NBA Draft 2022: Biggest overall takeaways from draft night

Connecting pieces see their value rise

I think we saw a shift in draft philosophy a bit, as some more-polished scoring options slipped a bit and these connecting players, with good ancillary skills but limited potential to be a go-to scoring option, had a rise in where they were picked.

It started with Arizona’s Dalen Terry going 18th to Chicago. Terry was just the fifth-leading scorer for the Wildcats this past season, playing in a low-usage role. But he’s got the connecting skills that help good teams win on the margin, paired with good athleticism at 6’7 and a 7’1 frame. He’s a versatile defender, who plays with a ton of energy on that end. I had him a bit lower on my board given long-term shooting concerns, but he fits the Bulls’ needs very well.

Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley were the highest-ranked prospects left on my board, but Branham’s skillset overlaps with the Bulls’ current stars. And the Bulls didn’t need to take a long-term investment in Wesley.

This was followed by the aforementioned Laravia going 19th, and Christian Braun going 21st to the Nuggets. None of these players led their college teams in scoring, nor were they tasked with a ton of on-ball reps. But playoff teams are seldom going to ask that of rookies anyway. Playoff teams want players that help them win now and can play a small-usage role and still impact winning. All three were taken above where I had them slotted on my board, but they all make sense given the team fit.

These are the players that can aid stars to win a playoff series and I think we will continue to see connecting pieces get drafted in this range. As an evaluator, this is a notable change and makes me view how I value these types of prospects differently.