New NBA Draft Rumors Reveal 3 Title Contenders Looking to Trade Up in 1st Round

Several notable teams are reportedly looking to make moves in relation to the first round of next week's 2026 NBA draft.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics are believed to be "increasingly interested" in trading up from the Nos. 26 and 27 overall picks, respectively.

Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly making the No. 28 overall selection available in a potential trade for a ball-handler, but if they can't get that type of deal done, general manager Tim Connelly reportedly has Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea on his radar as a possible pick.

The New Orleans Pelicans own only the No. 58 overall pick in the second round, but they are trying to strike a deal to get into the first round, per Fischer.

Denver and Boston's reported interest in trading up is perhaps of the most interest given where those teams stand.

Both were considered championship contenders last season, but they fell in the first round of the playoffs with the Nuggets losing to the T-Wolves and the Celtics losing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Nuggets are in line to essentially return the same core from last season with Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson leading the way.

Because of that, the draft may be the best way for them to add talent to the roster, and trading up in what is widely viewed as a deep draft could help net them a difference-maker.

The same is true of the Celtics, but that is only if they do not end up winning the sweepstakes for Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic recently reported that Giannis has interest in both the Celtics and Miami Heat, noting that he is "very intrigued" by Boston thanks to his "focus on getting back to title contention."

Any trade for Giannis would almost certainly result in the Celtics parting with the No. 27 overall pick, but if it doesn't come to fruition, trading up could be an attractive option in order to add more talent around Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Co.

Minnesota has won at least one playoff round in each of the past three seasons, and it reached the Western Conference Finals in both 2024 and 2025.

Because of that, it is no surprise that they would like to use their pick to add a proven player in order to get over the hump, but it is fair to wonder if the No. 28 overall pick would be enough to land them that type of asset.

As for the Pelicans, they are coming off a miserable, 26-56 season, and they don't have a first-round pick following the ill-advised decision to trade it to the Atlanta Hawks last year.

Playoff contention does not appear to be in the Pels' immediate future, so selling off some veterans in order to get into the first round and secure a developmental prospect may be the best thing for their rebuild.