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After months of tanking, speculation, and anticipation, NBA Draft Day 2022 is finally here. The rumor mill for teams around the NBA will be spinning at a dizzying speed in the lead up to tonight’s festivities at the Barclays Center. Then it will continue turning through all 60 selections and into the wee hours of the night.
This live thread will be your league-wide tracker for all those rumors — big and small, front office misdirection to likely possibility — and the trades that materialize from rumor to reality. It’s set up to be an action-packed 24 hours with heavy bearings on the future of each franchise in the league.
Follow along and hold on tight.
Blazers Trade Away First Second Rounder
Per Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Trail Blazers are trading the 46th pick they got from the Detroit Pistons to the Denver Nuggets. Denver will send a 2024 second-round pick in return.
Jalen Duren and Kemba Walker on Way to Detroit
According to Shams Charania, the Pistons are acquiring 13th pick Jalen Duren and Knicks point guard Kemba Walker in a three-team trade. New York initially acquired Duren from Charlotte before sending him to Detroit.
CORRECTION: Charlotte isn’t obtaining the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick. Per Zach Lowe, Detroit is sending the pick — acquired from Portland in the Jerami Grant package — to New York. A main motivation for New York in the move was the offloading of Walker’s contract. Marc Stein reports Walker’s departure — along with the trade of their 11th pick to OKC earlier in the night — will help the Knicks’ pursuit of Jalen Brunson in free agency.
According to NBA reporter Rod Boone, Charlotte is acquiring a 2023 first-round pick (via Denver), three 2023 second-round picks (via New York, Utah, and the most favorable pick between Dallas and Miami), and a 2024 second-round pick (via New York).
Wojnarowski is reporting the Pistons and Walker are discussing a contract buyout that will make Walker a free agent.
John Collins Likely to Remain with Hawks
According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins will “likely” remain with Atlanta past tonight. Collins had previously been linked to Portland as a possible trade target.
Warriors Buy Hawks Pick
Golden State has purchased Atlanta’s 44th pick for cash, says Adrian Wojnarowski. The price was the 51st pick in this draft and $2 million
Timberwolves, Hornets Swap
Minnesota and Charlotte do a do-si-do as the ‘Wolves send the 40th pick to the Hornets for two future second-rounders, per Woj.
Minnesota Trades for Moore
According to Charania, Houston is trading 26th pick Wendell Moore Jr. to Minnesota.
Grizzlies DeAnthony Melton to Philadelphia for Pick
Per Woj, Philadelphia is trading DeAnthony Melton to Memphis for the 23rd pick. The 76ers used the pick to select forward David Roddy from Colorado State. Fischer is reporting the Grizzlies will also receive veteran Danny Green in the trade, who is recovering from a torn knee.
Grizzlies Grab Minnesota Pick
The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired the 19th pick in the draft from the Timberwolves in order to select Wake Forest’s Jake LaRavia, per Woj. Minnesota gets the 22nd and 29th picks in this draft and a future second-rounder.
Thunder and Knicks Strike Deal
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting the Knicks are trading the 11th pick to Oklahoma City for three conditional first-rounders. OKC has selected Ousmane Dieng with the pick.
UPDATE: Per Charania, the Knicks are receiving a 2023 first-round pick (via Detroit), a 2023 first-round pick (via Washington), and a 2023 first-round pick (via Denver).
Detroit Says No to Ivey Offers
According to James Edwards III of The Athletic, the Pistons will keep fifth pick Jaden Ivey, despite multiple efforts by other teams to acquire him.
Knicks Want Ivey
Jake Fischer is reporting the New York Knicks are “still in pursuit of acquiring Jaden Ivey.” Ivey was selected by the Pistons with the fifth pick.
Sacramento Shopping Fourth Pick
Jake Fischer is reporting the Sacramento Kings are in “active trade conversations” surrounding the fourth overall pick.
Banchero Expected to Be First Pick
Adrian Wojnarowski is now reporting Paolo Banchero is expected to be selected with the first overall pick by the Magic. Wojnarowski reports the move will “blow up” other teams’ draft boards.
Banchero Now “Frontrunner” for First Pick
Minutes away from the start of the 2022 NBA Draft, Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Paolo Banchero has emerged as the “frontrunner” to be the first overall pick.
Pistons in Pursuit of Second Lottery Pick
Jake Fischer is reporting the Pistons have held ongoing discussions to secure a second lottery pick in tonight’s draft, with the hope to a acquire Memphis center Jalen Duren. Detroit already holds the fifth pick.
Banchero Going No. 1 Still Possible
On ESPN’s live draft telecast, Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Duke forward Paolo Banchero is still in the running to be selected by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick. This news is contrary to Wojnarowski’s report earlier in the day. In that report, he wrote the top three selections in tonight’s draft were likely set, with Jabari Smith going first, Chet Holmgren going second, and Banchero going third.
Blazers Connected to Matisse Thybulle
Details here.
D’Angelo Russell Likely on the Move
According to Minnesota Timberwolves reporter Dane Moore, Minnesota point guard D’Angelo Russell will likely be traded tonight or during the first week of July.
Asking Price for Anunoby Revealed
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer is reporting the asking price for OG Anunoby is an “elite center.” Fischer linked the Raptors to Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Brooklyn’s Jarrett Allen, who Toronto inquired about in February.
Kyrie Irving Makes List of Desired Destinations
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting if star Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets don’t reach an agreement, Irving has a list of desired destinations to go to in a sign-and-trade. The list includes the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers. According to Wojnarowski, none of those teams have cap space to sign Irving without Brooklyn’s help. He further reports Irving “isn’t necessarily a priority” for all of the teams on the list.
This situation has direct implications on Kevin Durant’s future in Brooklyn. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Durant is monitoring Brooklyn’s situation and “considering options with his future.”
Blazers and Pistons to Draft for Each Other
The Blazers and Pistons reportedly swapped 2022 second-round picks in yesterday’s trade for Jerami Grant, with Detroit taking Portland’s 36th pick and Portland acquiring Detroit’s 46th pick. According to Trail Blazers reporter Casey Holdahl, as of now, Portland will make the selection with the 36th pick, even though the prospect is headed to Detroit. The same situation, but in reverse, goes for Detroit with the 46th pick.
Los Angeles Lakers Trade into Draft
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting the Lakers are acquiring the Orlando Magic’s 35th pick in tonight’s draft for a future second-round pick and cash. At the moment, the 35th pick stands as the only selection LA owns in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Cleveland Cavaliers Add Another Pick
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Cleveland is acquiring the 49th pick in tonight’s draft from the Sacramento Kings for the rights to 26-year-old Sasha Vezenkov. Vezenkov —the 57th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft — was a first-team All-EuroLeague forward this season.
The Cavs now have four picks in tonight’s draft: 14, 39, 49, and 56.
Top 3 Draft Selections Likely Set
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting the first three selections in tonight’s draft are believed set, with Jabari Smith, Jr. heading to the Orlando Magic, Chet Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paolo Banchero to the Houston Rockets.
Blazers Chasing Anunoby
The Portland Trail Blazers shot off early fireworks last night, trading a 2025 first-round pick and a couple of seconds for Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant, but the drama is far from over. With the seventh pick in tonight’s draft and plenty of assets at his disposal, general manager Joe Cronin has the potential to swing for more transactions. Portland has already been linked to Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby.
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