BS Meter for 2022 NBA Draft Rumors: Latest on Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, More
The 2022 NBA draft is just two days away, meaning we'll finally learn where Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Shaedon Sharpe, Bennedict Mathurin and others end up.
Between locking in Banchero's likely landing spot, diagnosing Sharpe's predraft workouts, seeing Mathurin's stock rise and listening to Ivey's thoughts about his potential next team, there's a lot of rumors worth looking at more closely.
It's time to hook up the B.S. Meter to find out what to believe heading into this year's draft.
'Signals Are Pointing' at Paolo Banchero Going to Rockets at No. 3
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While it's widely assumed that the top three players will be some combination of Jabari Smith Jr., Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, we don't know exactly which talented big man will go where. Even Orlando Magic president Jeff Weltman, owner of the No. 1 overall pick, claims that "it's still early in the process," despite the draft being just days away.
In other words, it's still a guessing game of who goes where.
Despite the remaining uncertainty, The Athletic's Kelly Iko wrote that Banchero in Houston is looking like the most likely outcome:
"With the draft days away, the signals are pointing stronger and stronger at Duke’s Paolo Banchero being selected by the Rockets, should he be on the board at No. 3, sources told The Athletic. ... Having made his official visit last week, Houston is most familiar with Banchero out of the three names presumed to go at the top of the draft. Jabari Smith elected not to make a visit, and it’s still unclear if Holmgren will."
Purdue's Jaden Ivey looks like he's the only prospect with the chance to spoil the Banchero-to-Houston party, should Smith and Holmgren be off the board.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony previously wrote that Ivey's "candidacy was under consideration" for the Rockets at No. 3, although Banchero fits the current roster far better. Not only does Houston already possess a pair of ball-dominant guards with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., but the recent trade of Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks has opened up a spot for Banchero in the frontcourt.
Expect the Magic to eventually settle on Smith with the first overall pick, the Oklahoma City to take Holmgren at No. 2 and Banchero to indeed be selected by Houston at three, with the team wisely passing on Ivey.
B.S. Meter: Low. Even if the first two picks aren't locked in just yet and Ivey is a wild card, Banchero to the Rockets appears to be the most likely scenario.
Jaden Ivey Says Kings 'Wouldn't Be the Worst Option'
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Jaden Ivey is the best guard in the 2022 class and will almost certainly go No. 4 overall.
Of course, the Kings currently own the fourth pick, even if "teams are expecting the Sacramento Kings to be discussing trades until they're on the clock at No. 4," per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.
There's a very real chance Ivey could end up in Sacramento if a trade doesn't materialize, which is a possibility he was asked about in a recent media availability.
“If I got drafted there, it wouldn’t be the worst option," Ivey replied, per BasketballNews.com's Evan Sidery. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the franchise.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony previously reported that the Kings weren't the "preferred destination" for the Purdue star, who's worked out for the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.
This sounds like Ivey politely telling the Kings not to draft him, which could be for a number of reasons. Sacramento already has a talented backcourt with De'Aaron Fox and last year's No. 9 overall pick Davion Mitchell, or perhaps Ivey isn't thrilled with the way the franchise traded Tyrese Haliburton so early his career.
Playing in Detroit next to Cade Cunningham and some other promising prospects should be far more appealing, or staying in the state of Indiana with Haliburton and the Pacers would be an excellent fit, especially if Malcolm Brogdon is traded this offseason.
We're going to call B.S. on Ivey's answer here, as he probably does actually view it as the worst (or close to the worst) option available for the start of his NBA career. We do respect the politeness, however.
B.S. Meter: High. Word has already gotten out about Ivey's feelings about Sacramento. This was a nice way of him saying he doesn't want to play for the Kings.
'High Lottery Pick' Shaedon Sharpe Now Conducting 'Strong Group Workouts'
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With Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe electing not to play last season, his predraft workouts have meant far more to teams than perhaps any other top prospect's.
The most recent report, per The Athletic's Shams Charania, is that Sharpe's workouts have gone quite well:
"Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe is the mystery man of the NBA Draft. Sharpe is a projected high lottery pick, and sources say he has conducted strong group workouts such as three-on-three scrimmages to showcase his ability for teams who have not seen him play organized basketball over the past year or two. Instead of conducting individual workouts, Sharpe sought the competition, working out for teams between the draft ranges of Nos. 1-13."
This comes just days after a previous report stated just the opposite, however.
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer wrote that the 19-year-old was actually in danger of falling in the draft, noting, "Sharpe has been said to underwhelm multiple teams in predraft workouts." While Charania listed Sharpe as going in the high lottery, Fischer wrote that his range may begin with the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 8.
So, which is it?
If anything, Charania's report reads like an overcorrection, trying to erase any doubt teams picking in the 4-7 range may have about drafting the talented wing. The line about him seeking out the competition reads like it came straight out of an agent's mouth as well.
B.S. Meter: Medium. Even if Sharpe's most recent workouts have been better, this doesn't change the fact that he originally was underwhelming teams.
Bennedict Mathurin Could Go in 4-to-7 Range
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Originally slated between the eighth and 12th picks in mock drafts, Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin could actually end up going much higher, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman.
"Teams aren't expecting Bennedict Mathurin to get past the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 8. Most people around the league believe he'll be off the board by then at the latest. … The Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers could all view Mathurin as a fit at the 2/3 positions. His range is looking like Nos. 4-7."
This is a huge leap for a player who is often ranked below Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray, Dyson Daniels, Shaedon Sharpe and others, but now may jump a few, if not all, of them on draft night.
The NBA is largely built around wings, and the 6'6" (in shoes) Mathurin should be able to fit in as a shooting guard or small forward. His ability as a three-level scorer who can thrive with the ball in or out of his hands should be an attractive quality for teams needing offensive pop. The four teams that Wasserman listed, the Kings, Pistons, Pacers and Blazers, all have primary ball-handlers in place and could use Mathurin as a backcourt partner who can also orchestrate the offense for stretches.
Ivey should still be viewed as the best guard in this class, however, even if Mathurin's size would make him a better fit for Sacramento at No. 4. If the Kings like Mathurin, a trade back to five with the Pistons (who should love to have Ivey) could work out for everyone.
Ivey will almost certainly be the first guard off the board, although Mathurin could very well go second and as high as fifth overall.
B.S. Meter: Low. Mathurin won't pass Ivey, but the 4-to-7 range feels right.
