The draft lottery is officially done, and that means that teams now know where their picks have landed. Now, teams can officially plan their next moves since they know the value of their draft picks.
There is no doubt that we have seen a lot of trades during draft nights in the past. That could happen once again this season. A lot of teams are looking to upgrade their rosters, and try to start competing. Here are some hypothetical trades that could happen on draft night.
Portland Trail Blazers Put A Versatile Forward Next To Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jerami Grant
Detroit Pistons Receive: Eric Bledsoe, No. 7 Pick
Jerami Grant is a power forward who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. During his time there, Jerami Grant has shown improvements in the scoring department, and he could clearly be a No. 2 or No. 3 option behind an established star. He is also a fantastic perimeter defender. A player that can provide an impact on both ends is extremely valuable in the modern NBA, and there’s no doubt that Jerami Grant would help a lot of teams in the league if they were to acquire him.
A team that has consistently been linked with Jerami Grant is the Portland Trail Blazers. There have even been reports that suggested that if the Detroit Pistons were to trade Jerami Grant, it would be to the Portland Trail Blazers:
Portland’s going to find itself in an interesting situation where they could have a high draft pick coming up… Maybe if it’s high enough, it’s an offer the Pistons can’t refuse. If Jerami gets traded anywhere this offseason, it’s going to be Portland. It feels like Portland is still the front-runner.
The Portland Trail Blazers obviously got the No. 7 pick in the draft lottery, and that should in theory be enough to entice the Pistons to trade Jerami Grant. Eric Bledsoe is on an expiring contract that would be in this deal for salary matching purposes, and his inclusion would obviously mean that the Detroit Pistons wouldn’t be taking on any long-term salary.
Obviously, a drawback for the Trail Blazers here is the fact that Jerami Grant is on an expiring contract. However, if they could get assurances that Jerami Grant would sign an extension, then this is an elite deal for both teams. Putting Jerami Grant with a core that features Damian Lillard, Josh Hart, and Anfernee Simons could make the Trail Blazers a playoff team once again.
Charlotte Hornets Get An Elite Center And Improve Their Defense
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz Receive: Gordon Hayward, P. J. Washington, Kai Jones, No. 13 Pick, 2024 First Round Pick
The Charlotte Hornets had a really good offensive team this season, but they had some big issues with their roster construction as well. They were a poor defensive team, and their center position was also subpar all season.
This hypothetical trade would be able to solve both their problems. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz is an elite defender whose presence at the rim often deters opponents from trying to attack the basket. He is also an athletic player that is a good finisher on the interior and a lob threat. There is no doubt that he’d help make the Hornets an adequate defense, and offensively, he would thrive when playing next to LaMelo Ball.
The trade package that the Utah Jazz would receive is fairly solid. They would get Gordon Hayward, who is on a two-year max contract. Hayward would be the salary base in this deal, and while he is slightly overpaid, he would give the Utah Jazz a veteran that could help them continue to be a playoff team after moving one of their stars. P. J. Washington is a sharpshooting power forward that is in need of a bigger role, and he’d likely get that on the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz would also get Kai Jones, who could turn into a solid center if developed properly, as well as two picks as draft capital, with one of those picks being the No. 13 lottery pick from this season’s draft.
Overall, this is a solid deal for both teams. The Utah Jazz would get solid value from the trade package sent to them, while the Charlotte Hornets would improve their defense and add an All-Star center next to LaMelo Ball.
Sacramento Kings Make Another Win-Now Move For A Star
Sacramento Kings Receive: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors Receive: Harrison Barnes, Justin Holiday, No. 4 Pick
The Sacramento Kings are currently a team that has the longest playoff drought in the entire NBA. They made a win-now move for All-Star Domantas Sabonis at the trade deadline, and perhaps they could make another win-now move on draft night. They have the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and there’s no doubt that it could become an elite trade piece.
Pascal Siakam is a great all-around forward who currently plays for the Toronto Raptors. He is a capable scorer and playmaker, as well as a multi-positional defender. Siakam also has been an All-Star in the past and is a veteran with playoffs and championship experience. He would be a good fit next to Domantas Sabonis as a two-way power forward, and he could definitely help the Sacramento Kings become a playoff team.
In this scenario, the Toronto Raptors would get the expiring contracts of Harrison Barnes and Justin Holiday, alongside the No. 4 pick in the draft for Pascal Siakam. Masai Ujiri has had a great history of drafting, and perhaps he can pick another franchise centerpiece with the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft. The prospect picked in this draft would line up with Scottie Barnes’ timeline.
This deal definitely helps both teams on paper. The Toronto Raptors would get a chance to select a top-tier prospect, while the Sacramento Kings would be able to create a talented Big 3 of Pascal Siakam, De’Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis. While it is definitely risky for the Sacramento Kings to trade pick No. 4, perhaps breaking their playoff drought would make it worth the sacrifice.
