-Originally published 11/20/20-
The 2020 NBA draft has just taken place and it was rather unexciting. We do have some trades of note so far in the rush to get the season started. He’s how they shook out.
Big Splash
Los Angeles Lakers receive:
PG Dennis Schroder
Oklahoma City Thunder receive:
G Danny Green
2020 First Round Draft Pick (28)
The Lakers have gotten their hands on a real point guard without having to moving all of their assets. LA didn’t have much to move but hanging onto Kyle Kuzma will allow LA some wiggle room to move later or Schroder could be packaged for trade down the line. Schroder shot a career high 38.5% from three last season on a career high five attempts per game. He can play off-ball if Lebron plays point like he did last season with Chris Paul at the controls. He still averaged 4 assists per game. With one year left on his contract the Lakers hope to sign Schroder to a long-term deal if he works out. The Thunder took back Danny Green’s expiring contract and grabbed a draft pick to help with the rebuild. Green can used as a trade chip for another contender in a couple months.
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Phoenix Suns receive:
PG Chris Paul
F Abdel Nader
Oklahoma City Thunder receive:
F Kelly Oubre Jr.
PG Ricky Rubio
SG Ty Jerome
PG Jalen Lecque
2022 First Round Pick
Chris Paul played 70 games last season, the most since 15-16, and averaged 17.6 points, 5 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.6 steals per game and pushed the Thunder from a projected bottom-5 team to the playoffs. Phoenix will squeeze the last few years out of the 35-year-old and partner him with 22 year old Deandre Ayton and 23 year-old super scorer Devin Booker as they continue to build in the west.
OKC could have up to 16 first round draft picks through 2026. So many picks that they’ll be able to both take multiple shots at drafting stars in the years to come and package multiple picks in trades for veteran stars in the coming years. After all, you can’t fit 16 players on the roster. Kelly Oubre and Ricky Rubio are both quality players, but both are being shopped for more picks as I write this.
Note:
Warriors receive: Kelly Oubre Jr.
OKC Receive: Protected 2021 First Round Pick
Warriors grab quality player to win now with stars in their 30’s (and Klay Thompson out for the year) and OKC stockpiles picks
Timberwolves receive: Ricky Rubio, 2020 Pick #25 & #28
OKC receive: 2020 Pick #17
OKC consolidates picks and moves up for a guy they want. Timberwolves receive a couple picks and return veteran Ricky Rubio whom was drafted by the team and will come off the beach and provide leadership for D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Milwaukee Bucks receive:
G Jrue Holiday
2020 Second Round Pick (60)
New Orleans Pelicans receive:
PG Eric Bledsoe
PG George Hill
2020 First Round Pick (24)
2024 First Round Swap Rights
2025 First Round Pick (Unprotected)
2026 First Round Swap Rights
2027 First Round Pick (Unprotected)
Milwaukee pulled the trigger and made big moves to try and convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to re-sign after this season. Jrue Holiday averaged 19 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.6 steals per game last season and is widely regarded as one of the better defenders in the game. Eric Bledsoe (14.9 pts, 4.6 reb, 5.4 ast) still has 3 years left on his new 4 year deal signed last season but he’s been disappointing for the Bucks and George Hill (9.4 pts, 3 reb, 3.1 ast) has two year left. The Pelicans did it for the picks, Bledsoe and Hill matched salaries and I’m not sure how much time they’ll actually log with Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a fleet of youth everywhere fighting for playing time. The big question for the Bucks is “did they give up too much and mortgage their future?”. The bare minimum is Giannis signing a super max contract extension and a couple finals appearances or a championship. Otherwise the answer is “Yes”.
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Mid-level Impact (The Garnish)
Oklahoma City Thunder receive:
F/C Al Horford
Rights to Vasilije Micic
2020 Second Round Pick (34)
2025 First Round Pick
Philadelphia 76ers receive:
SG Danny Green
G Terrance Ferguson
OKC grabs more picks and swaps Green and Ferguson’s contract for Horford. The 76ers didn’t have much flexibility under the cap, but Horford has lost a step and didn’t work with the rotation and tossing a 2nd rounder and 1st down the line for Danny’s 3-point shooting and Terrance Ferguson’s potential is work the sacrifice for the team to compete now. OKC doesn’t really care who is on the roster right now. It’s all about the next few years.
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Dallas Mavericks receive:
F Josh Richardson
2020 Second Rounder (36)
Philadelphia 76ers receive:
G Seth Curry
Curry has three years left on his deal. Richardson has a player option for next season. Again, the 76ers don’t have much flexibility but swapping Josh Richardson for more shooting with Seth Curry is a win. Richardson is better defensively (top-30 in defensive win shares) but I’d still rather have Curry (12.4 ppg, 49.5 FG%, 45.2 FG3%) than Richardson (13.7 ppg, 43 FG%, 34 FG3%, 2.9 Ast).
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Brooklyn Nets receive:
G Landry Shamet
LA Clippers receive:
G Luke Kennard
Detroit Pistons receive:
Rodney McGruder
2020 First Round Pick (19)
It a three-teamer, the Nets grab shooting, the Clippers grab a young shooter moving off of Shamet and the Pistons blow up most of the roster and grab a pick by shipping Kennard to LA.
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Of Note
Portland Trail Blazer receive:
SF Robert Covington
Houston Rockets receive:
SF Trevor Ariza
2020 First round (16)
2021 Protected First Round Pick
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Brooklyn Nets receive:
G Bruce Brown
Detroit Pistons receive:
F Dzanan Musa
2021 Second Round Draft Pick (from Toronto)
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Detroit Pistons receive:
F Trevor Ariza
2020 First Round Pick (16)
Houston Rockets receive:
Future First
2021 Second Round Pick (From LAL)
The Pistons and Rockets both made small moves to maneuver under the cap. The Pistons added picks and Trevor Ariza’s expiring/shooting for this season. The Rockets added future picks and the 16th in the 2020 draft.
