Dalen Terry has announced that he will remain in the 2022 NBA Draft.

“It’s been a life-long dream of mine to play at the highest level,” Terry wrote on Twitter. “After many conversations with the people closest to me, I’ve decided to remain in the 2022 NBA Draft.

“Wildcat Nation, I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. Just know that I will always be a Wildcat forever.”

Terry has increased his draft stock in recent weeks and is now a projected first round pick with the potential to enter the lottery.

Terquavion Smith, a projected first-round pick, is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to NC State for his sophomore season.

"I've decided to play next season for NC State, the first team to offer me a scholarship," Smith said via text. "I owe so much to Todd Ramasar, the agent who walked me through this process; Ross McMains, the incredible coach who prepared me so well for all I've just gone through, and the Life Sports Agency team. This past month has been eye opening on so many ways. Todd, Ross, and their team helped put me on the NBA map."

Smith was the No. 22 prospect in the ESPN 100.

"I have to be honest and admit money has never been at the center of my thoughts," he said. "My agent explained to me that teams as high as the late teens, through the rest of the first round, all have me ranked as a first-round talent. It's exciting to hear that. But I told him I have more work to do. I like school and my college in particular. Remember, my last two years have been so strange, thanks to the pandemic. I just want one more season to get everything right and just be a college student."

A late bloomer physically, Smith wasn't considered a major prospect coming out of Farmville (North Carolina) Central High School, despite winning three consecutive state championships.

Dyson Daniels has climbed draft boards with the "most eye-opening workout of the week in Chicago" for the Octagon Pro Day.

Daniels is drawing comparisons to Tyrese Haliburton and Khris Middleton.

Daniels is an alum of the NBA Global Academy and G League Ignite. 

Daniels has guard skills in a frame that should allow him to eventually spend time at power forward. Teams are also raving about the interviews they've conducted with Daniels.

With the 2022 NBA Draft Combine in the rearview, team's draft boards are starting to come into focus. This is especially true at the very top of the draft.

The Orlando Magic have said they will be thorough in their process leading up to the draft, where they hold the first overall pick. However, most rival teams believe that the Magic will select Jabari Smith of Auburn with the top pick.

Reports are that Smith is excited about the opportunity to go to Orlando.

The same is true of Gonzaga product Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who most teams expect will be paired at the second overall selection.

The top three prospects in the draft are widely considered to be Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero of Duke. While neither Orlando nor Oklahoma City will rule out Banchero at one or two, it's expected they're both choosing between Smith and Holmgren.

Jeremy Sochan was already a probable lottery picks, but his stock appears to be rising.

According to several NBA executives that spoke with The Athletic, Sochan will likely be selected by the late lottery. One executive believes his floor is at No. 12.

The New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets are believed to have strong interest in Sochan, while the San Antonio Spurs are considered a good fit for him.

Jabari Smith has emerged as the closest to a consensus top prospect of the 2022 NBA Draft class among scouts, but rival executives and league personnel believe the Orlando Magic will favor Chet Holmgren at No. 1.

While there is little consensus on what order Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero will be drafted, they are expected to be the top-3 players off the board in some offer.

The Orlando front office is known to prefer long players dating back to their time with the Milwaukee Bucks.

There is also connective tissue between Holmgren and Jalen Suggs as they high school teammates. Holmgren and Suggs also both played collegiately for Gonzaga. 

Tim Hardaway is currently working as a scout for the New York Knicks, reported Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Hardaway was reportedly hired last season, but the team did not make a public announcement.

Ian Begley of SNY adds that Hardaway spent most of the year scouting college prospects. 

Hardaway previously worked as a scout for the Heat and as an assistant coach for the Pistons.

The Oklahoma City Thunder targeted Evan Mobley in last year's draft, but were unsuccessful in trading up from No. 6.

"Last year they tried to move up, tried to get up to three for Evan Mobley," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "I think if the Thunder had the No. 1 pick last year, they would have taken Mobley. He was there at three, but they could not pry him out of Cleveland.

"I think Oklahoma City has learned and most teams have learned, like, every year they're going to say... there will be teams at one, two and three, and I'll say because teams will tell me, 'Hey, we're going to see what the pick is worth in the marketplace. We're going to listen. We're going to see how people value it.'

"But it's rare when somebody trades out of there. For all the picks the Thunder have... Koby Altman knew what he had [in Mobley]. I don't think Sam Presti could have offered him enough to get him out."

This year, the Thunder secured the No. 2 pick in the draft and will have the opportunity to choose between who is remaining between Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero.

The Orlando Magic won the lottery this week and will have the opportunity to add to their frontcourt as the top of the draft is dominated by a trio of power forwards in Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. 

"This is the draft lottery of the power forwards and three very different players," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "We'll see how this shakes out, but certainly I think Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga and Jabari Smith of Auburn... I think the consensus right now is those are really the two players competing for No. 1 with the Magic."

ESPN's Jonathan Givony currently has Smith going to the Magic at No. 1, followed by Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2. NBADraft.net currently mocks Holmgren to the Magic at No. 1 with Smith to the Thunder at No. 2. 

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman discussed his strategy after winning the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, adding that he's keeping all of his options open.

"I know we'll have a lot of interesting discussions with teams," Weltman told ESPN. "Obviously we don't go into this thing looking to trade our pick."

Weltman was initially supposed to represent the team on stage, but was replaced by Jamahl Mosley at the last minute. The Magic initially had a 14% chance at getting the top pick.

Weltman discussed the attributes he's looking for in the selection, though did not mention any specific names.

"We look to add a really talented, young, high-character guy to our talent base and our roster. I have no expectations on it. Obviously, we'll continue to do our work. This really doesn't change much of the way that we'll approach the draft.

"We're just really excited to be able to fall in love with somebody and pick that player," added Weltman.

The upcoming draft represents the first time the Magic have had the top pick since 2004, when they selected Dwight Howard.