The Cavaliers hold the No. 20 pick in tonight’s draft and currently don’t have another selection. However, they’re actively looking to get involved in Thursday’s second round, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor in a subscriber-only story. Sources tell Fedor that the Cavs have had numerous talks with each team holding a second-round pick to determine the cost of moving into Thursday’s portion of the draft. Cleveland’s own second-rounder is currently owned by the Pacers.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Guard Jack Gohlke recently worked out for the Bucks, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. The three-point specialist made a big splash in the NCAA Tournament when Oakland University shocked Kentucky in the opening round.
- If the Bucks want to draft a center, it’s probably best to just wait and see who falls to them at No. 23 tonight, Eric Nehm of The Athletic writes. Nehm doesn’t believe that packaging the No. 23 and 33 picks will be enough to make a significant move up the draft board, plus there are a number of center prospects who could be available in the latter stages of the first round.
- There’s a “very high” chance the Pistons will trade the No. 5 pick and move into the back half of the lottery, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic. He views the Bulls, Grizzlies, Thunder and Trail Blazers as the most likely candidates to work out a deal for that pick. Cody Williams and Tidjane Salaun could be targeted in the back half of the lottery if Detroit moves down. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has reported that the Jazz, who have the No. 10 overall pick, might look to move into the No. 5 slot.
- If Paul George leaves the Clippers, they might target Bulls free agent wing DeMar DeRozan, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago tweets. There reportedly has been little traction in talks between the Bulls and DeRozan, who will be an unrestricted free agent if those negotiations fizzle.
Clippers Leverage strategy
Clippers are not trading starters to Bulls for DeRozan
Warriors get George
Clippers get DeRozan, Moody
Bulls get Wiggins, Paul, salary filler
Clippers aren’t helping the Dubs and Chicago would need more than that.
That’s entirely too much salary for the Bulls between George and Paul, LOL. There’s no salary filler necessary because that is already like $75M+ next year.
DeRozan is only going to make like $35M max. That’s $40M too much for the Bulls to take on.
Except the bot has Wiggins and Paul going to Chicago, no George, who would have no interest in joining a bottom dweller. Paul’s contract can be guaranteed at any amount under the total of the option, making him a variable salary filler. DeRozen isn’t worth much at this point, so they would be lucky to get Wiggins for him.
Paul waived and resign for $10 m
If he’s waived, he can not be re-signed and traded. The numbers don’t work, and why would either the Clips or Bulls make this deal?
So the bulls get 2 overpaid players for facilitating a sign and trade? No chance in that, the bulls gave up a first rounder when they did their own sign and trade with the spurs for Derozan three years ago, without draft capital or a young player going to the bulls thats not going to happen.
DFS for 20 and LeVert?
It’s a NY thing …..,,,
Pistons ALL the help they can get, so if trading down results in a player who can shoot and additional picks they need to go for it. Will see what the new FO is thinking soon enough
Seems to me that Williams and Salaun are the two players that are being talked about the most as fast-rising. If Detroit trades down, the teams moving up are probably targeting one of them.
Bucks might luck into Edey although I heard the Lakers like him too at 17