Where Michigan State guard Max Christie may be picked in the 2022 NBA draft
You are not going to find Max Christie in the first round of too many 2022 NBA mock drafts, which is one of many reasons why Michigan State fans were surprised when the freshman guard a) declared for the draft, and b) stayed in it.
There are certainly some reasons to believe Christie should have stayed at MSU, mostly due to a perceived lack of offensive production, averaging 9.3 ppg in starting 35 games for MSU last season and hitting only 32% of his 3-point attempts.
But it certainly seems like the 6-foot-6, 190-pounder will be selected at some point in the second round, as most - if not all - mock drafts have the five-star recruit out of Chicago being selected.
MSU has two other players eligible to be selected, seniors Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham Jr., who each declared for the draft despite having an extra year of eligibility left thanks to the extra COVID year the NCAA provided. Both are late-second round possibilities, at best.
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Which team will select Max Christie? Let's see what the prognosticators think.
One site has Max Christie going in the first round
That distinction belongs to SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell, who has the Memphis Grizzlies taking Christie with the 29th pick. That'd definitely be an intriguing selection for MSU fans, as former Spartans Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman Sr. both play for the Grizzlies.
"Christie had some growing pains as a freshman at Michigan State, but his skill set should transition seamlessly to an off-ball role in the NBA if he can get the shot to fall more consistently," O'Donnell said. "Christie had a reputation as a big-time shooter coming out of suburban Chicago. ... He shouldn’t be asked to create with the ball in his hands, but there’s a potential spot-up shooter and wing defender here as his frame fills out."
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor has Christie No. 24 on his overall big board, comparing him to Khris Middleton (Bucks) and Jeremy Lamb (Kings), and describing him as a "lanky wing with versatile defensive skills and long-term shooting upside."
Max Christie to the Grizzlies in the second round
That's where ESPN's Jonathan Givony sees Christie going with the 47th pick. Again, it would be wild to see three Spartans on the same NBA roster.
Other second round mock draft picks for Max Christie
► 31st, Indiana Pacers: Sam Vecenie, The Athletic
► 35th, Orlando Magic: Kyle Boone, CBS Sports
"Christie has elite positional size and a ton of promise long-term as an NBA shot maker," writes Boone. "His efficiency as a freshman at Michigan State wasn't great but he looks the part as an NBA 2-guard and can develop in time into an off-ball weapon as he develops his shot."
► 37th, Sacramento Kings: Jeremy Woo, SI
► 38th, San Antonio Sports: Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win
► 41st, New Orleans Pelicans: Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
► 44th, Atlanta Hawks: Krysten Peek, Yahoo
"Many believed Christie should have returned for a second year," Peek said. "He remains in the draft and any team that takes him is selecting him on potential."
► 44th, Atlanta Hawks: Basketball News
"Christie possesses the ability to shoot and score the ball at a high level," says the site. "It’s also worth noting that he has some experience playing on the ball as a point guard. Although he played mostly off the ball for Michigan State, it is a good example of his versatility. Christie is full of upside as he enters the NBA."
Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 2022 NBA Draft: Where Michigan State G Max Christie might be picked
