Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets

06/26/2024 10:35 AM

The 2024 NBA draft has arrived, and as is often the case, that means the rumour mill has kicked into overdrive.

In the lead-up to players taking the stage and shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand, it’s commonplace to hear noise of possible moves up or down the board. But in a year where the talent pool is considered “flat” by many experts, that makes things all the more interesting.

With so much uncertainty — to the point that there’s still no consensus No. 1 selection or even a top 10 — teams are likely viewing the available prospects in many different ways. Someone who may appear to be a sure-fire talent to one team, may not even appear on another’s big board.

Just ask the Charlotte Hornets, who in 1996 selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th-overall pick but traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac, because they apparently had no “use” for the future Hall of Famer.

The heightened uncertainty also adds the risk of losing out on a player your franchise might be sold on. With so many mixed reviews on the talent pool, gauging the interest of other teams will be difficult.

All of which, at least in theory, means we could be in store for some major shuffling come 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday when the two-day event gets underway.

That shuffling could begin as early as the first-overall pick. The Atlanta Hawks are set to make their first No. 1 selection since 1975, and although general manager Landry Fields insists they plan on making the selection, he conceded phone lines will remain open.

And a team seemingly calling Atlanta already is San Antonio. According to NBA insider Marc Stein there are “rumbles” of the Spurs looking to move up — hoping to pair last year’s top pick Victor Wembanyama with fellow Frenchman Alex Sarr.

What makes the possibility of the Hawks trading down and off the top pick even more real is Sarr’s apparent reluctance to join the organization. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the seven-foot centre and his agency don’t view Atlanta as a good fit and he declined a workout with the team. That notion was later evidenced by Fields confirming Sarr declined a workout with the Hawks.

Granted, Atlanta could just end up choosing a different top prospect instead, like the other Frenchman, Zaccharie Risacher. But the notion of snagging both of the Spurs’ 2024 top 10 picks (Nos. 4 and 8) or getting back their 2025 first-rounder given away to acquire Dejounte Murray, could be tempting.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said a package of both firsts would likely be “too rich” for San Antonio’s liking, but the dialogue should continue until the 11th hour.

Will the Rockets make a blockbuster deal on draft day?

Houston, despite going 41-41 and finishing 10th in the Western Conference, enters Day 1 of the draft with the third overall pick, courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets and the James Harden deal.

And as promising as a top-three selection is, the Rockets are seemingly willing to pass in exchange for a “win-now” player who could help end their four-year playoff drought.

According to Givony, “a lot of NBA teams think there will be a trade at No. 3.” And centre-needy teams like Memphis, Oklahoma City or Portland could approach Houston with hopes of moving up to draft two-time NCAA champion Donovan Clingan, should he be available.

Stein took it a step further and linked the Grizzlies and Rockets in trade talks. Houston appears to be eyeing former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart (along with the No. 9 pick) in exchange for the third-overall selection going to Memphis. Smart and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka spent one season together in 2022, taking the Celtics to the NBA Finals before losing to the Warriors in six games.

And for what it’s worth, both teams have plenty of history dealing with each other. Houston and Memphis made two separate deals, centred around Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams, in the last year.

Houston appears ready to contend, or at least, take a serious step in that direction. Already a roster loaded with six first-round picks since 2021, three of which went in the top four, and a cast of veterans, they don’t have much room for another prospect. If a player is going to take up space on that team, the Rockets want it to be someone who can push them forward as soon as next season.

And that point was further proven on Tuesday night when they made a late-night deal with the Nets — moments after Brooklyn sent the NBA world into a frenzy by dealing Mikal Bridges to rival New York.

The Rockets essentially gave the Nets back the picks they received for Harden in 2021 in exchange for control over the draft capital Brooklyn got from Phoenix for Kevin Durant in 2023.

Why? Because, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are looking to make a move for the aforementioned two-time champion, and offering the Suns the picks they gave up for Durant appears to be the plan.

Even if Phoenix isn’t interested in breaking up its Big 3, which appears to be the plan, Houston will look to be aggressive with said picks given what could be a quickly diffusing situation. Durant, and Bradley Beal are in the later stages of their career, and if the pair plus Devin Booker don’t turn the second-apron Suns into an immediate contender, things could fall apart rapidly.

Which is exactly why Houston seems ready to dangle Phoenix’s 2025, 2027 and potentially 2029 first-rounders in a move to acquire a game-changing player. And although there’s no guarantee the Rockets’ aggressiveness will result in a draft-day blockbuster, it is safe to say they’ll at least be trying to make one happen.

Fast breaks

— The Los Angeles Lakers probably won’t be using the 17th overall pick to select Bronny, son of LeBron James. According to Fischer, LA has made the pick available to be had via trade — with hopes of immediately upgrading the roster or moving back and acquiring more capital.

— According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Portland Trailblazers (with pick Nos. 7 and 14 in the draft) are considering Canadian centre Zach Edey. People around the NBA believe the Blazers are “extremely high” on the two-time National Player of the Year.

— Dallas, in search of more depth after a Finals run that came up short, appears to be working up a deal for Pistons guard Quentin Grimes, per Stein. Although a full trade framework hasn’t been ironed out, there have been scenarios discussed to land the 24-year-old with the Mavericks.

— Meanwhile, the Hawks are “of course” expected to engage with teams on trade scenarios to break up their backcourt of Trae Young and Murray, according to Fischer. The Lakers, Pelicans and Spurs are apparently appealing destinations to Young should Atlanta deal the three-time All-Star.