NBA Draft Rumors: Blazers new trade package, Top 5 trade down party, Mavs target

NBA Draft Rumors: Top 5 trade down party

As reported by Marc Stein, any team in the top five that isn’t the Spurs is open to trading down in this year’s draft. For the Houston Rockets, it makes a lot of sense due to the fact they are looking to retool quickly. They are interested in bringing back James Harden, and adding another asset could make them a more attractive destination for free agents.

They also have another max slot which they can use to pair with Harden. It is expected that the Portland Trail Blazers will trade their pick as a means to pair another talented player alongside Damian Lillard.

The Charlotte Hornets is where things start to make less sense. Yes, they do have LaMelo Ball and some other young pieces, but this team is nowhere near a second-round exit nonetheless a title contender. This team could benefit from a young player who could be a long-term piece of the core.

Detroit makes a little more sense but this team is still miles away from contending. Cade Cunningham is their franchise player but he still has a ways to go after suffering an injury that made him miss most of the season.

The only reason that the Pistons are more likely to trade their pick is that they have just paid a boat-load for their new head coach, Monty Williams. The idea was that Detroit paid so much money for Williams was because he was willing to coach a young roster.