3 Best Landing Spots for Shaedon Sharpe in 2022 NBA Draft

The most interesting man in the 2022 NBA Draft may be University of Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe. 

Sharpe didn’t play a single game for the Wildcats in the 2021-22 season, as his draft stock continued to rise after he enrolled early at the university. Sharpe has been projected and mocked as high as the No. 4 or No. 5 pick, but there are serious questions about him since he hasn’t really played against competition. 

“He’s a risk. If you watched his pro day, you’d think he was top three,” a scout told The Athletic’s Seth Davis. “He didn’t miss, and he took some tough shots. I love his size, I love his athleticism. He’s a great kid with high character. I wonder if he’s too nice. He’s an elite athlete and really good shooter. Those usually make for good NBA players. He and Jaden Ivey are the two best athletes in the draft. Somebody will pick him high because he was the No. 1 player in his class. You can look at the history of those guys, and very few of them have failed. If you’re a GM who’s not worried about getting fired, he’s worth the gamble.”

Essentially, the talent and athleticism is there for Sharpe, but can he put it together at the NBA level? While I’m not sold on Sharpe as a top-three talent, there are a few spots where he could be in a solid position to succeed. Right now, WynnBET has him at +25000 to go No. 1, but there aren’t any props for his exact draft spot up just yet. 

Detroit Pistons (No. 5) 

Sharpe isn’t going to be a lead guard at the next level, but he would fit tremendously alongside Cade Cunningham for the upstart Detroit Pistons. 

The Pistons have committed to young player development, and I believe in head coach Dwane Casey to help Sharpe succeed at the NBA level. Cunningham and Sharpe would be an athletic and lengthy backcourt, and I think he will have a clear path to minutes on a rebuilding team. 

Indiana Pacers (No. 6)

The Pacers, who were mocked by The Athletic to take Sharpe toda, have a similar situation to offer. 

Indiana is in a rebuild and has a solid, and lengthy, lead guard in Tyrese Haliburton. This would be a spot for Sharpe to thrive, especially if the Pacers end up moving on from Malcom Brogdon this offseason. 

The Pacers rarely pick inside the top-10, a credit to their ability to compete, and Sharpe will have another solid veteran coach in Rick Carlisle if he lands here. There are worse spots for the Kentucky guard to fall. 

San Antonio Spurs (No. 9)

Don’t let Gregg Popovich get an extremely talented athlete that needs a little coaching on his roster. 

Anyone remember when the Spurs took a shot on Dejounte Murray in the back end of the first round? That worked out pretty well. Sharpe would join a crowded guard rotation with Murray, Joshua Primo, Josh Richardson and Tre Jones, but the Spurs could move the veteran Richardson to give Sharpe a path to significant minutes.

The key I think for Sharpe is a solid coach and a strong organization, and the Spurs check both of those boxes. When you’re taking an “unknown,” it’s important to have known qualities around him to develop. 

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.