Thunder, Nets, Magic Reportedly Seen as Most Likely to Trade Up in NBA Draft Lottery
The 2025 NBA draft is drawing nearer, and there's reportedly more clarity as to which teams will be trying to move up in the lottery.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic have been "mentioned by rival executives as teams to monitor for potential trades up into the late lottery."
The Thunder are in the unique position of owning the Nos. 15 and 24 picks in the first round despite finishing with the NBA's best record at 68-14 and being in the NBA Finals competing against the Indiana Pacers. The 15th pick originally belonged to the Miami Heat, and the 24th pick belonged to the Los Angeles Clippers; both were sent to Oklahoma City as part of the trade that sent Paul George to the Clippers.
However, Fischer explained, "The Thunder, as presently constructed, simply cannot add two rookie-scale contracts onto their payroll without cutting ties with someone under contract." Oklahoma can try to "consolidate those two looming first-round picks and move up into the lottery," and this is "a scenario several teams picking in the back end of the top 14 are preparing for," league sources told Fischer.
Like the Thunder, the Nets and Magic both own multiple picks in the first round. Brooklyn has a lot of ammo to work with after its No. 8 selection, with the Nos. 19, 26 and 27 picks. Orlando owns the Nos. 16 and 25 picks, and Fischer pointed out that it "faces a roster crunch similar to that in OKC with 15 players on standard contracts for next season … albeit with veterans like Moe Wagner and Gary Harris on team options."
The 2025 draft class is filled with talented prospects, so it's not surprising that teams will be looking to move up as the first round approaches on June 25. Fischer noted that there could be a lot more action than expected.
"There’s been lots of chatter leaguewide, actually, about the majority of picks from Nos. 20-30 being available for trade in this draft," Fischer stated.
