NBA Draft Open Thread

NBA Draft
ESPN, 6:00 pm CDT

It’s here. NBA draft 2018. The Wolves come into the night with the 20th pick and the 48th pick.

This will be our draft open thread, at least until the Wolves pick, when of course we will get that news up on the front page as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, I will be updating the picks here as they come in, and of course we will be on top of any news.

So far: The Hornets have traded Dwight Howard to the Nets for Timofey Mozgov, cash, and two second rounders, including the 45th pick tonight. Taking on an extra year of Mozgov’s money seems a high price to pay, but the Hornets were obviously motivated to get out of Howard’s deal.

The Lakers acquired pick 39 from the Sixers in exchange for second round pick next season.

Rumors continue that the Grizzlies are shopping the fourth pick to get out of Chandler Parsons’ contract.

As for the Wolves, it appears far more likely they will trade down, either for an extra pick and/or to move some salary than it does they would move up, something they don’t appear to have the juice for. Both Darren Wolfson and Jerry Zgoda have implied this is on the table, and even Scott Layden mentioned it at his presser.

There is of course a lot more chatter, and we’ll begin to see what’s real and what isn’t at about 6:30 when the actual picking starts.

One change this year is that apparently, reporters won’t be announcing the picks on twitter before the TV broadcast. I can understand it from Woj—he works for ESPN now. But that they league has that kind of influence over other reporters kind of bothers me. Oh well.

Here’s the first round order, and I will be updating this list with the actual picks as they happen.

Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, Arizona
Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, Slovenia, Real Madrid

TRADE!

Doncic will go to Dallas in exchange for the 5th pick and a future first rounder.

This is apparently contingent on Trae Young being there at 5.

Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson
Dallas Mavericks: Trae Young, traded to the Atlanta Hawks
Orlando Magic: Mo Bamba, Texas
Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter, Duke
Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets): Collin Sexton, Alabama
New York Knicks: Kevin Knox, Kentucky
Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers): Mikal Bridges, Villanova
Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

TRADE! SGA is going to the Clippers for the 12th pick and 2 second rounders.

Los Angeles Clippers (via Pistons): Miles Bridges, Michigan State. Will go to Charlotte.
Los Angeles Clippers: Jerome Robinson, Boston College
Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., Missouri
Washington Wizards: Troy Brown, Oregon
Phoenix Suns (via Heat): Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech

TRADE! Smith apparently going to the Sixers for Mikal Bridges. Sixers also get Miami 2021 first rounder.

Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
San Antonio Spurs: Lonnie Walker, Miami
Atlanta Hawks (via Wolves): Kevin Huerter, Maryland
Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder): Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech
Utah Jazz: Grayson Allen, Duke
Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans): Chandler Hutchison
Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday, UCLA
Portland Trailblazers: Anfernee Simons
Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavs): Mo Wagner
Philadelphia 76ers: Landry Shamet
Boston Celtics: Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Golden State Warriors: Jacob Evans, Cincinnati
Brooklyn Nets (via Raptors): Dzanan Musa
Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets): Omari Spellman

Let’s have fun tonight.