Three teams in the NBA have emerged as serious candidates to trade up in the upcoming NBA Draft this Thursday.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder all have serious interest in trading their late-first round picks to move up in the draft.
The Thunder have already made a splash in the trade rumor world. The team reportedly offered the sixth overall pick and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Detroit Pistons for the number one overall pick. According to Draft Analyst Matt Babcock, the Pistons declined.
Per Fischer, the Thunder also have a major interest in trading their 16th and 18th overall picks to move up into the lottery. Fischer also reports that the Thunder have been eying up the No. 11 overall pick owned by the Charlotte Hornets and the fourth overall pick owned by the Toronto Raptors.
The Rockets are another team in rebuilding mode with multiple first-round draft selections. The Rockets already have the second overall pick, but they’re also allegedly looking to trade the 23rd and 24th overall picks to move closer, or inside, the lottery.
The Knicks’ only two draft picks on Thursday are the 19th and 21st overall picks, but Fischer reports that the Knicks are hoping to cash those picks in for a potential move into the lottery.
The NBA Draft takes place this Thursday at 8:00 P.M. EST.
