Draft day is lastly right here. Yearly, today/week is stuffed with rumors about potential trades. Most years, these rumors are precisely that: rumors. Nevertheless, this yr looks as if it’s an exception to the rule. This week, we’ve already had two monster trades – one sending Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns and one other making Marcus Sensible a member of the Memphis Grizzlies.

And people offers went down on non-draft days. Now simply think about what may go down at present. The day of the NBA draft. Guess what? You don’t really should think about it, as a result of we’re going to spherical up the most important rumors proper right here.

Try our most up-to-date mock draft right here. Let’s dive into the most recent rumors.

Conflicting studies on potential Damian Lillard commerce demand

Regardless of rumors that the Miami Warmth have been courting his companies, it seems like Damian Lillard desires to remain put in Portland and proceed to play for the one NBA franchise he’s ever recognized. The Blazers have shut down commerce talks, in accordance with Woj.

On the similar time, ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst reported that rival groups are getting ready provides from Lillard with Portland anticipated to make use of their No. 3 general choose on a younger participant slightly than commerce it:

That looks as if the sort of information that ought to induce a deep sigh of reduction from Portland Path Blazers’ followers, however not so quick. Bear in mind, the Blazers nonetheless have the third choose in at present’s draft. The choose that may find yourself being highly-coveted G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.

What occurs if the Blazers don’t commerce the draft choose and simply choose Henderson? Does Lillard ask out then? What occurs in the event that they do commerce the choose to get Lillard some assist? How good does that model of Portland look? A method or one other, tonight goes to be an enormous evening for the Blazers.

Is Toronto going to tear all of it down?

If the Blazers do commerce that third-overall choose, one crew we maintain listening to about as a possible suitor may very well be the Toronto Raptors, who could also be prepared to unload Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby in a package deal involving the choose.

Nevertheless, in accordance with reporting from Chris Haynes, it seems that the Blazers won’t be the one crew in pursuit of Toronto’s two forwards. It looks as if the Sacramento Kings are additionally considering buying the tandem in a commerce.

That is what Haynes needed to say on a latest episode of the “What’s Chad Doing?” podcast: “Properly, you understand the Blazers have been rumored with [Siakam], [Anunoby] over there in Toronto as properly,” Haynes mentioned. “… Sacramento is on the chase for these two guys in Toronto as properly.”

What do the Kings have to supply in a possible commerce with the Raptors? Can they handle to make a deal that retains the core of De’Aaron Fox/Kevin Huerter/Domantas Sabonis/Malik Monk intact? What would shedding this commerce accomplice imply for the Blazers and their probabilities of conserving Lillard?

Magic are making a few of their youth accessible

Because it stands, the Orlando Magic at present personal the sixth and eleventh general choose in at present’s draft. And there have been some studies suggesting that in the event that they use these picks to pick one among (or each) Ausar Thompson and Anthony Black (our mock has them choosing Ausar Thompson and Gradey Dick with these picks), they may very well be trying to transfer Cole Anthony and/or Jalen Suggs.

Anthony and Suggs are each nonetheless younger (23 and 22, respectively) and nonetheless boast a great deal of promise (significantly Suggs, who was the fifth general choose within the 2021 NBA Draft). It is going to be attention-grabbing to see what groups find yourself inquiring about their companies if one or each of them change into accessible.

Malcolm Brogdon could also be untradeable

As we’ve already alluded to, Sensible is now a member of the Grizzlies. However the cause that he’s a member of the Grizzlies is as a result of the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t need to undergo with the unique three-team deal the Celtics negotiated that might have despatched Malcolm Brogdon to Los Angeles.

The rationale the Clippers backed out is as a result of they have been involved with Brogdon’s well being. At first, this will not look like too large of a deal. In any case, the Clippers have already got sufficient harm issues to take care of between Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It will make sense that they don’t need to add extra to their plate in that regard. Nevertheless, then we bought this report from Brian Windhorst:

(No less than now it is smart why he struggled so mightily throughout the Jap Convention Finals in opposition to Miami.)

However in any occasion, that is worrisome in case you’re the Celtics since you want Brogdon to have the ability to fill the offensive void left by Sensible’s departure. And if he can’t, you want to have the ability to transfer him for somebody who can (and clearly, that isn’t one thing they’ll actually do proper now).

Hopefully, all this discuss his well being is overblown, and Brogdon will likely be able to go for the beginning of the 2023-24 NBA season.