2022 NBA Draft Top Storylines

The 2022 NBA Draft in Brooklyn commences Thursday night at Barclays Center. We are about to find out who the Orlando Magic sees fit as the No. 1 pick as they make the first overall pick for the first time since 2004. More than that, the offseason gets more life on draft day with a plethora of prospects entering the league.

Nitrobetting covers the top five storylines heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. Find interesting points and potential moves as Thursday inches closer.

Top Five Storylines for the 2022 NBA Draft

Jaden Ivey is ready to make some noise in the league ???? #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/ixk1bTM9yS

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2022

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Orlando Magic rides the hot seat

At the moment, Jabari Smith seems to be Orlando’s top prospect. It hangs with their plans to acquire a versatile scorer and form a young duo alongside Franz Wagner. The man from Gonzaga hosts a plethora of skills that fit the modern basketball system. He can hit shots from deep and does it well for a seven-footer. His vision makes him an incredible passer while keeping his defensive movements in check. That said, his ceiling might be the highest of any draft prospect in recent years.

This is easily a huge step for the franchise. With a poor record of 43 wins in the last two seasons and two playoff appearances since 2013, it’s time for major changes. Orlando is yet to clear the first round of the playoffs since Dwight Howard spearheaded the franchise.

Jaden Ivey: a diamond in the rough

Looking past the top three, we encounter Jaden Ivey on his own wavelength. He might not match the hype of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, or Paolo Banchero, but he does boast certain qualities that make him stand out. The Purdue guard pulled in hard in his recent season for the Boilermakers as a sophomore. His perimeter game and defense were top-notch.

The six-foot-four guard has the Wizards and the Hawks interested in a deal with the Kings to snatch him at No. 4. While Sacramento denied the speculations, Ivey is said to veer away from California’s capital city. This could spark more draft-day storylines.

Field day for the Thunder

Oklahoma City prepares to make a pair of first-round picks for the 2022 NBA Draft. Right now, they have the No.2 and No. 12. On top of that, the franchise plans to land another selection in the top ten.

Everyone should keep a close eye on their plans with the No. 2 pick. Reports strongly suggest that Jabari Smith Jr. is likely to be snagged right away by the Orlando Magic. This leaves Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren up for grabs. However, there are also talks about the Thunder going with Purdue guard Jaden Ivey. The young talent seems like a fourth or fifth pick at best, but the Thunder could use the second overall pick to mold the promising player into a more explosive part of their lineup.

Having Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey means more headroom for Ivey. Insiders also believe that he will fit Oklahoma’s system like a glove considering his star potential alone.

First-round pick trades

More movement is bound to happen early on. Western Conference runner-up Dallas Mavericks already traded their first-round pick as a bargaining chip for Christian Wood from the Rockets. That’s the first of many moves we expect to see from contenders to secure more talent for the next season.

The 76ers are reportedly looking to trade the pairing of Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle for a veteran player. Recent reports link the Sixers to acquiring Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon. The Kings make their way to this conversation with the No. 4 pick. A promising future could be brewing with Sacramento wanting to secure an established player to their roster and use the top-four acts as solid leverage for a trade.

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets could package one of their picks (21st and 30th) for more depth. They have been linked to Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby in a package trade. NBA Champions Golden State Warriors have no inclination toward the 28th pick and could open up more options to the team.

Return of the centers?

The NBA has changed since big men dominated the floor. Right now, we are in the middle of a dynamic game as teams search for two-way players. Smaller lineups are more common as coaches try to gain an advantage from deep and switchability on the court.

This shift leads to fewer traditional big men topping the draft. While some teams still opt to put centers at the focal point of their game, such as the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and the Sixers’ Joel Embiid, it is a rarer sight in the league.

At the moment, two players have attributes close to that of traditional centers. We look forward to Mark Williams from Duke and Jalen Duren from Memphis cracking the lottery. How low or high they go in the list tells us the big man situation in the league right now.

Where to bet on the 2022 NBA Draft with Bitcoin

The NBA draft is a great way to test your basketball knowledge to the test. The odds see most of the aforementioned players within the top five, with Jabari Smith Jr. leading the pack. Having said that, Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2022 NBA Draft with Bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire NBA Draft betting more enjoyable.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.