Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 Rankings

Ranking the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades for the 2022 - 2023 NBA Season

By admin | June 25, 2022

The march towards the 2022-2023 NBA Season just kicked off as the 2022 NBA Draft is now in the books. As 29 NBA teams get started building their next lineup to compete with the reigning NBA Champs the Golden State Warriors, the 2022 NBA Draft offered a long list of talented options while delivering some unexpected twists throughout the night.

Despite the lack of blockbuster trades, the 2022 NBA Draft did not disappoint as over a quarter of the NBA teams knocked it out of the park with their solid drafts.

Leading that charge was the Oklahoma City Thunder who landed possibly the best overall player in this year’s NBA Draft.

Meanwhile teams like the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, and Houston Rockets continue to load up with young talent to help them compete moving forward.

Then there is the Golden State Warriors who are just off the heels of taking home another NBA Championship, who also were one of the many winning teams to land a high draft. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022.

Honorable Mention

Charlotte Hornets

Grade: B

The Charlotte Hornets have constructed a very solid roster of the past few years with the addition of LaMelo Ball at the point guard position and Miles Bridges at the small forward position.

However, the team needs a few more pieces to go around those guys including a true center such as Mark Williams from the Duke Blue Devils.

Williams gives the Hornets a versatile young big man to team up with Ball while also being able to add freshman guard Bryce McGowens. McGowens has the raw talent to be a big-time scorer while leading his Nebraska Cornhuskers team as a freshman in scoring.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Grade: B

Coming just outside of the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 rankings, is the Minnesota Timberwolves who were able to land Walker Kessler from the Auburn Tigers with the 22nd first round overall NBA Draft Pick and Wendell Moore Jr from the Duke Blue Devils with the 26th overall pick.

The two picks are able to give the Timberwolves some depth and some talent to go along with NBA MVP candidate Karl-Anthony Towns. Kessler and Towns could force havoc on teams around the NBA if they elect to go with a twin tower type of setup down low.

Top 10 NBA Draft Grades

10. Golden State Warriors

Grade: A-

Coming in at number ten on the Top 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 rankings is the Golden State Warriors. Yes, those same Golden State Warriors that took home the 2021-22 NBA Championships not just long ago.

A team that has very few holes, were able to add three different players through the draft including Patrick Baldwin Jr from the Milwaukee Panthers. Baldwin is a player loaded with potential talent but struggled to stay healthy but could fit in nicely on a team that needs another big man to go along with the aging Draymond Green.

In addition, the team was able to add Ryan Rollins at the guard position giving the team another key scorer to go along with the likes of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Lastly the team added Gui Santos from Brazil who is not expected to be a key contributor soon but a player who could develop for the future.

9. Indiana Pacers

Grade: A-

It is hard not to like what the Indiana Pacers were able to achieve within the 2022 NBA Draft, landing three strong players who were all projected to be top 25 NBA picks during early NBA Mock Drafts.

Leading the way was Bennedict Mathurin from the Arizona Wildcats who the team was able to land with the number six overall pick. Mathurin is coming off a strong 2021-22 NCAA Season finishing averaging 17.7 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds.

In addition, the Pacers were able to land Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Andrew Nembhard and the Baylor Bears forward Kendall Brown.

8. Atlanta Hawks

Grade: A-

The future continues to look bright for the Atlanta Hawks as the team was able to add some talented players through the 2022 NBA Draft to a roster that includes All-Star Trae Young.

One of those picks was the Duke Blue Devils star forward AJ Griffin who has all the talent and skills including being an excellent three-point shooter.

Despite landing him at number 16 in the NBA Draft, the Hawks got a much better ball player who may have slipped down the draft board.

In addition to Griffin the team also added UConn Huskies guard Tyrese Martin in a trade with the Golden State Warriors to add another shooter and ball handler to the roster.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Grade: A

Landing at number seven on the 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 rankings is the Cleveland Cavaliers who took a huge stride forward during the 2021-22 NBA season.

Now the Cavaliers were able to add additional depth to a very young roster including Ochai Agbaji who is coming off leading his Kansas Jayhawks to the National Championship.

Agbaji gives the team a solid scorer who can play both the shooting guard and small forward position. Along with Agbaji, the team was also able to add Isaiah Mobley the brother of Evan Mobley as well as Khalifa Diop and Luke Travers.

6. San Antonio Spurs

Grade: A

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the better drafting teams over the past 20-30 years while always finding ways to retool their roster and lineup.

This was the same case this year as the team was able to add three talented players to their roster that can play on both sides of the floor including the Baylor Bears forward Jeremy Sochan who may have been the best defensive player in the 2022 NBA Draft.

In addition to Sochan, the team also added Malaki Branham from the Ohio State Buckeyes and Blake Wesley from Notre Dame. The two have the potential to deliver Spurs two scoring threats who can make their own plays while helping the players around.

5. Orlando Magic

Grade: A

The Orlando Magic may have surprised many with their decision to select Paolo Banchero with the first overall pick during the 2022 NBA Draft.

However, the move gives the Magic one of the most talented players in this draft and one that showcased his abilities as a freshman with the Duke Blue Devils.

Banchero averaged 17.2 points per game, played solid defense, was strong on the glass averaging 7.8 rebounds and also averaged 3.2 assists per game. In addition, the team was also able to add versatile forward Caleb Houston to a very young talented roster.

4. Houston Rockets

Grade: A+

These top four NBA teams all put together impressive 2022 NBA Drafts including the Houston Rockets who were one of our four teams that landed an A+ rating based on their strong draft.

The Rockets who benefited from the Paolo Banchero top pick, were able to land Jabari Smith who many had going as the top overall pick in this draft. Smith is loaded with talent and a player who should give the Rockets a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor.

In addition, the team was able to add additional defensive depth with Tari Eason from the LSU Tigers while also landing TyTy Washington who should solidify their guard depth. Washington who has a ton of talent has the talent to be the biggest 2022 NBA Draft steal.

3. New Orleans Pelicans

Grade: A+

The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to continue to add to a very talented young team that made a statement during the 2021-22 NBA Playoffs.

The team was able to add Dyson Daniels to fill out their guard rotation while also finding a way to land EJ Liddell who may have been one of the top five forwards within this NBA Draft.

Liddell continued to develop over his three years with the Ohio State Buckeyes improving his overall shot, his rebounding abilities, while also developing his vision on the court. Lastly the Pelicans also added Karlo Matkovic who could add value and size to go along with Zion Williamson.

2. Detroit Pistons

Grade: A+

These top two teams the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder both made a statement for the number one overall spot on the 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 rankings. However only one team could take home that spot with the Thunder landing at number one.

However, the Pistons, who added Cade Cunningham in the 2021 NBA Draft, continued building this year adding Jaden Ivey with the fifth overall pick and also acquiring Jalen Duren in a draft day trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

The addition of Duren and Ivey to Cunningham delivers the Pistons a very scary young big three of the future. Lastly the team also added Gabriele Procida in a trade with the Detroit Pistons.

Procida who might not see the floor this year, could be a threat wing combo who has solid size at 6-foot-7 inches, that can also be a surprise catch and shoot three point/parameter shooter.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Grade: A+

Landing at the top of the 10 NBA Draft Grades 2022 rankings is the Oklahoma City Thunder who were able to land a ton of solid additions after posting a solid 2021 NBA Draft.

The Thunder were able to draft Chet Holmgren with the second overall pick, a move that delivers the team a true big man for years to come.

In addition, the team was also able to add Ousmane Dieng who is coming over from New Zealand has tremendous size including his extra-long wingspan. Dieng is an interesting player who is smooth for his size, plays tremendous defenses, and his awareness is amazing.

The team also added the pair of Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams to round out at the guard and forward position. The Thunder also were also able to trade the 30th NBA Draft Pick for JaMychal Green to solidify their roster.

How would you rank these teams in the 2022 NBA Draft?