"Certain teams, they may want to preserve cap space for the next year or two and they may need to add players," Kupchak said. "A good way to add talent at a fixed price is to have a lot of draft choices and then you can still maintain cap space a year from now."
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday that there was a "better than even likelihood" the team would get rid of its first-round pick.
NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the 22nd pick in Thursday's NBA draft from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the 24th and 56th picks in this year's draft, and worst of their second round picks in 2010, according to a league source.
Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich is telling friends that he thinks he’ll be dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, who have interest in pairing him with Brandon Roy in the backcourt.
The Grizzlies aren't just entertaining the idea of parting with the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's draft. They've also engaged in advanced discussions with the Knicks that should put former No. 2 overall pick Darko Milicic in New York by week's end ... unless Memphis winds up needing Milicic's expiring contract in another draft-related trade.
Sources say that the proposed swap would send Milicic to the Knicks for swingman Quentin Richardson and cash. Milicic is scheduled to earn $7.5 million next season in the final year of a three-year deal he received from the Griz in 2007; Richardson has a player option for next season at $8.7 million.
If the teams go through with the trade, Milicic would join his fourth team since Detroit infamously gambled on him in 2003 with the pick immediately after LeBron James ... and right before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. But it's believed that Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni hasn't been able to kick his long-standing interest in seeing what he can get out of the perpetually, uh, casual 24-year-old. Despite his unquestioned standing as one of the biggest draft busts in league history, Milicic would have to be considered an intriguing one-year rental for the go-go-go Knicks given his length, mobility, passing skills and age.
Wouldn't he?
Alan Hahn (via Twitter) reports that the Knicks may send cash to the Timberwolves for the 28th pick overall, though he is unsure if this is a possible, because you may have to include a player to have the trade work. (Though I am fairly sure that Portland bought New Orleans pick last year for nothing more then cash).
The deal would give the Knicks the 8th and 28th picks in Thursday's draft.
Hahn reports that the deal is not done but is an "option, one of many."
