3 Most Likely Teams to Trade Down and Trade Up in the 2022 NBA Draft
By Peter Dewey
The NBA rumor mill is alive and well heading into the 2022 NBA Draft, and there are several teams that could be active in the trade market in the draft.
Sifting through NBA rumors at this time of year can be maddening, but here at BetSided we have you covered with some of the latest about teams trading up or down in the draft to help you bet on your props at WynnBET.
Trade Down: Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but as our own Reed Wallach pointed out earlier this week, they are interested in trading the selection.
The Kings are trying to find help to “win now” which means they could be willing to move back in the lottery to grab a proven veteran or two. They have been linked to several players including Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, who is expected to be moved on draft night.
One thing that is certain: the Atlanta Hawks, sources say, are operating with the goal of trading John Collins before Thursday night gets underway. https://t.co/a6TWhJk13S
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 22, 2022
A team that really covets Jaden Ivey or Keegan Murray could be willing to meet the Kings’ crazy asking price for No. 4.
Trade Down or Out: Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers may completely trade out of the draft as they try to get help for Damian Lillard.
Portland already made a deal for Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant, and now the Blazers are rumored to have their eye on OG Anunoby with the No. 7 pick.
Maybe the Blazers are able to net a pick later in the draft with a trade, but it is more likely the team trades out completely to swing big for immediate help.
Trade Down or Out: Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards have the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but they may be willing to trade down to bring in some help at the guard position for Bradley Beal, who may leave the team this offseason.
At least several teams expect the Washington Wizards to enter draft day intent on trading for a veteran point guard, league sources said. One name to keep an eye on, sources tell @davidaldridgedc and me, is Denver's Monte Morris.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) June 23, 2022
If the Wizards really want to please Beal, dealing for a guard like Monte Morris or Malcolm Brogdon could help prove they are trying to win now. However, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer has reported that they aren’t willing to part ways with No. 10 for Brogdon, so it’s possible they could move back to accumulate assets and then make a deal.
Trade Up: New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have been rumored to love Jaden Ivey, but it’s going to be tough to move up to No. 4 and grab him in this draft.
Maybe Ivey slips outside of the top five and the Knicks are able to work a deal, as they have the No. 11 pick and an extra first from the Dallas Mavericks next season to work with. The Knicks also have several expiring deals they could move to try to entice a contender.
Trade Up: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are loaded with picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, with first-round selections at No. 9, No. 20 and No. 25.
San Antonio could leverage those picks to move up from No. 9, or it could use No. 20 and No. 25 to move back into the teens to grab a player that slips just out of the lottery. If the Spurs do deal All-Star guard Dejounte Murray tonight, they could accumulate even more assets to help them move up.
Trade Up: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder moving up is more intuition on my part, as they have three picks in the top-34 in this year’s draft.
It’s going to be hard for OKC to keep using all of these picks and still keep the players on their roster, so it’s possible the team tries to use No. 12 and No. 34 to move up a spot or two to grab a player who falls. The Thunder already traded the No. 30 pick to Denver for this same reason.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.