CBS Sports shakes up top five in latest 2022 NBA mock draft

CBS Sports is going against the grain as they throw their darts at the board, attempting to predict the 2022 NBA Draft.

To illustrate, David Cobb of CBS Sports decided to throw a wrench into his top five, predicting Iowa star Keegan Murray to jump Purdue guard Jaden Ivey. Additionally, Cobb has continued to make the case for Auburn forward Jabari Smith to be picked first overall over Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren.

As the NBA Draft approaches and intrigue increases over how the first several picks will transpire, the elite outside shooting of Jabari Smith comes into clearer focus as the difference-making component to his game.

“While the name of the game in the modern NBA is versatility, what separates role players from stars is the presence of something elite,” wrote Cobb. “With Smith, that elite skill is going to be an excellent 3-point shot, and his perimeter touch is what makes him the best option for Orlando at No. 1 in a draft with several intriguing candidates for the top spot.

“To be sure, Smith also brings the diverse skill set required to thrive as a power forward in today’s pro game. In time, as his frame fills out, he should be able to guard positions 1-5 in most instances, and he showed flashes at Auburn of the ability to create off the dribble.”

As you can see, Cobb is providing a different look at the 2022 NBA Draft. Here’s the rest of his predictions for the highly-anticipated event.

CBS Sports: 2022 NBA Mock Draft, per David Cobb:

1) Orlando Magic — Jabari Smith, F, Auburn
2) Oklahoma City Thunder — Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga
3) Houston Rockets — Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
4) Sacramento Kings — Keegan Murray, F, Iowa
5) Detroit Pistons — Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue
6) Indiana Pacers — AJ Griffin, F, Duke
7) Portland Trail Blazers — Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky
8) New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL) — Dyson Daniels, G, G-League Ignite
9) San Antonio Spurs — Bennedict Mathurin, F, Arizona
10) Washington Wizards — Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor
11) New York Knicks — Ousmane Dieng, F, France
12) Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC) – Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin
13) Charlotte Hornets — Mark Williams, C, Duke
14) Cleveland Cavaliers – Ochai Agbaji, F, Kansas
15) Charlotte Hornets (via NO) – Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State
16) Atlanta Hawks — Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
17) Houston Rockets — TyTy Washington Jr, G, Kentucky
18) Chicago Bulls — Tari Eason, F, LSU
19) Minnesota Timberwolves — Nikola Jovic, F, Serbia
20) San Antonio Spurs (via TOR) — EJ Liddell, F, Ohio State
21) Denver Nuggets — Kendall Brown, F, Baylor
22) Memphis Grizzlies (via UTAH) — Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee
23) Philadelphia 76ers — Jalen Williams, F, Santa Clara
24) Milwaukee Bucks — Jaden Hardy, G, G-League Ignite
25) San Antonio Spurs (via BOS) — Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest
26) Houston Rockets (via DAL) — Josh Minott, F, Memphis
27) Miami Heat — Christian Braun, G, Kansas
28) Golden State Warriors — Dalen Terry, G, Arizona
29) Memphis Grizzlies — Justin Lewis, F, Marquette  
30) Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHX) — MarJon Beauchamp, G, G-League Ignite