We're mere hours away from the NBA Draft and the rumors are swirling like crazy before the actual madness begins. We've already seen Mike Conley traded and last night, Woj predicted that there would be a lot of potential trade action during the draft. The first three picks seem to be mortal locks, with Zion Williamson going to the Pelicans, Ja Morant to the Grizzlies, and RJ Barrett heading to the Knicks.
After that, it's anyone's best guess what will happen. The Pelicans currently own the fourth pick after the Anthony Davis trade, but everyone expects them to move it. Who will trade up? What will the Cavs do with the fifth pick? Will another team make a splash trade? We're rounding up all the top rumors leading into the draft. Stay tuned for Woj bombs and all the craziness.
Clippers Hyperventilating over Kahwi?
The Clippers are all-in for Kawhi. They've been all-in for months, but the Raptors winning the championship surely complicates things. According to Windy, the Clips are currently "hyperventalating" over Kawhi's upcoming decision. Can't say the rest of the NBA world isn't doing the same, tbh.
Kevin Durant's Decision
The biggest question mark going into free agency is where Kevin Durant is going to end up. The latest reports indicate that Durant's decision will likely come down to the Knicks, the Nets, and staying with the Warriors. According to Windhorst, the Warriors and Durant have reportedly discussed sign & trade scenarios, which would send some assets back to Golden State.
The Atlanta Hawks Are Aggressively Trying to Trade Up
The Hawks hold two picks in the top 10 and have reportedly been super aggressive in trying to trade up in the draft. Their ultimate target is unclear, but adding someone like Jarrett Culver to a core with Trae Young would be super fun. The race for the fourth pick is going to be a fun one to watch.
Timberwolves Looking to Move Up
Could the T-Wolves move up to the fourth pick? According to Stein, they've expressed interest in moving up, though it's unclear what they'd offer outside of the 11th pick. Would the Pelians have interest in Robert Covington? That would be an interesting match for each side.
The Knicks Remain a Mystery
Woj said the Knicks are locked into taking RJ Barrett at pick number three tonight, but also reported that they've recently worked out Darius Garland and Coby White over the past 48 hours. What are the Knicks up to? Is this a big smokescreen or are they not going to take RJ? Maybe they plan to trade up? The Knicks remain a mystery.
Al Horford Drawing Tons of Interest
Earlier this week, Al Horford opted out of his deal with the Celtics, though everyone expected him to return to Boston. Well, he's now on the market and looking to take his talents elsewhere. According to the Ringer, Horford will command interest from the Mavericks, Lakers, and Clippers. Would be interesting to see if the Nets, Sixers, and Bucks also tried to swing a deal for Horford.
Kyrie to the Nets a Done Deal? Or No?
There's a lot of Kyrie stuff out in the world right now. Some reports indicate that he's set on joining the Brooklyn Nets, while a new story last night speculated that the Nets might pass on Kyrie if he can't bring KD with him. That's a pretty drastic difference.
Ricky Rubio to the Pacers?
With Mike Conley now in Utah, Ricky Rubio will be looking for a new home. Could the Pacers be his new home? According to ESPN, they'll give him a strong look, but they'll have plenty of free agent PGs on their radar.
Thunder Trading Steven Adams?
Word out of OKC is that they want to shed salary and that they could possibly trade Steven Adams at some point this summer. Adams is a very good player and should be a high target for a number of contenders going forward.
