Numerous teams are trying to obtain a top-4 pick in order to select Kansas swingman Josh Jackson, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweets. With the Sixers having obtained the top overall pick to select Markelle Fultz, that means a blockbuster deal involving the Lakers, Celtics or Suns could be on the horizon. It also strongly suggests that the Celtics have settled on Duke forward Jayson Tatum as their preferred choice, since Jackson wouldn’t be available at No. 4 if Boston wants him.
Here are some of other trade rumors floating around as the draft approaches:
- There is a growing sense that unless the Pacers get a suitable offer for Paul George today, President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard will wait until next month to re-engage talks regarding the 2018 free agent, according to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler. However, the latest projected salary cap of $99MM could motivate Indiana and the Lakers to get a deal done today, as Kyler details. The Spurs and Blazers are also making a run at George, Kyler adds in another tweet.
- The Knicks believe Kristaps Porzingis would have been the top selection in today’s draft and next year’s draft and desire a package of picks that reflect his value, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets. Team President Phil Jackson confirmed Wednesday he is listening to offers for the disgruntled big man. Talks between the Knicks and Suns have not gained any traction because Phoenix is unwilling to part with shooting guard Devin Booker, Wojnarowski tweets.
- The Thunder could deal center Enes Kanter as early as today, Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman speculates. The team has enough big men to take over his minutes, though Kanter is the most offensively-gifted frontcourt player they have, Carlson continues. It makes sense to obtain more shooters and veterans to help out Russell Westbrook, which makes Kanter expendable, Carlson adds. Kanter will make approximately $17.9MM next season and holds an $18.6MM player option on the final year of his contract next summer.
“It also strongly suggests that the Celtics have settled on Duke forward Jayson Tatum as their preferred choice, since Jackson wouldn’t be available at No. 4 if Boston wants him.”
Boston has the #3 overall pick (forehead slap)
Makes perfect sense. If Boston wants Jackson (at 3) he won’t be available at 4. So any team that wants Jackson would be trying to obtain a top-3 pick (not a top 4 pick). Since teams are trying to get top-4 pick it suggests Boston likes Tatum, otherwise Jackson wouldn’t be around at 4.
I’ll admit it is somewhat poorly worded, but maybe before criticizing someone you should read it more than once.
Touche. Advantage JustPassingThrough.
Though I will admit I read it several times before posting. I wouldn’t say it’s somewhat poorly worded, it’s downright confusing. Your explanation is on-point, but realize you have to understand a few rules of logic to understand what is being stated. I find that overly confusing for a sports blog article. Writers posting to hoopsrumors.com should realize most of us consuming their content are not looking for the writing style of Thomas Pynchon. Furthermore, RedBirdsSwaff is also confused.
I guess you’re right but sports writers have a right to speak affluently and not have to put everything right in front of you to understand. The best sports articles in my opinion are the ones where you have to read in between the lines a little bit, I feel that putting the connection together yourself makes you appreciate the knowledge more than if someone gave it to you straight up.
Unless the Celts are trading the pick to number 5….it makes no sense.
I was thinking that the Celts had 3….but when he said 4, I started to think that I am losing it.
So we know who is going 1 and 2 I am pretty sure Jackson will be there.
Maybe I read that wrong, but Boston has the 3rd pick.. Jackson would be available at number 3 if LA takes Ball. Suns have 4th pick
It means that if a team is trying to get a top 4 pick for Jackson, that he’ll conceivably be available at pick 4…which implies that the Celtics would pass on him at pick 3 and choose Tatum. It makes sense to me.
Yes, thank you. A bit different writing style, but who am I to judge. Certainly got people talking lol
Trade the #3 pick for Porzingis! The Celtics need size
Suns get: Porzingis
New York get: Bledsoe and Bender 2018 pick from Miami
Just curious. Are you related to Bledsoe? Cause no one other than a relative would think that he’s worth nearly as much as you do. LOL!!
Agreed. Even if Miami had the #1 pick I might still think that was a light offer.
Alright I get that the offer isn’t enough but let’s also not act like Bledsoe is some scrub that can’t play. Anybody that can average 21-5-6 in the west as a point guard is a pretty legit player.
Bledsoe, Bender, Warren, both Miami picks and the Suns 2018 first rounder with very little protection is a deal worth considering for the Knicks.
In what world is Porzingis worth a borderline all star, starting caliber SF, top 5 pick a year ago, as well as 3 first rd picks. Porzingis is really good but that is a billy king offer
If OKC gets rid of Kanter, they should throw a party to celebrate fleecing whoever took him. If they could get rid of Kyle Singler too, it will absolve them of all the mistakes they made a couple of years ago lol.
I’m thinking maybe they could trade him to the Blazers, and pick up a similar salaried player. Blazers gave Kanter the max RFA offer before OKC matched some years ago, maybe they could move him for Evan Turner or Allen Crabbe, or a combination of Harkless and Leonard with some
picks and other players involved. Admittedly that might not be what the Blazers want to do, picking up another defensive liability while they now have a great post scorer in Nurkic, but it’s a call I would make if I were Sam Presti.
Portland was destroying people with those contracts left and right lol. They also got indiana on Hibbert lol. I can’t even think of an iteration of a deal where they can get rid of Kanter, and we just watched the Lakers get a 1st round pick from the team that took Mozgov lol
OKC should offer their 1st round pick and Kanter to the Knicks for Melo.
Booker & 4 for Knicks that or forget about it
Ya PHX wouldn’t be interested in that one bit.
Booker, Chriss, And tgd #4 for Porzingis and a 2nd rounder this year. Knicks have two late picks.
Suns won’t do that, Booker isn’t available. Him PLUS the 4, PLUS Chriss is just too much.
You can keep your turmoil at that price.
Here’s an interesting one: Chriss, Bender, Knight and #4 pick for Porzingis, Noah, and #58 pick.
Knicks take a little less on Zinger’s value here but gets New York the #4 pick and gets them out of Noah’s deal. Knight has 3 years left on his deal, Bledsoe 2 left on his, so you could interchange them.
Suns to good in next years they don’t need Porzingis they have Chriss and Bender booth in 1-2 better than Porzingis !!!
Lmao
Leave this site
Nobody wants Kanter, or any of those centers that can’t play defense.
Porzingis to Boston for #3, Crowder, second rounder tonight
Definitely not enough
I can see maybe Smart or TR, Crowder # 3 C’s pick next yr and 2 2nd rounders and one of the draft and stashed players not Brown
I like how the Pacers are trying to think they hold all the cards in the PG affair. Yeah we’ll call it an affair.
If they don’t get teams to step up and give them what they want then they’ll just wait a month and re-negotiate a new deal. Hmmm but he don’t wanna be there. I f I remember right I guess the Pacers can actually offer him more the what the Lakers can. (Correct me if I’m wrong on that). But really it’s like your wife having an affair on your ass and then thinking you can work it out and it’ll be just like it used to be. I don’t know maybe over cooked that one
Only thing I can see the Spurs being able to offer is LaMarcus Aldridge, Dejonte Murray, Kyle anderson, #29 overall, and their 2nd round pick this year for Paul George and Rakeem Christmas…if they could then find a way to move Danny Green without taking much back, I think they could add Chris Paul as well, which would be pretty impressive lol…or they could just use their space to add someone at the PG spot and keep Simmons
I could see Portland offering Allen Crabbe, Aminu, Ezili’s non guaranteed, Connaughton, #15 overall for Paul George, take on Monte Ellis, Lavoy Allen, and Rakeem Christmas. That opens up money on both sides (mostly long term money for Portland). I’d assume the Pacers would want Harkless over Aminu, but Porlando also takes Ellis for them, and they probably wouldn’t move Harkless b/c it’s only 1 year on Paul George.
Not bad possibilities, to be honest, but I still like that Heat proposal of Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder, Wayne Ellington’s non guaranteed, a McRoberts expiring, and the #14 pick
So do GMs tell each other who they are picking? How do these other teams know Boston is picking Tatum?