NBA Draft Day: Afternoon Thread

What: 2017 NBA Draft

Where: New York, New York

When: Coverage starts at 6pm on ESPN, first pick 7pm

Y’all ready for the craziness tonight?

Things have slowed down a bit in the NBA rumor land, as we will not likely see any movement until the draft begins. I believe that teams are also locked from making trades after 2:00 PM EST involving picks as after that time teams have to make picks to a player’s draft rights. That means that teams can only trade a player after they have selected them, or have the rights to select them.

So what’s going on right now?

Kristaps and the Suns. The Knicks have gone full-on crazy and supposedly want to get Josh Jackson in return for Kristaps. The Suns have been a potential trade partner, but Devin Booker has been the sticking point in trade negotiations. Boston could also easily enter the fray and may have to move a player in order to have a max contract available in free agency now that the cap has moved from 101 million to 99 million.

Boston is also going back and forth between Jackson and Jayson Tatum. It will likely be one of those two players off the board after Fultz and Ball are selected at 1 and 2.

Lots of rumors about teams trying to trade up and consolidate picks. Portland will likely make a trade tonight in order to relieve their overburdened cap. The Nets are the projected suspects for a salary dumping ground.

In Wolves news, Ian Begley reports from ESPN,

“Opposing executives believe Minnesota is considering using its No. 7 pick as part of a package to try to re-engage the Chicago Bulls on a trade for Jimmy Butler, ESPN has learned. The Cavs had previously tried to trade for Butler but were unsuccessful. Sources told ESPN's Marc Stein that Butler earlier this week expressed a desire to remain in Chicago and lead the Bulls back to prominence. The Vertical reported earlier this week that Minnesota had preliminary talks with Chicago about Butler.”

That was followed by this tweet from K.C. Johnson, who covers the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune:

I don’t think anyone thought the Wolves would get Butler for #7, as we assumed some level of player from the Dunn-LaVine-Rubio-Wiggins spectrum would have to be involved.

This trade idea will get bandied about all night long. Minnesota has the assets and there is the Butler-Thibs connection. Will it happen? My estimate is maybe 30 percent chance.

One cool rumor from Brian Windhorst that is not draft related, is that ownership groups for the NBA are trying to get President Barack Obama on board. That would be fun. Obviously, Chicago would be a natural fit.

There is going to be a lot reported today. Some true, some not true. For myself, I’m just hoping for the simplest (and optimistic) outcome. Jonathon Isaac falls to the Wolves and that’s all they do for the evening.

And just about as this is to go up, here is the annual #Wojbomb about Ricky.

Hold onto your seats. Going to be a wild night.