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As we get closer to draft night, more and more NBA Draft trade rumors are surfacing. These rumors consist of teams moving up or down the draft board and packaging their picks for a star.
NBA Draft trade rumors
It’s an interesting draft class with elite prospects such as Jabari Smith Jr., Jaden Ivey, and Paolo Banchero. Teams are already salivating for this kind of talent and will look to make major moves on draft night to get these players.
However, not all teams are interested in this year’s draft class. Win-now teams are looking to trade their assets to complete missing pieces on their roster so they can contend for the playoffs.
Here are six possible 2022 NBA Draft trade ideas.
Portland adds another star in Jerami Grant
Blazers receive: Jerami Grant
Pistons receive: 7th overall pick, Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson
Portland has been involved in lots of NBA Draft trade rumors this offseason. It’s clear as day that they want to win now while Damian Lillard is still in his prime. They have been looking aggressively for a new star next to him for the past couple of weeks. They could trade their No. 7 overall pick and package it for another star.
Detroit’s two-way star Jerami Grant currently fits the bill. Last season, he averaged 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on 40% shooting. Grant will be a great addition next to Lillard with his length, scoring, and defense. Would Grant make the Blazers a serious contender? Maybe. But getting him is enough to bring them back at least into playoff contention.
Meanwhile, Detroit gets the No. 7 overall pick, Eric Bledsoe, and Keon Johnson. This season, the Pistons continue their rebuild and develop their young core of Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and Killian Hayes. Aside from the 5th pick, getting an additional lottery pick would be great for them to have.
Washington gets a proven backcourt player in Malcolm Brogdon
Wizards receive: Malcolm Brogdon
Pacers receive: 10th overall pick, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Wizards need to win now without having to give up a lot of assets. One of the NBA Draft trade rumors mentions that they are looking to trade their 10th overall pick for a proven backcourt player. Malcolm Brogdon is one of the top NBA offseason trade candidates for teams looking to improve this area. He can thrive alongside Bradley Beal as the primary ball-handler and facilitator.
Brogdon doesn’t make the Wizards an instant contender but he’s a huge upgrade in the backcourt. He’s a solid guard who can facilitate, shoot, and defend at a high level. Last season, Brogdon averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 45% shooting.
The Pacers have the room to trade Brogdon since they just acquired Tyrese Haliburton via trade last season. Trading Brogdon would give Haliburton the full reigns to run Indiana’s offense. This move will also free up space in the backcourt for Ricky Rubio.
Moreover, Indiana currently owns the 6th overall pick. Getting an additional lottery pick would be great for them to have to retool their roster.
Atlanta makes blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert
Hawks receive: Rudy Gobert
Jazz receives: John Collins, Clint Capela, 16th overall pick
One of the biggest 2022 NBA Draft trade rumors is centered around the Jazz and Hawks. Nothing has come to fruition yet but both teams have already expressed interest in trading player/s within their core.
Last season, Atlanta just ranked 26th in defensive rating and 19th in opponent points in the paint. What they need is a defensive anchor in the paint who can play alongside Trae Young‘s strengths. Utah’s Rudy Gobert is a great option.
Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Defensive Team player, and four-time All-NBA selection. This is a massive improvement in their defense as he can provide elite rim protection, something that the Hawks lacked in the past few seasons.
Meanwhile, Utah gets Clint Capela, John Collins, and the No. 16 overall pick. Capela acts as a replacement for Gobert in the paint. He’s not on the same level as Gobert defensively, but he’s still a reliable center and a double-double machine.
Utah also gets a much-needed power forward in John Collins. For years, they have been lacking the size in this position. Having Collins would be a huge improvement over Royce O’Neale and Bojan Bogdanovic. He’s still young and we are yet to see him break out.
Utah also gets the 16th overall pick to retool their roster. There are a bunch of NBA-ready guys who can provide instant impact in this range.
Oklahoma City moves up the draft board
Thunder receives: 7th overall pick
Blazers receive: 12th overall pick, Luguentz Dort
Oklahoma City currently owns the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. This gives them the right to draft one of the top 2022 NBA Draft prospects: Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero.
Another move that the Thunder can do is to trade up in the Draft so they can get another elite prospect. They can move up the draft board and acquire the Blazers’ 7th pick in exchange for their 12th pick and Luguentz Dort. This is one of the NBA draft trade rumors growing recently.
Meanwhile, Portland moves down the draft board and acquires a 3-and-D specialist in Lu Dort. This move clearly doesn’t make them a legitimate contender since he isn’t a proven star yet. However, Dort can provide an immediate impact on both ends of the floor for the Blazers.
Portland also acquires the 12th overall pick from the Thunder. Prospects like Jalen Duren and Jeremy Sochan are in this range and can make an immediate impact on the win-now Blazers.
San Antonio trades up for the fifth overall pick
Spurs receive: 5th overall pick
Pistons receive: 9th overall pick, 20th overall pick, 25th overall pick
San Antonio has a lot of ammo this offseason. They control three first-rounders and one second-rounder. It was rumored that the Spurs are high on either Keegan Murray or Jaden Ivey. For the past weeks, these two continue to rise in the NBA trade value chart.
The Spurs could trade three of their first-round picks for Detroit’s 5th overall to ensure that they get one of these electrifying players.
Now, what’s in it for Detroit? Well, more picks. They still secure a lottery pick with the Spurs’ 9th overall. Interesting prospects such as Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, and Bennedict Mathurin are available in this range.
Indiana trades up to secure Jaden Ivey
Pacers receive: 4th overall pick
Kings receive: 6th overall pick, 2023 first-round pick
One of the biggest NBA draft trade rumors is Indiana vying to get hometown prospect, Jaden Ivey. This trade is simple. The Pacers acquire the Kings’ 4th overall pick in exchange for the 6th overall pick and a future first-rounder.
This is similar to the Doncic-Young trade in the 2018 NBA Draft. As you know, that is one of the biggest draft night trades in history.
This trade works for the Kings since they will just go down two spots on the draft board and get a future first-rounder. At sixth, they can still get a highly-talented player in this range.
Mock drafts are projecting Ivey to get selected 4th. However, it’s worth mentioning that Sacramento isn’t Ivey’s preferred destination so giving him (technically) to the Pacers for the 6th and a future-first rounder is a good deal.
