NBA Draft 2022 live tracker: Start time, order, news, mocks and rankings

Although the Kyrie Irving saga took over the Knicks ’news cycle Monday, there was another report from The Athletic‘s Shams Charania about a point guard New York could try to acquire. Charnia wrote about how the Indiana Pacers are “seriously discussing” Malcolm Brogdon trades.

And according to Charnia’s sources, the Knicks could be potential suitors.

Brogdon is the type of guard New York would be interested in. The only issue is his health. He’s topped 56 games only once since his rookie season in 2016-17.

(Photos: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)

After weeks of rumors and countless mock drafts, the 2022 NBA Draft is finally here.

The Pelicans are in an interesting place with their No. 8 pick. After an impressive showing ended in a first-round exit at the hands of the Suns, several questions loomed for New Orleans in tonight’s draft.

Will the Sacramento Kings keep the No. 4 pick? Is Jaden Ivey a lock to end up going fourth – with or without the Kings? Is Shaedon Sharpe a possibility at that spot? If not, how far will he end up falling in the top 10?

Several quality options will be available, regardless of what happens in front of the Pelicans in the draft order.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest questions fans have been grappling with. The AthleticWilliam Guillory provided his thoughts on where things stand.

(Photo: Darren Yamashita / USA Today)

The Lakers are looking to bolster their shallow roster after essentially purchasing the 35th pick in the draft from the Orlando Magic.

With limited means to upgrade their roster this offseason, the Lakers are using their most reliable roster-building tool over the past decade: the draft.

The Lakers have a history of drafting well over the past decade, but especially so in the late first / early second portion of the draft. Some of their recent draft picks in that range: Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac, Larry Nance Jr., Josh Hart, Thomas Bryant and Mo Wagner. Last season, the Lakers didn’t even have a pick and still ended up with a rotation player in undrafted wing Austin Reaves.

There’s a reasonable likelihood that whoever they draft at no. 35 will eventually become a rotation player based on their track record. They could also use the player down the road as a sweetener in a potential Russell Westbrook trade.

Franchise-defining decisions are on the horizon for the Sacramento Kings, and it starts in tonight’s NBA Draft.

The first major personal move of the Mike Brown era arrives on this evening. The Kings have the fourth pick in the draft. Although Brown won’t be making the selection, general manager Monte McNair is.

But Brown’s arrival matters within Sacramento’s evolving equation.

(Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today)

The Washington Wizards need a talent infusion.

That’s no surprise after the 2021-22 season ended without a playoff berth. While injuries and illnesses factored into the Wizards ’struggles, the team clearly would benefit from adding at least one impact player.

In a perfect world, Washington would add someone who could make an immediate impact in tonight’s NBA Draft. But, that’s much easier said than done since the Wizards own the 10th and 54th picks.

(Photo: Brad Mills / USA Today)

With Paolo Banchero’s Vegas odds at being the number one pick moving overnight, one has to think it may be related to Houston’s desire to move up from No. 3.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, GM Rafael Stone reaffirmed the franchise’s aggressive nature, joking that Houston would call every team 5000 times. The Rockets are fine with picking third, but that doesn’t mean those conversations about moving up haven’t been had – because they have.

The Athletic‘s NBA Draft expert Sam Vecenie has graciously found a bit of time to chat specifically about the Bucks with beat writer Eric Nehm. Instead of doing one post to grade the big men on the Bucks’ roster and another to take a look at the prospects who might be available for Milwaukee, they decided to combine it all into one large, holistic look at the position.

Lets start with a review of last season and roll it right into a look at next season with potential big men prospects in the upcoming tonight’s draft

Let’s get into it!

(Photo: Chris Nicoll / USA Today)

Chris Holtmann, Ohio State head coach, remembered exactly when he knew Malaki Branham would only play one season for the Buckeyes.

It came following a crucial Ohio State win over Indiana in February, a victory punctuated by one memorable second-half stretch.

Branham made four free throws, grabbed a defensive rebound and delivered a key pass to EJ Liddell for a game-tying dunk with six seconds left in the game – all in the span of four minutes

After Ohio State secured an 80-69 overtime win, Holtmann texted athletic director Gene Smith.

“I texted (Smith) and said,‘ I’m not sure Malaki is going to be here next year, ’” Holtmann recalled in a phone interview with The Athletic. “And he said, ‘Yep, I agree.'”

(Photo: Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)

The 2022 NBA Draft is here, and the Clippers have the 43rd pick, a lone second-round selection for a team that missed the playoffs with a 42-40 record.

Going into this draft, The Athletic‘s Law Murray determined Los Angeles has some clear expectations that should dictate how the rest of the month goes. It is important to outline them before going into targets.

(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)

Jeremy Sochan’s hair has become an identifying trait to say the least.

Over the course of his lone season at Baylor, he’s rocked bleached blonde, blue and sometimes in pink.

When he interviewed with the Celtics last month at the NBA Draft Combine, a Boston executive led the session by asking him why he hadn’t dyed it green.

Sochan was conspicuous during his one year at Baylor, a vibrant force on the court who could not be ignored. There is no shortage of irony to this. Sochan is a chameleon in some ways.

Although his look is loud, his game allows him to fit in seamlessly wherever he goes. That’s part of his appeal in the upcoming draft, where his blend of savvy and defensive versatility are likely to make him a lottery pick, and perhaps a high one at that.

(Photo: Chris Jones / USA Today)

While the 2022 NBA Draft is an important step in the Detroit Pistons ’rebuilding effort, last year’s draft-day outcome proved to be the one that set the franchise on a more comfortable path forward.

Detroit has its guy, in the form of a 6-foot-6 ballhandler who can score in a variety of ways despite lacking blistering athleticism. Cade Cunningham is the face. The hard part is done.

Here, The Athletic‘s James L. Edwards III took a look at each prospect and the qualities in their games that do and don’t make them a good offensive fit next to Cunningham.

(Photo: Raj Mehta / USA Today)

There’s no one right way to rebuild.

Tonight, the 2022 NBA Draft takes place, once again giving bad teams a chance to turn their misfortunes into success. Two franchises, the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons, will look for continued progress a year after selecting Jalen Green and Cade Cunningham, respectively.

While the two teams took different paths to get here, they share a common future goal: winning. Their differences lie in individual processes, roster makeup, ability to wheel and deal and, of course, assets.

The Athletic‘s Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko and Pistons beat writer James Edwards III got together to discuss the multifaceted rebuild that affects both franchises.

(Photo: Thomas Shea / USA Today)

Either of these players could be in play as high as fourth or fifth, but it’s a near lock that both Shaedon Sharpe and Benedict Mathurin will be selected in the lottery tonight. Sharpe was born and raised in London, Ont., A two-hour drive west of Toronto, while Mathurin is from Montreal.

In 2011, the Cavaliers selected Tristan Thompson with the fourth-overall pick. Assuming the two Canadians go in the top-14 tonight, that will make 12 Canadians who have been selected in the lottery over the last 12 years. Four of those players – Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett – are among the 14 that have committed to play for the national senior men’s team over the next three summers.

Now all Canada has to do is qualify for the Paris Olympics.

(Photo: Jordan Prather / USA Today)