Ranking the Top-35 2022 NBA Draft Prospects for a Team-Centric Orlando Magic Big Board

Top-35 2022 NBA Draft prospects ranked into tiers for an Orlando Magic Big Board

photo credit: NBAE via Getty Images

The 2022 NBA Draft is finally here; draft day is TOMORROW! As of now, the Orlando Magic hold the #1, #32, & #35 pick in the draft. Things change quickly, of course. Orlando could always trade down from #1, move back into the first round, or flip the second-rounders for future trade ammo.

Below are my tiers of draft prospects ranked for a team-specific big board curated for the Orlando Magic, with my best attempt at weighing a player’s realistic opportunity to succeed given the roster fit, team role, and organizational support. To be clear, this is my big board hypothetically selecting players from the Orlando Magic’s perspective, not based on outside sources or the team’s reported interest. Teams must stay prepared in case of the unknown, such as a myster team in the early 20s offering their first-rounder in this draft to shed salary.

Each player is ranked within tiers, with each tier representing a similar floor and each player ranked by potential, or at least by the clearest path to realistically reach that potential ceiling in Orlando. Click Chet Holmgren’s name for a full breakdown on his game and all the reasons he’s likely the Orlando Magic’s top target.

2022 Orlando Magic Big Board

Tier 1
Potential Stars
(Good to Great Starters)

1. Chet Holmgren

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

how wild is it that Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren - first played together in 3rd grade - were AAU teammates - won 4 state titles each at Minnehaha (3 together)

2. Paolo Banchero

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

PAO right in the kisser

3. Jabari Smith Jr.

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

thinking about Markelle Fultz hitting Jabari Smith in his shooting pocket just because

4. Jaden Ivey

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

Jaden Ivey PICK-SIX off a bad pass from Wembanyama

5. AJ Griffin

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

Orlando following draft lottery tradition by falling out of the top-3 wouldn’t be so bad this year if it means adding a sniper like AJ Griffin to the frontcourt

6. Bennedict Mathurin

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

Feelin' himself after drawing the AND1 on another forceful drive, Bennedict Mathurin finishes with a team-high 31 PTS on 73.3% FG%, 9/10 FT, and a +17 in a win for Canada in the U19 FIBA World Cup 3rd Place Game.

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

Mathurin with some strong finishes at the rim in the second half.

7. Shaedon Sharpe

Paul Biancardi @PaulBiancardi

Remember Shaedon Sharpe ascended to the No. 1 spot in the ESPN 100 before he left for Kentucky. NBA scoring ability with deep range. Can find his own or score from an action.Explosive vertical. One of the youngest in the draft. Top 7 pick. espn.com/mens-college-b… @SCNext

8. Tari Eason

Chip Jones @ChipJNBA

New Video! Tari Eason scouting report is live! Tons of film breakdown and graphics as well as NBA projections and best team fit! Link to full video youtu.be/koL64igZ7qI Likes & RTs appreciated :)

9. Johnny Davis

Mark Schindler @MG_Schindler

Hello Johnny Davis

10. Jalen Duren

David Sajdak @davidsajdak8

Here are 1.5 mins of Jalen Duren obliterating shots at the rim to bless your tl this morning. Duren had a 9.9% block rate for the 33rd-ranked defensive team in the nation this past season. Definitely a player that's been underrated by consensus.

Tier 2
Potential Two-Way Starters
(Good Basketball Players, Versatile Defenders, & Offensive Connecters)

11. Nikola Jovic

Beyond the RK @beyondtheRK

nice sequence showcasing Jovic's timing and ball skills that won't show up in a stat sheet brings ball up floor against full-court pressure tosses pin-point entry pass where only teammate can catch it leaves corner to show double on the post, rotates correctly, contests jumper

12. Blake Wesley

Swish Cultures @swishcultures_

6’5 19 Year old guard Blake Wesley ( @blakewesley0 ) is very gifted 😳 🔥14.5 points 1.4 steals his off the dribble counters are nice and he can really defend 🗣 @JordanRichardSC

13. Jake LaRavia

DraftExpressContent @DXContent

Jake LaRavia made 38% 3PT% + 78% FT% last season, brings a strong feel for the game + has intriguing playmaking ability defensively. The fact that he's only 20-years-old gives him some additional upside he can still tap into, according to @DraftExpress >> dx.im/22-Mock-Latest…

14. Jeremy Sochan

Draft Dummies @DraftDummies

This might be THE Jeremy Sochan clip All his strengths on display -- defensive activity, ball handling for his size and also feel/passing, especially in transition

15. Ousmane Dieng

Trevor William Marks @twmarks_

By the end of the season with NZ Breakers, 6'9 W Ousmane Dieng was breaking out T-Macs, deadlegs, BTB snatches, and Tatum sidesteps to get to his pull-up jumper from distance. Gaudy stuff for an 18-year-old to break out in a rugged defensive league like the NBL. Fun flashes.

16. Keegan Murray

ESPN @espn

Keegan Murray is ready for the next level 🤝 Where will the Iowa star end up? 🏀 #NBADraft

17. Dyson Daniels

Eric Shapiro @eric_shap

One of my favorite microskills from this draft is Dyson Daniels' close-out containment. His ability to recover, flip his hips, and stay in front is really high level.

18. E.J. Liddell

Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress

E.J. Liddell is turning himself into such a well-rounded offensive player. More aggressive looking to shoot from the perimeter, push off the glass, find the open man, and even create out of PNR. And he's also a monster defensively on top of that. Now a projected first round pick.

19. Vince Williams Jr.

Matt Powers @DraftPow

VCU's Vince Williams Jr. shot an unreal 8-11 from three off stepbacks, change of direction and in & outs his junior and senior seasons, as part of his resume while shooting 40% on 272 attempts from deep. Somehow, he is absent from most major mock drafts, a first rounder to me

20. Jaylin Williams Jr.

Global Scouting @GlobalScouting_

Jaylin Williams (Center, Arkansas) 6’10”, 7’1” wingspan, 235 lbs - Great passing big. Does a great job in the short roll and passing at the top of the key. - Best charge taker in the entire draft. Great job at selling the calls. - Solid defensively. Great defensive positioning.

21. Josh Minott

Global Scouting @GlobalScouting_

Josh Minott (SF, Memphis) 6’9”, 7’0” wingspan, 195 lbs. - A really good finisher. Can finish above the rim due to his elite athleticism. - Defensive tools are intriguing. Defends multiple positions. Good defensive instincts. - Plays with a high motor and fights for rebounds.

22. Jalen Williams

believe in leon @_prezidente

top 5 clip of the cycle from Jalen Williams

23. Christian Koloko

🦇 @nickcn_

Christian Koloko.

24. Mark Williams

Global Scouting @GlobalScouting_

Mark Williams doesn’t have a ton of versatility as a pick and roll defender but he’s really good as a drop defender. His size and length will be an obvious intimidation factor when players attack him at the rim. His elite rim protection ability is fully maximized in the drop.

25. Malaki Branham

Brian Geisinger @bgeis_bird

Malaki Branham able to turn the corner off the DHO and get a piece of the rim — low angle + stride length to split the help at the nail and Bryce McGowens in the paint. Beautiful inside hand finish from this Shuffle/Chicago action.

26. Bryce McGowens

Derek Murray @DMurrayHoops

Bryce McGowens with a great game last night vs Ohio State with 26 points. The potential RD1 pick is now averaging 17.2/5.3/1.4 on the season. Shows promise as a creator and volume scorer at 6’7.

Tier 3
Potential Rotation Players
(Possible Role Players)

27. Jaden Hardy

28. TyTy Washington

29. Ochai Agbaji

30. MarJon Beauchamp

31. Walker Kessler

32. Christian Braun

33. Peyton Watson

34. Kennedy Chandler

35. Andrew Nembhard

2022 NBA Draft Orlando Magic Big Board
Top-35 Tiered Rankings

Tier 1
Potential Stars
(Good to Great Starters)

1. Chet Holmgren

2. Paolo Banchero

3. Jabari Smith Jr.

4. Jaden Ivey

5. AJ Griffin

6. Bennedict Mathurin

7. Shaedon Sharpe

8. Tari Eason

9. Johnny Davis

10. Jalen Duren

Tier 2
Potential Two-Way Starters
(Good Basketball Players, Versatile Defenders, & Offensive Connecters)

11. Nikola Jovic

12. Blake Wesley

13. Jake LaRavia

14. Jeremy Sochan

15. Ousmane Dieng

16. Keegan Murray

17. Dyson Daniels

18. E.J. Liddell

19. Vince Williams Jr.

20. Jaylin Williams

21. Josh Minott

22. Jalen Williams

23. Christian Koloko

24. Mark Williams

25. Malaki Branham

26. Bryce McGowens

Tier 3
Potential Rotation Players
(Possible Role Players)

27. Jaden Hardy

28. TyTy Washington

29. Ochai Agbaji

30. MarJon Beauchamp

31. Walker Kessler

32. Christian Braun

33. Peyton Watson

34. Kennedy Chandler

35. Andrew Nembhard

Click this link for a full film and stats breakdown of Chet Holmgren’s game, including his FIBA U19 tourney and Gonzaga games involving other top prospects, along with all of the reasons Orlando likely prioritizes Chet first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

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Follow @BeyondTheRK on Twitter and YouTube for more Orlando Magic film breakdowns and NBA analysis on basketball team building, scouting, and the draft!