The 2022 NBA Draft’s starting lineup is exactly what we thought it would be with a zesty twist.Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, and Keegan Murray flew off the shelf to kick off the evening. After reports emerged earlier in the day that the Orlando Magic were sinking their hooks into Jabari Smith, an atom Woj bomb threw the top five into a blender. This top five may not emanate the death lineup aura that the 2018 Draft’s top five (Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, Trae Young, Luka Dončić, and Jaren Jackson Jr.) radiated. We may not know for a few seasons if Banchero, Holmgren, Ivey, Murray, and Smith are the franchise cornerstones on their new teams, but they may be talented pillars besides their respective superstar teammates eventually. Paolo Banchero source: AP Orlando settling on Paolo Banchero is a surprising development. While Banchero looked the part of a No. 1 at Duke, Smith was perceived as the prospect with the highest upside. Banchero never really moved the needle in part because he’s the hoops equivalent of a USC quarterback. The past few bigs produced by Coach K — Marvin Bagley, Wendell Carter, Jahlil Okafor, and Jabari Parker — didn’t quite pan out. One of them, Wendell Carter, will be his teammate in Orlando. His defense was inconsistent at times and it’s difficult to tell which aspect of his skill set can be his trademark. Chet Holmgren source: Getty Images Orlando’s shocking selection didn’t alter Oklahoma City’s game plan. The Thunder have been linked with Chet Holmgren for so long, fans have had his size-zero jersey hanging in the rafters since the draft lottery. I’m not sure there’s ever been a one-and-done prospect who seemed as primed to become a switchable defensive eraser as Holmgren is. Defensively, he’ll transform the Thunder even if he can’t benchpress a broom yet. Putting muscle on his frame is going to be essential to him reaching his Hall of Fame-caliber defensive potential. Critics used to say the same thing about Kevin Durant and he turned out to be solid. Holmgren probably won’t become the transcendent scorer Kevin Durant is, but he flashed 50/40/90 potential in a veteran lineup where his usage was limited. It just depends on how much of a load he can carry. This is currently Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Josh Giddye’s team, but the Holmgren-Poku lineups will be interesting. Jabari Smith source: AP Christian Wood’s trade to Dallas left a hole in their frontcourt besides Alperen Şengün for Banchero or Jabari Smith to fill. Houston selecting Smith was a given after Banchero came off the board. The 6-foot-10 inch Auburn forward was arguably the best jump-shooting big man of the last decade. Smith’s 79 3-pointers as a freshman season were the most by a player 6-foot-10 or taller over the last 25 seasons. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Smith shot 41 percent on shots 24 feet (at least three inches behind the NBA’s 3-point line) or further. He has All-Defense potential and is an extremely fluid shooter off the dribble. His ball handling and playmaking off the dribble is robotic, but that can easily be developed given the tools he already has in his utility belt. It’s just a matter of how high his elevator rises. Jalen Green is the alpha in Houston, but Smith has the opportunity to usurp him. Keegan Murray source: Getty Images Sacramento’s draft luck in recent years has been worse than any team in pro sports. Between 2012 and 2014, the Kings drafted Thomas Robinson, Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas. The teams that picked after the Kings those years took Dame Lillard in 2012, CJ McCollum in 2013 and Zach Lavine in 2014. In 2018, they drafted Marvin Bagley when Luke Dončić was the common sense pick. Ay yi yi yi. Keegan Murray is an unusual lottery pick because he’ll be 22 once the 2022 season tips off. He’s a skilled scorer, with the touch to pour buckets from the perimeter, drive to the rack, has the body bang in the low post and can hammer it home when he gets a head of steam going. His ceiling isn’t as high as his fellow top five draftees, but he has the highest floor. How he meshes on the floor with Damontis Sabonis will be the challenge. Jaden Ivey source: Getty Images After four picks, a guard finally came off the board and all is right in the world. Jaden Ivey was the player most likely to star in the MCU. His speed and athleticism were OP at the collegiate level. He immediately completes a backcourt led by Cade Cunningham. The foundation has been laid for the Pistons. Relatedsports betting calculatorsmoneyline parlay calculatormoneyline bet calculationshalf points in nflkelly criterion calculationshedge calculator for bettingbetting the spreadover and under bettingparlay sports bettinground robin betting explainedoptimal ev bettingwhat is hedge betting
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