JBL ROOKIE DRAFT RESULTS 2022

Results

JBL Rookie Draft Order

ROUND 1
1. Dayton $15 - Chet Holmgren
2. French Lick $12 - Paolo Banchero
3. Cali $10 - Jabari Smith
4. Idaho $9 - Keegan Murray
5. Arctic $8 - Jaden Ivey
6. Bellingham $7 - Johnny Davis
7. Seoul $6 - Jalen Williams
8. Norfolk $5 - Bennedict Mathurin
9. Juan de Fuca $4 - Shaeden Sharpe
10. Chilliwack $3 - Jalen Duren
11. Brussels $2 - Walker Kessler
12. Bangkok $1 - Mark Williams
13. Maui $1 - Jeremy Sochan
14. Golden $1 - Tari Eason
15. Happy Valley $1 - Jake LaRavia

ROUND 2
16. Happy Valley $1 - Ousmane Dieng
17. Golden $1 - Dyson Daniels
18. Maui $1 - Christian Koloko
19. Chilliwack $1 -Ocahi Agbaji
20. Brussels $1 - Nikola Jovic
21. Bangkok $1 - PASS
22. Juan de Fuca $1 - Patrick Baldwin Jr
23. Norfolk $1 - Kenny Lofton Jr
24. Seoul $1 - PASS
25. Bellingham $1 - PASS
26. Arctic $1 - PASS
27. Idaho $1 - AJ Griffin
28. Cali $1 - PASS
29, French Lick $1 - Dalen Terry

30. Dayton $1 - PASS 

Some comments:

- Chet is the Unicorn swing for the fences. Sure, Paolo or Jabari could have gone #1 but I like the new kid on the block has the patience to build a strong core. Plus, Chet could be a 'free' keeper with the new PLUS ONE rule now in effect.

- Paolo, Jabari, Keegan, Jaden - the top 5 picks in this rookie draft were clear as day. Only suspense was in what order. Liked all of these. 

- I like Jalen Williams in OKC a lot. I think he can start.

- I like the 3 big Centers. Duren, Kessler and Williams.  Playing time will be the key for all of them. Duren could start in Detroit really quickly. Kessler is the only true big body in Utah and blocked almost 5 shots a game in college. Utah has their modern day Mark Eaton. And Mark Williams only has to beat out Mason Plumlee (and Nick Richards apparently) as coach Clifford hates rookies. All good long term options.

- Love the Sochan pick. On a bad Spurs team he's a tenacious defender and reminds many of Rodman. 

- I will say I was happy (and surprised) that Tari Eason was available for me at 14. He had a fantastic summer league and has great potential in Houston with an agin Eric Gordon likely on the way out and role player Jae'Sean Tate in front of him. Plus, little known fact, his hands are 9.25 inches...almost the same as Kawhi's. Hmmm.

- I was hoping Jake LaRavia fell to me at 17. Good pick from Happy Valley.

- Shocked to see Dyson Daniels, the #8 pick in the NBA draft, still there at 17. I'll take a chance. Yes, the Pelicans are stacked but this kid gives off Giddey vibes. 

- Honestly I was shocked to see Johnny Davis go at 6. Maybe Bellingham knows something. 

- Little surprised to see Sharpe go at 7 as well. He is a boom or bust project with PDX and all signs point to him being really good. But will he play this year? Will the Blazers use him as trade bait to get another star? 

- Finally, I love the Kenny Lofton Jr pick. Dude is a wrecking ball. A baby Zach Randolph. I hope he sticks in Memphis and gets some run. He's so much fun to watch. 

So how many of the 24 rookies remain on their original drafted teams? I'm going to say 10-12.  And I will say that adding the 2nd round of rookies was a lot of fun. It also adds another part of a trade chip for JBL deals. Will be fun to see it play out.