NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 29: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
The NBA Draft rumors winds are only starting to swirl faster and we’ve collected the latest rumblings on who is looking to trade, and which draft stocks are rising and falling.
It’s an annual NBA tradition as beautiful as it is brutal.
While two teams battle in the NBA Finals to be crowned champions, 28 other teams are at home watching and trying to figure out ways to achieve the sort of success they’re witnessing.
Both teams in the NBA Finals this year got there by building through the NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors have a homegrown core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green who have been supplemented perfectly by a new crop of young talent. For all the championship success the Warriors have had, the likes of Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney have experienced star turns this postseason.
It’s impossible to talk about star turns without looking at what the Boston Celtics have managed to do. We are far removed from the days of assembling potential title contenders through major acquisitions. Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, and Marcus Smart comprise a championship-worthy core and all were brought to Boston through the draft.
Teams will always try to win by assembling superteams, but this year has proven the NBA Draft is critical in building a winner. Teams sitting at home have a lot of work to do in order to use this year’s event to either build with young talent or wheel-and-deal their way to a monster roster.
Latest NBA Draft Rumors
NBA Draft Rumors – June 15
- Who could trade will let the Kings trade down from No. 4 pick? – According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Pistons, Pacers and Thunder are all along the teams that have discussed trading with the Kings to move up to No. 4. In each case, Jaden Ivey is reported to be the target
- Thunder and Hornets both looking to trade their late lottery picks – Jonathan Givony’s latest mock draft at ESPN also includes notes that both the Hornets and Thunder are looking to trade. In the case of the Thunder, the hope is supposedly to trade up from No. 12 to acquire either Shaedon Sharpe or Jaden Ivey. The Hornets have the No. 13 and No. 15 picks and rumors don’t link them to a specific trade target but rather the generic hunt for a win-now player.
NBA Draft Rumors – June 14
- Woj: Hawks expected to be ‘active’– If the other two updates weren’t indication enough, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Hawks are expected to be among the most active teams in trade talks ahead of the NBA Draft and heading into free agency on July 1st.
- Blazers, Hawks discussed trade for No. 7 pick – According to The Athletic‘s Chris Krischner, the Blazers and Hawks have engaged in conversation about swapping the No. 7 pick. Atlanta currently holds the No. 16 pick in the NBA Draft, but reportedly has its eye on Dyson Daniel to bolster defense on the perimeter. Daniels, who hails from Australia and most recently played for NBA G League Ignite, isn’t expected to make it as deep into the first-round as Atlanta sits at the moment.
- Lakers want another second-round pick – According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers are expected to pursue a trade for an additional second-round pick in the NBA Draft this year. Lakers beat writer Ryan Ward reports that the team is working out Terrell Brown Jr., Fabian White Jr., Jabari Walker, Phlandrous Fleming Jr., Darius Days, and Michael Steadman.
- Hawks preparing a package to land Rudy Gobert – It sounds like the Atlanta Hawks are busy in the leadup to the NBA Draft. According to Bleacher Report‘s Jake Fischer, execs around the NBA are hearing whispers that Atlanta is trying to put together a package to land Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert. Fischer notes that a combo of Clint Capela, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, and the No. 16 pick would be part of the deal. If that happens, it would potentially open a lane for Donovan Mitchell to remain in Utah and do so with a reloaded cast of characters around him.
NBA Draft Rumors – June 13
- Hawks are open to trading John Collins for a lottery pick – Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer is reporting that the Hawks are open to trading John Collins, possibly in connection with their No. 16 pick, to move up in the draft lottery.
NBA Draft Rumors – June 12
- Duke’s A.J. Griffin works out for three Top 10 teams – To the surprise of almost no one, Duke star A.J. Griffin is getting work in front of teams holding top lottery picks. According to James Boyd, the Blazers, Pacers, and Pelicans have all conducted predraft workouts.
- Thunder to workout Johnny Davis – According to Thunderous Intentions’ Rylan Stiles, Johnny Davis has already conducted a predraft workout with the Thunder. What’s notable about this is that Oklahoma City holds the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and is widely believed to be taking Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.
- Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe works out with Hornets – According to the Charlotte Hornets — owners of the 13th overall pick — the team recently brought in Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe for a workout.
NBA Draft Rumors – June 11
- Indiana Pacers are working out Johnny Davis – Pacers beat writer Tony East reports that Indiana will be bringing in Wisconsin Badgers star Johnny Davis for a pre-draft workout. The Pacers have the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft, and Davis is projected to be a Top 10 pick.
- New Orleans Pelicans taking calls for No. 8 pick – NBA beat writer Micheal Scotto is hearing the New Orleans Pelicans are taking calls for potential deals involving the No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft. With a need to build around Zion Williamson — or test out if he can be the leader of a core — the Pelicans’ willingness to listen to a deal and get a potential win-now piece makes a ton of sense.
- Chicago Bulls targeting Mitchell Robinson after NBA Draft – According to the New York Post, the Bulls are eyeing the Knicks big man as a potential acquisition target following the NBA Draft. Robinson is slated to become a free agent on July 1st.
- Rockets want Lakers draft picks for John Wall – NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Houston Rockets are interested in a John Wall trade with the Los Angeles Lakers if NBD Draft capital is included in the package. The tricky part about this is the Lakers refusal to include picks and LA’s lack of first-round picks due to the Anthony Davis trade. The Lakers don’t have a first-rounder without some sort of string attached to it until 2026.
NBA Draft Rumors – June 10
- Blazers and Kings expected to shop first-round picks – Marc Stein writes in his subscriber-only Substack that the Blazers and Kings are taking calls for the No. 4 and No. 7 picks, specifically looking for the right win-now trade. Portland’s desire to move the No. 7 pick makes sense given the need to build a winner around Damian Lillard, but the Kings trying to make a win-now deal is a little more puzzling.
- Are Washington Wizards shopping No. 10 pick? – One team to keep an eye on in regards to a draft day trade is the Washington Wizards. Marc Stein reports the Wiz are among the teams in the Top 10 looking to move its pick should the right deal come around.
- Bulls may look to trade Colby White – After making the postseason this year but still underperforming given their early-season success, the Chicago Bulls are among the teams that could make a splash during the NBA Draft. In need of another big man, Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney indicates that Chicago could move Colby White in a trade, and moving him in a draft day trade could make a lot of sense.
NBA Draft Order 2022
1st Round
1. Orlando
2. Oklahoma City
3. Houston
4. Sacramento
5. Detroit
6. Indiana
7. Portland
8. New Orleans (from Los Angeles Lakers)
9. San Antonio
10. Washington
11. New York
12. Oklahoma City (from LA Clippers)
13. Charlotte
14. Cleveland
15. Charlotte (from New Orleans)
16. Atlanta
17. Houston (from Brooklyn)
18. Chicago
19. Minnesota
20. San Antonio (from Toronto)
21. Denver
22. Memphis (from Utah)
23. Philadelphia
24. Milwaukee
25. San Antonio (from Boston)
26. Dallas
27. Miami
28. Golden State
29. Memphis
30. Oklahoma City (from Phoenix)
2nd Round
31. Indiana (from Houston via Cleveland)
32. Orlando
33. Toronto (from Detroit via San Antonio, Washington and Chicago)
34. Oklahoma City
35. Orlando (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
36. Portland
37. Sacramento
38. San Antonio (from Los Angeles Lakers via Chicago and Washington)
39. Cleveland (from San Antonio via Utah)
40. Minnesota (from Washington via Cleveland)
41. New Orleans
42. New York
43. LA Clippers
44. Atlanta
45. Charlotte
46. Detroit (from Brooklyn)
47. Memphis (from Cleveland via New Orleans and Atlanta)
48. Minnesota
49. Sacramento (from Chicago via Memphis and Detroit)
50. Minnesota (from Denver via Philadelphia)
51. Golden State (from Toronto via Philadelphia)
52. New Orleans (from Utah)
53. Boston
— Milwaukee (forfeited)
— Miami (from Philadelphia via Denver; forfeited by Miami)
54. Washington (from Dallas)
55. Golden State
56. Cleveland (from Miami via Indiana)
57. Portland (from Memphis via Utah)
58. Indiana (from Phoenix)
