The NBA Draft lottery is Tuesday night (7 p.m. CT,) and will remove some of the uncertainty surrounding who will be the top pick in the 2022 draft.
Right now there is not a consensus top pick as no one individual prospect has separated themselves from the top tier of three to four players. Once the lottery winner is determined on Tuesday night, it should create some separation depending on what the team needs and how the top prospects would fit with their current players.
One of the contenders for the No. 1 overall pick is Auburn’s [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag]. Smith and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] are both expected to become first-round selections. Here is how Travis Branham of 247Sports ranked them on his latest big board.
Jabari Smith: No. 2
What Branham said:
Nobody has a development curve over the last three years quite like Jabari Smith. Now at 6-foot-10, the silky-smooth Smith has turned himself into a highly skilled and versatile shot-making four with immense defensive potential. He has an elite blend of ability to come in and impact right away but also the potential to grow into a future All-Star.
Smith was Auburn’s best shooter last season, making 42% of his three-pointers and leading the team with 16.9 points per game. His size and mobility allow him to guard multiple positions and he excels out on the perimeter, two crucial skills in today’s NBA.
Walker Kessler: No. 18
Kessler has seen his draft stock improve this offseason and now seems like a lock to be drafted late in the first round. He was one of the best defensive players in college basketball last season and his shot-blocking should transfer well to the NBA. His offensive game needs to improve but his defense and rebounding are NBA-ready.
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