Date: Thursday, July 29th
Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Time: 7:00 pm CST
TV: ESPN & ABC (streaming on the Watch ESPN app)
Despite the NBA Finals wrapping up just a little over a week ago, the 2021 NBA Draft is officially upon us. After securing the first overall pick by winning the 2021 NBA Lottery back in late June, the Detroit Pistons are on the clock, followed by the Houston Rockets and then the Cleveland Cavaliers. The entire first round order (as it stands now) can be found below:
- Detroit Pistons — Cade Cunningham, Guard/Wing, Oklahoma State
- Houston Rockets — Jalen Green, Guard, G-League Ignite
- Cleveland Cavaliers — Evan Mobley, Big, USC
- Toronto Raptors — Scottie Barnes, Wing, Florida State
- Orlando Magic — Jalen Suggs, Guard, Gonzaga
- Oklahoma City Thunder — Josh Giddey, Wing/Guard, Adelaide 36ers
- Golden State Warriors — Jonathan Kuminga, Wing, G-League Ignite
- Orlando Magic — Franz Wagner, Wing, Michigan
- Sacramento Kings — Davion Mitchell, Guard, Baylor
- Memphis Grizzlies — Zaire Williams, Wing, Stanford
- Charlotte Hornets — James Bouknight, Wing, Connecticut
- San Antonio Spurs — Joshua Primo, Guard, Alabama
- Indiana Pacers — Chris Duarte, Guard, Oregon
- Golden State Warriors — Moses Moody, Wing, Arkansas
- Washington Wizards — Corey Kispert, Guard, Gonzaga
- Oklahoma City Thunder (traded to HOU) — Alperen Sengun, Big, Turkey
- New Orleans Pelicans — Trey Murphy, Forward, Virginia
- Oklahoma City Thunder — Tre Mann, Guard, Florida
- New York Knicks (traded to CHA) — Kai Jones, Forward, Texas
- Atlanta Hawks — Jalen Johnson, Forward, Duke
- New York Knicks (traded to LAC) — Keon Johnson, Guard, Tennessee
- Los Angeles Lakers (traded to WAS, traded again to IND) — Isaiah Jackson, Big, Kentucky
- Houston Rockets — Usman Garuba, Big, Real Madrid
- Houston Rockets — Josh Christopher, Guard, Arizona State
- Los Angeles Clippers (Traded to NYK) — Quentin Grimes, Guard, Houston
- Denver Nuggets — Bones Hyland, Guard, VCU
- Brooklyn Nets — Cam Thomas, Guard, LSU
- Philadelphia 76ers — Jaden Springer, Guard, Tennessee
- Phoenix Suns — Day’Ron Sharpe, Big, North Carolina
- Utah Jazz (traded to Memphis) — Santi Aldama, Forward, Loyola (MD)
As you can see, the “Minnesota Timberwolves” are nowhere to be found in the first round (or the second round) of the 2021 NBA Draft. That’s because of the well-documented and well-discussed Andrew Wiggins for D’Angelo Russell trade, which will finally be completed later tonight after Golden State makes their first selection at #7 (where the Wolves originally were slotted before sending the pick to the Bay Area). Nevertheless, I’d personally be shocked if the Wolves didn’t either trade or simply buy their way into the second round to grab a player they have their eyes on.
We will update this thread throughout the night if/when any major news breaks (including Wolves-related items), but for now, all eyes tonight are on the 60 or so players who are welcomed to The Association. Good luck, fellas!
UPDATE: 5:03 PM CT
The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to trade PG Ricky Rubio to the Cleveland Cavaliers for SF Taurean Prince, cash, and a 2022 second-round pick.
Here is the trade, per source:
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 29, 2021
Cleveland gets: Ricky Rubio
Wolves get: Taurean Prince, cash and a 2022 second-round pick
The move also buys Minnesota about $4.8 million in relief against the luxury tax line.
My biggest need for the Wolves was getting bigger on the wing. They did that while also acquiring a second-round pick and creating $4.8 million in added space beneath the tax line.
— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) July 29, 2021
With estimates for Bolmaro and Vanderbilt, I've got them at about $7.5M in luxury tax space. https://t.co/vlgIUCCJPg
UPDATE: 7:18 PM CT
Trade alert!
The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook, 2024 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and No. 22 tonight, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021
This trade was rumored all throughout Thursday afternoon, and the only real holdup appeared to be the draft compensation that would exchange hands between Washington and Los Angeles.
While Twitter may LOVE this deal, I personally don’t see how this addresses any issues whatsoever for the Lakers, especially come playoff time. While Westbrook will bring a plethora of energy to take the burden off of both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, his lack of an outside shot will likely lead to countless spacing issues when things get tight come late April/early May.
After an 11-year stint in Oklahoma City, this will now be Russell Westbrook’s third team in three years.
UPDATE: 7:33 PM CT
In a bit of a surprise, Jalen Suggs falls to pick number 5 to the Orlando Magic. I’m not going to pretend to be a draft expert, but I fail to understand how Suggs went behind Scottie Barnes. Only time will tell, I suppose.
The Magic got their franchise PG as Suggs inexplicably fell to them. Suggs is a dynamic defender, terrific athlete, and explosive scorer. Magic fans should be thrilled with their new franchise PG #MagicTogether https://t.co/vfoyoQSk9i pic.twitter.com/tNncKM67xH
— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) July 30, 2021
UPDATE: 7:52 PM CT
Orlando comes away with what looks like a haul tonight, after adding Franz Wagner to Jalen Suggs. They have really bolstered their perimeter defense, with a lot of IQ and upside on the offensive end of the floor.
The Magic select Franz Wagner with the No. 8 pick in the draft @brhoops pic.twitter.com/oqYlkjRrBe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 30, 2021
UPDATE: 8:29 PM CT
The Warriors walk away with Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, which is a ... fine haul for them. I’m not very high on Kuminga but ultimately think Moody at pick 14 is a really nice get. Moody can really shoot and should be able to help them both now and down the road. Good for them, I guess.
Warriors closing in on their second pick in lottery at No. 14 with Moses Moody on top of Bob Myers' draft board, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021
UPDATE: 9:20 PM CT
One of the sliders of the evening gets taken by the Knicks at 21, as Keon Johnson heads to the Big Apple. This dude is as explosive as they come, and he’ll give some real pop to New York off the bench. He’s an interesting short-term bet with a lot of intrigue long-term if he can improve the jumper a bit. Aaaaand it sounds like this pick will actually go to the Clippers.
Clippers will send No. 25 to New York and a future second, per source. Clippers are targeting Keon Johnson at No. 21. https://t.co/FRWvThyVpM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021
UPDATE: 10:03 PM CT
Daryl Morey makes my favorite pick of the night, getting Jaden Springer at pick 28. Springer is incredibly young, but shows a high-level feel for the game, and will make for a really strong backcourt of the future with 2020 first-rounder Tyrese Maxey. That’s a home run of a pick for Philadelphia at 28.
At the top of the Daryl Morey and Elton Brand draft board in Philadelphia at No. 28, per source: Jaden Springer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021