7 NBA Teams Most Likely to Make a Trade During the 2015 Draft
NBA draft picks are opportunities.
And not all of those opportunities are avenues to first-year pros.
For some teams, the smart move is the one that requires the least effort. Either flush with win-now contributors or painfully light on developing prospects, these clubs can stay in their designated draft posts and grab whichever freshman falls in their lap.
But others need a more proactive approach.
Draft picks remain a coveted piece of currency, perhaps more so now than ever. Nothing helps balance the financial books more than rookie-scale contracts. And those rates have already been set in the collective bargaining agreement, meaning the league's massive influx of new TV money that will start in 2016 won't affect the value of these cost-effective deals.
That, in turn, makes these picks intriguing trade commodities. Several clubs will look to convert those trade chips into something more substantial—either swapping them out for more proven players or packaging a few together to climb up the draft board.
The seven teams on this list fall under this umbrella. And they've been presented in an ascending order of the likelihood they'll be involved in a draft-night deal.
7. Charlotte Hornets
1 of 7
The Charlotte Hornets are in desperate need of a shakeup, especially if they want to make something out of what could be Al Jefferson's final season in the hive.
The 30-year-old said he has no plans to opt out of his $13.5 million player option for 2015-16, via Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, which should be good news for the Hornets. Injuries bothered Jefferson this season, but he's only one year removed from earning All-NBA third-team honors after tallying 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 2013-14.
Charlotte has some intriguing pieces around him, namely scoring point guard Kemba Walker and lockdown defender Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Defensive-minded center Bismack Biyombo also had an encouraging year, though he's now headed for restricted free agency so the Hornets will have to pony up some cash to keep him around.
After that, Charlotte's roster is littered with question marks. And Lance Stephenson, the team's prized pull from last offseason, created far more than he answered after shooting just 37.6 percent from the field and 17.1 percent from deep.
The Hornets need perimeter help badly. They don't have a single wing that provides both long-distance shooting and above-average defense. Assuming they don't move out of the No. 9 slot, it won't be easy to scratch that itch on draft night.
Charlotte could look to package the pick to rid itself of Stephenson or use it in a deal that moves Marvin Williams and gives more minutes to the likes of Noah Vonleh and Cody Zeller. If the Hornets want to sandwich playoff berths around this season's disappointment, they might not want to wait for another mid-level lottery pick to develop.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
2 of 7
The Los Angeles Lakers should not be on this list.
They need young talent in the worst type of way. Even if Julius Randle pans out and both Jordan Clarkson and Tarik Black eventually prove capable of producing on a good team, L.A.'s cupboards are precariously thin for the impending post-Kobe Bryant era.
But the Lakers seem to be holding out hope to send the Black Mamba off in style, despite having lost more than 70 percent of their games since the start of last season. And they're anxiously awaiting the quick-fix solution that has propelled this franchise to championship contention so many times before.
That's why it's hard to say what they'll do with their first-round pick, provided its top-five protection prevents it from going to the Philadelphia 76ers. There are a ton of top prospects who make sense for this team but perhaps none that could help with the front office's plan to contend in the near future.
"Packaging that 2015 top-five pick, if the Lakers keep it, in a trade for a high-level...would be an ideal way to hasten the rebuilding process," wrote Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding.
That possibility is strong enough to get the Lakers on this list. But two things keep them from ranking any higher.
For one, there's a 17.2 percent chance they'll lose this selection. It's tough to trade something you don't actually have.
Secondly, it could wind up being a grossly shortsighted transaction. The Lakers will still owe the Sixers a first-rounder if it doesn't change hands this summer, and then they'll have to pay the same price to the Orlando Magic for the 2012 Dwight Howard trade.
L.A. isn't in position to sacrifice any more young talent than it already has, unless the right deal comes along on draft day.
5. Utah Jazz
3 of 7
The Utah Jazz certainly opened plenty of eyes down this season's final stretch.
After sending out Enes Kanter at the trade deadline and promoting sophomore Rudy Gobert to the starting lineup, the Jazz finished the campaign in a flurry. After the All-Star break, Utah posted the sixth-highest winning percentage (.655) and fourth-best net efficiency rating (plus-6.9 points per 100 possessions).
The Jazz look ready to make some noise soon. That might compel them to dangle their lottery pick for a more proven player, but Utah has to be realistic with its search. If title contention sits somewhere in this team's future, it's not on the immediate horizon. That thins the field of potential trade targets quite a bit.
"Utah will not flip its pick for some 31-year-old who will be creeping toward retirement by the time the Jazz get really good," wrote Grantland's Zach Lowe. "The ideal trade target is a mid-career guy not much older than Utah’s foundational players and in the early part of a long-term contract."
Those aren't easy to find, especially with the Jazz likely sitting near the bottom of the lottery. But Utah has some other sweeteners in its arsenal—future first-round picks from the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, a slew of incoming second-rounders, a small army of young talent—to help pursue a relatively notable name.
Ty Lawson and the Denver Nuggets could be headed to an offseason divorce, according to Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post. The Jazz could definitely use an upgrade at point guard, given Trey Burke's shooting struggles and Dante Exum's lack of polish.
Utah might also look at a long-range gunner to play off Hayward on the wings. Former lottery pick Nik Stauskas could be a target if the Sacramento Kings don't see enough shots for both him and Ben McLemore being available. Chasing Stauskas also might not require anything more than the pick.
The Jazz have options and a strong foundation to build around. They don't have to deal on draft night, but doing so might speed up a rebuilding project that already looks ahead of schedule.
4. New York Knicks
4 of 7
The New York Knicks should hold their pick out of anything less than a blockbuster deal. They need a little of everything this draft has to offer: interior scoring (Jahlil Okafor), paint protection (Karl-Anthony Towns) and major backcourt upgrades (Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell).
But Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson doesn't see the draft as his best tool to refashion this underwhelming roster.
"We know what the first-round pick is going to mean for us, but we also know we're going to build our team with free agents," Jackson said in March, via ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. "... That's where our priority stands."
With Carmelo Anthony, who turns 31 this month, as their centerpiece, the Knicks might feel compelled to think in the short term. And that could lead some 'Bockers backers to have some sleepless nights leading up to the draft.
New York's abysmal 17-65 record netted the franchise a 38.7 percent chance of landing a top-two pick, which would presumably be spent on either Towns or Okafor. But things could get very interesting if the Knicks fall any further than that.
"Phil Jackson has said he will likely keep the pick if it falls within the top four, but will consider dealing the pick if it falls to No. 5," wrote ESPN New York's Ian Begley. "League sources with knowledge of the Knicks' thinking said last month that the team would be very open to trading the pick if it falls outside the top two."
The draft lottery almost always serves up some unexpected twists—the team with the worst record hasn't won the lottery since 2004 (Orlando Magic)—so the Knicks could be busy on draft night.
3. Houston Rockets
5 of 7
If there are trades to be made, there's a pretty good chance Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey will somehow be involved.
Morey helped execute six trades since last July. He could be even more eager to deal if Houston can't escape its second-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets haven't found their third superstar to play alongside James Harden and Dwight Howard. They have some overlap in the frontcourt. And they could be in the market for a point guard regardless of what happens with Patrick Beverley's venture to restricted free agency.
Morey is on the constant prowl for roster upgrades. Those could be hard to come by in free agency if the Rockets retain some of their pricier players (Beverley, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer).
So Houston might want to see what it can get for the No. 18 selection it received from the New Orleans Pelicans for Omer Asik. The Rockets are legitimate contenders, but that's always a fluid status. And it could be stripped from them if Howard declines his $23.2 million player option for 2016-17 to cash in on the new TV money.
That means it's not only acceptable to value the present over the future, it's the right move to make. Grabbing a mid-tier rookie wouldn't ease the sting of missing a great opportunity.
If Morey works more of his magic, Houston won't have to worry about that.
2. Boston Celtics
6 of 7
How many NBA executives have nicknames? Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has one—Trader Danny.
Combine that moniker with the fact that Boston has four picks in this draft (including two first-rounders), and it isn't hard to imagine the Celtics doing some major maneuvering on draft night.
How major? That all depends on the willingness of their potential trade partners. One thing seems certain: There will be no hesitation on Boston's side to pull any trigger in reach.
"Will they open their war chest of future draft picks to try to pry DeMarcus Cousins away from Sacramento via trade? The early word out there is: Bank on it," wrote ESPN.com's Marc Stein. "Will they be in the mix for pretty much any name player who unexpectedly comes available in coming months? Bank on that, too."
The Celtics need stars. They don't have one on the roster, unless you're willing to include 38-year-old coaching wunderkind Brad Stevens. Their surprise playoff push gave hope for a quick turnaround, but their swift postseason exit highlighted the need for top-level talent.
Ainge will likely take whatever premier player he can get, regardless of size, style and position. Ideally, Boston would fortify its frontcourt with a rim protector or add a consistent wing scorer, but the Celtics could really stand to strengthen any area of their team.
Stevens worked wonders with a group of overachievers this season. Ainge is surely eager to see what his coaching star could do with an upgraded cast.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
7 of 7
When was the last time you watched the Philadelphia 76ers and thought, "Man, this team could really use some more rookies?" Certainly not since general manager Sam Hinkie kicked off his years-long rebuilding plan.
Well, if Philly doesn't budge on draft night, it will add six more freshmen to its already young core—eight if a few lottery ping-pong balls fall in its favor. (The odds are low, but the Sixers could potentially add the Lakers' top-five protected pick and a top-10 protected selection from the Miami Heat.)
No team needs that much young blood. Not even one that suited up 25 different players this season.
The Sixers could be the one team that moves (slightly) at the top of the board. With Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid set to man the frontcourt next season, Philly has no obvious need for either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor. The one player that makes a ton of sense there is D'Angelo Russell, a smooth scoring combo guard with the long-range stroke to give this offense the spacing it needs.
"He's the guy they want," a league executive said of Russell, via Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "That's the word around the league. ... They won't come out and say it, but he's the guy they want."
If Philly lands the top pick, it might be able to add to its oversized asset collection by trading down a few spots to nab Russell. If that isn't possible, the Sixers are still the most likely candidate to deal with no reason to keep all of their second-round picks. If nothing else, they could package a few together to move up for a sleeper they really like.
Don't expect the Sixers to sit still on their favorite night of the year.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com. Salary information obtained via Basketball Insiders.
