NBA: Draft and Movement

Man, the NBA is exciting right now. The amount of movement, trades and changes really makes the League interesting a full week after the NBA Finals.

Trades

• Antonio Davis to Lakers: I wrote about this earlier this week, but new GM Rob Pelinka made a mistake costing the Lakers vital cap space. So, they need a change in the deal or have to deal with what I’ve heard between $4-12MM less of cap space. Pelicans got Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, plus the #4 Pick (more on that later), plus future picks. A hefty price.
• Mike Conley to Jazz: Utah picks up the veteran guard who has played in big games. Conley will pair with Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt. The Grizzlies clear the runway for their #2 Pick – Ja Morant (who I love). Memphis gets a bunch of dudes: Grayson Allen, Jae Crowder, and Kyle Corver plus 2 first round picks.
• Hawks Trade to Pelicans Spot: The Hawks jump up to #4 to get their guy, De’Andre Hunter and give the Pelicans the 8th and 17th pick. The Hawks are putting together a squad. The Pelicans are wheeling and dealing.
• Suns Trade Out of the 6th slot: Suns trade Saric to Minnesota and get the T-Wolves pick at []. Suns look to clear cap space for free agency, and they get a player they like later.
• Sixers Trade Up to 20: Matisse Thybulle gets selected by the Boston Celtics at #20, but immediately gets traded to the Sixers for the 24th pick.
• Memphis Trades Picks with OKC: The Thunder picked Brandon Clarke at #21, but then swap him for Darius Bazley a raw big man with athleticism. Clarke will pair really well with Morant for Grizzlies, and OKC gets a raw talent.
• Suns Trade Picks with Sixers: Ty Jerome was selected at #24, and then Sixers flip him to the Suns
• Clippers Trade Up to #27: The Clips move up to select the versatile scorer, Mfiondu Kabengele from Florida State.
• Pistons Trade Once and Again: Early in the day, the Bucks traded Tony Snell and the #30 pick to Detroit to clear cap space, but the Cavs trade with Detroit to get the 30th pick and select Kevin Porter, Jr. – the scorer from USC.

And that was all trades affecting the 1st round!!

Here is the full 1st Round:

1. Pelicans – Zion Williamson, Duke – no shock there
2. Grizzlies – Ja Morant, Murray State – he is smooth and ready
3. Knicks – RJ Barrett, Duke – solid scorer, but Knicks have had a rough off season
4. Hawks – DeAndre Hunter, UVA – Hawks trade up to get great defender and solid offensive player to pair with Trae Young
5. Cavs – Darius Garland, Vandy – Garland was a hot name despite playing minimal games. Will Collin Sexton be moved?
6. T-Wolves – Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech – Minnesota jumped up to get this guy. I think they wanted Garland, but Culver has massive potential.
7. Bulls – Coby White, UNC – PG need loomed large. White is a combo guard, and I like his size for my Bulls.
8. Pelicans – Jaxson Hayes, Texas – Pelicans move back to get Hayes. Hayes is a raw, athletic big man that will run the floor with Zion, Lonzo and Ingram.
9. Wizards – Rui Hachimura, Zags – A little early for this versatile big man. I like him, but #9 may be too high.
10. Hawks – Cam Reddish, Duke – Reddish will be a spot up guy with Young creating. Hawks are going super young, but you have to like their process.
11. Suns – Cameron Johnson, UNC – Suns move back to get an accomplished scorer, and they seem to be trying more maturity around Booker.
12. Hornets – PJ Washington, Kentucky – Hornets get really good paint scorer.
13. Heat – Tyler Herro, Kentucky – I’ll go on record in saying this was a terrible pick. Herro is not good. Decent shooter, but not elite.
14. Celtics – Romeo Langford, Indiana – This guy loves to shoot. Looks like the Celtics want Rozier out, in addition to having Kyrie leave. Hopefully, he is coachable more than at IU.
15. Pistons – Sekou Doumbouya, France/Guinea – The first major international player (Rui played in US first). I like his skills, and they have a very good frontcourt in Griffin, Drummond and this guy.
16. Magic – Chuma Okeke, Auburn – Magic are trying to be competitive and land another versatile big guy who can defend.
17. Pelicans – Nickeil Alexander-Walker, VA Tech – Pelicans use 2nd ATL pick to get a very good scorer. More youth in NOLA.
18. Pacers – Goga Bitadze, Georgia – Dude has an NBA body now at 19. He has to work on his quickness, but a good passer, rim protector with a shot.
19. Spurs – Luka Samanic, Croatia – The Spurs reach a bit for this international guy, but the Spurs have been on the international tip for decades.
20. Sixers – Matisse Thybulle, Washington – Great defender for the Sixers. Mature player who they say can’t shoot, but he can. Very solid pick, and Celtics decided to go offense over D.
21. Grizzlies – Brandon Clarke, Zags – A human pogo stick that I thought could help OKC, but instead he will get 5 dunks a game from alley oops from Morant.
22. Celtics – Grant Williams, Tennessee – Not a 1st Rounder, but a great college scorer. Not sure the fit for Boston with Jaylon Brown and Tatum, but maybe he brings some pop off the bench.
23. Thunder – Darius Bazley, USA? – I heard nothing about this guy until draft night. Althletic with great wing span, which means versatile defender. Not an immediate contributor.
24. Suns – Ty Jerome, UVA – Ty has that old man game, like the dude at the YMCA who can do anything. Suns are trying to get young/old with Cam Johnson and Jerome.
25. Blazers – Nassir Little, UNC – Little fell down the board, which is a steal for Blazers. I like his athleticism and potential, which can help them in the wide open West.
26. Cavs – Dylan Windler, Belmont – Dude can score and shoot from every angle.
27. Clippers – Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State – Another versatile scorer for this up and coming franchise. Kawhi anyone?
28. Warriors – Jordan Poole, Michigan – Not a 1st round guy, but a streaky shooter who can defend.
29. Spurs – Keldon Johnson, Kentucky – Spurs get a guy projected in Top 15. I don’t love his game, but Spurs can develop talent.
30. Cavs – Kevin Porter, Jr., USC – Another guy who fell down the Board. Cavs are adding young guys who can score with Garland, Windler and now Porter.

Notable 2nd Round Guys:

• 33rd – Carsen Edwards, Purdue – He fell out of the first round, but was dealt from Sixers to Celtics. Edwards can really shoot it. Again, Rozier and Irving out, new guards in – Edwards and Langford.
• 34th – Bruno Fernado, Maryland – Hawks get another piece to the young puzzle with a pure shot blocker.
• 41st – Eric Paschall, Villanova – Warriors get a guy who has won a ton of games and can play in an open system. I think this is a great fit for him and the Ws.
• 44th – Bol Bol, Oregon – This guy really fell, but he is skilled. He goes to a contender and another skilled big man in Jokic. This guy with Michael Porter could really boost this team even higher this season.
• 48th – Terrance Mann, Florida State – Mann is a dude. A guy with an NBA body and can really play defense. I like what the Clips are doing.
• 51st – Tremont Waters, LSU – The Celtics add another PG, which is weird to me. I actually think Waters is better than Langford. He will be really good for a second unit – think Fred VanVleet.
• 54th – Marial Shayok, Iowa State – Shayok can really score, and the Sixers could use a bench with certain departures like Butler, Harris and Reddick likely in the off season.

That was some real excitement! Now on to Free Agency. So many players that can move. The league is back to wide open.

Wegs