With the draft just over 24 hours away, here’s some of the latest rumors:
- The Knicks hold the Nos. 19 and 21 picks on Thursday but they’re aggressively trying to move into the lottery with the hope of landing Oregon guard Chris Duarte, draft expert Chad Ford tweets. The Hornets (No. 11) and Pacers (No. 13) are among the teams that appear willing to trade down. The Knicks are trying to leapfrog the Warriors (No. 14) and Wizards (No. 15), the teams most likely to pick Duarte ahead of them. However, a package of their two first-rounders alone won’t get it done, Ford adds. The Thunder have also held discussions with Charlotte regarding the No. 11 pick, Ford reports in another tweet.
- Duarte may not last beyond the Pacers, either, unless they deal the pick. According to J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link), Indiana’s selection is expeccted to come down to Duarte and Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert, assuming both are still available.
- If the Knicks can’t move up, West Virginia point guard Miles McBride and VCU point guard Nah’Shon Hyland are potential targets at No. 21, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report tweets.
- The Kings (No. 9) are taking a long look at Australia’s Josh Giddey, James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. The Kings not only interviewed Giddey, they made a trip to Las Vegas to see the 6’8” guard work out with the Australian national team.
- The Nuggets (No. 26) have fielded some calls from teams in the 20-25 range looking to trade down, Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes. One of those teams is apparently the Lakers (No. 22).
19 + 21 = 15
or
19 + 21 = 18
Knicks are making the fans sad.
NO!
Chad Ford is saying
19 + 21 = 19
I think your math is off lol
54…Hike
According to nbasense.com the value of picks 19 & 21 is roughly equal to pick #8. I do not agree with that assessment, but those two picks should be at least worth the 13 definitely and maybe even the 11. Picks in that range are not usually great, but they are not as worthless as some people are making them out to be either.
Just to support your post (while still early), last year the Knicks drafted better with IQ (25) as opposed to Toppin (8).
I think I would do it for the 11th pick, depending on whether or not their guy (who appears to be Duarte), is available. But probably not the 13th (unless, again, Duarte is available). It’s splitting hairs to a point, but I think I would rather take my chances on two mid-round guys (19 and 21) than one (13).
For what it’s worth, in 2017 the blazers traded 15 & 20 to move up to 10
Thank you, I knew there was a somewhat similar trade that happened recently but I could not remember it. It was the Zach Collins deal.
Duarte is not worth those two picks. At 11 Jalen Johnson is in play. He can start at SF next yr for Knicks. I still think Knicks will use Toppin and Quickley to move up. If Kuminga gets by Warriors. Knicks should go all out to get him. Magic should be open to trading since they will have taken Barnes. What would it take to get the 8th pick, if Kuminga falls there. Toppin, Quickley, and the 19th pick should do it.
If Jalen Johnson is starting for the Knicks next season, enjoy the lottery.
That being said, I would definitely take Toppin Quickley and 19 for 8. It is also amazing how quickly the luster comes off these prospects for some fans after they are drafted.
I felt from the start that the NYK would have some difficulty getting baseline value (historically) for the two picks if they tried to trade up with them together. They’re too close together. I don’t expect them to use them both even if the keep them going into the draft. Using #19, and then trade #21 for a future 1st (likely protected) is more likely, and smarter long term and (since draft picks are good currency) perhaps short term as well.
Giddey will be going going gone. Get your postmodern Europasser while you still can, even if he’s from down under and still green.