With Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Green, Evan Mobley and other players in the 2021 NBA Draft entering the NBA, we should shift our attention to next year's college players and international players.
After the 2020 NBA Draft, Cunningham and Green were predicted to be champions and leaders, although the two players had different paths, but in the end the two entered the NBA as champions and leaders.
So, looking ahead to next year's NBA draft, it's never too early.
2022 NBA Draft
Who will be the 2022 NBA Draft pick? At present, the competition is completely open, even more open than the 2021 NBA draft. In the 2021 draft, Cade Cunningham held the top spot from beginning to end.
But in the 2022 NBA draft predictions, we've already oscillated between Homegren and Bancello, though strong performances in the Iverson Classic and the U19 Men's Basketball World Cup have given Homegren a slight advantage for the time being.
NBA executives are already determined to focus on the Nov. 26 game, U.S. time, when Homegren's Gonzaga University will take on Bencello's Duke University in Las Vegas, which has sold out.
Here are ESPN's predictions for the 2022 NBA Draft:
Chet Holmgren
Winner: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga University
The hype surrounding Homegren continued, who won the tournament MVP honor at the U19 Men's Basketball World Cup earlier in July, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 blocks per game in 21 minutes, shooting 62.0% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range.
Homegren won the Naismith and Gatorade Awards for High School Player of the Year in his senior year of high school, averaging 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.4 assists per game, and won the Minnesota Championship.
The biggest problem was his thin body (weighing 195 pounds) and lack of physical fitness that might have prevented Homegren from becoming a champion.
Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero, Duke University
6-10 tall and weighing 250 pounds, he has combined his strength and technique to be considered ready to play in the NBA right away. Due to his father's Italian ancestry, Bancello will play for Italy.
In addition, he has developed his own three-point ability and improved his ability to control the ball, and Duke head coach K Sr. believes that the use of Bancello is similar to that of former disciple Zion Williamson.
NBA Scout comments on the duo's battle of titles: If I need someone to play in an NBA game tomorrow, Bancello can play right away, he has everything you want. But if I were a rebuilding team, I think Homegren would be the best long-term development prospect for the next five years, albeit with more uncertainty.
Jaden Hardy
Jaden Hardy, G-League Ignition Team
After seeing the Rockets' jaylen Green score in the G-League, it's easy to imagine Hardy having similar success with ignition.
Hardy hopes to improve his shooting choices and efficiency issues, and there's no doubt that he's the strongest shooting guard of next year.
Jalen Duren
Fourth overall: Jalen Duren
The 2022 All-American five-star center Durham is expected to skip to the class of 2021, so he qualifies for the 2022 NBA Draft. Strong physique and athleticism, scouts think they can play in the NBA immediately.
Durham helped Penn Team Final win the Nike EYBL playoffs Page Jam title in July, and he was also named tournament MVP, averaging 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.3 assists per game.
Next steps include three universities: the University of Miami, the University of Kentucky and Memphis, as well as the Australian NBL League and G League Ignition. Durham's former high school coach DJ Irving was an assistant at the University of Miami, and Penny Hardaway coaching the University of Memphis was also a popular team.
Caleb Houstan
Fifth overall pick: Caleb Houstan, University of Michigan
Caleb Houstan averaged 31.7 minutes per game for Canada U19 and could have 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals. He was known for his three-point shooting in high school, but the three-point shooting rate in the tournament was only 19%, which was unbearable, with a total of 58 shots and only 11 three-pointers, and an average of 8.3 shots per game and only 1.6 three-pointers.
At 6-8 (2 m 03), he has performed impressively as a ball handler, passer and finisher at the U19 Men's Basketball World Cup, with ESPN scouts believing his versatility makes him a top five candidate.
On July 31, Beijing time, ESPN's latest 2022 NBA draft prediction list:
First round of predictions
Overall, the 2022 NBA Draft is a small year, but the level of insiders is very high, and 13 NCAA college newcomers are predicted to be selected in the first round (including Durham, who has not decided where to go).
Detective Predicted Hardy and Australian defender Dyson Daniels will play in the G-League Ignition team, while Dominican point guard Jean Montero is playing in the newly created league of Overtime Elite.
Two rounds of forecasting
The second round was watched by UCLA Vietnamese guard Johnny Juzang and Drew Timme, the NCAA's best big forward last season.
The 2022 NBA draft has only 59 picks, and the Bucks have been fined off the draft due to violations, so they will have one more missed draft next year.