, in some order.

With Smith off of the board, the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to take Holmgren at No. 2 with Banchero going third to the Houston Rockets. The order of the first three picks is apparently now set after much discussion throughout the pre-draft process.

The Magic met with each player recently as the front office continued to do its homework ahead of the draft. Magic president Jeff Weltman on Monday said the team would likely take up until Thursday night to make a final decision on its selection.

The players in consideration each project to bring different skillsets to the next level. They have the potential to become franchise cornerstones, which further adds to the intrigue of the draft this year, as they look to help turnaround those teams picking first.

Orlando has held the No. 1 pick in the draft three other times, most recently in 2004 when the organization selected Dwight Howard. The Magic also drafted Shaquille O’Neal in 1992 and Chris Webber in 1993. Webber was eventually traded for Penny Hardaway.

The draft is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ABC and ESPN.

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

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Toledo guard Ryan Rollins: ‘I’m a playmaker on both ends of the floor’

Rookie Wire caught up with Rollins to discuss his collegiate career, what he wants to bring to the next level and more.

Toledo guard Ryan Rollins turned in a strong first season with the Rockets two years ago, but it was his sophomore campaign that put the soon-to-be 20-year-old firmly on the NBA radar.

Rollins was named the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 after averaging 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 30 games. He started every game that season and ranked second on the team in scoring, behind Marreon Jackson.

Then, Rollins elevated his game to the next level.

He averaged 18.9 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals in 34 games, and earned a place on the All-MAC first team. His 641 points were the third-most in program history as he became the fourth player to reach at least 1,000 points in two seasons.

Now, Rollins is looking to carry that success into the NBA.

He was among the standouts at the combine last month, measuring in at 6 feet, 3 inches in shoes with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He was tied for the fastest shuttle run at 3.07 seconds and recorded 11 points, five rebounds and three assists in his lone scrimmage game.

Following that showing, Rollins started to pop up more and more on draft boards. He is now considered a potential first-round pick and is poised to become the first Rocket drafted since Casey Shaw was selected 37th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1998.

Rookie Wire caught up with Rollins on Wednesday to discuss his collegiate career, the pre-draft process, what he wants to bring to the next level and more.

Please note: This interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity

NBA draft 2022: Star players who could be traded

Rookie Wire took a look at some big-name players who could be on the move this year on draft night.

The NBA draft is a crucial day on the calendar for all 30 teams. For up-and-coming clubs, it’s a chance to bring in new players who can help build a program. The draft this year is obviously no exception — front offices will be looking to land a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

Some organizations, however, may be a little antsier on draft night. Whether they are eager to make a splash or want to get a jump on rebuilding, making a trade during the draft can be key. NBA history is full of big trades on draft day.

Relationships fray, sour, or run their course in professional sports, and front offices and players may see the draft as the right time to begin a new chapter. Ahead of the 2022 NBA draft, there are a few players who could be on the move — let’s discuss.

Chet Holmgren on draft preference: ‘I can fit in with almost anybody’

The All-American said he doesn’t have a preference on where he’ll land on draft night.

Potential No. 1 pick Chet Holmgren said on Monday that he doesn’t have a preference of which team selects him in the NBA draft, stating only that he is eager to get to work.

Holmgren, an All-American last season at Gonzaga, is among the three candidates in the running to be the first player drafted by the Orlando Magic. In addition to Holmgren, Duke forward Paolo Banchero and Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. are also in consideration.

The 7-foot Holmgren said on a conference call with reporters that he has worked out with a few teams but declined to reveal which ones. Rookie Wire reported last week that Holmgren met with the Magic front office for two days in Orlando.

If the Magic pass on Holmgren, it is believed that the Oklahoma City Thunder will take him at No. 2. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets, selecting third, are reportedly content with the player that falls to them.

Holmgreen says he isn’t worried about where he’ll land.

At the end of the day, it is going to be a complete blessing to have an NBA jersey and put that hat on draft night. It is not up to me at the end of the day. No matter where it is, I’m going to lace my shoes up and get to work as soon as I touch down in the city.

Last week, a report emerged that Holmgren and his agent, Bill Duffy, would prefer to be drafted by the Thunder. They apparently like the roster fit with the Thunder a bit better than the Magic and also believe he’d have a better opportunity to log more minutes in the frontcourt there.

Despite that rumor, though, Holmgren believes his overall skill set would fit in well with nearly every team in the NBA, especially those at the top of the draft.

I feel like I can fit in with almost anybody. I feel like I’m somebody who highlights other players’ skills, as well as finds where to fit in with my skills. I feel like I have a wide variety of skills that can pair well with anybody.

The days leading up to the draft are often filled with misinformation and other rumors, so it will be worth monitoring to see how things play out ahead of the draft on Thursday.

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

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Jaden Ivey doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to be drafted by the Kings

Ivey revealed that he has only worked out for the Magic and Pistons ahead of the draft on Thursday.

Projected top-five pick Jaden Ivey on Monday revealed that he has only worked out for the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons ahead of the NBA draft on Thursday.

Ivey, a consensus All-American, is widely expected to be the fourth player off the board to the Sacramento Kings behind Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. in some order. However, Ivey has not been in contact with the Kings, nor has he worked out with them.

He explained that he hasn’t intentionally avoided the Kings.

I’m kinda just letting this process just handle itself. If I got drafted there, it wouldn’t be the worst option. I’m not the GM who picks the guys so I’m kinda just trying to enjoy this process and whatever happens on draft night, I’m just going to stick with it.

However, it appears as though there is more to the situation than that.

A report surfaced last week that stated Sacramento is not Ivey’s preferred destination in the draft. He even acknowledged on Monday that there are scenarios in which he could land with the New York Knicks, who would need to trade up from No. 11 to take him.

The Knicks were mentioned last week among the teams that have expressed interest in potentially moving up to the fourth spot to take Ivey. The Kings’ asking price to accommodate such a move is said to be steep and it is unclear if New York has the assets needed to strike a deal.

Ivey believes he could fit in with the Kings, or any other team.

They recently just drafted Davion Mitchell. They have guys like (Domantas) Sabonis. Obviously, a great guy like De’Aaron Fox. They have a lot of talent (and are) trying to get some guys in to complement them. I think I’d fit in anywhere but we’re going to see what happens on draft night.

Ivey averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore last season at Purdue. Given his overall skills, Ivey is projected to be able to contribute now while also developing into a potential star, making him a prime target for teams.

Of course, the Kings can still draft Ivey despite not speaking with him. They drafted Mitchell last year after not receiving his medical information or interviewing him prior to the draft. But the comments made by Ivey on Monday were not exactly a ringing endorsement of the team.

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In any case, Ivey has spent much of the summer in Los Angeles training at Proactive Sports Performance. He has worked extensively on improving several components of his offensive game.

I feel like just this summer, I worked on areas of my game that can help me showcase who I am on the NBA level. I’ve been working on my mid-range, floaters and things I really couldn’t show on the college stage. I think I’m ready for all of the types of challenges that are going to come my way in the NBA.

The situation between Ivey and the Kings will be worth monitoring as the draft approaches. The Kings have been mentioned as a team that will look to make a move so it very well could be another team selecting fourth overall on Thursday.

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

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Florida State forward Malik Osborne: ‘There is no limit to what I can do’

Rookie Wire caught up with Osborne to discuss his journey, the pre-draft process, what he is looking to showcase to teams and much more.

Growing up, Malik Osborne played several sports before settling on basketball as his full-time venture. It eventually became his passion, and the former Florida State forward is now on the verge of seeing that hard work and dedication pay off with the NBA draft rapidly approaching.

Osborne, whose dad played football at Iowa State while his mom ran track at Lewis College, initially received no collegiate scholarships out of high school. But a year at Don Bosco Prep in Crown Point, Indiana, helped change that.

He then garnered interest from several programs, including Oregon State, Rice and Seton Hall. Osborne eventually committed to play at Rice and spent one season there before transferring to Florida State. It was there that Osborne developed into a draft prospect.

Osborne averaged six points and 4.8 rebounds over his first two seasons as the Seminoles advanced to the Sweet 16 each year. He had put forth his best season to date this past year as a junior, but an ankle injury cut it short after 17 games. He averaged 10 points and 6.9 rebounds.

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Now, Osborne is healthy once again and preparing for his next step.

The 6-foot-9 standout has worked out with several teams during the pre-draft process, including the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic among others. He is looking to become the next Seminole to enter the NBA after a strong run in Tallahassee.

Rookie Wire caught up with Osborne to discuss his basketball journey, his collegiate career, the pre-draft process, what he is looking to showcase to teams and much more.

Please note: This interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity

2022 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: The final predictions for all 58 picks

Rookie Wire took a look at the incoming class ahead of the draft on Thursday and projected every pick.

The NBA draft is just three days away as teams and prospects begin to wrap up their preparations after another lengthy process involving countless workouts and interviews.

Teams around the NBA will be curious to see how the Orlando Magic approach the No. 1 pick. Magic president Jeff Weltman said on Monday the team hasn’t finalized its pick yet, but the candidate pool appears to be narrowed down to Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr.

NBA draft workout tracker 2022: Where prospects have visited

The rumors and speculation are beginning to heat up as is typically the case during the week of the draft. Thursday night is once again expected to be filled with plenty of trades and other related activity as teams zero in on their prospects.

Rookie Wire took one final look at the next rookie class and projected all 58 picks based on the latest information available ahead of the draft on Thursday.

Note: The 2022 draft will only have 58 picks after the Bucks and Heat were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA.

Wake Forest’s Jake LaRavia could be an impact rookie for a contender

Wake Forest Insider Les Johns discusses Jake LaRavia and what exactly he brings with him to the NBA.

There have been many risers leading up to the 2022 NBA draft.

However, few have climbed up draft boards faster than Wake Forest forward Jake LaRavia. A player that transferred from Indiana State to the smallest school in the ACC went relatively unnoticed throughout the college basketball season.

Now, the 6-foot-9, 228-pound player has caught everyone’s attention.

LaRavia averaged 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 55.9% shooting while helping guide the Demon Deacons to a 25-10 record. Combine LaRavia’s frame with a 3-point percentage of 38.6% and suddenly he represents an intriguing NBA prospect that would fit on almost any team in the league.

The consensus appears to be that LaRavia will be drafted somewhere between the 20th and the 35th pick in the draft. Rookie Wire sat down with Demon Deacon Insider Les Johns from 247Sports to discuss what exactly has the forward this high up draft boards.

It was LaRavia’s decision to transfer to Wake Forest and unite with new head coach Steve Forbes that lit the spark for his brilliant junior campaign.

Johns pointed to a trio of factors that likely triggered the decision.

First and foremost, there was the coaching change at Indiana State as the Sycamores moved on from Greg Lansing, who had been the coach there 11 seasons. As LaRavia explored the transfer portal, he quickly learned of the opportunity to contribute at the ACC level with Wake Forest, and it certainly helped that Lansing and second-year Demon Deacon head coach Steve Forbes had a great relationship with Lansing. LaRavia leaned on Lansing during the portal recruiting period and Lansing helped steer him toward Wake Forest and the coach he affectionately refers to as “Forbsey.”

Coach Forbes, with the help of LaRavia and ACC Player of the Year Alondes Williams, helped fuel Wake Forest to their best season in years, barely missing the NCAA Tournament.

Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the dominance and extreme ball usage of Williams, LaRavia found ways to shine. In fact, Johns pointed out that LaRavia may have had more responsibilities than anyone else on the team in 2021.

He started 33 games last season for the Demon Deacons, finishing second on the team in scoring, rebounds and assists; behind just Alondes Williams. He started at the four-spot, but was able to create matchup problems with his size, strength and skill-set. At 6-foot-9, LaRavia is proficient handling the ball on the perimeter, but also strong enough to post up in the paint.

Offensively, he was tough to match up against, but defensively was versatile enough at the college level to guard anyone from the two to the five spot. Especially in moments in which Williams was off the court, LaRavia had the potential to rotate in as the primary ball-handler and facilitator.

A versatile defender and an offensive mismatch for his size on the perimeter, it’s a skill set that projects very well to today’s NBA. As teams covet players who are capable of spacing the floor and scoring from all three levels, LaRavia could serve numerous roles for his eventual NBA squad.

Now, projecting what role exactly teams might want is difficult. Johns is of the personal belief that LaRavia may need more time in the league before ultimately finding the ideal role on the court for his gifts.

When LaRavia announced his transfer to Wake Forest, Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel told me he was confident he’d be an NBA player and compared his game to that of Luka Doncic. A late-high school growth spurt meant that LaRavia went from playing guard to playing closer to the basket late as a senior, but he held onto those guard skills as he grew bigger and taller. He went from a low-major recruit to a mid-major guy at Indiana State and ultimately landed in the ACC for his final season of collegiate play. He’s likely to make the same kind of journey as a professional, finding his role as he gains more NBA experience.

This uncertainty in projection is part of why teams aren’t likely to take a look at LaRavia before the 20s. Ideally, he would be able to enter a situation with great infrastructure and a coach who has a niche role designed for the rookie as he adjusts to the NBA level.

Johns believes that the perception of LaRavia’s value as a draft pick will largely be tied to where and when he’s drafted. A later spot could signal not only more realistic expectations but also a better surrounding situation.

If LaRavia is around late in the first round, he’ll end up being a steal for whoever selects him. He’s versatile, unselfish and skilled — and honestly nobody will outwork him. He was always the first out on the court before a game getting up shots.

LaRavia still remains far from a finished product despite three years of playing college basketball. Although he represents an ideal ‘ball of clay’ for a coaching staff to work with and mold, there’s room for hesitation with every prospect entering the league.

Specifically for LaRavia, Johns said he’ll have to learn to be more aggressive to truly elevate his game at the NBA level.

In terms of hesitation, I’d have to go with his tendency to defer to others. He’s a team-first guy, which is great; but will often look to find his teammates before taking over himself, even when the matchups lend itself to a LaRavia takeover. Forbes had to push him at times to be more aggressive personally.

If a coaching staff coaxes that aggression out of LaRavia, it could pay huge dividends at the next level.

All in all, an NBA team on Thursday is going to get a very interesting prospect. Someone that consistently elevated while at the college level and projects to potentially be one of the most valuable commodities in basketball today: The shooting big man.

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

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San Francisco’s Jamaree Bouyea expected to garner two-way interest

Bouyea averaged 17.3 points, five rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals last season as a senior.

Former San Francisco guard Jamaree Bouyea is reportedly expected to draw two-way interest from teams in the NBA draft, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Bouyea, who was named to the All-WCC first team, averaged 17.3 points, five rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals last season as a senior. He helped guide the Dons to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998 and was the second-leading scorer in the conference.

The 6-foot-2 standout is considered to be a potential second-round pick this year. However, if he goes undrafted, he would have the opportunity to sign with a team that best suits his skill set and future development.

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Bouyea said previously that playing four years at San Francisco helped prepare him to be an all-around point guard at the next level. He has improved as a ballhandler and ability to see the floor better to get others involved.

The soon-to-be 23-year-old could be a player to watch on draft night. Some believe he has the potential to step in and contribute immediately and teams could be lining up to take him, as a result.

The NBA draft will tip off on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

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

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Rumor: Cavaliers open to trading down in draft from No. 14

The Cavaliers have reportedly signaled that they are willing to trade down from the 14th pick.

With the NBA draft less than a week away, the Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly signaled that they are willing to trade down from the 14th pick, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Cleveland has hosted several prospects it could target at 14, and several others projected to go later in the first round. The team, led by president Koby Altman, would reportedly entertain moving down if it could acquire an additional future first-rounder.

The Cavaliers hit a home run last year by taking Evan Mobley with the third pick and will likely be looking to take the best player available on Thursday. However, if they can move down and acquire future draft capital, they could elect to do so.

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Altman & Co. figure to have a busy summer ahead with the draft and free agency afterward. They also have the contract situation with Collin Sexton, who is a restricted free agent and is eligible for an extension. However, his future in Cleveland is not set in stone.

Cleveland was a surprise team last year that stayed near the top of the standings until it dealt with several injuries toward the end of the season and eventually missed the playoffs. They will be looking to improve this offseason and could get started on Thursday.

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

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