The closer we get to the NBA Draft, the more trade chatter emerges.
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst shared that he believes the offseason chaos could start a whole lot sooner than normal. And I think it is safe to say the sheer number of early June rumors backs that up! Time to go over some of the latest juicy tidbits from across the NBA.
NBA Trade Buzz
Boston Celtics Open for Business
With the Boston Celtics staring down an unfathomably large luxury tax bill, all indications are that they will look to move salary this offseason. The injury to superstar Jayson Tatum during the second round of the NBA playoffs, which could very well force him to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season, has also likely made the decision to pursue change that much easier.
ESPN’s Shams Charania joined the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday and specifically named three players the Celtics are open to moving. However, he also gave fans reason to believe that nothing is truly off the table for this front office:
“The primary focus, from my understanding, with the Celtics offseason has been Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser –their trade markets. Now, are teams making big offers and calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White? 100 percent. But the Celtics prefer not to trade them from my understanding. But, listen, if they get a big offer, they have to look at everything,” Charania said.
McAfee followed up Charania’s comments by asking if everybody other than Tatum was on the block, which Charania answered with “essentially.” Now, as stated, does this mean we should expect Jaylen Brown or Derrick White to be on the move? Not necessarily. But there is no question that the offers for these two players will be far more enticing, and who is to say one team does not blow Brad Stevens away with an offer?
Nevertheless, the organization is still bound to receive real interest in those three initial names. One team has already emerged as a potential suitor for Jrue Holiday. According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Sacramento Kings are hungry to get their hands on a true point guard. Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon are reportedly two cheaper options on the table, but Holiday is also on their radar as a potential home run swing.
76ers Trying to Move Up?
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Philadelphia 76ers have spoken with the San Antonio Spurs about moving up one spot on draft night. The team currently sits at No. 3 and has worked out both VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey. Their desire to swap spots with San Antonio, however, could very well suggest that they want to get their hands on guard Dylan Harper.
While you can not blame any team for having an interest in Harper, trading up to acquire him would come as a pretty major surprise. The 76ers have already committed long-term to speedy guard Tyrese Maxey and also appeared to hit a home run with the drafting of Jared McCain next season. So what would it mean for either of those two players if they went out of their way to take Harper – or ended up with VJ Edgecombe, for that matter.
This is why trading down has long felt like an outcome that would make sense for Philly. They could attempt to load up on more young talent to put around their nucleus of Joel Embiid and Paul George, or attempt to target some more veteran help. Many have also wondered whether they could look to attach the pick to George in an attempt to get out of his contract, but this idea has been purely speculative. For what it’s worth, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has the franchise trading down TWICE in his latest mock draft.
If one thing is for sure, whichever decision Philly does make could tell us a lot about their roster-building plans moving forward.
Kevin Durant Trade Traction
The Kevin Durant drama is coming to a head. All signs have pointed toward a breakup for the superstar and the Phoenix Suns this offseason after an incredibly disappointing 2024-25 season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this week that Durant’s business partner is weighing several different trade destinations in the lead-up to the NBA Draft. The teams specifically mentioned were the Spurs, Timberwolves, Rockets, Knicks, and Heat.
Charania elaborated on his reporting during a hit on ESPN’s NBA Today, reiterating that these were the five teams generating the most buzz:
“There is traction on Kevin Durant trade scenarios. And there are some teams that are motivated to get a deal done sooner rather than later. So we’ll see. Those are the five teams where the Suns are most focused at. There are some wild-card suitors, as well,” Charania said.
While it feels more likely than not that Durant will have the final say in where he ends up, the Suns do not have to grant his wishes. We have seen teams increasingly take matters into their own hands in recent years, with a prime example being Damian Lillard’s trade to Milwaukee. The fact that they even seemed to shop Durant at the deadline without him knowing suggests they could simply choose to take the best offer that comes across their desk.
Speaking of which, what are the Suns looking for in a deal? One would assume they want to continue competing around Devin Booker, but they are also extremely thin in first-round capital and depth. Pursuing a star in return could make as much sense as stashing up young players/future picks.
And Ones …
- Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor is reporting that the New Orleans Pelicans have an “aggressive” interest in trying to move up the ladder. Ace Bailey is the player they seem to have their eye on. Could the 76ers be the right trade partner? It sure feels like they would be a team with real interest in some of the Pelicans’ role players like Herb Jones or Jordan Hawkins.
- Sam Vecenie shared in his latest mock draft for The Athletic that some around the NBA believe the Spurs could look to move their No. 14 pick if they are not in love with the options on the board. Meanwhile, he also labeled the Orlando Magic as a possible team to watch. They have two picks in the Top 25 and are said to be searching for some help on the offensive end. Many Chicago Bulls fans have wondered whether Coby White could make sense for the organization, especially as he enters the final year of his deal. Would the No. 16 pick be enough for the Bulls to bite?
- Jake Fischer reported in The Stein Line that the Los Angeles Lakers have long been interested in Brook Lopez. In obvious need of a rim protector after trading away Anthony Davis, Lopez will be one of the top veteran free agents on the market. If Lopez isn’t the guy, could the front office attempt to pursue a big via trade?
