NBA Trade Rumors: Wizards 'Really High On' Jaden Ivey, Discussing Kings' No. 4 Pick
The Washington Wizards have reportedly discussed a trade that would allow them to move up in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft and select Purdue guard Jaden Ivey.
According to Wizards insider Quinton Mayo, Washington is "really high" on Ivey and has "spent a significant amount of time discussing possible trade packages" to move up to the No. 4 overall pick in order to take him.
The Sacramento Kings own the fourth overall pick in the draft, while the Wizards are currently slated to pick 10th.
Mayo noted that Ivey has been projected to go fourth overall by many, and that includes Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, who had Ivey coming off the board fourth in his latest mock draft.
Wasserman mocked Ivey behind a trio of bigs in Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero.
Ivey is pretty well established as the top guard in the 2022 class after averaging 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 three-pointers made while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc as a sophomore last season.
The 20-year-old star was a consensus second-team All-America selection and first-team All-Big Ten selection last season for a Boilermakers team that went 29-8 and reached the Sweet 16.
Ivey would fill a huge area of need for the Wiz, that being a backcourt running mate for Bradley Beal if he opts in for the final year of his contract in 2022-23 or signs a long-term extension with Washington.
If Beal opts to test free agency, a guard like Ivey would be even more of a necessity, and could perhaps take over as the face of the franchise.
On Wednesday, ESPN NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony reported that the Wizards have been discussed within the NBA as a team willing to trade the No. 10 overall pick for a proven guard.
Making such a deal would be for the same reason as trading up to No. 4 overall for Jaden Ivey.
After trading Spencer Dinwiddie last season as part of the deal for power forward Kristaps Porzingis, the Wizards were extremely thin at guard, and their backcourt prospects look rough next season beyond Beal if he returns.
Ivey would be a huge upgrade over the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, and he could perhaps play a role in convincing Beal to stay in Washington for the long haul.
