Rival NBA executives anticipate that both the Rockets (No. 4) and Mavericks (No. 10) will dangle their first-round picks in trade talks, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports within a post-lottery mock draft. Both clubs have playoff aspirations in 2023/24 after missing out this season.
Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News explores what a Mavericks trade involving the No. 10 pick might look like, speculating that Suns center Deandre Ayton and Raptors forwards OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam may be targets. While those players make some sense from Dallas’ perspective, I’d expect Toronto to seek a more substantial return for either of their forwards, while Phoenix likely won’t be prioritizing draft assets in an Ayton trade.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Which player might the Rockets select at No. 4 if they end up keeping their lottery pick? Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) explores whether Villanova wing Cam Whitmore might be the choice, noting that adding the 18-year-old would make a young Houston roster even younger. Whitmore said at this week’s combine that he can envision himself playing alongside Rockets guards Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. “They’re athletic-type guards who can score offensively and are the type of people who can get guys involved, guards who can rotate one through five,” Whitmore said. “I think it’s a great fit with athletic-type young guys who can get the job done.”
- In a column for The San Antonio Express-News, Mike Finger digs into the comparisons between former Spurs big man Tim Duncan and the team’s next franchise player, Victor Wembanyama. As Finger observes, even though Wembanyama has the potential to match what Duncan did on the court, it will be impossible in the social media era for him to stay out of the spotlight to the extent that Duncan and the Spurs did in the early 2000s.
- Christian Clark of NOLA.com identifies five prospects who could be fits for the Pelicans with the No. 14 pick in the draft, including Kansas wing Gradey Dick, Duke big man Dereck Lively II, and Central Florida forward Taylor Hendricks.
Would love to see the Spurs trade back into the first round and pick up Rupert as well.
I watched him a lot this year in the NBL, and though he didn’t play big minutes, he showed some special defensive skills and some nice mechanics on his jumper.
The Spurs were horrible defensively last year, like historically bad. Adding Victor and Rayan would be a really good start to cleaning that up.
Mavs are the LA Rams of NBA…no desire to build thru the draft.
Markkanen would be a good fit in Dallas.
Why would Utah trade Markkanen???
I think Utah seems content with tanking another season or two if it means loading up on even more assets. If they think Markannen outperformed his true talent level this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s moved. At this point, he might be able to return multiple first rounders and young talent.
Mavs and Rockets have little asset available for trade
Let’s say they want to acquire #3 from Blazers, they have nothing the Blazers want
So you’re saying #3 is worth more than a combo of;
#4, 9 other picks. Green, KPJ, Sengun, Smith Jr, KJ Martin, Eason and another few under 22 players with high potential and fair value? Enough value to pick up a lot more than #3 if Stone planned to.
What’s with all the Rockets hate you have? I’m not saying Blazers would have interest because they want to keep dame happy and get him strong role players and poss star, but “little assets” c’mon man straight up trashing, or just no idea of what value is.
Exactly, the rockets are loaded with assets. This narrative about them being a garbage organization is wild. They have a top 5 overall record over the last two decades. They had a star player force his way out after the season had started so they were forced to blow it up. They’ve only had 2 drafts, it takes time to completely turn around your roster and build a championship team. They’ve made nothing but good deals to put them in a great position, it’s crazy to me that people think they’d all of a sudden become morons.
That moron thing will be confirmed if they sign Harden. He’s a ‘3’ (1-5) on the ST ‘make us better’ scale and 1 on the LT. NO NO NO!
@JW91
When you use the word “combo”, you know their “single” value is not enough.
Let’s talk about trade value.
Assume that Rockets want to trade Jalen Green to this draft, is his value equal to the 10th pick?
How about Smith?
Are you kidding? You don’t think the Mavs would jump at the opportunity to trade their pick for either of those guys?? Look, it’s cool if you don’t watch the rockets play but perhaps you’d be better off discussing one of the other teams being written about.
@Sillivan like wow…So firstly, no the rockets wouldn’t trade their top 3/4 guys to move up 1 spot for #3 or even #2 when they already had the #4. And having the #4 is the value in itself.
If we’re talking #10 you’re either deep in your hate. Or again you know nothing about value. They have 5+ player worth much more than #10 let alone a stash of 1st and 2nds.
Didn’t Knicks trade #11 last year for 3 heavily protected picks they’ll most likely only get one of. Making my point that your view of value is either way off, or you’re biased against a team you just don’t like.
Houston trading that pick would be a mistake. Just take Amen. Really evaluate what you have on the current roster and preemptively move some of the pieces that you don’t see as a fit. Tate isn’t a core guy, move him. I would also move KPJ if a team is willing to give up an asset. Take on a salary dump and obtain picks down the road. Once you find those “guys” through the draft you’ve gotta pay them and having firsts further out will help supplement the roster inexpensively.
It’s one of the mistakes a lot of teams make once they say I’m flipping the switch and bringing in a high price FA or trading for one. They lose all flexibility. The Sixers wasted all of their assets this way.
Those comments aren’t coming from the rockets. Everything coming from the rockets is about building and developing their youth and through the draft and adding guys through free agency that can add experience and have potential to play better than what they sign them for. This “news” about them going after harden or trading young guys for over the hill, over priced vets isn’t coming from the rockets. They aren’t allowed to say they’re interested in specific guys right now, it’s a violation. That junk is coming from player’s camps to try to create leverage because they know there aren’t many teams that can and will overpay for a player like Harden. Look for the rockets to target guys like Naz Reid or Paul Reed, Austin Reeves, maybe Rui or gabe Vincent. Guys with playoff experience and still a ton of upside and also won’t break the bank. NOTHING the rockets have said or done over the last couple years, including hiring Ime, signals they’d do anything else. Slow and steady builds a roster that can win for a decade and the rockets know that.
Also they should not take one of the twins. They need guys who can shoot. The games that the rockets were able to knock down the 3, they looked really good. Spacing was a problem last season so I think it would be a mistake for them to not improve that, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t.
Agreed, it’s all agents and players sounding off. Along with media distain for Rockets feeding the circus.
Hardens next contract will be far from max wherever he ends up, but even so I don’t think it’s the right move. (I prey Stone don’t buckle and make the worst singing of his career!!)
But I am against your views regard Amen Thompson. I agree they’re having issues shooting. But Green KPJ and Smith are all good 3pt shooters, even if the stats done add up. It’s the issue of the plays and spacing causing bad looks. I’m sure Ime can see that. A facilitator like Scoot/Amen would see a huge improvement for the better from their shooting. And then use the cap for role 3&D wings.
I can be talked into Thompson, but currently I would prefer Whitmore or Hendricks. Both have good size, can create their own shots, and can shoot (they are younger too and played against better competition). I also think there are other playmakers that will be available when they draft again at 20. Guys gotta be able to make shots and extend out to the 3 point line in the NBA, especially in a playoff series.
I don’t see Stone signing Harden. They worked so hard to get out of a number of awful contracts that I can’t see them adding another, especially when it won’t be enough to make them a contender. If you read the tea leaves from interviews with Stone and Ime, it all points to them finding complementary value players that will help create the culture that Ime was brought in to do. Harden’s people can act like he’s going to the rockets all they want, it’s not happening. He’s probably going to sign a 1 + 1 with the 6ers and he should be ecstatic if he gets any thing close to the per year amount his player option is for.
I just think they’re desperate for a facilitator to run the offence. KPJ is not that, I rate him a lot. But if you have the chance to take someone that can fill both of the biggest issues on the team, being defence and facilitating you take it.
I think at just 22, KPJ can still be that guy, but I also don’t think the rockets need to be a team that only runs through one guy. A lot of the blame KPJ gets was not his fault. Guys didn’t space the floor well and they missed a lot of open shots so his assist/turnover ratio isn’t as good as it should’ve been. And if I had a dollar for every time Segun would set a pick and then roll right into the ball handler, or just kinda linger so his man could double, I’d be a rich man. I think a lot of these things will get cleaned up as they continue to mature and learn. One thing you gotta keep in mind, the starting 5 for the rockets was younger than the starting 5 of a lot of college teams playing in the NCAA tournament.
Some guys I’d like to see the rockets bring in are Naz Reid or Paul Reed for depth and a different dynamic at the 5, Austin Reeves m (because I think he’s cheaper than Cam and maybe just as good, if not better) gabe Vincent for depth/different dynamic at point, and Rui as another stretch 4 with size and range. I thought the rockets looked their best when Jabari played the 5 and I think those guys, plus whoever we draft will give the rockets a ton of options with different lineups and would also make them very deep. Next is just them learning to play together and how to win NBA games. I think they are on their way, it just takes a little time. The warriors didn’t sniff a winning record until Steph’s 5th season.
and play a 14 man rotation? Trade whatever #4,#20 & future first w/ Charlotte. Draft Henderson, sign VanVlett, a C, and a vet or 2 for leadership and play every one but Bobo
No, just like every other team with same amount of players, you find the rotation that works best and run with that. Early in the season teams will go 10+ deep and then tighten up as gets closer to playoffs. You keep developing these guys and hanging on to the ones who excel and getting rid of the ones who don’t. This roster is very young and has plenty of room for growth but they still need to cash as many lottery tickets as they can right now, trading away draft assets (picks) for a rebuilding team is not the way to do it. When they get to the point where they can make the playoffs, that’s when you go after a guy that can get you over the hump. It’s way too early to try to do that now.