Uproxx

The 2022 NBA Draft is less than six weeks away and, as of Tuesday evening, the board is set. The Orlando Magic won the draft lottery, taking a 14 percent chance and turning it into the top overall pick and boundless choices. Of course, it is fair to point out that there is not a definitive No. 1 overall player in the 2022 class but, if nothing else, Orlando holds the keys to the board. Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings are a solid winner from the evening, jumping from the No. 7 odds up to the No. 4 slot, and the Oklahoma City Thunder popped up to No. 2 for the franchise’s highest draft pick since selecting Kevin Durant in 2007. Chatter will continue over the next five-plus weeks, and especially during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, but there are at least four candidates — Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Jaden Ivey — for the top spots and the potential for real fireworks. With that out of the way, let’s dive into a rapid reaction mock draft of the first round.