s/general - INTERESTING PICK SWAP SCENARIO

THUNDER:

OUT: PICK 12
RETURN: 2028 TOP 8 PROTECTED PHILLY PICK & 2029 UNPROTECTED NYK PICK
ANALYSIS: THE THUNDER MAY NOT BE LOOKING TO ADD PLAYERS FROM THIS DRAFT CLASS SO THEY TRADE OUT, THEY ACQUIRE TWO FUTURE FIRSTS, WITH PHILLY BEING LATCHED ONTO PG AND EMBIID'S CONTRACTS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND INJURIES PLUS AGING POSSIBLY GETTING IN THE WAY, THEY MAY REMAIN IN THE EARLY 20'S RANGE IN TERMS OF PICKS, SO THE THUNDER GET TO ADD THAT, BUT THE 2029 KNICKS PICK IS THE EXCITING ONE HERE, ASSUMING THE KNICKS STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PLAYERS AGAINST THE CAP, A SEMI-REBUILD MAY OCCUR.

HORNETS:

OUT: PICK 18 & SWAP WORST: HORNETS & MIAMI TOP 14 PROTECTED, along with Tre Mann & Josh Green
In: CLAXTON & SARAF
ANALYSIS: Bring in a Center it's simple, you keep the 14th pick. I think this is what will propel them as a legitimate playoff team with an anchor that can run pick and rolls with Lamelo and rim protect.

CLIPPERS:

OUT: 5TH PICK
IN: 12TH PICK, 2027 SWAP WORST WITH HOUSTON AND THE 2031 KNICKS PICK
ANALYSIS: THE CLIPPERS ARE IN A WEIRD SPOT, THEY CAN DRAFT A SUPERB TALENT, HOWEVER THEY DON'T HAVE THE PIECES TO BUILD AROUND IT. I SAY THEY TRY TO MAXIMIZE THEIR ROI AND GET FUTURE ASSETS. YOU ACQUIRE THE 12TH PICK WHICH WILL STILL BE GOOD, I SAY YOU TAKE A BIG WITH THIS PICK WHICH WOULD HELP THE TEAM IMMEDIATELY. YOU GET A 2027 SWAP WORST FOR NEXT YEAR WHICH I THINK WILL BE A TOP 20 PICK, HOUSTON LOOKS SHAKY AT TIMES SO I THINK THIS IS WORTHWHILE. THE KNICKS PICK IN 2031 WILL HOLD LOTS OF VALUE AND WITH THE CLIPPERS LIKELY BEING A BELOW AVERAGE TEAM THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS THEY CAN DANGLE THE KNICKS PICK IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE A TOP PICK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

NETS:

OUT: 2027 SWAP WORST WITH HOUSTON, PHILLY TOP-8 PROTECTED PICK IN 2028, KNICKS PICKS IN 2029-2031, CLAXTON AND SARAF
IN: JOSH GREEN, TRE MANN, 2026 5TH PICK AND 2027 SWAP WORST BETWEEN HORNETS AND HEAT.
ANALYSIS: THE NETS ARE LOOKING TO ACQUIRE TALENT RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE THE 5TH AND 6TH PICK IN ONE OF THE BEST DRAFTS WE'VE SEEN IN A WHILE. WITH THESE PICKS I LIKE KINGSTON FLEMING AND KEATON WAGLER. YOU HAVE A THREE WAY PUNCH WITH KINGSTON, EGOR AND KEATON, THAT COULD BE VERY VERY INTERESTING.