NBA Draft 2021: Mock draft, big board, full Sixers guide

NBA Draft trades: Which teams could make moves on draft night?

This summer has been particularly heavy on the trade rumors, with Thursday night’s NBA Draft a prime time for any number of moves (big and small) to cascade down upon the unsuspecting NBA fandom.  A number of teams — including the Sixers — could deal away picks, or trade for them.

NBA Draft: Could the Pistons trade the number one pick?

Let us start with the elephant in the room: Detroit at number one. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons are still deliberating between Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Green. If it gets to a point where Detroit prefers Green or Mobley, or even considers one of them in the same tier as Cunningham, that could turn into a trade with Houston, who has rumored interest in Cunningham. The Rockets own the second, 23rd, and 24th picks, and could also tempt Detroit with a player like Kevin Porter Jr., who scored 50 in a game last season.

Cleveland could also build a package around the third pick, with young players like Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and Isaac Okoro all holding significant trade value. It simply depends on whether or not Detroit comes around on Cunningham before Thursday (they absolutely should come around).

UPDATE: A pretty important development, per Woj.

NBA Draft: Will the OKC Thunder trade up?

There has been a lot of buzz around OKC lately. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz has said it best: in a normal year, Cunningham, Mobley, and Green are all worthy No. 1 picks. There is a lot of talent in the top three, and the Thunder have enough trade ammo built up to make a deal.

This is why a team like OKC stockpiles assets. Even if Cunningham at No. 1 is unobtainable, both Mobley and Green would be franchise-altering talents as the Thunder’s rebuild picks up steam. OKC owns the sixth, 16th, and 18th picks, not to mention another gazillion first-round picks between now and 2027. If Sam Presti is a big Mobley fan, might they tempt the Cavs to move down? What about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 6 pick for Cade Cunningham. Might Detroit consider it?

Watch out for OKC. It’s as simple as that.

UPDATE: The Thunder are open to trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and are rumored to have offered him and the No. 6 pick to Detroit for the No. 1 pick, per Basketball News’ Matt Babcock. Obviously, the Pistons said no. That says two things — OKC aggressively wants to move up, and the Pistons are probably coming around on Cade.

NBA Draft: Will Bradley Beal get traded on draft night?

Another elephant currently inhabiting the room is Bradley Beal, who is still mulling over his options before draft night. Recent reports indicate he was unhappy with the Wizards’ decision not to give a second interview to Sam Cassell in head coaching search. That immediately ties him to Philadelphia, where Cassell is an assistant under Doc Rivers. Beal has also been tied to Boston, Golden State, and Miami, with several other suitors bound to join the race if he demands a trade.

If Beal does ask out, Golden State would build a package around James Wiseman, the No. 7 pick, and the No. 14 pick. The Celtics and Heat do not have first-round picks this year. The Sixers have the No. 28 pick, but frankly, that is little more than a dash of whipped cream on a sundae the size of Mount Vesuvius should the Sixers make an offer.

The Hawks have been thrown into the mix too, and own the 20th overall pick. New York owns 19 and 21. Some lottery teams with an itch to compete — Cleveland at three, Sacramento at nine, New Orleans at 10, Indiana at 13 — could all feasibly throw their hats in the Beal race, too.

NBA Draft: Other trade rumors

Also keep your eyes peeled for potential trades involving Golden State (Nos. 7 and 14), Orlando (No. 8), Sacramento (No. 9), and Memphis (No. 10), with or without a Beal request. Even after trading into the top-10, reports indicate the Grizzlies may look to move up again, with eyes on James Bouknight or Jonathan Kuminga.

ESPN also reported that Cleveland has interest in acquiring a second top-10 pick. That could come at the expense of Collin Sexton, who is in line for a large extension the Cavs might not want to pay.

NBA Draft: Will the Sixers trade the 28th pick?

This is looking more and more like a yes. Nothing is set in stone, but according to Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times, the Sixers are “more likely” to trade the pick now than they were a couple weeks ago. He notes that Philadelphia has received “solid offers” for the pick, and Daryl Morey has never been particularly attached to the draft.

NBA Draft: Sixers trade cash for 53rd pick

The first draft day trade belongs to the Sixers and Pelicans. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Philadelphia has acquired the 53rd pick from New Orleans in exchange for $2 million in cash considerations. That gives the Sixers a second bite at the second-round apple.