The NBA draft is nearly here for 2014 and teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, 76ers and Magic all could be looking at trading their draft picks and names like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo and LaMarcus Aldridge could be options and this comes as there are a number of hot names at the top of the draft, including Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.
The top part of the draft could see some trades, as the Cavaliers and Magic have reportedly gotten a number of calls, while the Sixers also could trade since they have two top 10 picks. Irving will not be getting traded if the Cavaliers pull off the Kevin Love deal and they likely will not be trading him at all, but teams will be making calls since the Cavs have the number one pick. Last season the team picked Anthony Bennett and while he did not play well last season, he could turn out to be a solid player and the Cavs cannot afford to mess up this pick.
Winning teams like the Rockets and Bulls want to trade for Love and Pro Basketball Talk reports that he does not want to play for the Cavaliers. The Lakers and Celtics have the pieces to make moves and there is a chance they could pull the trigger. The players at the top in Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker are considered the top picks and Joel Embiid could also end up going number one.
The Sixers are in great position, as they have two top 10 picks after making a deal with the Pelicans last year. The team now has Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel along with two first rounders at number three and number 10. GM Sam Hinkie said that the team is open to trading the pick and will look at deals as the draft gets closer. The team was third and slotted into that spot, while the Bucks were the worst team and had the best chance at getting the lottery pick with 25 percent.
The Cavaliers won the draft lottery for the third time in four years and for the fourth time in nine years and after messing up with Anthony Bennett last season, the team could look to trade the pick this year. The team may look at Kevin Love or LeBron James as options now with the number one pick in their hands, as they could trade the pick or entice free agents to come if they get Wiggins or Parker. The team has a number of options with the number one pick and other teams could look at trading up, including the Celtics or the Lakers.
The draft class this year is very deep and some teams could be looking to trade in, while others are looking to trade out. The Lakers and Celtics are thrilled to be in the top 10, but they would be open to deals, while the Sixers are one of the top teams likely to trade, as they have some flexibility after getting the second pick in the top 10 from the Pelicans trade in the offseason. The Jazz are in fifth and could look to move, while the Lakers have the seventh pick ahead of the Kings, Hornets and Sixers in the top 10.
The draft doesn't usually see too many trades at the top, but this year could be different, as the Cavaliers have the top pick for the second straight season and Kevin Love is the big name on the trade market. On top of that, the draft class this year is top heavy and very deep and players like Andre Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid have the potential to be franchise cornerstones for years to come. Heading into the season many saw Wiggins as the presumptive number one pick and while that still may happen, players like Parker, Embiid and Julius Randle have also been mentioned as picks that could go number one.