The NBA draft is coming and that means trade rumors will pop up and now the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics could be in the mix to trade up with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the Cavs are shopping the pick with Joel Embiid injured and those teams could look at trading picks to jump over the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz in the top 5.
Coming into the draft everyone though Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker could be the number 1 overall pick, but Embiid jumped ahead after the season ended and now his status is in question. According to ESPN.com, Embiid will be undergoing foot surgery after getting a stress fracture in his foot and now he could slip out of the top five or even the top 120 if teams get scared of the injury. Pro Basketball Talk is now reporting that Embiid's agent is trying to get teams to trade up to number 1 to take him and right now the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two teams being talked about with moving up.
The Cavaliers got the number 1 pick in the draft for the second year in a row and this time they did it despite having a 1.7 percent chance at getting the lottery pick. The Bucks had a 25 percent chance and now they are picking at number two behind the Cavaliers and with Embiid's injury, teams could be calling the Bucks about trades as well and that could get a team like the Sixers worried, as they are banking on getting Wiggins. The Sixers have reportedly called about trading up to the number one pick and PBT reports that Arn Tellem, Embiid's agent, is hoping he can get his client to the Celtics or Lakers.
The 76ers are another team that is in the mix to trade up, as they want Wiggins and if Embiid falls, there is a good chance they will not get him. Reports have the team willing to trade their number three pick along with Thaddeus Young for the top selection and that would still give the team two top 10 picks. The team has another first rounder from the Pelicans trade last year with Nerlens Noel and that could enable them to make this deal for Wiggins.
The Utah Jazz also reportedly are in on the Cavaliers trade talks and they have put Derrick Favors in their package as they try and move up to the number 1 slot. According to PBT, the Jazz are willing to put in Favors and their pick to get up to the top part of the draft and this new injury to Embiid has thrown the top five picks into a bit of chaos. Embiid has a foot injury and if teams are weary of making that pick, he could slide out of the top five and to the Lakers or Celtics anyway. What his agent needs to do is try and convince teams that Embiid will go sooner, but right now it looks like the Cavaliers and other teams early on will avoid him.