2023 NBA Draft: Four Teams with Top-Ten Picks Reportedly Looking to Trade Out

Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, as many as four teams within the top ten of the 2023 NBA Draft, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks, could be looking to trade out of their first round selections.

Brian Windhorst says that the Portland Trail Blazers (3), Houston Rockets (4), Detroit Pistons (5), and Dallas Mavericks (10) are looking to trade out of their first round picks in next week’s NBA Draft on @GetUpESPN this morning. pic.twitter.com/IMsokBb5Uq
— Aaron Johnson (@AJohnsonNBA) June 13, 2023

The highest profile picks available — the third and fourth picks via Portland and Houston, respectively — have been known to be on the market. But Detroit's No. 5 selection has now been officially added to the ranks via Windhorst’s report.

The Mavericks, who own the tenth overall pick, have been actively shopping their selection for some time now.

It could be nothing, as each of those teams are in unique situations and could simply be looking to acquire win-now talent in order to surround current stars: Damian Lillard in Portland, a potential James Harden reunion in Houston, Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey in Detroit and the ever-talented Luka Doncic in Dallas. But it could also mean the teams in that range simply don’t like the value they’re presented with following Victor Wembanyama going first overall.

G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson is likely to be highly sought-after, with the Pelicans expected to aggressively pursue the second or third overall pick, but the combination of Brandon Miller, Amen or Ausar Thompson, Cam Whitmore and others might be less appealing than once thought.

Of course, several of those teams are likely to stay pat and select prospects, and for the most part those are likely going to work out just fine. But the specificity of the Thompson twins, and the potential talent drop-off hovering just after that range could be a legitimate draft undertone.

There are likely to be plenty of suitors for those selections. Top-three and top-five picks aren’t often on the market. But deals of that caliber take a good bit of legwork from both sides, as well as luck. And there’s a slim chance more than one of those teams is offered a deal they truly see a return in value.

Regardless, now just nine days out, the 2023 NBA Draft is already proving to be one for the ages.

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