Fantasy Basketball

2022 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft

Head-to-head fantasy basketball drafts are one of the most common fantasy league options, besides root-leagues (of course). The H-2-H method is the one I will be participating in, but how do we go about it?

Currently, in a draft I am enlisted in, I am at seventh place. We talk about all these hot players to draft, these sleeper players, but depending on your drafting position that may be easier said than done. So, to get everyone ready for their drafts before the league starts in two days; let’s have a mock draft.

By having this simulated mock draft you will be able to see where these top players, and all players, be drafted at in these 13 rounds. You will be able to see where these guys are projected to go and where we rank them. So, whether you are selecting first or last, you will now have the perfect chance in getting the most information when selecting and/or viewing these players.

What to know:

This simulated mock draft will be featuring a default of ten teams, which means ten selections (picks) per round. Plus, this simulation will be having thirteen rounds to give a realistic feel of what a regular fantasy consists of. By the end of a regular draft, your team should have thirteen players on your entire roster.

With all that being said, let us jump right into the first round of this 2022 NBA Mock Draft!

First round:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Big things to know in the first round:

If you have the first pick, you are set with anyone that was listed from picks 1-4. Picks 5-10 showcase phenomenal players that deserve to go in the first; however, the players that will get you the most points for fantasy will come through our projected 1-4 players.

Second round:

James Harden, Philedelphia 76ers
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Big things to know in the second round:

Notable players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler, and Brandon Ingram were not selected in the second round due to the fact that they don’t beat out guys like Kyrie, Booker, Kawhi (even not playing for a long time), and LeBron. Those players are perfect for the third round, as the third round still has significant meaning. Why? Simply, it is only the third player you are selecting for your team – not your tenth or even last player selection.

Third round:

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks

Big things to know in the third round:

These are all good picks as there may be only one questionable one, which one would that be? It would obviously be Zion Williamson with how his health may affect his play come this season, after missing significant time due to injury and injury recovery. To have your third player selected it should be one of these ten, even if you had the tenth pick, there are so many good players that it is bananas.

Fourth round:

CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
Nikola Vuevic, Chicago Bulls
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
Darius Garland, Cleveland Calivers
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Big things to know in the fourth round:

Look, if Sabonis slides to the fourth round then you got a steal. He should have been gone by the third, but with the depth of good/great players it isn’t hard to imagine him sliding to the fourth round. I would definitely pick up Mobley or Barnes, or Cunningham if you can’t get the other two, why? Because they are going to have even bigger years that is going to translate beautifully to Fantasy Basketball.

Fifth round:

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
John Collins, Atlanta Hawks
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
Julius Randle, New York Knicks

Big things to know in the fifth round:

No matter where you are in this round, it doesn’t matter. Honestly, it doesn’t for one second. These are all good picks as not one player is sketchy or bringing the potential of backfiring. I’d definitely look at all your options, but on paper, these ten right here will carry you through the Fantasy Basketball season.

Sixth round:

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Josh Giddy, Oklahoma City Thunder
Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks
Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

Big things to know in the sixth round:

Didn’t notice this until now, but this round has a lot of players that begin with a “J”. Good news for everyone is that these guys that start with that letter are very talented and will produce very well for your fantasy squads. Now, want to have a risky pick? Number 60 is locked in as Klay Thompson’s pick, why would I do that? Despite others waiting until the seventh, eighth, or even ninth round to draft him; I do not believe in waiting that long, I believe Thompson is going to ball out this season and will be a good asset to your team. But, if you don’t want to be risky, then select Jordan Poole.

Seventh round:

Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors
Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
Terry Rozier, Charlette Hornets
Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets

Big things to know in the seventh round:

Even though we are getting up there in the later rounds, still some players to take that has high value. Poole, Wiggins, Herro, and others mentioned are very good. Now, remember Ben Simmons hasn’t played in forever and can cost you points – if you were comparing him to Myles Turner, or whoever else. Same goes with Jaren Jackson Jr., who has been dealing with injuries. So there are players you have to be cautious about, but in the long run it probably would be advised to pick up one of these two guys.

Eighth round:

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat
Josh Hart, Portland Trail Blazers

Big things to know in the eighth round:

The eighth round is where steals and busts start to begin, this is where you start to become a little riskier on who you want to select. The core rounds are the players you know that have performed very well in fantasy basketball, now we are entering a dangerous territory of players that may or may not thrive. Players that will thrive will be Barrett, Smart, and Hield. Players that may be questionable would be Green, Lowry, Hart, and Wagner. There are certain players you start to gamble with and some you don’t even touch.

Ninth round:

Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons
Dillion Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies
Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets
Tre Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Al Horford, Boston Celtics
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
John Wall, Los Angeles Clippers
Jalen Smith, Indiana Pacers
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers
OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors

Big things to know in the ninth round:

Are there some questionable picks made in this round? Yes, but I would still pick John Wall either in the ninth or tenth round. I believe, in the system and team he is on, fantasy owners will be happy with his progress throughout the season. Another name would be Jalen Smith; while his productivity for the Suns was underwhelming, for the majority of his tenure, he should pick it up with Indy. If you see Anunoby fall this far down, something is wrong. Should he have gone before the ninth? Yes, but I’m not too high on Anunoby when looking at the other players that have gone before him on this mock draft.

Tenth round:

Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks
PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers
Jaden Ivey, Detriot Pistons
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns
Jordan Clarkson, Indiana Pacers

Big things to know in the tenth-Thirteenth round:

We are now entering the replacement rounds of this mock draft. These are players designated to be backups and fill-ins if someone goes on the H/S Protocols or gets injured. To be honest, all these players are good choices to be fill-ins and backups. When it comes to the bench, I just fill out accordingly to the pistons I need to fill the most. If I need another point guard, I select them. If I need another power forward, or small forward, guess what? I select that player. These final three rounds are filling out and putting the final touches on your roster. Those are the big things to understand for rounds eleven, twelve, and thirteen.

Eleventh round:

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers
Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gordon Hayward, Charlette Hornets
Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
Victor Oladipo, Miami Heat
Spencer Dinwiddie, Dallas Mavericks
James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors

Twelfth round:

Jarred Vanderbilt, Utah Jazz
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings
Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks
JaVale McGee, Dallas Mavericks
Deni Advija, Washington Wizards

Thirteenth round:

Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic
De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks
Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic
Reggie Jackson, Los Angeles Clippers
Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlette Hornets
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
Nicolas Claxton, Brooklyn Nets
Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

Conclusion:

This is the end of CourtSideHeat’s mock draft as many great names went early, some slid, and we made our way to the absolute end. I just wanted to say, for anyone confused, this is just a recommended draft of how CourtSideHeat believes everything will play out. By no means are we predicting the future or this is our result of doing one live. This is just a mock draft that we calculated to be as accurate as possible through our data.

More Fantasy Basketball content will be coming out within the coming days; we will be continuing this until the 19th to give people who are late to drafting an extra day of prep.