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Rumors are engulfing everyone’s Draft Board as teams above or near the luxury tax threshold are trying to dump big salaries and teams below the cap are looking for picks to take them on.
According to scattered reports, the Cavaliers may be willing to trade the eighth pick for cap relief, the Nuggets the 14th. The Hawks with three first rounders would like to get rid of their big contracts, too. And the Nets are making and taking calls, in multiple conversations, we are told. Expect the rumor mill to heat up Wednesday and then explode on Thursday. And some of the rumors will actually turn out to be true!
Meanwhile, the authors of mock drafts across the internet are acting as if the Draft order won’t change and projecting away. Here’s their latest on the Nets three picks. If you had to pin one name to the Nets, based on how frequently it showed up in mocks, it would be Hamidou Diallo, the Kentucky shooting guard. He’s been associated with the Nets for two years now. Four of the latest mocks, in fact, have the Queens native in the 29th or 40th slot.
ESPN
29. Chandler Hutchison, 6’7” SG, Boise State, Senior
40. Hamidou Diallo, 6’6” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
45. Omari Spellman, 6’9” PF, Villanova, freshman
The Ringer
29. Donte DiVincenzo, 6’6” SG, Villanova, Sophomore
40. Hamidou Diallo, 6’5” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
45. Jarred Vanderbilt, 6’9” PF, Kentucky, freshman
NBADraft.net
29. Elie Okobo, 6’4” France, 20 years old
40. Dzazan Musa, 6’9” SF, Cedevita (Croatia), 19 years old
45. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, 6’8” SG, Kansas, Senior
Sports Illustrated
29. Dzazan Musa, 6’9” SF, Cedevita (Croatia), 19 years old
40. Khyri Thomas, 6’3”, Creighton, Junior
45. Rodions Kurucs, 6’9” PF, F.C. Barcelona, 20 years old
The Athletic
29. Jalen Brunson, 6’3” PG, Villanova, Junior
40. Hamidou Diallo, 6’6” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
45. Jarred Vanderbilt, 6’9” PF, Kentucky, freshman
Tankathon
29. Anfernee Simons, 6’3” SG, IMG Academy, high school senior
40. Omari Spellman, 6’9” PF, Villanova, freshman
45. Devonte’ Graham, 6’2” PG, Kansas, Junior
Bleacher Report
29. Jacob Evans, 6’6” SG, Cincinnati, Junior
40. Rodions Kurucs, 6’9” PF, F.C. Barcelona, 20 years old
45. Rawle Alkins, 6’5” SG, Arizona, Sophomore
Basketball Insiders
29. Elie Okobo, 6’4” France, 20 years old
40. Omari Spellman, 6’9” Villanova, freshman
45. Malik Newman, 6’3” PG/SG, Kansas, Sophomore
Sporting News
29. Hamidou Diallo, 6’6” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
40. Dzazan Musa, 6’9” SF, Cedevita (Croatia), 19 years old
CBS Sports
29. Keita Bates-Diop, 6’7” SF/PF, Ohio State, Senior
New York Post
29. Hamidou Diallo, 6’5” SG, Kentucky, Freshman
Washington Post
29. Josh Okogie, 6’4” SG, Georgia Tech, Sophomore
A number of these mocks will be updated on Wednesday and the ESPN mock is certain to be updated up until the selections begin at 7:30 p.m. Woj and Jonathan Givony would have it no other way.