The top-three prospects on most draft boards are three bigs: Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. With the Houston Rockets landing the No. 3 pick in the NBA’s 2022 draft lottery, most analysts expect them to take whichever big remains.
But could there potentially be a late twist prior to the June 23 draft? In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony writes:
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The Rockets pick third in what many consider to be a three-player draft, making this a relatively easy choice on face value. (Jaden) Ivey’s candidacy is also under consideration here, as the idea of constructing arguably the most explosive backcourt in the NBA is said to be intriguing for Rockets brass.
Givony still lists Banchero to the Rockets as his official projection for the No. 3 slot in the first round. In theory, the big man from Duke is a cleaner roster fit for a Rockets squad that already has the likes of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Josh Christopher in the backcourt.
But as the calendar turns to June, whether Ivey can make a push in the final weeks is a storyline worth monitoring. The rebuilding Rockets are in a spot where they’re likely to prioritize talent ahead of fit — and if Houston views Ivey as the best talent, they can worry about the rest later.
2022 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 58 picks after the combine https://t.co/NcWdAiDpyS
— ELITE HOOPS REPORT (@ELITEHOOPSRPT) May 31, 2022
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