NBA Trade Rumors Tracker: Latest Updates Ahead Of Draft

NBA draft day is here, but the party actually got started minutes before midnight.

Ultimately, the attention will shift to the players whose NBA careers begin Thursday night, but draft day also has been known to produce blockbuster trades for guys already in the league. Such was the case late Wednesday/early Thursday when the Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies reportedly agreed to a blockbuster three-team deal.

What else will happen before Adam Silver takes the podium Thursday night? Keep it here for the latest rumors, news and analysis from across the NBA world.

7: 36 p.m.: The Pelicans explored the idea of trading up for a top-three draft spot in order to possibly land Scoot Henderson, who many expect to fall within the first three selections. Yet, this pursuit came to no avail with the Hornets — who hold the No. 2 overall pick — and Pelicans reportedly no longer engaging in pick-swapping discussions.

Sources: Pelicans received a meeting in recent days with Scoot Henderson. New Orleans has pursued a top 2-3 pick in the Draft but both Charlotte and Portland are so far expressing no interest in moving pick.

More coming on @Stadium NBA Draft Live show: https://t.co/Z8rZKX2Rl3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2023

3:53 p.m.: It sounds like Chris Paul is staying put after going from Phoenix to Washington and now to Golden State. Regardless of whether Draymond Green re-signs, that’s going to be a star-studded roster once again.

Golden State will not waive Chris Paul and is looking forward to partnering with the star to make a championship run, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 22, 2023

3:19 p.m.: Getting caught up on the draft compensation in the reported deal that will send Chris Paul to the Warriors.

Golden State is also trading 2022 second-rounder Ryan Rollins to Washington as part of Poole-CP3 deal, sources said. https://t.co/sI1L23FPrE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2023

3:15 p.m.: And this is what we’ve been waiting for all day. We have ourselves a blockbuster including a future Hall of Famer and one of the league’s marquee franchises.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski just reported the Wizards are flipping Chris Paul — whom they acquired earlier this week from Phoenix — to the Golden State Warriors for Jordan Poole and future draft picks.

2:55 p.m.: OK, so it’s been a quiet afternoon, too. The only real thing to report is this from Heavy.com’s Steve Bulpett, who says “there is strong belief around the NBA that Brad Stevens isn’t done reshaping the roster,” so the Celtics might have more to come.

12:52 p.m.: Trade! Boring, but trade nonetheless.

The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring the 40th pick from the Indiana Pacers for No. 47 and cash, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

12:15 p.m.: There has been some uncertainty surrounding the No. 2 pick, but it sounds like Charlotte has settled on Scoot Henderson, not Brandon Miller, per Shams Charania.

Sources: Scoot Henderson is gaining serious momentum at No. 2 with the Charlotte Hornets in tonight’s NBA draft. Hornets have been torn over the last week between Henderson and Brandon MIller. Team has final meetings today to settle on decision.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2023

11:40 a.m.: Now we’re talking. SNY’s Ian Begley reported the Knicks might have some interest in Clippers star Paul George, and it might come down to whether LA wants to move on from him. As Begley notes, there are recent reports indicating the Clippers have poked around.

The Knicks and Clippers have had contact about a potential Paul George trade, per SNY sources. It is unknown if Clippers are willing to move George. @TheSteinLine reported earlier that Clips gave rival teams the impression that they were gauging George's trade value last week.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 22, 2023

11:30 a.m.: It’s been an admittedly quiet morning, but one developing storyline is what the Celtics could do with their newfound first-round pick. In presumably the final NBA mock draft before Thursday night, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has the Celtics grabbing wing Rayan Rupert out of New Zealand with the 25th pick — assuming Boston holds onto it.

After losing some depth in the Smart trade, the team could be in the market for a wing with the versatility to defend point guards, as it has quite a bit of shot creation already with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White,” Givony wrote. “Rupert’s ability to wreak havoc with his 7-foot-2 wingspan and high intensity level could be interesting at this stage of the draft.”

8:40 a.m.: The Celtics might just be getting started.

MassLive’s Brian Robb reported Thursday morning the Celtics “are far from done” when it comes to reshaping their roster. It’s unclear, though, whether that means Brad Stevens and the front office will be making another splash before the draft or perhaps being active in free agency next month.

8:30 a.m. ET: NBA draft day got off to a wild start, thanks in large part to the Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies.

As much of the NBA world slept Wednesday night into Thursday morning, those three teams were wheeling and dealing. After a blockbuster that would send Kristaps Porzingis from Washington to Boston looked dead, an arguably more explosive bombshell came from the clouds. Celtics president of basketball Brad Stevens moved on to the next one, reportedly trading Marcus Smart to Memphis in a three-team deal that ultimately will land Porzingis in Boston.

In the process, Stevens also was able to land a pair of first-round picks, including one that could be used Thursday night in the opening round of the 2023 NBA Draft. The Celtics didn’t have a first-round selection before the deal, so they now have options. Boston could hold on to the pick and build the roster with cheap depth or turn around and flip those selections in a bigger deal to continue adding.

Stevens ultimately will have to make that decision in the coming hours with Round 1 quickly approaching. He certainly isn’t alone, either, as decision-makers across the league are likely making and taking phone calls around the clock.