NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: RJ Barrett poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Mock Draft: What is going to happen on June 23?
We are just a few days away from this year’s NBA Draft, and the New York Knicks did not move down in the selection order! That’s a win, right?
(They also have not moved up in the lottery since 1985, but hey, who’s counting?!)
We are about to see college kids watch their dreams come true shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand and posing for a picture while having a smile from ear to ear. It’s something I had dreams of, but those dreams were crushed early on and I am now writing about them instead.
But anyway, now that we know who is picking where, and barring any final trades, let’s take a look at my first (subject to change) official NBA mock draft.
Knicks 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Full look at every team’s best option in the first round
1
Paolo Banchero
PF Duke 
Although the top three picks look to be some combination of Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr., and Chet Holmgren, I find myself switching them quite often. I’m going with Banchero here because he is simply in my opinion the most day 1 ready in terms of individual production.
I genuinely am fond of head coach Jamahl Mosley and what he is doing down in Orlando with the core of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., and Franz Wagner. They always seem to play hard no matter where they are in the standings and what the score of the game is.
The Magic beat the Knicks a few times this past season, and not because of talent, but purely because they outworked New York. And when you are a young, struggling team, it is a very encouraging sight to see.
If you slot in Banchero with those guys, they could make some nice strides moving forward.
Banchero is a potent 6’10” dynamic scorer with playmaking ability anywhere on the court. He could take a lot of weight off Orlando’s young players. Not to mention, the Magic could use some scoring having ranked dead last in offensive rating in 2021-22.
