Hoops Habit
Fansided

2017 NBA Draft: 5 teams that should consider trading first round picks

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 30, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard Allen Crabbe (23) react after a basket against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard Allen Crabbe (23) react after a basket against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
2017 NBA Draft
May 9, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) congratulates guard Damian Lillard (0) after making a basket over Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Portland Trail Blazers

For any team looking to snag first round picks in the 2017 NBA Draft, the “U up?” texts at 2 a.m. are probably already being sent to the Portland Trail Blazers. With three first round picks and $134.7 million on the books for next season (even after the team waives Festus Ezeli), Rip City has no room or desire for three new rookies.

Even keeping one of the team’s three selections would likely prompt the Blazers to waive Pat Connaughton and/or Tim Quarterman. That wouldn’t be the end of the world in such a loaded draft class, but does anyone really see Rip City using the 15th, 20th and 26th overall picks?

More from Hoops Habit

One option would be the Blazers packaging those picks to try and move up in the draft, but the problem there is finding a lottery team that would be willing to trade that far back, even with three selections on the line.

Another option would be trying to trade the picks individually, perhaps in an effort to shed unwanted salary like Allen Crabbe or Meyers Leonard.

According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Blazers are open to trade some combination of the picks while also easing their cap situation. The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are reportedly interested, and if the Knicks can be coerced into giving up their No. 8 overall pick, GM Neil Olshey will have done it again. ESPN‘s Ian Begley reports Maurice Harkless was discussed in talks with the Knicks.

More than likely, this will come down to Portland salary dumps that include a first round selection as an incentive, since keeping all three picks would constitute $4 million in salary and an additional $10 million in luxury tax payments.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition

No matter what happens, the Portland Trail Blazers are the most likely team to be involved in at least one trade leading up to the 2017 NBA Draft.