NBA Trade Rumors: Examining Top Draft-Day Buzz for 2020 NBA Draft

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Nuccio DiNuzzo/Associated Press

The 2020 NBA draft is finally here and the rumors swirling around potential trades have brought some semblance of normalcy to an unconventional offseason.

This certainly isn’t the draft day most of us expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event usually kicks off the summer, giving us five months to look forward to the next season. Instead, ESPN will host a virtual draft with Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum on hand at a studio to announce the selections. 

It’s a far cry from the glitzy affair we’re accustomed to. Some of the top picks will react virtually as opposed to making their way up to the stage to accept their cap and shake Silver’s hand. So, a welcoming tradition that players all over their world work most of their lives for won’t happen. 

The circumstances are sobering and training camp is right around the corner. Nevertheless, it’s business as usual as teams prepare their roster and players lobby to exit their current team, stay put, or join a new one. 

The familiar but frenetic pace of the NBA free agency period has us all invested in again and there are plenty of reports heading into the draft tonight to keep an eye on. 

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Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Gordon Hayward is one of the top stars who could become available in this free agency period. The Celtics forward has a player option but he will likely exercise it to cash in on the remaining  $34.2 million left on his contract. 

After all, that is a lot of money to leave on the table and this isn’t a good year to test the open market. However, he could still become a candidate for a sign and trade that would send him to the Hawks. 

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, “Atlanta is seeking an alternative playmaker to incorporate alongside young star Trae Young. The Hawks will also be in contention for veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, who is declining his $2.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an unrestricted free agent.”

Haynes also noted that “Atlanta is seeking an alternative playmaker to incorporate alongside young star Trae Young. The Hawks will also be in contention for veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, who is declining his $2.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an unrestricted free agent”

Hayward would make a great addition to the Hawks. The sharpshooter would bring 10 years of experience and a plausible second option to this young team. As long as he stays healthy, this could be the big splash that Atlanta has been looking to make. 

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Nuccio DiNuzzo/Associated Press

Tonight, all eyes will be on the Timberwolves as they have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. However, rumors suggest that Minnesota could attempt to trade for a second lottery pick.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported that the front office is in “talks with the Hawks to acquire the No. 6 pick. A possible deal could include Jarrett Culver and their No. 17 pick.”

Culver is a second-year wing player. The Suns selected him sixth in the 2019 NBA draft but Phoenix immediately traded his draft rights to Minnesota. This year’s draft isn’t deep but two lottery picks could give the Timberwolves several options. 

Many have predicted that they will select James Wiseman with their top pick. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said that the center “does not want to come to Minnesota because Karl[-Anthony] Towns is there and he doesn’t even want to do anything with the franchise.”

A second pick could give the organization the chance to draft and trade Wiseman and pick up another suitable piece later in the first round.

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Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Rockets. Last month, Daryl Morey stepped down from his position as assistant general manager. A few weeks later, the 2018 NBA Executive of the Year joined the Philadelphia 76ers as president of basketball operations.

Now, it appears that their star guard, James Harden, wants to leave the franchise and join the Brooklyn Nets. It certainly seems like a slight rebuild is inevitable at this point. 

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, “The Rockets are seeking to buy a late first- or early second-round pick in Wednesday’s draft. Houston wants to continue stockpiling assets after getting two firsts from Portland in the Robert Covington trade.”

It’s hard to predict what Houston’s roster will look like in a few but this seems like the first in a series of moves to revamp the team. If the Harden era is coming to end, it would make sense to load up on assets that they could later trade.