Ivey Stands Above Rest
The beauty of the NBA Draft is that no one really knows how strong it is until the players hit the professional ranks.
At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be a strong draft for the guards, with Purdue’s Jaden Ivey tipped to be a top-five roster addition. There are no standout names to speak of, but teams desperate for younger talent will snap them up.
We look at where the top prospects could end up for the 2022 NBA Draft and how that has affected NBA betting markets.
1. Jaden Ivey – Sacramento Kings
There has been steady money for Jaden Ivey to go fourth in the NBA Draft, which has been bet into -375 at the sportsbook.
The Purdue guard averaged 14.9 points and 2.6 assists last season. It’s not an amazing stat line, but he’s a sizable guard who could give the defense trouble in the paint.
His shooting isn’t the best, which makes him an interesting pick. The Sacramento Kings are expected to make him the first guard selected in the draft at pick No. 4, but we’re not sure if they’ll keep him.
The Kings already have depth in the guard position, so they could look to trade him before it’s all said and done.
“The Kings aren’t Ivey’s preferred destination but have proved willing to take players without the benefit of workouts and medical information in the past, doing so as recently as a year ago when selecting Davion Mitchell,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said.
“In the event that the Kings elect to hold on to this pick and prefer to avoid the drama associated with picking a player against his camp’s will, the candidacy of Keegan Murray might be gaining steam with head coach-to-be Mike Brown. Owner Vivek Ranadive is also said to be a proponent of selecting him.”

2. Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are desperate for a sizable guard and Bennedict Mathurin fits the muld.
With Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt, the Pacers seek new and exciting blood, so Arizona star Mathurin should slot in nicely.
He averaged 14.8 points on 45.6 percent shooting. He also shot at 38.3 percent from 3-point range, so he’s a threat around the court.
We love his aggression on the first step, which is rare for a player of his size. He could be categorized as a small forward, but he’s listed as a guard and he could be the second or third guard selected in the NBA Draft.
3. Dyson Daniels – New Orleans Pelicans
The G-League player looked good and we liked that he got experience playing against pros. We have seen players come out of professional leagues and get selected highly, so NBA scouts are taking notice.
We can’t stress the importance of playing against professional men as opposed to college students, so Daniels could be a great pick.
He could head to the New Orleans Pelicans, who could possibly be stinging from not taking Ja Morant. Don’t get us wrong, taking Zion Williamson seemed like the obvious choice at the time, but it has yet to pay off for the Pelicans.
Therefore, they’ll be hoping Daniels can fill the void. NBA odds have Daniels going before the eighth pick, so he’s a hot commodity.
4. Shaedon Sharpe – San Antonio Spurs
Getting a line on Shaedon Sharpe isn’t easy as he sat out last season with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Not only are there injury concerns but he hasn’t been exposed to top-level competition. However, expectations are high for the former five-star recruit and he could land with the San Antonio Spurs.
Most of the betting online money has come for Sharpe to be selected at pick eight or later, which we’re backing. Sharpe is a player who might need a few years to find his best, but the Spurs are a good coaching squad who could get the best out of him.
Of all the guards, he could be the most talented but he’s also a big risk.