NBA Draft Rumors: Last-Minute 2023 Draft Whispers Around All 30 Teams
While the identity of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft has been clear for months, plenty of intrigue surrounds Thursday's event.
Thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement coming down the pike that's more punitive toward high-spending teams, this offseason could see even more player movement around the league. Front offices will race to either acquire or offload stars while they have the flexibility to do so.
The draft could be at the center of some landscape-altering trades, and rumors continue to swirl one day out from when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will take the stage in New York City.
Hornets Make Their Preference Clear
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With Victor Wembanyama the consensus pick to go first overall, the Charlotte Hornets have been left to choose between Alabama forward Brandon Miller and NBA G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday on SportsCenter that Miller "further solidified" his position ahead of Henderson on Charlotte's board during his second workout with the team. Wojnarowski also cited the difficulties that would initially come by adding Henderson to a roster that already includes LaMelo Ball.
Miller averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman with the Crimson Tide. He also shot 38.4 percent from three-point range, flashing the kind of floor-spacing potential that will be invaluable in the NBA.
In his final mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman had the 6'9" forward landing in Charlotte and echoed Wojnarowski's report about the growing level of confidence in the Hornets' preference.
"While it sounds as if they've had trouble confidently identifying who's the best prospect available—Miller or Scoot Henderson—the former's cleaner fit and shooting make for a safer selection," Wasserman wrote.
"Coming out of the combine, we reported members of Charlotte's front office saw a star-caliber wing in Miller. Meanwhile, scouts in Chicago expressed the idea that Henderson was prematurely crowned the obvious consolation prize to Victor Wembanyama."
Are the Clippers Making a Major Pivot?
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Plenty of stars have been the subject of trade speculation already, but few fans might have predicted Paul George to emerge as a potential candidate.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday night the Los Angeles Clippers "have left various rival teams with the impression through their Draft Week conversations that they are, at a minimum, attempting to gauge [George's] trade value and, to hear some describe it, giving real consideration to the idea of disassembling the Kawhi Leonard/George tandem."
The Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets were both cited as possible landing spots. They own the No. 3 and 4 overall picks respectively, and each could add some young talent to a trade package that includes a top-five selection.
The Blazers are arguably the most logical trade partner for the Clippers because they're desperate to strengthen the supporting cast around Damian Lillard and have the assets to put an enticing offer together.
Moving up to No. 3 would allow the Clippers to select Henderson, thus addressing their need for a point guard. In addition, acquiring Anfernee Simons would allow L.A. to move off Eric Gordon's contract if it wanted. Gordon's $20.9 million salary for 2023-24 becomes fully guaranteed on June 28.
Granted, that hinges on Portland actually parting ways with the third overall pick.
Blazers Reportedly Content to Keep Pick
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Lillard's future with the Blazers became an annual storyline as the franchise continued to hit a firm ceiling in the postseason. Now, the discourse is reaching a fever pitch after Portland missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
While it's no guarantee the seven-time All-Star will request a trade if the team fails to flip the No. 3 pick for veteran reinforcements by draft night, that threat obviously looms.
Still, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Tuesday the Blazers "are planning on keeping the pick" absent "an offer they simply can't refuse."
Maybe George is part of a return that checks that box.
Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer also reported Tuesday that Portland "is preparing what the team believes to be a compelling package" for Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo. That's probably a pipe dream because the reigning Eastern Conference champions don't have a compelling reason to flip one of their best players for younger talent.
Should the Blazers stand pat and presumably select Henderson, it could have a major ripple effect.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported Tuesday on Get Up that Lillard "does not want a youth movement" and "wants the team to upgrade fast and immediately with veteran players that can help him now."
Would the Nets Push Their Chips Back in Already?
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ESPN's Zach Lowe said at the 35-minute-mark of his podcast Monday the Brooklyn Nets would have a "frothy internal debate" about acquiring Lillard and resuming its push for a title if the topic were to come up.
Lowe didn't indicate there's a serious threat of the pursuit materializing.
Mikal Bridges averaged 26.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in his 27 games with the Nets, but it's fair to wonder whether the Nets would have enough left on the roster to actually enter the championship race behind a core of Bridges and Lillard.
On the other side, Brooklyn's offer of Phoenix Suns first-rounders, pick swaps and anything other than Bridges doesn't exactly match what the Blazers would presumably get elsewhere, either.
As they still navigate through the fallout of their failed superteam experiment, the Nets could continue to take a long-term view.
Givony reported Brooklyn is "said to be extremely active in trade conversations" that would see one or both of the No. 21 and 22 picks paired with a veteran in order to potentially move up the board. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale were listed as potential outgoing pieces in that scenario.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported the pair have been the subject of "a number of calls" to the Nets.
Celtics Weighing Move into 1st Round
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The Boston Celtics don't have a first-round pick after including in the package to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers.
O'Connor the Celtics could potentially get back into the first round and "explored trades" that included the No. 35 overall pick and Payton Pritchard.
The Athletic's Jay King and Jared Weiss previously reported on June 1 that Pritchard "has made it clear he hopes to be traded this summer."
The 25-year-old averaged just 13.4 minutes per game in 2022-23, the lowest of his career. Brogdon's arrival and a foot injury helped to limit his playing time, and the situation may not be much different in 2023-24 if Boston's backcourt is largely unchanged.
Through three seasons, Pritchard is averaging 20.6 points and 5.4 assists per 100 possessions and shooting 40 percent on three-pointers, according to Basketball Reference.
The 6'1" playmaker profiles as a solid backup point guard, which might sound like a backhanded compliment but isn't when Tyus Jones is getting paid eight figures to sit behind Ja Morant in the Memphis Grizzlies' depth chart.
Flipping him for a mid-to-late first-rounder wouldn't be a bad piece of business for Boston.
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