The 2022 NBA Draft is just over a month away and the official draft order is set following Tuesday night’s NBA Draft Lottery.
Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler is a near unanimous predicted first round pick after a strong freshman season in which he averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Here’s where Chandler falls in the latest mock drafts following the solidifying of the draft order.
ESPN — No. 20 San Antonio
CBS — No. 22 Memphis
Bleacher Report — No. 22 Memphis
SB Nation — No. 25 San Antonio (Via Boston)
Sports Illustrated — No. 38 San Antonio
There are two popular teams for the 6-foot point guards and both are interesting options.
The appeal to the Grizzlies is obvious. Chandler is a Memphis native where he played at Briarcrest High School until his senior year when he transferred to Kansas’ Sunrise Christian Academy.
Chandler and Grizzlies’ star point guard Ja Morant have a strong relationship and played pick up together in overlapping time in Memphis.
la brudda 🖤🤝 https://t.co/ufIV8MeKM5
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 13, 2022
Memphis’ backup point guard Tyus Jones contract is up and the Grizzlies could be in need of a backup point guard.
San Antonio would pair Chandler up with former Vol guard Josh Richardson. The Celtics traded Richardson to San Antonio at the trade deadline. Richardson averaged 11.4 points in 21 games with the Spurs.
Going to San Antonio would also allow Chandler to play for one of the league’s all-time great coaches, Greg Popovich.
Chandler is Tennessee’s third one-and-done player in the last three years along with Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer. If selected in the first round, Chandler would become the fourth first round pick of the Rick Barnes era.
The two-way point guard played his best basketball down the stretch of his lone collegiate season, averaging 14.6 points and five assists while leading Tennessee to its first SEC Tournament Championship in 43 years.
