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NBA Trade Rumors: NBA Draft trade rumors, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and more!
There are a lot of rumors out there so we've got a lot to get to. I'll try to get everything here. First, the Utah Jazz announced a new coaching hire last week, Coach Wojciechowski, and I needed to get that included here.
A huge congrats to Coach Wojo!
NBA Draft Trade Rumors
Late draft trades coming?
In the latest Stein Line, Jake Fischer had some interesting trade details
There's been lots of chatter leaguewide, actually, about the majority of picks from Nos. 20-30 being available for trade in this draft.
Which is pretty typically the case. Four selections were traded between No. 22 and No. 28 a year ago. At this juncture of the process, it all appears very fluid at the end of the first round for this draft class, with numerous prospects ranging from Nos. 20-60 having returned to college to seize upon NIL riches.
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It's maybe not the most surprising thing, like Fischer says, but the Utah Jazz are set up well to potentially move into that section of the draft. Could one of Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, or John Collins get them there? It seems very possible, depending on the contracts that are moved.
Teams that are potentially trading up
From Fischer
Like the Thunder, Orlando and Brooklyn have also been mentioned by rival executives as teams to monitor for potential trades up into the late lottery.
Brooklyn holds first-round picks at Nos. 19, 26 and 27 ... all after its No. 8 selection. Orlando holds the Nos. 16 and 25 picks on June 25 and faces a roster crunch similar to that in OKC with 15 players on standard contracts for next season ... albeit with veterans like Moe Wagner and Gary Harris on team options.
The Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic have the potential picks to move up, but how far will they go? The Utah Jazz have the assets to potentially move up as well. The question is, will they do it? Or do they want to? Being at #5 is a great spot, and, if it's any solace to Jazz fans depressed by the lottery results, Brooklyn and Orlando would love to trade to where the Jazz are now. If the Jazz want to move up, they're in the realistic range to get to maybe 2,3, or 4. That is, if they're willing to give up the requisite assets. I do think #3 and #4 are the most possible, if the Jazz do want to move up.
New Utah Jazz rumors!
Sarah Todd dropped some great stuff in her recent Jazz Insiders newsletter. Let's dive in.
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What Austin Ainge probably meant with his press conference
Local media went crazy with the 'We won't be doing that' quote. Todd writes about how opposing GMs took those comments:
The rest of the NBA world took that to mean that the Jazz would be fielding a roster during the 2025-26 season that would not need to manipulate things in order to lose enough games for a high draft pick. In order to do that, the Jazz would need to make a few trades.
And there you have it, it wasn't meant to imply that Utah's offseason will turn into a win-now offseason. It was more likely that they would play to win but still lose anyway. Austin Ainge has repeatedly emphasized the importance of next year's pick, after all. But Todd is right, Utah does need to make some moves to make this happen.
It sounds like those opposing GMs are speculating on available Jazz players via trade.
So, there have been some quiet rumblings around the league the last few days about the availability of Jazz players via trade.
Apparently, it's going to be an active offseason for the Jazz.
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Everyone is on the table
Todd writes what players opposing GMs expect will be available from the Jazz.
Numerous league sources have indicated that they believe the Jazz are going to be active over the next several weeks. Many expect that the Jazz are willing to hear offers that would include draft picks in the 2025 draft as well as players on the Jazz's current roster.
Obvious candidates for trade would be John Collins, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, who are all on expiring deals as of the 2025-26 season, but league sources have said that they expect for conversations to include Walker Kessler (who is extension eligible) and Lauri Markkanen.
The note about Collins, Sexton, and Clarkson is not surprising. But the news that Markkanen and Kessler will be included in trade conversations is an interesting one. It could be that opposing GMs are just trying to drum up a trade, or maybe they've had talks with the Jazz that give them an educated guess of what's coming.
Either way, we're going to see something happen this summer.
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