The NBA is already back! Did you miss it? The 2022 NBA draft is 8 p.m. ET Thursday, a week after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The win gave the Warriors their fourth championship in the last eight seasons, removing all doubt as to whether they deserve to be called a dynasty.
How was that dynasty built? The NBA draft, of course. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson all joined the Warriors via the draft.
For every other team, the opportunity to build their own dynasty starts tonight. Who will the Orlando Magic select to lead their franchise to the promised land? Will the Sacramento Kings trade the No. 4 pick? Which second-round prospects are teams eying?
We’re excited to find that out with you. Consider this live tracker your one-stop shop for all things related to the 2022 NBA draft. Below, we’ll provide analysis and commentary on the event in real time.
Want to know how a player fits on their new roster, or who showed up to the draft with the best outfit? We’ve got you covered.
• Yahoo Sports’ final NBA mock draft: Draft analyst Krysten Peek gives her predictions.
• NBA draft live board: Up-to-date analysis on the latest moves by every team.
• NBA draft buzz: What our experts are hearing as draft day approaches.
• Draft sleepers: These players could prove a lot of teams wrong.
• NBA draft podcast: Where will the biggest names land?
• NBA draft odds: Jabari Smith is the favorite to go No. 1
Reports: Kyrie Irving has list of destinations if he leaves Nets; Kevin Durant mulls future
Hours before the 2022 NBA draft, a pair of complementary reports emerged signaling that not only does Kyrie Irving have a list of preferred destinations if he ends up going the sign-and-trade route, but Kevin Durant is also considering his future with the Nets.
The Durant report came from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, while ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Irving’s list of destinations.
Wojnarowski noted the teams on Irving’s list may not prioritize him despite his interest.
The two reports are our firmest sign yet the Nets could be walking into an unexpectedly seismic offseason, with both of their superstars potentially looking for an exit sign. — Jack Baer
Will Houston trade up to take Paolo Banchero?
The Vegas line shifted drastically earlier this week in anticipation Paolo Banchero could go No. 1. With no clear-cut overall pick, much speculation is swirling around as to what the Orlando Magic will do when they’re on the clock later Thursday.
Jabari Smith still makes the most sense for the Magic at No. 1, and if the Houston Rockets worry that Oklahoma City Thunder will take Banchero at No. 2, they’ll need to make a move up.
The Rockets aren’t showing their cards, but Banchero spoke highly of his time in Houston for his workout during his media availability and said he could see himself fitting in nicely alongside Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.
This could all be last-minute smoke from Orlando to entice Houston into a trade and sweeten the deal if they drop down to No. 3. — Krysten Peek
Jabari Smith: ‘I’ll be surprised if I’m not taken No. 1’
NEW YORK — The No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft belongs to the Orlando Magic. And at this point, it is no secret whom they plan to select Thursday night.
“I’ll be surprised if I’m not taken No. 1,” Jabari Smith Jr., the consensus top overall pick out of Auburn, told Yahoo Sports. “It’s just my competitive nature mixed with my unselfishness and my ability to just shoot the ball, defend multiple positions and care about winning. I don’t care about stats. I feel I can help any team right away. But I feel I’m the No. 1 pick.” — Chris Haynes
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl confident Jabari Smith will go No. 1 and ‘make Orlando win’
NEW YORK — The day is finally here. If they keep the pick, all signs point to the Magic selecting Auburn’s Jabari Smith with the No. 1 overall pick.
Smith, a 6-foot-11 forward, played one season at Auburn and head coach Bruce Pearl knows exactly the kind of player the Magic are getting if they take him with the first pick.
“What makes him No. 1? For his size, he’s the best jump shooter I’ve seen in college in over 20 years,” Pearl told Yahoo Sports. “He’s about as ready, as far as a one-and-done, than I’ve ever seen and he is going to make Orlando win.” — Krysten Peek
Tari Eason, who could be the Scottie Barnes of this class, can ‘definitely see the comparisons in our games’
NEW YORK — This time last year, Tari Eason was in the middle of making a decision that would change the trajectory of his career. After a disappointing freshman season at Cincinnati, where he averaged only 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in 18 minutes, Eason decided to enter the transfer portal and eventually landed at LSU.
At the time, Will Wade had sent only three players to the NBA draft (most notably Cam Thomas to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 27 in 2021), but Eason liked the freedom the offense provided and the idea of playing in a new conference.
“There was a learning curve and it was a new team, new season, new league and I was just adjusting to everything,” Eason told Yahoo Sports. “Through that, I just got more comfortable in the game and that’s when things just started to open up.” — Krysten Peek
Jalen Williams getting lottery buzz
The 6-foot-7 junior out of Santa Clara shot up draft boards after his strong showing at the NBA draft combine and solidified himself as a first-round pick. After working out for a handful of teams, Williams’ stock has continued to rise heading into the draft and there are late rumblings that Williams could sneak into the lottery, anywhere from No. 8 (New Orleans Pelicans) to No. 19 (Minnesota Timberwolves).
“This process has just been a blessing,” Williams told Yahoo Sports. “I’m from a smaller school, but basketball is basketball and I feel like I can compete at the highest level, and I’m just ready to get to work for whatever team picks me.” — Krysten Peek
Projected No. 1 pick Jabari Smith stress-free 24 hours before the draft
Yahoo Sports caught up with Smith in the host hotel of the draft and Smith was visibly calm and relaxed 24 hours heading into the draft.
“I feel great and I’m ready for tomorrow,” Smith told Yahoo Sports. “I might not sleep tonight, but that’s just because I’m excited for tomorrow.” — Krysten Peek
Report: Pistons trade Jerami Grant to Trail Blazers for first-round pick
The Detroit Pistons traded 28-year-old wing Jerami Grant to the Portland Trail Blazers for a top-four protected 2025 first-round draft pick from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
In the deal, Portland and Detroit will reportedly swap the Nos. 36 and 46 picks in the second round of Thursday’s NBA draft. The Blazers will return the Pistons’ 2025 second-round pick to Detroit. Portland also dealt the Pistons the more favorable of its own second-round pick and the New Orleans Pelicans’ in 2026.
Grant averaged 19.2 points (on 43/36/84 shooting splits), 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.9 minutes over 47 games for the Pistons last season. He was an integral role player for the Denver Nuggets during their run to the 2020 Eastern Conference finals before seeking more playmaking responsibility in free agency. The Pistons gave him a three-year, $60 million contract and higher usage in 2020, and he emerged as a fringe All-Star candidate. With him as a primary option, though, Detroit won 43 games over the past two seasons.
Grant is another wing in a long line of options the Blazers have tried to fit around six-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, and he might be the best of a bunch that has included Norman Powell, Robert Covington, Gary Trent Jr., Trevor Ariza, Rodney Hood, Mo Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu, among others.
— Ben Rohrbach
Las Vegas turning a corner on Paolo Banchero odds to go No. 1
In the past 24 hours, Banchero’s odds to be drafted No. 1 overall on BetMGM have shifted from +900 to +200 (Chet Holmgren is now +225). That’s enough of a swing to believe the Orlando Magic are considering Banchero with the No. 1 pick (many say it’s a two-way race between Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren).
Banchero is the most-ready physically out of the top three players with his 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame. When Holmgren and Banchero went head-to-head last November, Banchero looked to be the better player as he posted 21 points, five rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes. A scout or executive from every NBA team was in the building watching Banchero excel in transition as the primary ball-handler and going toe-to-toe defensively with Holmgren.
This swing in Vegas could be an indication that Banchero had an excellent workout in Orlando, with Holmgren playing coy and not saying who he worked out for or how those workouts went.
When is the 2022 NBA draft?
The NBA draft is Thursday, June 23.
What is the start time of the 2022 NBA draft?
The NBA draft begins at 8 p.m. ET.
What TV channel is the 2022 NBA draft on?
The NBA draft’s first round will be televised on ABC and ESPN. The second round will be on ESPN.
Where is the 2022 NBA draft?
The NBA draft will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the league’s Brooklyn Nets play. This is the ninth straight year the draft will be held at Barclays Center.
Who has the first pick in the 2022 NBA draft?
The Orlando Magic hold the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft after winning the draft lottery in May. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings round out the top four based on the lottery.
What is the full order of picks in the 2022 NBA draft?
The current order is:
First Round
1. Orlando
2. Oklahoma City
3. Houston
4. Sacramento
5. Detroit
6. Indiana
7. Portland
8. New Orleans (from Los Angeles Lakers)
9. San Antonio
10. Washington
11. New York
12. Oklahoma City (from Los Angeles Clippers)
13. Charlotte
14. Cleveland
15. Charlotte (from New Orleans)
16. Atlanta
17. Houston (from Brooklyn)
18. Chicago
19. Minnesota
20. San Antonio (from Toronto)
21. Denver
22. Memphis (from Utah)
23. Philadelphia
24. Milwaukee
25. San Antonio (from Boston)
26. Dallas
27. Miami
28. Golden State
29. Memphis
30. Denver (from Oklahoma City via Phoenix )
Second Round
31. Indiana (from Houston via Cleveland)
32. Orlando
33. Toronto (from Detroit via San Antonio, Washington and Chicago)
34. Oklahoma City
35. L.A. Lakers (from Orlando via Indiana and Milwaukee)
36. Portland
37. Sacramento
38. San Antonio (from Los Angeles Lakers via Chicago and Washington)
39. Cleveland (from San Antonio via Utah)
40. Minnesota (from Washington via Cleveland)
41. New Orleans
42. New York
43. L.A. Clippers
44. Atlanta
45. Charlotte
46. Detroit (from Brooklyn)
47. Memphis (from Cleveland via New Orleans and Atlanta)
48. Minnesota
49. Cleveland (from Sacramento via Chicago, Memphis and Detroit)
50. Minnesota (from Denver via Philadelphia)
51. Golden State (from Toronto via Philadelphia)
52. New Orleans (from Utah)
53. Boston
— Milwaukee (forfeited)
— Miami (from Philadelphia via Denver; forfeited by Miami)
54. Washington (from Dallas)
55. Golden State
56. Cleveland (from Miami via Indiana)
57. Portland (from Memphis via Utah)
58. Indiana (from Phoenix)
Which top prospects will attend the 2022 NBA draft?
This is the current list of invitees to the green room at Barclays Center for the NBA draft, listed in alphabetical order.
Ochai Agbaji, F, Kansas
Malaki Branham, F, Ohio State
Dyson Daniels, G, G League Ignite
Ousmane Dieng, F, NZ Breakers
AJ Griffin, F, Duke
Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona
Mark Williams, C, Duke
How does the NBA draft work?
The NBA draft lottery was held in May to determine the order of the top 14 picks in this year’s draft. The Orlando Magic earned the right to select the No. 1 overall pick. Once the Ping Pong balls determine the top-four order, the Nos. 5-30 picks are determined by regular season finish.
How many rounds are in the NBA draft?
There are two rounds in the NBA draft, and both will be held on June 23.
How many picks are in the NBA draft?
In 2022, there will be 58 selections in the NBA draft instead of the customary 60 (30 in each round). The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks each lost a second-round pick due to violating league rules.
