As several of this year’s green room invitees gathered on Tuesday to speak to the media, there was a sense of uncertainty about how Wednesday’s draft will play out, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who says that many prospects don’t have a real sense of where they’ll be picked.
According to Fischer, the Spurs conducted a meeting with Donovan Clingan over Zoom this past weekend and have been linked to the UConn center more in recent days than they were earlier in the pre-draft process. However, many people around the league believe that’s a smokescreen to entice a team like the Trail Blazers or Grizzlies to trade up to No. 4 to draft him.
If the Grizzlies end up trading down from No. 9, the Heat (No. 15) are viewed as a team that may have interest in moving up, Fischer writes, adding that the Cavaliers at No. 20 have also received a number of calls from teams drafting near the end of the first round with interest in trading up.
The Thunder, who hold the No. 12 pick, have more than enough ammunition in future picks to move up from there if they want to, but if they stand pat, Pittsburgh’s Carlton Carrington is viewed as one possibility for that pick, Fischer reports. Meanwhile, Indiana big man Kel’el Ware has been repeatedly mentioned by league personnel as a candidate to be drafted at No. 19 by the Raptors, Fischer says.
As for the Bucks at No. 23, with rumors circulating that they could move Brook Lopez this offseason, rival teams believe they may be targeting a possible center of the future at that spot. Sources tell Yahoo Sports that Dayton’s DaRon Holmes is one player Milwaukee tried to bring in for a workout, but he declined that invitation. However, Fischer confirms – as Michael Scotto of HoopsHype previously reported – that Holmes, who has also been linked to the Kings, doesn’t have a promise from the Nuggets.
Here’s more from Fischer:
- If the Mavericks are unable to re-sign Derrick Jones and have a hole to fill on the wing, they’re expected to show interest in Pelicans free agent Naji Marshall, sources tell Fischer, who adds that the Pistons are another potential suitor to watch for Marshall.
- The Lakers, Pelicans, and Spurs are among the possible destinations that would appeal to Trae Young if the Hawks decide to move him, Fischer says.
- While the Kings continue to explore the market for a potential deal involving the No. 13 pick and one or both of Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter, they don’t appear to have gained any momentum toward a deal for either Hawks guard (Young or Dejounte Murray), Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, or any other player of that caliber, Fischer writes.
- The Magic hired Milenko Topic – Nikola Topic‘s father and a former coach in Serbia and Hungary – to a front office role this past season, per Fischer. That’s a key reason why people around the league believe Orlando at No. 18 is the floor for Nikola in Wednesday’s draft, though he may not make it that far.
- After agreeing to acquire Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn, the Knicks might not be done adding former Villanova Wildcats. In a separate Yahoo Sports story on the Bridges deal, Fischer cites sources who say veteran point guard Kyle Lowry has been mentioned as a possible free agent target for New York.
I’ll pass on Lowry. Go get CP3 on a buy out or maybe Westbrook Don’t forget to bring back Ryan A. Definitely an overpay for Bridges and we will never know if PHX would have taken that offer for Booker or wanted more. I’m still a happy Knicks fan today. Boston look out NY coming for you next year. Now bring back OG, Precious and IHART.
You must have been smoking a fat one in celebration because you are still are high as a kite my friend with this take.
What about that take is insane? I’m guessing you’re a Boston fan
Sixers, and he does that to everyone.
Knicks need to bring back Arcidiacono and hire Kris Jenkins
Don’t forget Omari Spellman and Eric Paschall.
I was just curious if that offer of picks would have been enough for Booker? Bridges is great. I’m happy but could have NY gotten Booker or Luka or someone else who’s better.
Definitely not Luka. Mavs aren’t moving him after they just made the Finals for the first time in thirteen years. Booker, maybe, but I doubt it. Not from a value standpoint so much as “Ishbia would shoot himself before admitting he was wrong and blowing up his team at this point”. Still not sure it could have gotten Booker. He’s a genuine 1st option. Would likely have had to include at least a couple good players in addition, rather than just a salary dump of Bogdanovic.
Luka?! I genuinely don’t think he’s attainable for any number of picks. Could be 10 FRPs and they would still undoubtedly say no.
Still can’t believe it …….. great day.
Don’t get why Blazers would be interested in Clingan. I really like Ayton. But seems something is wrong there.
Now Grizz is a great place for him. Be great next to Jackson .
I get that Lopez is older/on the downhill side, etc..but won’t it really hurt the Bucks defense by moving him, if they’re supposedly in “win now” mode? Even more if they also (potentially) move Portis (obviously not the same level of rim protection as Lopez, but still a vet big).
Plus it’s not like they can just grab another solid vet to plug in there since they’re up against the tax threshold.
Short term, this is a solid move. Solid player who will fit in and make the Knicks better.
But when you think about the kind of star they should have got for that haul of draft picks… Not to mention Bogdanovich.
In any case, I certainly would not expect the Knicks to compete with the Celtics with current rosters.. they really should see what return they could get for Randle. If only he was in that trade instead of so many pics