What teams made the biggest trades during the 2022 NBA draft?
We bring you the 2022 NBA Draft night’s most significant trades and the teams that benefited the most.
Throughout the 2022 NBA Draft night, it seemed that the more notable trades were the ones that didn’t actually happen. Even with the surprises that turned heads in Brooklyn, like the Magic selecting Paolo Banchero as the first round pick and the Heat steering clear of dominant collegiate prospects, like TyTy Washington, to go international and choose Serbian Nikola Jovic, there were still some bigger question marks as the night unfolded.
For starters, Kyrie Irving did not get traded, after so many conversations, rumors and speculations. Neither did Dejounte Murray, John Collins, nor any of the top 10 picks.
And then the draft picked up ground. Charlotte, New York, Detroit and Oklahoma City had a flare of trades that left viewers puzzled, only to re-awaken them with another storm of Memphis and Minnesota deals that saw picks 19, 22, 23, 26 and 29 switch hands.
As we break down the most significant trades below, here’s the full list of picks in the 2022 NBA Draft piled up by our very own David Nelson and myself.
Kemba Walker, from Knicks to Pistons
The biggest name to change teams on Thursday night was guard Kemba Walker. The Detroit Pistons acquired Jalen Duren, the Charlotte Hornets’ No. 13 pick, in a three-way deal that also included the New York Knicks, who sent Walker to Detroit.
The Knicks didn’t really get much out of the deal. But in an attempt to make some sense of it, moving off Walker’s $9 million contract for next season clears space to play in free agency and for the Knicks to sign a player like Jalen Brunson.
The Charlotte Trade; forward and simple
While the Hornets went for Mark Williams instead of going after Duren, they got four second-round picks and a possible pick in the 20-range from Denver in 2023 by handing Duren over to Detroit (as mentioned above). So they ended up getting strong value from a pick they weren’t all that excited about using.
Knicks trade Dieng to Thunder for “multiple” future 1st round picks
In what was the first trade of the night, the New York Knicks swapped their No. 11 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who selected French-native Ousmane Dieng. The Thunder is getting the best of both worlds with this trade. They somehow managed to acquire a star potential, all while keeping the 12th overall pick which they later selected Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams.
Did it cost the Thunder a few future first-round picks? Yes! But they have quite a few to spare with 18 of them over the upcoming years. As for the Knicks, it’s all for that space in free agency that could allow them to be in the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference.
Mavs Christian Wood trade expanded to 4-team deal
The Rockets and Pistons began making moves days ahead of the draft. Houston traded center Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 26 pick and four players on expiring contracts. Then Detroit traded forward Jerami Grant to the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 36 pick, as well as future draft picks.
The Mavericks selected Wendell Moore out of Duke, only for the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire Moore in a trade.
Grizzlies trade De’Anthony Melton to the 76ers for the 23rd pick
The Philadelphia 76ers also got in on the trade action, acquiring guard De’Anthony Melton for sending Danny Green and the No. 23 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
This is good news for Philadelphia as Melton can shake things up for them defensively, especially as he’s known to have turned himself into a solid shooter.