NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavs Trying To Improve Before Draft

As has become customary for the NBA, rumors of some of the league’s best players switching teams through either trades or free agency have begun flying before the draft. The NBA’s two most storied franchises and the team with the league’s best player have dominated most of the headlines.

Following their loss to the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers have already begun making trade inquiries, reportedly assessing the possibility of acquiring either Paul George or Jimmy Butler. Both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have also been linked to George, as well as other possible trades involving draft picks.

READ: Cleveland Cavaliers Trying To Trade For Paul George Or Jimmy Butler

Boston is the one team that has already completed a trade. The Celtics sent the No.1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the No.3 pick and a first-rounder in either 2018 or 2019. Philadelphia will use the selection to draft Washington’s Markelle Fultz. Boston is expected to take Kansas’ Josh Jackson, that is, if they keep the third selection.

The Celtics have already explored trading their new first-rounder, reportedly contacting the New York Knicks about a possible deal for Kristaps Porzingis. The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that Phil Jackson and the Knicks have not ruled out the possibility of dealing Porzingis, and The New York Daily News says Boston is among the teams that have gauged the Knicks’ asking price.

The chances of the Knicks actually trading Porzingis don’t look very high, considering the team is hoping to get a lot in return for their budding star. But that doesn’t mean Boston won’t be aggressive in trying to make a deal as they look to add another piece or two that could help them contend for a championship in 2018.

George or Butler could be that piece, and Boston certainly has what it takes to get a deal done with the Indiana Pacers or Chicago Bulls, owning seven first-round picks in the next three drafts. A trade for George would be risky, considering he’s a free agent next summer and is eying a contract with the Lakers. Chicago and Boston couldn’t agree on a trade at February’s deadline, but the Bulls have reportedly discussed a trade with multiple teams in recent days.

Trading Kevin Love for either George or Butler might give the Cavaliers a better chance of competing with Kevin Durant and the Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals. ESPN reported that Cleveland believes their winning culture could convince George to stay with the team for the long term.

Los Angeles is in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Paul George Sweepstakes. Not only are they the overwhelming favorites to sign him in free agency, but they have the necessary assets to get a trade done and have George for next season, especially since Indiana seems hell bent on dealing him this offseason. The question remains whether the Lakers want to give up any of their pieces for George now or take their chances and wait a year.

L.A. isn’t going to trade this year’s No.2 overall pick, which will likely end up being UCLA’s Lonzo Ball. Dealing last year’s No.2 pick, Brandon Ingram, also appears to be off the table. The Lakers have other valuable assets in future draft picks and young players like D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, though ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the team doesn’t intend to trade either one.

READ: LaVar Ball Says His Son Lonzo Will Be Picked By Lakers In 2017 NBA Draft

The player on the Lakers’ roster most likely to get traded is Jordan Clarkson. The backup point guard could be a target of several teams after he averaged 14.7 points for L.A. as a 24-year-old, and he’s expendable with Los Angeles likely to draft another point guard. With the Lakers hoping to land another first-round pick, and possibly George, he could potentially be traded before the draft.

As the draft moves closer, look for even more rumors to dominate the NBA news.