2022 NBA Draft

Nets Defer Sixers’ First-Round Pick Until 2023

The Nets have deferred the first-round picked owed to them by the Sixers until 2023, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). June 1 was the deadline for Brooklyn to inform the NBA of its decision, Wojarowski notes.

Philadelphia confirmed the news that it will control the No. 23 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, tweets Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers have the ability to trade the pick starting June 23, which is draft night, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). However, due to conditional protections on future picks owed to the Thunder and Nets, the ’22 first-rounder is the lone first the Sixers can deal away, as Marks relays.

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The Nets acquired the pick with the option of pushing it back until ’23 as part of the trade that sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks — ’22 or ’23 and ’27 (top-eight protected) — to Brooklyn in exchange for James Harden. Philadelphia’s ’23 first-round pick, which the Nets now officially control, is unprotected, so Brooklyn’s front office is hoping for a down season from the Sixers — assuming the Nets don’t trade it for immediate help this summer.

Although the Nets no longer have a pick in the upcoming draft, they still have the ability to purchase a second-round pick from another team, according to Marks (Twitter link). Brooklyn sent the maximum amount of cash allowed in 2021/22 to Detroit in a prior trade, but that will replenish once the new league year begins on July 1, so a theoretical trade wouldn’t be finalized until that point.

The Sixers also don’t control a second-rounder at the moment, but they still have $3,785,000 to buy one from another team, if they so choose (assuming, of course, that other teams are willing to deal them away, which is quite common later in the second round).

The full 2022 NBA draft order can be found right here.

Dereon Seabron, Moussa Diabate Staying In Draft

North Carolina State guard Dereon Seabron, who declared for the draft this spring following his sophomore season, will forgo his remaining college eligibility and go pro, a source tells Jeff Goodman of Stadium (Twitter link).

Seaborn emerged as a full-time starter in his second year at NC State in 2021/22, averaging 17.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 1.4 SPG in 32 games (35.8 MPG). Although he isn’t a lock to be drafted, he has a reasonable chance — ESPN ranks him as the No. 57 prospect in this year’s draft class.

Michigan freshman forward Moussa Diabate, the No. 75 prospect on ESPN’s big board, has also opted to remain in the 2022 NBA draft, he tells Goodman (Twitter link). Diabate started 26 of 32 games for the Wolverines in his first and only college season, registering 9.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG in 24.9 MPG.

Here are more updates on the early entrants who are up against the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline:

  • Gonzaga sophomore wing Julian Strawther is headed back to the Zags for at least one more year, he announced on Twitter. Strawther was ESPN’s No. 68 prospect and had a chance to be drafted, but he’ll look to increase his odds with a strong 2022/23 college season.
  • Iowa forward Kris Murray is returning to school for his junior year after testing the draft waters, he announced today (via Twitter). Murray had been the No. 93 prospect on ESPN’s board.
  • Oregon guard Will Richardson will take advantage of his extra year of college eligibility and head back to school for one more year, reports Jeremy Woo of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • Kent State junior guard Sincere Carry is pulling his name out of the draft and returning to school, according to an announcement from the program (via Twitter). Carry said in his announcement that he has “unfinished business” at Kent State.

Draft Decisions: J. Lewis, Wong, Flanigan, Pullin, More

Marquette forward Justin Lewis, who entered the draft this spring coming off his sophomore season, has decided to keep his name in the 2022 draft pool, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility, reports Jeremy Woo of SI.com (Twitter link).

Lewis enjoyed a breakout year in 2021/22, averaging 16.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG on .440/.349/.761 shooting in 32 games (32.2 MPG) for the Golden Eagles. Lewis comes in at No. 45 on ESPN’s latest big board, though Woo suggests he has a chance to be a first-round pick.

With the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline only about 12 hours away, let’s round up several more of the latest draft decisions made by early entrants

  • Miami guard Isaiah Wong is returning to school for his senior year, he announced today (via Instagram). It’s the second time Wong has tested the draft waters and eventually pulled out, so if he declares again next season, he won’t have the option of withdrawing.
  • Auburn junior wing Allen Flanigan is withdrawing from the draft, while UC-Riverside junior guard Zyon Pullin is expected to do the same, reports Jeff Goodman of Stadium (Twitter links).
  • The following players are withdrawing from the draft, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (all five are Twitter links): Memphis senior forward DeAndre Williams, senior guard Courtney Ramey, Samford junior guard Ques Glover, senior guard Donald Carey, and Virginia Tech senior forward Justyn Mutts. Ramey, who played for Texas last season, is currently in the transfer portal, while Carey is transferring from Georgetown to Maryland.

Draft Decisions: LaRavia, McGowens, Abogidi, Bolton, More

Wake Forest junior forward Jake LaRavia will remain in the 2022 NBA draft rather than returning to school and taking advantage of his remaining NCAA eligibility, he announced on Twitter. LaRavia, who spent a single season with the Demon Deacons after transferring from Indiana State, is considered a borderline first-round pick. He currently ranks No. 32 overall on ESPN’s big board.

Meanwhile, Nebraska guard Trey McGowens is also going pro and remaining in the draft rather than using his final year of college eligibility, according to a press release from the school. Unlike his brother Bryce McGowens – who is the No. 29 player on ESPN’s board – Trey isn’t in the top 100, so he’s a long shot to be among the 58 players drafted later this month.

While LaRavia and McGowens will remain in the draft, the following early entrants are withdrawing, according to various reports and announcements:

Shaedon Sharpe Will Stay In 2022 Draft

Kentucky freshman wing Shaedon Sharpe, a projected top-1o lottery prospect, will forgo his academic eligibility and remain in the 2022 NBA draft, he announced today (Twitter link).

“First and foremost, through God’s blessings, it has been a privilege to attend the University of Kentucky,” Sharpe wrote. “Thank you #BBN for your support during my time with [Kentucky]… With the positive feedback I’ve received I will be remaining in the NBA Draft.”

Expecting to play for the Wildcats during the 2022/23 NCAA season, Sharpe first enrolled in Kentucky during the spring semester of the 2021/22 school year. After it became clear that he would be a high-level pick in the 2022 draft, the 6’6″ prospect initially entered his name into the draft pool in April.

Sharpe is projected as the No. 7 prospect in ESPN’s latest big board.

Dalen Terry To Remain In Draft

Second-year Arizona guard Dalen Terry has announced (Twitter link) that he will remain in the 2022 NBA draft pool and surrender his collegiate eligibility.

“It’s been a life-long dream of mine to play at the highest level,” Terry wrote in a statement. “After many conversations with the people closest to me, I’ve decided to remain in the 2022 NBA Draft. Wildcat Nation, I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”

The 6’7″ guard is ranked as the No. 23 selection in this year’s draft, per the latest edition of the ESPN big board. Terry could climb higher — Bobby Marks of ESPN says (via Twitter) that he wouldn’t be surprised if the 19-year-old becomes a lottery pick.

During the 2021/22 NCAA season, Terry averaged 8.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.9 APG across 37 contests, all starts, boasting shooting splits of .502/.354/.736. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and an All Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

As Jeff Goodman of Stadium tweets, Terry joins projected lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin and center Christian Koloko, listed as the No. 43 prospect on the current ESPN big board, as departing Arizona underclassmen in this year’s draft.

Leonard Miller, Ryan Rollins Turning Pro

Canada’s Leonard Miller will forgo his college eligibility and turn pro, he told Joe Tipton of On3.com. The 6-foot-11 forward is considered a raw prospect at just 18 years old, but he’s No. 44 on ESPN’s big board and projected to be the No. 41 pick of the 2022 NBA draft in Jonathan Givony’s latest mock draft for ESPN (Insider link).

As Tipton notes, Miller has until June 13 to decide whether he wants to remain in the draft, which is the NBA’s withdrawal deadline, but he’ll be playing for a professional organization next season no matter what he decides at that point.

My lifelong dream has been to play basketball at the highest level, and I’ve been fortunate to have had a number of amazing people in my life that have helped me pursue that dream.

After getting feedback from going through the NBA Draft process up to this point, I have decided to take the next step in that journey and move forward in the professional process,” Miller said.

In other draft-related news, Toledo’s Ryan Rollins will keep his name in the draft, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The news isn’t surprising, as Rollins was expected to remain in the draft. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard averaged 18.9 points, 6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals on .468/.311/.802 shooting as a sophomore for the Rockets in 2021/22.

Like Miller, Rollins is a projected second-round pick. He’s No. 37 on ESPN’s big board and the No. 43 pick in Givony’s mock draft.

Draft Decisions: B. Ellis, Castaneda, Disu, Reed, More

USC guard Boogie Ellis is withdrawing from the 2022 NBA draft and returning to the Trojans next season, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. After spending two seasons with Memphis, Ellis transferred to USC for his junior season and improved his numbers across the board, averaging 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists on .417/.376/.798 shooting.

With the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline set for Wednesday night, several other early entrants have decided their plans for 2022/23. Here are some more draft decisions:

  • Akron guard Xavier Castaneda will also withdraw from the draft, a source tells Rothstein (Twitter link). Castaneda spent his first three seasons with South Florida prior to transferring to Akron, and like Ellis, he saw his statistics improve in his new program, averaging 13.6 points, 3.6, rebounds and 2.3 assists on .407/.373/.823 shooting in ’21/22. He’ll use his extra year of eligibility to return to the Zips next season.
  • Forward Dylan Disu is withdrawing from the draft and returning to Texas for his senior season, Rothstein tweets. Disu was highly productive as a sophomore for Vanderbilt in ’20/21, averaging 15 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks on .492/.369/.736 shooting, but underwent season-ending knee surgery prior to transferring to Texas. He never regained his rhythm for the Longhorns, averaging just 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes.
  • Eric Reed Jr., who spend his first two seasons with Southeast Missouri State, is withdrawing from the draft and transferring to Mississippi State, reports Jeff Goodman of Stadium (via Twitter). Reed averaged 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1 steal with a .419/.357/.815 shooting slash line last season.
  • Guard DeMarr Langford Jr. plans to withdraw from the draft and return to Boston College, per Goodman (Twitter link). Langford averaged 11.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals on .456/.269/.670 shooting for the Eagles as a sophomore this past season.
  • Daylen Kountz is withdrawing from the draft in order to use his extra year of college eligibility, he told Goodman (Twitter link). The 6’4″ guard averaged 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists on an impressive shooting line of .512/.421/.823 for Northern Colorado in ’21/22. He’ll return to the Bears next season.
  • USC forward Isaiah Mobley will remain in the draft, his father told Rothstein (Twitter link). Mobley averaged 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior for the Trojans last season. The news was anticipated, as he was expected to keep his name in the draft. He’s the only player ranked on ESPN’s big board among the players listed here, but at No. 98, he’s unlikely to be drafted. Still, there’s a chance he could catch on as an undrafted free agent, perhaps on a two-way deal. Mobley is the older brother of Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, the No. 3 pick of the 2021 draft.

Terquavion Smith Withdrawing From Draft

Terquavion Smith has decided to take his name out of the NBA draft and return to North Carolina State for another season, writes Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Smith is coming off a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine and was widely expected to be taken in the first round, Givony adds. The 6’4″ shooting guard is ranked as the 22nd best prospect on ESPN’s big board.

“I have to be honest and admit money has never been at the center of my thoughts,” Smith said in his announcement. “My agent explained to me that teams as high as the late teens, through the rest of the first round, all have me ranked as a first-round talent. It’s exciting to hear that. But I told him I have more work to do. I like school and my college in particular. Remember, my last two years have been so strange, thanks to the pandemic. I just want one more season to get everything right and just be a college student.”

Smith caught the attention of scouts with an outstanding performance in drills on the first day of the combine, Givony notes. He posted 17 points in a second-day scrimmage, then opted to sit out the final day.

The 19-year-old averaged 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a freshman in 2021/22, earning a spot on the ACC’s All-Rookie Team and becoming an honorable mention All-Conference selection. He led the ACC with 96 made three-pointers, the fourth-highest total for a freshman in conference history.

Smith indicated that he’s already looking forward to next year’s draft process and the possibility of being a lottery pick.

“If things go like I expect, I won’t have to go through the combine experience the same way,” he said. “Everyone will see my games and our team all season, we are going to make sure they are seeing something special. The NBA can wait one year, I have more work to do in the ACC first.”

Draft Notes: Murray, Cardwell, Harvey, Oduro, Battle

Long Beach State’s Joel Murray is taking his name out the draft and returning to college, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweets. The senior guard averaged 16.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG and 2.8 APG last season.

We have more draft decisions to pass along:

  • Dylan Cardwell has decided to return to Auburn, Rothstein tweets. Cardwell has been a reserve for the Tigers the past two seasons. He averaged 3.0 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 11.5 MPG last season.
  • Well-traveled D.J. Harvey is expected to remain in the draft, Jeff Goodman of Stadium tweets. He played at Detroit last season after two years at Notre Dame and another at Vanderbilt. He averaged 8.2 PPG and 5.6 RPG for the Titans.
  • Josh Oduro is withdrawing from the draft and heading back to George Mason, Goodman tweets. He averaged 17.7 PPG and 7.5 RPG for the Patriots last season.
  • Temple’s Khalif Battle will return to school next season, his father told Rothstein (Twitter link). Battle later posted a cryptic tweet that read, If it didn’t come out my mouth don’t believe it,” but given the lack of a clear denial, we’re assuming for now that Battle, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, will head back to college.