Rookie Wire took a look at five of the best possible combinations that could come out of draft night.
The 2022 NBA draft represents hope for every franchise in the league. However, more than any sport, the basketball draft represents hope for teams at the top of the order.
Franchises with young cores have the chance to add potential superstar pieces that can grow with the foundation that has already been set.
None of these teams are completely devoid of talent, though.
Houston has Jalen Green, Detroit has Cade Cunningham and even Oklahoma City has Shai-Gigleous Alexander. Each of these teams desperately needs more talent to supplant their young building blocks with.
The possible outcome of the draft could lead to some pairings that are made in a laboratory. Others still could be disastrous for the development of these rookies.
With that in mind, here are five of the best possible combinations that could come out of draft night.
How shocking would it be if OKC picked Jaden Ivey at 2?
In the latest 2022 NBA mock draft, Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman reported that several teams around the league think the Oklahoma City Thunder could be enticed with Purdue guard Jaden Ivey enough to select him No. 2.
“Holmgren has also been linked to the Thunder at No. 2, and most around the league are hearing that he’ll be the Oklahoma City Thunder’s pick if Orlando takes Smith. Meanwhile, there is belief from multiple rival teams that the Thunder figure to be enticed by Ivey as well. “
This comes off the heels of ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reporting that the Thunder are acting aggressively with trading up from the No. 12 spot to potentially the No. 4 spot to select someone like Shaedon Sharpe or Ivey himself.
Even if the Thunder are interested in Ivey, it’s hard to see them take such a huge swing on Ivey at No. 2 overall. While general manager Sam Presti has been described as an outside-the-box thinker, selecting Ivey at No. 2 would be a bit too extreme.
While it was a safe assumption to make, it’s now been officially reported.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony confirmed that the Oklahoma City Thunder have worked out or plan on working out top prospects Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren and Purdue guard Jaden Ivey.
“The Thunder will conduct workouts with all of the top prospects in the class, including Smith, Holmgren, Banchero, Sharpe, Jaden Ivey and others.”
While it was a safe assumption to make that the team with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft worked out and met with all of the top prospects, this is the first time it’s been officially confirmed by a draft expert that the Thunder have met with Holmgren and Ivey.
Both players are expected to go in the top five, with Holmgren penciled in with the Thunder for the majority of the draft process. Although, that’s a bit less of a guarantee now in recent days due to changing Las Vegas odds and Givony himself admitting that the top three can go in any order.
With the draft just a little over a week away on June 23, it will be interesting to see how things shake out.
Would you trade Lu Dort if it meant getting one of Shaedon Sharpe or Jaden Ivey?
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder are aggressively trying to move up from No. 12 in the 2022 NBA draft in hope of being able to snag someone like Shaedon Sharpe or Jaden Ivey.
“The Thunder are said to be aggressively pursuing trade conversations for this pick, seeking to package it with future assets or existing OKC players in order to move into the mid-lottery, with players including Jaden Ivey and Shaedon Sharpe believed to be among the potential prospects they covet.”
In the same article, Givony has the Sacramento Kings taking Ivey fourth overall but adds that the Kings are not Ivey’s preferred destination. Givony then listed several teams who are interested in moving up to No. 4 with the Thunder being one of them.
Rival teams think a trade package that centers around Lu Dort could potentially entice the Kings to accept a deal as they are looking to contend for the playoffs this upcoming season.
Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero are the headliners.
The NBA Draft is one of the most exciting annual events in the league.
Nowhere is that excitement felt more than in the green room, a staging area at Barclays Center in Brooklyn where top prospects are invited to sit with their families as they wait to find out what pro team they will play for once they’re in the NBA.
Mostly, it is a strong predictor of how teams around the league rank top prospects because the invitation list is based on votes from NBA front offices. However, even when a prospect is ranked highly, it can still go poorly on draft night.
Last year, the Spurs selected Josh Primo (who did not receive an invitation to the green room) several picks before many of the players who received green room invitations could hear their names called.
Based on reporting from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, 11 prospects have received invitations to actually attend the NBA Draft in the green room. Additionally, per Givony, more invitations are expected next week. For what it’s worth, last year, 20 players were invited to sit in the green room.
With all that in mind, here are the players who have received the nod thus far:
“A lot of big man talent for sure,” Christian Wood says of the 2022 NBA draft and potential options for the Rockets. “I like (Paolo) Banchero, I like (Jaden) Ivey. Hopefully we get a good guy.”
Heading into 2022-23, the Houston Rockets will have second-year big men Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba ready for bigger roles, and they appear likely to draft a power forward at No. 3 in the 2022 first round.
If the roster stays as is, that could present a minutes crunch, with some frontcourt players undoubtedly receiving less minutes than they expect. But for incumbent starting center Christian Wood, who wants more wins next season, he doesn’t appear threatened by more competition.
In an interview after Wood threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wednesday’s Houston Astros baseball game, the 26-year-old big man made it clear that he embraced the idea of adding more depth to the frontcourt, and he mentioned Duke forward Paolo Banchero by name.
“A lot of big man talent, for sure,” Christian Wood said of the 2022 NBA draft and potential options for the Rockets at No. 3 overall. “I like (Paolo) Banchero, I like (Jaden) Ivey. I like a few guys. Hopefully we get a good guy. I know the front office will choose the best guy they can.”
Wood delivered those comments to AT&T SportsNet Southwest reporter Julia Morales during an interview on the Astros’ game broadcast.
Wood is under contract with Houston for only one more year, though he said in earlier comments Wednesday that he is open to discussing a potential extension. It remains to be seen how (or if) the looming first-round selections on Thursday, June 23 will play into the team’s thinking.
[lawrence-related id=102090,102078]
Christian Wood to @JuliaMorales regarding the Rockets 3rd overall pick:
“A lot of big man talent for sure. I like Banchero, I like Ivey. Hopefully we get a good guy.”
Eastern Conference Executive No. 1: Jaden Ivey is a (Russell) Westbrook/(Dwyane) Wade type of guy. I like (Purdue head coach) Matt Painter. But if Ivey had been in a situation where they get up and down the floor and get more open, there’s no telling what he could have done. I know Detroit loves Ivey. Western Conference Executive No. 1: In his own tier. In the next two to three years, wherever he’s drafted, he’ll start immediately.
When asked by ESPN to name the toughest player he ever had to defend, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey quickly pointed to Rockets guard Jalen Green. “I think he’s just an amazing talent,” Ivey said.
When the 2021-22 regular season ended in April for the Houston Rockets, rookie guard Jalen Green was asked about his initial impressions of the 2022 NBA draft class. One of the three players he mentioned was Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, since Green played against Ivey in high school.
It appears those meetings left quite an impression on Ivey, too. In a recent “film session” interview with ESPN’s Mike Schmitz, Ivey was asked to name the toughest player he ever had to defend in his career.
I would say Jalen Green. Just his athleticism and his height, and the way he can shoot the ball. I think he’s just an amazing talent, and he’s one of the best guards I’ve ever faced in my lifetime.
Ivey spent two seasons playing in the Big Ten Conference, which is often regarded as the NCAA’s best for college basketball. Thus, it’s especially high praise for Green, whose previous battles with Ivey came when both were on the high-school circuit as part of the Class of 2020.
Green then went with the NBA’s professional pathway program and played one prep year with the G League Ignite, while Ivey went to Purdue and improved his draft stock after an elite sophomore season.
With Green’s Rockets picking at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round, it’s conceivable that he and Ivey could join forces to create one of the NBA’s most explosive backcourts. Recently, a report indicated that Houston was intrigued by Ivey and considering him for the pick.
Most reports, however, are still identifying Duke forward Paolo Banchero as the probable pick. In that scenario, Ivey and Green could resume the battles from their high school days as opponents. While those would be intense, it’s clear that it all originates from a place of mutual respect.
Dave Hardisty, owner of @ClutchFans, joins today’s episode of “The Lager Line” to discuss the latest wave of Rockets rumors heading into the 2022 NBA draft and free agency.
Dave Hardisty, owner of legendary Houston Rockets website ClutchFans, joins our Ben DuBose on The Lager Line to discuss the latest rumors surrounding the NBA’s 2022 draft and free agency periods.
The lead item on Friday’s show is whether Purdue’s Jaden Ivey is a realistic alternative to Duke’s Paolo Banchero with the No. 3 overall pick, or if that recent report is perhaps a smokescreen or gamesmanship.
Other topics on the newly released episode include:
Potential trade options involving the No. 3 pick
Criteria when selecting at No. 17 and names to watch
Whether trades can be found later this month for veterans like Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, and John Wall
Financial considerations heading into 2022 free agency, and whether 2023 remains the more likely year for aggressive moves
Friday’s complete episode can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”
