With the recent hire of coach Mike Malone and GM Pete D’Alessandro in Denver, I’m hearing from sources that the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings have engaged in talks centered around draft picks and DeMarcus Cousins. While I would be surprised to see the Kings move Cousins, the possibility of adding Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried is awfully tempting. I also hear if that deal is not consummated, the Nuggets are looking to deal the seventh pick. The same can be said for the Kings at No. 6 if Mudiay is not there, but it is certainly possible he falls into their lap.
The Boston Celtics are the most aggressive team in talks right now, exploring ways to move up in the draft. GM Danny Ainge is loaded with picks and wants to make a splash. Watch for a possible deal with the Knicks involving multiple first-rounders. If that falls through, I think Ainge targets a move to No. 7 with Denver. I am hearing the Celtics’ target in a possible trade up would be Porzingis, but they also are very intrigued by Willie Cauley-Stein as they lack a rim protector in their stable of bigs.
This can’t be true because Vlade Divac just said that DeMarcus Cousins is untradeable. In all seriousness, Lawson/Faried is a strong starting point on a deal for Cousins. I’m sure the Kings also want the draft picks in addition to the players.
The Celtics can’t offer Sacramento any players near the caliber of Lawson or Faried. What Danny Ainge can offer is lesser, cheaper players (Avery Bradley & Kelly Olynyk) and much better draft picks.
As for the draft trade talk, this is the first time I’ve heard Porzingis’ named linked to Boston.
(h/t Celtics Blog)
