The market to trade for an NBA center has been set by the Houston Rockets. They traded Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks for Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, and the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
There are likely some teams around the league that are shocked at that trade package. Teams with a center that they are shopping are likely disappointed as someone with Wood’s skill set, even while being on an expiring contract, was acquired for four players that weren’t part of a playoff rotation and a late first-round pick.
Teams that are in the market for a center are probably ecstatic, knowing the market may not be as expensive as originally thought. While every situation is different, teams around the league will take notice.
Another trickle-down effect of the Wood deal is that means one less center is available on the trade market and there is one less center-needy team. A lot of attention is about to be turned to Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers as a result.
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Turner has been on the trade block seemingly for years but no deal has materialized. A deal feels like it will be made in the coming weeks and one team to keep an eye on is the San Antonio Spurs.
As NBA Analysis Network’s own Evan Massey pointed out, the Spurs are just one of many teams that are now turning their attention to Turner and the Pacers. His unicorn skill set as an elite rim protector and capable 3-point shooter is something plenty of teams would love to add to their lineup.
San Antonio has plenty of ammo to make a deal with, as they have three first-round picks in the 2022 NBA Draft; No. 9, 20 (via the Toronto Raptors), and 25 (via the Boston Celtics). They also own the No. 38 overall pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers.
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It would be interesting to see what kind of package the Pacers would be looking for in return. Jakob Poeltl, the current San Antonio Spurs starting center, was drawing interest himself ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Could the two be swapped for each other? We will have to wait and see what unfolds as the trade market is heating up a week before the 2022 NBA Draft takes place.
