Analysis, intel and the latest mock draft: Everything you need to know for Thursday’s 2022 NBA draft

The 2022 NBA draft has finally arrived!

Who will unexpectedly rise Thursday night? Who will unexpectedly fall? Who will the Orlando Magic pick at No. 1, a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren or a dynamic shooter in Auburn’s Jabari Smith? Where will Duke’s Paolo Banchero land? Will the Sacramento Kings keep their No. 4 pick or trade it to another team — and shake things up? What last-minute trade could upend the entire draft order? You never know.

We, and you, have lots of questions. Luckily, we don’t have to wait long for the answers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 NBA draft, from how to watch the draft-night festivities to the full draft order; scouting reports on all the top prospects and where they may land to the latest intel, trade rumors, analysis and projections. ESPN’s experts will reveal the draft’s most NBA-ready prospects, as well as the players with the highest ceilings — and highest bust factors.

All the action is set to go down at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Watch on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App.

Find live coverage of the NBA draft, including pick-by-pick analysis, right here.

How to watch the 2022 NBA draft

  • NBA Today: Live from the NBA draft red carpet: 5 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App

  • NBA Draft Countdown: 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App

  • NBA draft: 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App

  • Live pick-by-pick draft analysis

Who are the top NBA draft prospects?

This class features a top-tier trio of forwards in Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero.

Rounding out the top 10, per Jonathan Givony’s top 100 prospects:

  • Jaden Ivey | PG | Purdue

  • Keegan Murray | PF | Iowa

  • Dyson Daniels | PG | G League Ignite

  • Shaedon Sharpe | SG | Kentucky

  • Bennedict Mathurin | SF | Arizona

  • A.J. Griffin | SF | Duke

  • Jalen Duren | C | Memphis

More

  • The stats have a different take on the top draft prospects and their All-Star potential — including who’ll be No. 1

  • Why Chet Holmgren’s unique game is the talk of the NBA draft

  • Shaedon Sharpe hasn’t played a minute of college basketball, so how do scouts rate him?

  • Players who could crack the NBA draft’s Big Three

  • Five playoff surprises that could impact the 2022 NBA draft

  • The best available vs. best fit for every team with a pick in the 2022 draft

Where are the top NBA draft prospects expected to land?

Smith and Holmgren have both worked out only with the Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Houston Rockets seem to be closing in on Banchero for their pick, trading Christian Wood for a late first-round pick hours after a private workout with the Duke standout.

Get the latest intel in Givony’s mock draft, which will be continuously updated until the start of the draft.

More

  • Full draft order

  • The Orlando Magic are still evaluating all options for the No. 1 pick

  • Who’s in the room on draft night?

  • The 10 questions for the NBA offseason, including how the draft and free agency will play out

What are the big NBA trades to watch?

On June 13, NBA trade season officially began with a deal between Denver and Oklahoma City: The Thunder get forward JaMychal Green and a protected 2027 first-round pick while the Nuggets get the 30th pick Thursday in the draft, as well as second-round picks in 2023 and 2024.

Kevin Pelton grades the trade here.

More

  • NBA trade tracker: Grades, details for every deal for the 2022-23 season

  • NBA draft assets for all 30 teams

  • Key dates and contract deadlines for the 2022-23 offseason

  • Everything you want to know about NBA free agency

  • The 2022 NBA Draft Challenge

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