The Orlando Magic had a chance to control their own destiny and took an unexpected turn on Friday, drafting at Duke University. Paolo Banchero with the first general selection.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had reported early Friday morning that the top three choices were expected to go as planned, with the Magic selecting the American university star. Jabari Smith.
Instead, the Magic opted for Banchero in a move that Wojnarowski described as “one of the great stealth operations” and reported that it would blow up “everyone’s draft boards.”
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Banchero averaged 17.2 points while leading Duke to the Final Four, although earlier reports emerged that he had continually delayed scheduled workouts with the Magic.
“If Paolo had had a chance to go for one, he wouldn’t have reduced his training with Orlando over and over and over again,” draft expert Jonathan Givony told The Lowe Post.
Bleacher Report Jake Fischer tweeted that Banchero had a visit scheduled to Orlando for Tuesday [AEST] but he also canceled it, finally getting on the phone with the Magic.
Paolo Banchero was the first general selection. Source: FOX SPORTS
Gonzaga University Chet Holmgrenwhich makes an imposing 7 feet tall, was taken by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the second overall selection.
He will join the Thunder as a new teammate of Australian Josh Giddey in the reconstruction of Oklahoma City.
“I feel like I could fit in with almost anyone,” Holmgren said earlier in the week.
“But mostly a base like Josh Giddey … it would make my life easier. With Shai, he doesn’t need anyone’s help. He’s a hell of a player.”
As for the 19-year-old Smithwho stood out for the Auburn University Tigers this year during his only season as a college player, the Houston Rockets took the third option.
Elsewhere, despite speculation that they would change to get a veteran, the Sacramento Kings used their fourth pick to draft the Iowa one. Keegan Murray.
Garden Iveywho averaged 17.3 points per game for Purdue, was caught by the Detroit Pistons with the fifth pick.
From an Australian perspective, all eyes were set Dyson Daniels and while I had a chance to go to the Indiana Pacers with the sixth selection, they went for Bennedict Mathurin.
Daniels had a great chance of going to Portland to join Damian Lillard, but the Blazers opted for the biggest mystery of the draft: Shaedon Sharpe.
Instead, Daniels will go to the New Orleans Pelicans after being selected with the eighth overall selection.
Daniels has the ability to protect four of the five positions and is a true two-way threat that will be added to the central trio of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
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Order of the Draft of the NBA 2022
First round
1. Orlando Magic – Paolo Banchero
2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Chet Holmgren
3. Houston Rockets – Jabari Smith
4. Sacramento Kings – Keegan Murray
5. Detroit Pistons – Ivey Field
6. Indiana Pacers – Bennedict Mathurin
7. Portland Trail Blazers – Shaedon Sharpe
8. New Orleans Pelicans (Los Angeles Lakers) – Dyson Daniels
9. San Antonio Spurs – Jeremy Sochan
10. Washington Wizards
11. Knicks of New York
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (of the Los Angeles Clippers)
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. Charlotte Hornets (of New Orleans)
16. Atlanta Hawks
17. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)
18. Chicago Bulls
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)
21. Denver Nuggets
22. Memphis Grizzlies (Utah)
23. Philadelphia 76ers
24. Milwaukee Bucks
25. San Antonio Spurs (of Boston)
26. Houston Rockets (from Dallas)
27. Miami Heat
28. Golden State Warriors
29. Memphis Grizzlies
30. Denver Nuggets (from Oklahoma City)
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