While all five teams at the top of the draft have reportedly been open to the idea of moving down, the odds of any of those teams actually trading a top-five pick may be slim. As Sean Deveney of The Sporting News details, teams that have explored trading up have found the asking price for a top-five selection to be extremely high.
“This is a good draft, a very good draft at the top,” one league source told Deveney. “But the value that teams are placing on these picks is a little unreasonable in some cases.”
The Sixers, Cavaliers, Bulls, and Celtics are among the teams that have looked into trading up. The Clippers, who own the 12th and 13th picks, have also had multiple discussions about that possibility, but if they stay where they are, there’s a sense that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox, and Robert Williams will be among their top targets, per Deveney.
Here’s more from Deveney’s latest round-up of draft rumors:
- While the Raptors were believed to be considering moving into the lottery to land Gilgeous-Alexander, their trade options are limited, according to Deveney. League sources tell Deveney that Toronto’s most likely deal is a salary dump of Norman Powell.
- Speaking of Gilgeous-Alexander, he has been a mystery man during the pre-draft process. Appearing on Wednesday at media day, he didn’t shed much light on what he has been up to, telling reporters that he “can’t say” how many teams – or which teams – he has worked out for (Twitter link via Deveney).
- The Warriors will likely to look to buy a second-round pick, but at least one general manager tells Deveney – perhaps half-seriously – that he hopes teams aren’t eager to accommodate the defending champs. “If anyone sells them a pick, they ought to have their head checked,” the GM joked. “Once that first round is over, everyone needs to just not pick up the phone if [Warriors GM Bob] Myers is calling.”
- Deveney identifies Duke center Wendell Carter Jr. as one of the wild cards near the top of the draft, suggesting that Carter could go as high as No. 4 to the Grizzlies.
Bulls send Felicio and 7 to Grizzlies for 4 and Parsons … if there is someone they need to have at 4
who need felicio? no one. high salary (9 m) low quality. at 7 bulls still have chance to draft porter or wendell carte jr. hope magic really draft trae young. i f bull want the 4th pick, better give griz the 22nd pick + player+ money.maybe valentine or holiday. i like holiday, but he deserve to be starter and he cant get it in bulls bcoz we have laVine
Warriors buy picks and build their bench. Not sure why other teams enable that. Does any NBA owner really need cash????? Atlanta – 3 picks….sounds like they might get fleeced at the trade table. Clippers will get better. Please…..Fakers give PG max money….screw up your salary cap…we want to see him choke in the bright lights! OKC is screwed….gotta dump fat boy Melo/Trade Westbrook when PG leaves.
No matter what Bulls do they will mess it up big time. Forman and Paxson are clueless
One poster said “Bulls”, another said “not sure why other teams enable that”…
And the next had to bring up the Bulls FO, making themselves $3.5mil richer last year.
If I am Toronto I’d trade an unprotected 2019 1st rounder and either a lottery protected 2021 1sts or a right to swap 2020 1sts. That might entice the Bulls at 7 or the Knicks at 9.
Not a huge SGA fan
He profiles as a high upside slashing guard but too many questions about his defensive technique and the little things in an NBA system. He’ll be better than MCW simply because of his IQ and finishing ability but any team who takes him in the lottery is making a big mistake. His shooting is really, really bad right now.
None of us know who’s going to be the guy in this draft or who’s going to be the biggest bust. And that includes myself.
However, Gilgeous-Alexander sure is tantalizing with that height and wing span. In the right system, he could be the diamond in the rough in this draft.
What do you mean “bad right now”. How do you know?– he hasn’t done workouts. That’s his issue.
He shot 40% on 3s for Kentucky, and in his last 5 tournament games there was 6 for 11. 50% on 2s, 82% FTs.
But his main thing is he can start the offense wherever you want him to.
He barely shot any threes. His rates were lower than Mo Bamba.
This is the deepest draft I’ve ever seen. There will be busts, no doubt, there are every year. But as far as on-paper, the measurables this looks like you can find a player that will at least contribute into the 20’s. So I think you have a lot of scared GMs, guys thinking they’re going to get canned scared to move out of the Top-whatever b/c of FOMO.
But going in, deepest draft. You can Monday Morning QB each draft, do your re-draft and be like “oh how did Kawhi fall to 15?” but going into the 2011 draft, it was Kyrie Irving #1 and Derrick Williams #2 and everyone else, not even a doubt. No one was talking about Kawhi, Butler, IT4, Klay, Kemba with any great detail.
I know quite a few of my cavs fan buddies that were upset the cavs didn’t draft Williams #1 and then Kemba at #4. Thank God Cavs FO didn’t listen to them!
Odd, that a league source would opine that the asking price for the top picks was unreasonable in some cases. A league that put in this salary cap and luxury tax is surprised that teams are “overvaluing” the most viable method (even on a roll of the dice) of getting an elite player for less than 25 mm per year.
Pop is a prick. He won’t trade KL to Fakers. He watched cavs screw up by trading Kyrie. Keep him until trade deadline…teams worried about his leg….show them he is healthy and they get more.
NBA owners need to wake up! Why is free agency opening date after the draft? That is stupid! LBJ is keeping Cavs in dark about his plans. They have no idea what to do with 8th pick this week. The draft should be after free agency starts….let these dudes leave if they want….we will know how to maximize our draft picks!!!
You can opine that the trade was a bad trade re: Kyrie, but Kyrie was going to sit out this past year if kept. They had to trade him. At the time of the trade, it was widely expected that the Nets pick would be closer to #1 than it is now so that’s being an arm Chair QB to now say it was bad. Plus, IT was in the MVP discussion the previous season and who knew he was going to turn out to be so cancerous? However, with what they got from the trade, the Cavs still got into the Finals while Kyrie watched from t.v.
The price is unreasonable only if the teams doesn’t wanna pay it, a top 5 this year is quite priceless, teams are trying to fleece them with getting a good deal, giving little getting a lot, but that is not the way, no matter what you give if you get your man & becomes a star man, whatever the price will seem right, so stopr trying to fleece people & pay man, I would be happy to pay a high price.