NBA Draft Rumors: Multiple Teams Still Looking to Trade Up Into the Lottery
Draft day is here, and teams will gather Thursday night at the Barclays Center to determine the future of 60 NBA hopefuls.
After months of speculation, rumors and buildup, teams will finally make their picks.
The Suns have the No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history. Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo says in his latest mock draft that teams are looking to trade picks up and down, but the Suns seem set on taking Deandre Ayton first overall.
There is less certainty that the Kings will draft Marvin Bagley at No. 2. (Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated)
Some teams think the Kings find Luka Doncic hard to resist and are still keeping an eye on Michael Porter Jr. as well. (Marc Stein, The New York Times)
Porter signed a multi-year shoe deal with Puma, joining Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Zhaire Smith to rep the brand. (Nick DePaula, ESPN)
Get a full breakdown on all the rumors and reports as we get closer to the draft day.
News and Rumors
7 p.m.
• There is a varying degree of concern from doctors on Michael Porter Jr. Some teams have been told by medical personnel to stay away from Porter, but there are others in the lottery who've been informed by doctors that there isn't nearly as much risk (Jeff Goodman)
• Jaren Jackson Jr. has grown comfortable with the prospect of going to the Grizzlies at the No. 4 pick. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN).
• Dallas' pursuit of Atlanta's No. 3 overall pick — to get Luka Doncic — has lost momentum in recent hours. (Shams Charania, Yahoo Sports)
5 p.m.
• The Suns are locked on taking Arizona's Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 pick and the Kings are set to take Duke's Marvin Bagley III with the No. 2 pick. (Shams Charania, Yahoo Sports)
• The Heat do not have a draft pick, but Justise Winslow could be available in trade discussion in an attempt to get a first-round selection. (Jack Fischer, Sports Illustrated)
3 p.m.
• The Wizards are looking to possibly trade Marcin Gortat but don't want to give up their No. 15 pick to do so. Gortat has one year ($16.5 million) left on his contract. Dallas (cap space) and Portland (trade exception) are two teams that could comfortably absorb Gortat's contract tonight. Otherwise, the Wizards could reach a verbal agreement on a trade with a team tonight that would have cap space for Gortat in July. (Marc Stein, The New York Times)
• The Mavericks, Bulls, Cavaliers and Clippers are still looking to trade higher into the lottery. The 76ers' No. 10 pick is in play for teams looking to take Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If he isn't grabbed at No. 10, he could go to the Hornets at No. 11. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
2 p.m.
• After the Hornets traded Dwight Howard to the Nets on Wednesday, Howard is reported to be in buyout talks with Brooklyn to enter free agency. (Chris Haynes,ESPN)
• The Spurs are willing to listen to Kawhi Leonard trade possibilities but haven't been proactive in looking for offers yet. The Spurs and Lakers have not discussed Leonard, who would like to be traded to a team in Los Angeles. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
• The 76ers at one point were heavily interested in drafting Michael Porter Jr. They considered packaging their No. 10 and 26 picks with guard Markelle Fultz to trade in order to move up in the draft. However, the Sixers backed off on Porter due to questions about the state of his back. (Michael Scotto, The Athletic)
• Kevin Knox's draft stock is rising. In Woo's latest mock draft, Knox moved up one spot with the 76ers selecting him with their No. 10 pick, while Mikal Bridges moved down to the Hornets' No. 11 pick.
• The Clippers are expected to be active in their trade talks with the Nos. 12- 13 picks. If no trade occurs, Los Angeles is interested in taking Alabama's Collin Sexton with the No. 12 pick and Texas A&M's Robert Williams at No. 13 if those players are still available. (Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated)
12 p.m.
• The Kings are focusing on Doncic and Bagley now but ownership has yet to fully weigh in. If they take Bagley, a number of teams will look to trade with the Hawks for the No. 3 spot to select Doncic. (Chris Mannix, Yahoo Sports)
• The Suns are targeting UCLA's Aaron Holiday with their No. 16 pick. Ayton would reportedly like to play with Holiday. (Chris Mannix, Yahoo Sports) Holiday is predicted to be selected by the Suns with the 16th pick in Woo's mock draft.
• Assuming the Suns take Ayton at No. 1, the Kings reportedly have also chosen who they will pick at No. 2. Sacramento feels "confident" that they will add "a franchise altering prospect." (Marc Spears, ESPN)
• The Grizzlies are looking to possibly move down in the draft if they could strike a deal. Memphis is interested in Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. (Jonathan Givnoy, ESPN)
• An unnamed team said teams don't know what each other is doing in the draft tonight. They called it the "craziest draft in years, as far as things so up in the air." (Keith Smith, NBA Front Office Show)
11 a.m.
• The Celtics are interested in trading up to a top-four spot in order to acquire Doncic, Mo Bamba or Jaren Jackson. Point guard Terry Rozier could potentially be available to trade. Boston has the No. 27 pick. (Jared Weiss, The Athletic)
• Western Kentucky's Mitchell Robinson reportedly has a sprained left ankle, which is limiting his shooting. He is expected to be back at full strength soon. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN) Robinson is predicted to go to the 76ers with the No. 38 pick in Woo's mock draft.
• The Heat are looking to possibly acquire a first-round pick. They don't own a draft pick at the moment. (Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated)
10 a.m.
• The Warriors are looking at buying in for a pick in the 30s and can offer the max $5.1 million. They have the No. 28 pick. (Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated)
• The Lakers acquired the 39th pick in the draft from the 76ers. Los Angeles will send its 2019 second round pick via the Bulls and cash. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
• The Grizzlies and Mavericks have had discussions about a deal that would send Memphis' fourth overall pick to Dallas. As part of the deal, the Mavs would onload Chandler Parson's salary—he has two years and $49 million left on his deal but has appeared in just 70 games in two years in Memphis, averaging around seven points. (Mike Fisher, 247 Sports)
• The Grizzlies expect interest in their No. 4 pick to intensify, especially once they go on the clock at the draft shortly before 8 p.m. Other teams joining the Mavericks on that potential trade list include the Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Nuggets, Magic and Clippers. (Jonathan Givony, ESPN)
• The Knicks are thought to covet Villanova junior Mikal Bridges with the ninth overall pick, even if Michael Porter Jr. falls and is available at that selection. (Marc Berman, New York Post)
• The Knicks met in person with Texas' Mo Bamba, an indication that New York could be considering trading up to select the big man. The pick they're targeting is Memphis at No. 4. (Ian Begley, ESPN)
• The Hawks own three first-round picks (Nos. 3, 19 and 30) and have thus been engaged in trade discussions. One name that's come up in those talks: Dennis Schroeder. (Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated)
• The Charlotte Hornets traded Dwight Howard to the nets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov and the 45th pick. By unloading Mozgov's deal, Brooklyn will save $17 million for the 2019-20 season, which will free up two max contract slots. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
• Robert Williams, formerly of Texas A&M, has had multiple meetings with the Los Angeles Clippers. L.A. is considering drafting him with either the 12th or 13th pick. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
