Entering the night, Dillingham had interest from Detroit at No. 5, San Antonio at No. 8, Utah at No. 10 and Miami at No. 15, sources said. Sources said word was spreading among league personnel that the Heat and Timberwolves were both considering moving up to No. 9 with Memphis in order to trade up to the Jazz. This soon proved to be a spot when the Timberwolves sent their only first-round pick left in the cupboard to take Dillingham. Minnesota will have access to their 2032 first rounder once this draft concludes.
It’s a big gamble that Dillingham will develop into the best future partner for Anthony Edwards in Minnesota’s backcourt after veteran table-setter Mike Conley exits the Timberwolves’ competitive window. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall, Dillingham weighs just 164 pounds, causing various teams to be concerned about his size and defensive ability. But Dillingham’s physical profile is very similar to that of Clippers guard Bones Hyland, whom Minnesota catcher Tim Conley once drafted when he was managing the Denver Nuggets. And if there’s any roster that can make up for any shortcomings Dillingham may have at guard, it’s this scrappy, stretchy Timberwolves unit that boasts the league’s best defense heading into the 2023-24 regular season. Minnesota did all that work while finishing at No. 27, where the Timberwolves were still able to land Illinois senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr., a microwave scorer who was being considered, sources said, on par with Chicago. At number 11.
Where UConn center Donovan Clingan landed was arguably the most interesting subplot at the top of the first round. Rivals executives believed Clingan was under consideration for Atlanta’s No. 1 pick, and then Clingan interviewed with San Antonio over Zoom last weekend. Clingan told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday media availability in Manhattan. to be confirmed.
All of this positioned Houston to field trade calls from various teams regarding the No. 3 pick, most notably the Portland Trail Blazers, who held the seventh selection, and the Memphis Grizzlies, who entered the draft at No. 9. But once it was clear to Houston that Reed Shepard would be on the board, the Rockets didn’t give teams much opportunity to trade in that slot, sources said, because Houston had long targeted the Kentucky guard. , who shot 52.1% from three last season.
After Stephen Cassel, Clingan’s point guard with the Huskies, proved to be San Antonio’s man at No. 4, there was much speculation around the league that Detroit would simply take Clingan and trade him to the highest bidder. . Instead, the Pistons took a big hit on G League ignite guard Ron Holland — perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire draft — leaving Charlotte in a strong position to tie with both the Blazers and Grizzlies.
The Hornets discussed trading down from that No. 6 slot with both Portland and Memphis because Charlotte was on the clock, sources said. It appeared that the Trail Blazers were the Hornets’ preferred partner, as a large portion of league executives believed San Antonio was targeting 6-foot-9 forward Tidjane Salaun at the No. 8 pick. The French prospect shares an agent with Spurs centerpiece Victor Wembanyama, and while Memphis’ No. 9 pick would have been risky, Charlotte ultimately didn’t feel it was worth rolling the dice. So the Hornets got their man in Salon, and then Portland got Klingon.
blazers’ big night
Portland would have to be thrilled about landing Clingon without sacrificing future draft capital. The Blazers had pursued the 7-footer who hosted UConn’s national championship throughout this pre-draft cycle. This presents some questions about Portland’s crowded frontcourt, which already includes Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams on the roster, but there are plenty of scouts and NBA talent evaluators who believe Clingan could be a great addition to his roster. Offers all-defense-worthy intangibles in addition to his fluidity in size.
Acquiring Avdija was also an interesting piece of business, as the Blazers landed the 23-year-old forward in a move that took Brogdon out and brought him under the luxury tax threshold. By swapping Brodgon’s $22.5 million salary for next season in favor of Avdija’s new four-year, $55 million deal, which begins in 2024-25, that now leaves Portland about $1 million under the luxury tax. The Blazers have expressed interest in competing for the playoffs next season, but it was not a roster that any front office felt was tax-worthy. And Avdija has been a developing defender who has attracted interest from a variety of suitors, so much so that Washington was telling interested teams it would need a pair of first-round picks to part with the Israeli forward. Avdija’s new deal is considered a value contract by team strategists, especially if he can continue to improve during his fifth NBA season.
However, the price of saving all that money and bringing in an up-and-coming player was certainly too high. Not only did Portland deal Washington the No. 14 selection, which turned out to be Bub Carrington from Pittsburgh, but the Blazers also sent a 2029 first-round pick, as well as second-rounders in 2028 and 2030. As for Washington, this is quite a return for the Wizards. The new front office under Michael Winger has completely overhauled the team’s roster and assets.
What’s next in Washington?
League personnel believe the Wizards will be able to find trade value for Brogdon this season, but how long he remains on Washington’s roster could put veteran point guard Tyus Jones in a curious situation. Jones will be an unrestricted free agent and is expected to command in the neighborhood just south of Brogdon’s dollar figure next season. Perhaps the Magic will indeed satisfy league-wide rumblings that they are interested in adding Jones, but they also have to consider the big pay day coming for Jalen Suggs.
Washington has acquired some significant draft capital after dealing first-round pick Bradley Beal to the Suns last summer. Getting a first-round pick for Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline was a win. There is a big bullet point on the two wizards’ dossiers for Avdija. Maybe Kyle Kuzma will chase those veterans out the door. Sources said Sacramento had discussed some type of framework to acquire Kuzma and flip Washington’s No. 13 pick for No. 26. If the Wizards’ package for Avdija is any indication, one can only suspect that Washington’s price for Kuzma is going to be sky-high.
abundant selection in the second round
So many second-rounders were dealt on Wednesday that it was difficult to keep track. Denver traded up three seconds, including the No. 56 pick in Thursday’s draft, to move up six slots from No. 28 to No. 22, and selected Dayton center Darron Holmes II via Phoenix, sources said. After a few slots, OKC traded five second-round picks between 2025 and 2027 to New York, sources said, in exchange for a first-round pick and running back Dillon Jones out of Weber State.
This will set the tone for Thursday’s second day of the NBA Draft, where the Toronto Raptors will resume action at No. 31. It will be interesting to see if a team spends another future seconds bounty on one of the last two names left. Green Room: Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Kansas’ Johnny Furfee. There is another prospect still available who league personnel believe could tempt a team to trade a starting second: former G League Ignite center Tyler Smith.
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