NBA Trade Rumors: Examining Top Reports Entering 2019 Combine
Many of the best prospects will participate in the NBA Draft Combine on Friday and Saturday, but their performances could be tied to something beyond raising the possibility of being a first-round selection.
They might already be trade bait.
Such is life in the NBA, a superstar-driven league with at least one all-world talent―Anthony Davis―available this summer. Draft capital will always be coveted in a deal of that magnitude.
Additionally, three franchises own at least four selections. Those stockpiles are key to draft-night movement, and a general manager from one team has suggested trades are coming.
Pelicans Doing Their Research
If the New York Knicks land the No. 1 pick via the draft lottery Tuesday, they'll be expected to choose Duke star Zion Williamson. That doesn't necessarily mean they would keep him.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Pelicans "were quietly gathering intel" recently on Knicks wing Kevin Knox.
As a rookie, the Kentucky product averaged 12.8 points on 37 percent shooting and grabbed 4.5 rebounds per game. While those aren't eye-popping numbers, he performed well enough on a poor roster to stay encouraged about his future.
If New Orleans is unable to convince Davis to stay, the Knicks could enter the conversation with Williamson and Knox.
Yes, they'll need a bit of lottery luck first. New York holds a 14 percent chance―the same odds as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns―to secure the No. 1 overall selection.
That could be the key to unlocking a trade for Davis.
What Will Utah Do?
Two years ago, the Utah Jazz snagged Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. That draft-night gamble landed a franchise cornerstone for the Jazz.
Could lightning strike twice?
Tony Jones of The Athletic notes Utah is open to trading up or down in the first round. The Jazz, who hold the No. 23 overall pick, are not in a high-leverage position but could package that selection with a player to move up.
In addition to the combine, private workouts will provide Utah a closer look at this draft class. The latter is how the Jazz locked on to Mitchell in 2017.
Hawks Have 5 Picks, Many Options
After selecting three players in the first round of the 2018 draft, the Atlanta Hawks aren't looking for a similar roster infusion.
That could be a bit tricky, considering Atlanta could have five selections once the lottery is over. (Philadelphia has five, and Boston has four.) The Hawks have their own first-round pick, plus potentially the Dallas Mavericks' choice―which is top-five-protected but will most likely be ninth.
General manager Travis Schlenk said the Hawks "probably don't want to add five rookies to the team," according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Atlanta's best-case scenario is winning the lottery and having the Mavericks' pick convey at No. 9 overall. But if that doesn't happen, the Hawks have a bunch of alternatives.
Maybe they'll use a pair of top-10 selections to move up. Perhaps their trio of second-round picks will result in a chance to reenter the first round. Or the Hawks could draft an international prospect and stash him for a season or two.
The possibilities are highly intriguing.
Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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