3 Draft Day Trades That Just Make Sense
No draft day goes by without some foundation-shaking deals. We try our hand at predicting moves built around the flexion points in the 2022 NBA Draft
No draft day goes by without some foundation-shaking deals. We try our hand at predicting moves built around the flexion points in the 2022 NBA Draft, and use the word flexion for a reason. Whether it’s due to a ledge in talent at a certain point, a franchise with multiple draft picks that we expect to make a move or a franchise in limbo as a contender, there are several spots in the draft that are ripe for movement.
Of course, unpredictable moves and trades of current NBA stars factor into the equation: moves aren’t solely based around draft picks in the future. Some franchises try to position themselves for veterans and use their selections to get older. Others do the opposite, dangling veterans in order to get younger.
Predicting trades is like guessing the weather a year from now. There can be educated guesses or rumors that factor into who some movers might be, but aiming to guess the exact encapsulation is like running a fool’s errand.
We happen to be such a fool! We’ll aim to use those educated guesses, as well as a knowledge of the trade landscape and valuation of draft picks in this specific draft, to paint a picture of moves that a few teams could make.
REMEMBER: This is not a report on intel or rumors that we are aggregating, just a list of possibilities that, to us, make sense for both sides.
The Sacramento Kings trade the 4th pick (the rights to Jaden Ivey), Richaun Holmes, Maurice Harkless, and Justin Holiday to the Washington Wizards for the 10th pick, a 2025 1st round pick (top-5 protected), Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Ever since the Sacramento Kings made a leap into the top-four on lottery night, all eyes across the NBA have been on the organization. The top three names in the draft (Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith) are likely just too far away for the Kings to snag. If they get lucky and one of those three falls to them with the fourth selection, they should take whoever is still around and run like thieves into the night.
If the top-three plays out the way many predict, Sacramento is in a precarious situation. They could take the clear best player available in Jaden Ivey, a freak athlete with Ja Morant-type upside and the third-ranked player on The Box and One Big Board. The fit for Ivey alongside De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento’s long-term starter at the point, is a bit murky. Both are better with the ball in their hands, neither are great in the mid-range and Fox struggles to space the floor off-ball. If Ivey comes to Sacramento, it may be a less-than-optimal spot for his long-term development.