May 17, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum pose after Orlando Magic won the first pick during the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski believes they are considering two players to select.
The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery took place just before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After all was said and done, it was the Orlando Magic who walked away with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. That means they have their choice of one of the top three prospects — Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero and Auburn’s Jabari Smith.
ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said that the consensus is that there are two players competing to be taken first by the Magic, and they are Holmgren and Smith.
Magic down to two choices for No. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft
“This is the draft lottery of the power forwards and three very different players,” said Adrian Wojnarowski, h/t RealGM. “We’ll see how this shakes out, but certainly I think Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga and Jabari Smith of Auburn… I think the consensus right now is those are really the two players competing for No. 1 with the Magic.”
Holmgren is not a shock, considering that he was the top recruit in the entire country in the class of 2021. In his lone season with Gonzaga, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks while shooting 60.7-percent from the field.
Meanwhile, Smith is viewed as the prospect with the highest ceiling. In 34 games with Auburn this past season, Smith averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while putting up a field goal percentage of 42.9 and a three-point percentage of 42.0.
The NBA Draft takes place on June 23, meaning that there is plenty of time to see who the Magic ultimately decide to take with the No. 1 pick for the fourth time in its franchise’s history. But as of right now, Wojnarowski says to keep your eye on Holmgren and Smith as the first player to get their name called on draft night.