Where Kansas Jayhawks’ Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun are projected to go in NBA Draft
Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji opens the week of the 2022 NBA Draft considered a possible lottery pick and certain first round selection, while national title teammate Christian Braun checks in as either a late first round or early second round choice via various projections.
Agbaji, a 22-year-old guard, is one of 20 prospects invited to sit in the Green Room of Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York during Thursday night’s draft (6:30 p.m. first round on ABC, both rounds on ESPN). He’s projected in the ESPN.com latest mock draft to be taken by Cleveland at No. 14 overall.
That’s the final pick of the lottery, which consists of the teams that didn’t qualify for this season’s playoffs.
“The Cavs will be looking to add size and perimeter shooting on the wing this offseason, both in free agency and in the draft. Agbaji, one of the best shooters in the draft with a 6-10 wingspan and chiseled frame, projects as a plug-and-play, 3-and-D prospect who should be ready to contribute immediately after winning All-America honors and coming off a national championship in which he won the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player for Kansas,” ESPN.com’s Jonathan Givony wrote Wednesday.
Agbaji, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound graduate of KU and Oak Park High School, played at KU four seasons and is considered ready to contribute to an NBA team during his rookie season.
Braun, a 6-7, 220-pound shooting guard, who has decided to turn pro after three seasons at KU, is projected by ESPN.com’s Givony to be the second pick of the second round by the Orlando Magic. KU’s David McCormack, Remy Martin, Mitch Lightfoot and Jalen Coleman-Lands are not listed as possible draft picks at this time by ESPN.com or any of the other mock draft sites.
CBSsports.com mentions Jayhawks
CBSsports.com’s David Cobb updated his mock draft on Sunday. Like ESPN’s Givony, he has Agbaji headed to Cleveland as the draft’s No. 14 overall pick.
“Solid NBA starter may be his ceiling, but the development Agabji showed from his junior to senior season showcased his relentless work ethic and capacity for improvement,” wrote Cobb.
Cobb believes the 21-year-old Braun will be selected No. 27 overall by the Miami Heat.
“Braun is a dynamic forward who can guard 1-through-4, knock down three-pointers and get to the basket. By turning down another season at Kansas in which he could have become a superstar, Braun made a bet on himself,” wrote Cobb.
Two other CBS analysts revealed their mock draft picks Friday.
Kyle Boone has Agbaji headed to Cleveland at No. 14 and Braun to the Los Angeles Clippers with pick No. 13 of the second round. Gary Parrish has Agbaji being taken by the Washington Wizards at No. 10 overall and Braun No. 25 overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
Hoopshype.com updates its mock draft
Hoopshype.com issued its most recent mock draft on Saturday. Agbaji is projected to be taken No. 16 overall by the Atlanta Hawks and Braun the fifth pick of the second round by the Orlando Magic.
Agbaji to Wizards? Braun to Thunder?
NBAdraft.net’s mock draft, which was updated Sunday, projects Agbaji as the No, 10 pick of Round One to the Washington Wizards and Braun the fourth pick of the second round to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Here are Sporting News projections
Also updated Sunday, the Sportingnews.com mock draft of reporter Kyle Irving has Agbaji being taken No. 15 overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
“In this scenario, the Hornets fill their biggest void with (Duke’s) Mark Williams at pick No. 13, so they can add some more wing depth at 15. Agbaji would be a great running mate for a playmaker of LaMelo Ball’s caliber as a fast and athletic forward who can run the lane, score off cuts and space the floor as a perimeter shooter,” wrote Irving. of TSN. “As an upperclassman who is one of the better 3-and-D prospects in this draft, Agbaji will be ready to enter an NBA rotation right away, which suits Charlotte’s timeline after losing in the Play-In Tournament in back-to-back seasons.”
The Sporting News lists Braun as the final pick of Round One (30th overall) by the Denver Nuggets.
“The Nuggets acquired this pick from the Thunder and I could see them targeting wing depth — particularly with shooters and cutters — to complement Jokic,” wrote Irving. “Braun is the type of 3-and-D player who could excel playing off of a playmaker of Nikola Jokic’s caliber. He has great instincts as a cutter and rebounds at a high level. He knocked down 38% of his threes during his three seasons at Kansas and was a key cog in their national championship run this past year. Braun does all the little things to help a team and the Nuggets could use a player who plays winning basketball the way he does as they look to compete immediately when they return to full strength next season,” Irving added.
Most outlets, by the way, figure to update their draft projections as the week progresses.
This story was originally published June 20, 2022 at 10:41 AM.
