ESPN insider reveals potential shakeup with the projected No. 1 draft pick

Entering Thursday, former Auburn star Jabari Smith appeared to be the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. But things appear to be changing in the final minutes leading up to the draft.

Former Duke star Paolo Banchero could end up going to the Orlando Magic as the top pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski said Banchero is “under serious consideration” to become the No. 1 overall selection after saying earlier Smith was the likely choice to go to Orlando.

“As I just reported on our NBA Draft Show on ESPN, Duke’s Paolo Banchero has joined Auburn’s Jabari Smith under serious consideration to be franchise’s No. 1 overall pick, sources said,” Wojnarowski tweeted. “There’s a real chance draft boards could get blown up at the top of the lottery.

It’s sure to make for some interesting theater considering Wojnarowski’s report came 20 minutes before the draft gets underway from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Banchero and Smith have been in the conversation to be top-three selections, along with former Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren.

Shortly thereafter, Wojnarowski tweeted Banchero was starting to look like the frontrunner to become the top pick.

“As the Orlando Magic move closer to getting on the clock, Duke’s Paolo Banchero is now looming as a frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski said.

Wojnarowski’s latest reporting went against his previous reporting earlier in the day, saying Smith was Orlando’s likely choice with the No. 1 overall selection.

“As team boards finalize today, the 1-2-3 of the NBA Draft is increasingly firm, per sources: Jabari Smith to Orlando, Chet Holmgren to Oklahoma City and Paolo Banchero to Houston,” Wojnarowski tweeted Thursday morning.

Paolo Banchero became the NBA Draft betting favorite over Jabari Smith on Thursday

Former Duke basketball forward Paolo Banchero has now become the betting favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, according to the Action Network. The quick rise took him from +1600 to -200 in less than a week and comes contrary to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that former Auburn forward Jabari Smith is expected to be the first pick.

Throughout the NBA Draft process, from the declarations to the combine and through workouts, Jabari Smith has remained the favorite, with former Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren providing the most pressure on the betting line over Paolo Banchero. However, a pair of late line shifts has seen a new favorite emerge just hours before the event.

At one point, sportsbooks had Smith listed at -600 to become the top pick and join the Magic, but it is now Banchero who dominates the odds despite no reporting that he has moved up the board from his original projection at No. 3. In fact, Wojnarowski doubled down by projecting the order to include Smith, Holmgren and Banchero going to the Magic, Thunder and Rockets, respectively.