The 2022 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away, and several teams in the top-10 could explore a way to get “win-now” pieces using their Top-10 picks as the headliner of trade packages.
The Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers are “widely expected” to consider dealing their respective draft lottery picks to make “win-now” moves, per NBA reporter Marc Stein on his Substack piece.
The Kings, who finished 30-52 last season, are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Blazers, who ended 27-55 last year, made the postseason for eight straight years before missing out in 2021-22.
The Pelicans have received some calls about the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft and are open to listening to offers for it, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Pelicans are also in win-now mode as Zion Williamson is about to be offered his first big contract in the NBA.
Rockets to explore trade options for Christian Wood
Rival executives who have spoken to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype anticipate the Rockets will gauge the trade market for Christian Wood this offseason. Wood is entering the last year of his three-year contract.
Wood expressed the will to play in a winning environment and claimed that the Houston Rockets could make big strides in that department next season. Wood is eligible to sign a four-year deal, worth $77M this summer.
Wood, who has played six seasons in the NBA, averaged 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last year. In any case, Houston has a big decision to make as it looks to take the next step in its rebuild.
John Collins a trade target for the Blazers
Portland is at the center of the NBA rumors the past week. The Portland Trail Blazers have now been linked to Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer suggested that the Blazers could be interested in the high-scoring forward.
Fischer appeared in the Dunc’d On podcast. Collins, 24, was taken by the Hawks with the 19th pick in 2017 and has recorded career numbers of 16.5 points on 37 percent three points shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block.
Bulls interested in Knicks’ center Mitchell Robinson
Chicago Bulls are interested in acquiring a defensive specialist under the basket and they have Knicks’ free agent Mitchell Robinson on the radar, per Marc Berman of NY Post. The Bulls are expected to be the Knicks’ main competitors for the dynamic big.
The Bulls want to enhance their interior defense and believe Robinson could be a good fit slotted alongside offense-minded center Nikola Vucevic. Chicago reportedly has $49 million in cap space, but that’s before they commit -if they commit- to Zach LaVine.
The Knicks will have the chance to sign him until June 30, but if they cannot commit to a new deal, the big will become a restricted free agent. According to Berman, the four-year center is not happy with his role in New York.
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