Rumored NBA Draft Night Trades And Five Historic NBA Draft Trades

On June 23rd, the NBA Draft will take place and 58 players’ names will be called, effectively changing their lives. As always, there will be chaos, including blockbuster trades, surprising reaches, and franchise-changing picks. Trades on NBA Draft night can be iconic moments for sports fans and can even curb some of the basketball withdrawals that we will all inevitably experience after the Finals end. Below, I cover five of the greatest and most historic NBA Draft trades ever, which completely reshaped multiple franchises. Additionally, there are a few trade rumors for this year’s draft that feature the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, and Charlotte Hornets!

Updated: 6/22/22  – 8:31 PM ET

Rumored 2022 NBA Draft Trades

Portland trading the No. 7 overall pick to the Toronto Raptors for O.G. Anunoby.

This rumor has been tossed around for a few weeks, but it seems to be regaining some steam. After Portland just acquired Jerami Grant for merely a future first-rounder, it seems to be in the market for yet another win-now player with the seventh overall pick being the tradeable asset. Anunoby would be a huge addition to a team that is absolutely atrocious on the defensive end.

Indiana trading the No. 6 overall pick, Malcolm Brogdon, and Chris Duarte to Sacramento for the No. 4 overall pick.

How desperate for Jaden Ivey are the Indiana Pacers? This is all speculation because the Pacers scarcely do what the league expects them to; however, it is possible if the fanbase puts enough pressure on the front office. The Sacramento Kings’ asking price for the fourth pick in this draft is borderline astronomical, but Indy does have enough pieces to make it work. If the Kings can pull this off, they could potentially still get a guy they like a lot (Keegan Murray) at No. 6 and bring in an absolute haul of Duarte and Brogdon too.

Indiana trading Malcolm Brogdon to the Washington Wizards OR New York Knicks for the No. 10 or 11 overall pick.

Depending on the price that Sacramento asks for the fourth overall pick, Washington and New York may opt to grab Brogdon in an alternative move. Currently, the Kings are asking for a substantial amount and they still could get a suitor, but for whichever team is unable to move up, expect Brogdon to go there.

Oklahoma City trading the No. 12 overall pick and Lu Dort to the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 7 overall pick.

OKC has been mentioned as a team that might make a big draft night move to climb up the lottery with its second first-round pick to acquire Shaedon Sharpe, a high-ceiling player who has stated his interest in playing for the Thunder. Meanwhile, Portland could immediately improve defensively and add a somewhat proven secondary scorer to its roster while only moving back five picks. From there, the Blazers could package No. 12 for another solid piece or select a player.

Portland trading the No. 7 overall pick and Eric Bledsoe to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant and a second-round pick OR to the Toronto Raptors for O.G. Anunoby

Portland must be feeling the pressure right now; it did not get a top pick in the 2022 draft after a mind-bogglingly bad season and made an ill-advised trade with the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline. If the Trail Blazers really want to try and surround Damian Lillard with enough talent to win in a tough Western Conference, this may be the most logical move. Adding Grant or Anunoby would be a significant upgrade to this roster.

Washington Wizards trading the No. 10 overall pick, a future protected first-round draft pick, Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Kyle Kuzma to the Indiana Pacers for Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner.

Washington seems to be fairly serious about picking up a proven star guard in exchange for the tenth pick in this year’s draft, and there’s a chance it might do that and more if it deals with the Indiana Pacers. Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon are likely on their way out of Indy and the Wizards could get a solid package deal here. It may sound like a lot to give up for Washington, but its lineup could feature, Brogdon, Beal, Kispert, Turner, and Porzingis. That would be interesting.

Washington Wizards trading the No. 10 overall pick and Deni Avdija/Corey Kispert to Sacramento for the No. 4 pick.

If Washington opts to not trade for a proven, All-Star-caliber guard, it should trade up to No. 4, where it can snag Jaden Ivey. The Wizards may not want to part with so many rotational players and franchise assets to pull in Malcolm Brogdon, Dejounte Murray, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who have all been discussed in trade rumors. I have a feeling that the price will be too high and trading up for Ivey might be the best move.

Charlotte Hornets trading the No. 13 pick, Kelly Oubre Jr, and a future draft pick to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner.

Charlotte has long been mentioned as a team that needs a quality starting big man, and there may not be a better fit for it than Myles Turner. Turner can play at a fast pace and match the Hornets’ run-and-gun style offense, while also giving them a legitimate rim protector. Charlotte doesn’t have to move off of much here as it still has the No.15 pick in this year’s draft and can fill Oubre’s spot pretty seamlessly. The Pacers would be able to grab another lottery pick in this year’s draft to add to their young core of Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte and whoever they select at No. 6.

5 Historic NBA Draft Trades

2018 – The Hawks traded the No. 3 overall pick (Luka Doncic) to the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 5 overall pick (Trae Young) and a future first-round pick, which was used to draft Cam Reddish. Atlanta and Dallas have won so far with this trade as Young and Doncic are both superstars. Each team has made a conference finals already.

2011 – The Pacers drafted and then traded Kawhi Leonard, Erazem Lorbek, and Davis Bertans to the San Antonio Spurs for point guard George Hill. Leonard has gone on to win two NBA Championships and has been selected to three All-NBA First Teams. Indiana could have paired Paul George with Kawhi Leonard but didn’t think it needed any more wing players.

1998 – Milwaukee acquired Robert Traylor from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki became one of the greatest shooting big men in the history of the NBA while also bringing Dallas a championship over LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

1996 – Charlotte traded Kobe Bryant to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. Bryant finished his career in Los Angeles as one of the greatest Lakers players of all time with five total championships and more memorable plays than one could count. Meanwhile, Divac played just two seasons in Charlotte before finding his next home in Sacramento.

1987 – Chicago traded Olden Polynice and two future draft picks to Seattle for the draft rights to Scottie Pippen. Pippen has one of the most historic rags to riches stories in NBA history; he was just over six feet tall after graduating high school with no college offers and shot up to 6-foot-8 during college and was offered a walk-on spot at Central Arkansas, an NAIA school. Pippen went on to win six NBA Championships with teammate Michael Jordan for the Bulls.