Where Will Kai Sotto Land in the 2022 NBA Mock Draft Projections?

As I sit here scrolling through the latest NBA mock drafts, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervous energy thinking about Kai Sotto's potential landing spot. The 2022 NBA Draft projections have been all over the place for the 7'3" Filipino center, and honestly, it reminds me of that powerful quote from Pacquiao's trainer during the final press conference for the WBC title fight: "Sabi nga nila giyera kung giyera, ibibigay natin ang pinakamagandang giyera para sa kanila." In English, that roughly translates to "When it's war, we'll give them the best war we've got." That fighting spirit perfectly captures what Kai needs to bring to the draft process.

I've been following international basketball prospects for over a decade now, and Kai's journey feels different. Most mock drafts I've seen have him going anywhere from late first round to completely undrafted, which honestly seems crazy to me given his unique skill set. Just last week, I was watching his NBL highlights from Australia where he averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in limited minutes - numbers that don't jump off the page until you actually watch how he moves at 7'3". The way he runs the floor reminds me of a young Kristaps Porzingis, though I'll admit he needs to add about 20-25 pounds of muscle to handle NBA physicality.

What really fascinates me about Sotto's draft projection is how divided scouts seem to be. Some teams see him as a potential steal in the second round, while others worry about his defensive footwork against smaller, quicker NBA big men. I remember talking to a Western Conference scout who told me confidentially that if Kai falls to pick 45-50, his team would seriously consider taking him as a developmental project. But then I spoke with an Eastern Conference executive who thought he'd likely go undrafted and need G-League time first. This kind of split opinion is exactly why the draft process feels like a battlefield - and Kai needs to bring that "pinakamagandang giyera" mentality his people are known for.

The comparison to other international big men is inevitable here. Look at what the Thunder did with Aleksej Pokuševski - they took a raw, skinny international prospect at pick 17 and developed him patiently. I could see a similar path for Sotto with teams like the Spurs at pick 38 or the Cavaliers at pick 39, organizations known for nurturing international talent. Personally, I think his ceiling is higher than many American college big men who get drafted in the second round simply because they're more "NBA ready." Kai's been playing professionally since he was 18, first in the NBL then in Japan's B.League, and that experience against grown men matters more than people realize.

If you ask me where I'd place my money, I'd say the most likely scenario has him going somewhere between picks 40-50 to a team with multiple second-round selections. The Warriors at 51, the Pelicans at 52, or even the Pacers at 58 could be perfect landing spots where he wouldn't face immediate pressure to contribute. But here's what keeps me up at night thinking about this - what if a team like the Lakers surprises everyone and takes him at 35? The pressure would be immense, but the development resources would be incredible. Whatever happens on draft night, one thing's certain - Kai Sotto carries the hopes of an entire basketball-crazy nation, and that "pinakamagandang giyera" spirit might just be the secret weapon that helps him exceed everyone's expectations.