As the calendar turns to April, only three games remain in the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament — better known as March Madness. Other than results from the annual NBA Draft Combine in May (where many top prospects decline to fully participate), many of the data points available for public consumption are already in.
With that in mind, it’s a good time to check in with the experts and peruse the latest wave of mock drafts for the NBA’s 2022 first round.
The Houston Rockets own two first-round picks in 2022: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. With only a few games left in the 2021-22 regular season, the Houston (20-57) one is certain to be in the lottery, and it’s possible that Brooklyn’s could be, too — since they are currently tracking to play in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
If the Nets (40-37) advance out of the play-in tournament and make the playoffs, No. 16 is the most likely spot for that pick in the first-round order. If they do not, that pick would likely enter the 2022 NBA draft lottery slotted at No. 14, with a small chance of jumping into the top four.
Scroll on for a look at the latest probabilities and pick options. The draft lottery, which will finalize the order, takes place on May 17.
