NBA Draft Grades 2022: Full Results, Analysis and Reaction

The Orlando Magic pulled off quite the trick with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, taking Duke forward Paolo Banchero when they had the NBA draft community convinced they'd be selecting Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr.

The Magic didn't have a formal meeting or workout with the eventual No. 1 pick, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Magic's selection of the Duke star wasn't the only surprising development of the night. This was a draft class without clear consensus after the top three or four players, and even those picks didn't go according to Hoyle.

Here's a look at the complete listing of picks, with grades for each team and some analysis and reaction to the most notable picks and developments.

NBA Draft Results and Grades

Atlanta: A+

Brooklyn: N/A

Boston: B

Charlotte: A

Chicago: C-

Cleveland: A-

Dallas: B+

Denver: A

Detroit: A+

Golden State: B

Houston: A

Indiana: B+

Los Angeles Clippers: B-

Los Angeles Lakers: B

Memphis: C+

Miami: A

Milwaukee: B

Minnesota: A-

New Orleans: A

New York: A-

Oklahoma City: B+

Orlando: A

Philadelphia: B

Phoenix: N/A

Portland: B-

San Antonio: B

Sacramento: B

Toronto: B

Utah: N/A

Washington: B+

Analysis and Reaction

AP Photo/John Minchillo

Jabari Smith Jr., right, is congratulated by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected third overall in the NBA basketball draft by the Houston Rockets, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The Magic's last-minute stunner was great draft night drama, but it shouldn't be all that surprising. Paolo Banchero was the No. 1 player on Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman's big board, as well as Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer's rankings.

Nonetheless, you have to respect the commitment to the smokescreen from the Magic. As Evan Sidery of Basketball News noted, Banchero's odds to be the first pick went from +1600 ($100 wager wins $1600) to -200 ($200 wager wins $100) in the three days leading up to the draft.

The fact that Jabari Smith was suddenly available with the second pick did not change the Oklahoma City Thunder's plan. They still opted to take Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga with the second pick.

Holmgren is a bundle of potential and truly brings a unique skillset to the table. However, that cuts both ways. At 7'0", 195 pounds, Holmgren has an unprecedented frame.

While he doesn't move like a seven-footer on offense and brings elite rim protection on defense, it's fair to question how his body will hold up against bigger NBA defenders and the rigors of an 82-game schedule.

The Thunder taking on that risk made the Rockets one of the biggest winners of the night.

They were able to select Smith, the Auburn forward who easily could have been the top prospect taken.

Smith gives the Rockets' young core another high-ceiling option on the wing. Jonathan Givony of ESPN called the 19-year-old the best shooter in the draft. The 6'10" forward hit 42 percent of his threes on an Auburn offense where he was expected to carry the scoring burden every night.

The next surprise came at No. 4. Jaden Ivey was fourth on Wasserman's big board and was generally the consensus fourth-best prospect in the draft.

The Kings elected to take Keegan Murray with the fourth pick, though. They opened the door for the Detroit Pistons to get Ivey, giving them a good complement to Cade Cunningham. James Edwards III of The Athletic reported multiple teams tried to trade for the Purdue guard, but the Pistons balked at all offers.

That speaks to how highly the Pistons view their new guard's potential.

Detroit wasn't done building around Cunningham, though. They later agreed to a trade in principle with the New York Knicks that brought in the No. 9 prospect on Wasserman's board in Jalen Duren, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Pistons also took on Kemba Walker's contract in the trade. The 32-year-old has just one year left on his deal and only played in 37 games last season. His deal will be worth $9.1 million and clears around $15 million for the Knicks, per Spotrac.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN later reported Walker is expected to negotiate a buyout with the Pistons and become a free agent.

That Knicks were active in working the phones. In addition to the reported deal that sent Duren and Walker to Detroit, they also received "multiple first-round picks" from the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 11 pick, per Wojnarowski.

The Thunder used the pick to take wing Ousmane Dieng from the New Zealand Breakers.

It was a high price to pay for the rebuilding Oklahoma City team, but they made it clear throughout the night they are all-in on building a young core of players right now.