Jun 24, 2022

Obaji to Cleveland, Braun to Denver in the NBA Draft

Posted Jun 24, 2022 11:22 AM

CLEVELAND (AP) — Ochai Agbaji developed championship DNA in college. The Cavaliers are counting on it staying with him in the pros.

Looking to add a perimeter player who can shoot, defend and maybe accelerate their timeline to NBA title contention, Cleveland selected Agbaji with the No. 14 overall pick in the draft Thursday night. Later, The Denver Nuggets selected Christian Braun with the 21st pick.

Later, The Denver Nuggets selected Christian Braun with the 21st pick.

With other options available in the first round, including Ohio State’s Malaki Branham and Duke’s AJ Griffin, the Cavs locked in on the 6-foot-5 Agbaji, who as a senior led Kansas to the NCAA title last season. Agbaji was named the most outstanding player at the Final Four, and his performance in the spotlight helped separate him from other players.

The Cavs are ready win. Agbaji knows how.

“It’s a part of his makeup and he’s coming in to a team that wants to win and he’s going to bring some unique ingredients to that,” said Koby Altman, Cleveland’s president of basketball operations. “You’re seeing national champions kind of sprinkled in these conference finals most recently and they definitely bring a chip with them. We hope he brings that to us.”

The 6-foot-6 Braun averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Jayhawks last season. His 12 points and 12 rebounds helped Kansas beat North Carolina in the national championship game on April 4. He played the entire game.

This is the first draft with general manager Calvin Booth as the primary decision maker for the Nuggets. Tim Connelly, who joined the organization in 2013 and served as Denver’s president of basketball operations, was wooed by Minnesota with a lucrative deal to run that franchise.

“I think sky’s the limit. He’s always won,” Booth said of Braun. “He was an impactful player for Kansas this year. So really excited about his future and I think he has the right approach. He’s going to try to earn time and hopefully he’s able to hit the court sooner rather than later.”

Paolo Banchero was the first player taken in Thursday’s NBA draft. The 6-10 forward was chosen by the Magic after leading Duke to the Final Four as a freshman. Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Blue Devils. Going second overall to the Thunder was Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, a 7-footer who averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds in his only season of college ball.