The 2022 NBA Draft could be a wild one when it comes to teams moving up and down the board via trades. There have already been some rumors about teams angling for specific prospects which would require a trade to have realistic to select the player they are looking at.
With cap space projected to be sparse this offseason, the draft is the first opportunity for teams to shake up their roster and make some moves via trade. Making a deal is going to be the only avenue a few teams have to upgrade their rosters in the coming weeks.
Over at Action Network, Matt Moore shared some of the intel that he is hearing about the upcoming draft. He shared that two teams are looking to pursue win-now deals; the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks.
“Two teams that are expected to pursue win-now moves: the Sacramento Kings and the New York Knicks. Opposing front offices are of the belief that the Kings are willing to move the fourth overall pick for a “win-now” player, but no list of potential targets is known to sources I’ve spoken to.”
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The fourth overall pick is an excellent bargaining chip for the Kings. Depending on how far down the draft board they are willing to go will determine the caliber of player they can get in return. An All-Star caliber player should be in play for them.
Could that make them a trade partner with the New York Knicks? A win-now trade for New York could constitute a few different things. Does it mean they will land an established All-Star? Or maybe it means they finally can address their point guard situation, which could be done by moving up in a trade with the Sacramento Kings.
Jaden Ivey would be the target, as he would bring star potential to a position that has been a thorn in New York’s side for a long time. Would Sacramento have interest in a deal centered around Julius Randle and the 4th overall pick?
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Both teams are looking to make a deal, so maybe there is one to be made between the two of them. Right now, there are a lot more teams looking to trade out of the lottery, as the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Charlotte Hornets are all looking to cement their status as playoff teams.