NBA Rumors: 6 Teams That Could Trade for Bobcats No. 2 Overall Pick
After missing out on the first overall selection and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis despite having a 25 percent chance of landing the top pick, the Bobcats need to explore any and all options moving forward to improve upon an abysmal 7-59 season.
According to Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld via Twitter, the Charlotte Bobcats could be open to trading the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft as a way to improve their basketball team.
Although this year plays host to a very deep and talented draft class, outside of Davis as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, there do not seem to be many transcendent, franchise-changing players.
This is truly a shame for Charlotte when you consider that Kevin Durant was drafted second overall in 2007.
After missing out on Davis, the Bobcats will explore the trade options they have at their disposal moving forward. Here are six teams that could potentially trade for the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
1 of 6Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio wrote about the possibility of a trade between the Bobcats and the Memphis Grizzlies that would be built around swapping Rudy Gay and Charlotte’s No. 2 pick in the draft.
Those rumors, though they created a considerable buzz, appear to be completely false. According to Sporting News, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has no intention of trading Gay moving forward:
“We’re not looking to trade Rudy Gay. We’re not shopping him around. Period," the owner said.
Well, then.
Although it appears highly unlikely that Gay could be part of a deal moving forward after that statement from Heisley, I wouldn’t consider a deal with Memphis dead at this point.
The Grizzlies could possibly deal Zach Randolph and their 25th overall selection to Charlotte in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick, but that trade doesn’t really seem viable for either side.
The Bobcats could simply draft Thomas Robinson or Andre Drummond instead and move on with a younger big man.
5. Sacramento Kings
2 of 6The Sacramento Kings could be a team looking to deal this summer considering they have a plethora of young, talented guards.
Isaiah Thomas, last year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” in the draft, had a great rookie year (a performance I predicted way back in November).
In addition to Thomas, the Kings have Jimmer Fredette, Marcus Thornton, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia and Tyreke Evans in the backcourt. That’s a log jam to say the least.
Sacramento could possibly be in the running for Charlotte’s No. 2 pick, considering they draft at No. 5.
Because of the close drafting proximity to the Kings, Charlotte wouldn’t have to drop too far in the draft while adding extra pieces (an ideal scenario for Michael Jordan and company).
A trade involving Tyreke Evans and the fifth pick for the No. 2 pick seems to be the most logical for both sides.
Although the Kings may feel that Evans and their No. 5 pick would be too much to give up for just three spots in the draft, they do have a slew of talented guards who can step up in Evans’ place.
With the No. 2 pick, they could partner DeMarcus Cousins in the frontcourt with Thomas Robinson or bring in the 18-year-old swingman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to instill some defensive firepower in their team.
Charlotte, however, may not want to add another tweener guard to pair with Kemba Walker.
4. Houston Rockets
3 of 6The Houston Rockets tried to swing a deal last season to land Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol. After David Stern’s veto of the trade, the Rockets were left empty-handed. As they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
After the emergence of point guard Goran Dragic, which coincided with injuries to Kyle Lowry, there may be a changing of the guard in Houston (no pun intended).
Lowry has made his opinion quite clear, saying that if there isn’t a coaching change in Houston, he’d like to be dealt elsewhere.
Possible destinations for Lowry remain a mystery, but if Houston decides to re-sign Dragic, Lowry could be gone sooner rather than later.
The Rockets have two selections in the first round this year (14 and 16), so trading one of them for an upgrade wouldn’t be the worst-case scenario. A trade possibility could be something along the lines of Lowry and the 14th pick in the draft for Charlotte’s No. 2 pick.
3. Boston Celtics
4 of 6As is the case with Houston, the Boston Celtics have two selections in the first round of this year’s draft (21 and 22). However, the Celtics don’t have a lot of young talent to send away in a possible trade scenario.
I would imagine that Avery Bradley, after the breakout season he had, will be untouchable.
The Celtics may choose to deal both of their first-round picks, and possibly future picks, in order to jump up to No. 2. Another possible scenario to acquire the Bobcats' second overall pick could be a trade of JaJuan Johnson and both of their first-rounders.
Since this year plays host to a very deep draft class that doesn’t have many prospects seen as future stars, the Bobcats may be willing to part with the second overall selection to grab up a handful of picks for the future.
The Celtics could use the second overall pick to draft Bradley Beal as Ray Allen’s eventual replacement, Thomas Robinson as Kevin Garnett’s eventual replacement or even Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as a super-sub in the short term and Paul Pierce's replacement in the long term.
2. Golden State Warriors
5 of 6The Golden State Warriors need a lot of help moving forward.
They have solid young talent with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but they also have a lot of mediocre players on the roster signed to terrible contracts (Andrew Bogut, Andris Biedrins and Richard Jefferson).
The Warriors have the seventh and the 30th overall picks in the draft, so they have a lot of possible trade options if they choose to go after Charlotte’s selection at No. 2.
If the Warriors decided to give up the seventh overall pick along with Thompson or Dorell Wright, they may convince Charlotte to take on a bad contract, like Jefferson or Biedrins, to help them out.
Regardless of who the Warriors feel doesn’t fit into their future plans, they certainly have options in the trade market if they decide to shake up the roster.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
6 of 6The Minnesota Timberwolves are an NBA franchise on the rise and, although they're a dark horse candidate to acquire the Charlotte Bobcats’ pick at No. 2, they have a lot of young, talented trade assets.
On the Timberwolves roster alone right now are three players who are former second-overall picks (Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley and Darko Milicic). Throw in the fact that the T-Wolves have the 18th pick in this year’s draft and the possibilities for a trade seem endless.
Minnesota could pull the trigger on a possible sign-and-trade deal to send Beasley and the 18th pick to Charlotte for the selection at No. 2.
The Bobcats could potentially take a stab at acquiring anyone on the T-Wolves' roster not named Ricky Rubio or Kevin Love.
In addition to Beasley, who has shown off-and-on spurts of potential, the Timberwolves have Wesley Johnson and Nikola Pekovic as possible trade bait.
Minnesota’s lineup is set at a lot of positions for next year, but they could use an upgrade at shooting guard or someone to bolster frontcourt depth behind Love.
If they were able to trade for Charlotte’s pick at No. 2, they may hold the record for most players on one roster previously drafted second overall.
