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The perfect teams for the top 4 prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft

By Dan Bennett

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils puts up a shot against Brady Manek #45 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 2, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils puts up a shot against Brady Manek #45 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 2, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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2022 NBA Draft
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 26: Chet Holmgren #34 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after being called for a foul against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duke won 84-81, The perfect teams for the top 4 prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

The offseason has arrived for many NBA teams following the conclusion of the regular season, meaning preparations for the 2022 NBA Draft can jump up a notch for those set to enter the lottery.

The flattened odds add an element of unpredictability to proceedings and mean the better teams of the non-playoff bunch have an increased chance of striking a top pick. But there are some very familiar names leading this year’s conversation.

The perfect teams for the top 4 prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft

This includes an Orlando Magic team that just completed their first full season since blowing up the roster at last season’s trade deadline, the youthful Houston Rockets, and the Cade Cunningham-led Detroit Pistons. All three will have an even 14 percent chance of landing the top pick.

And with a draft class headlined by three exciting big men in Jabari Smith Jr, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren, and an explosive young guard in Jaden Ivey, it would certainly be a very good year to land a top selection.

Nowadays, drafts rarely conform to the way the odds are stacked. Just look at the way the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies rose up in the 2019 Draft.

Situation is extremely important to whether a young player can succeed in the NBA. So with that in mind, here is the best-suited team (among those that have a realistic chance of landing that player) for each of the widely regarded top prospects in this year’s class…