The 2013 NBA Draft is in full swing, and general managers throughout the NBA have already gotten to work regarding trades early in the draft.
According to ESPN, Michigan point guard Trey Burke will head to the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves will receive Utah’s 14th and 21st overall picks in this draft in exchange.
Utah’s acquisition of the Michigan guard seems to solidify Utah’s backcourt, with current Jazz point guard Mo Williams set to become a free agent on July 1.
With former Colorado SG Alec Burke already in the fold, Utah now has a good scoring backcourt leading their franchise, along with big man Al Jefferson.
The New Orleans Pelicans are also making moves to start the draft, as they traded Kentucky center Nerlens Noel to the Philadelphia 76ers in return for Sixers’ PG Jrue Holiday. In addition, the Pelicans will receive Philadelphia’s 2014 first-round pick.
The trades of Burke and Noel are just the first two trades during what could be a busy 2013 NBA Draft night.
UPDATE: The Dallas Mavericks have traded Gonzaga PF/C Kelly Olynyk to the Boston Celtics for Boston 16th overall pick and two 2014 second round picks. The acquisition of Olynyk is a good move by the Celtics, especially considering the rampant Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce rumors, however, Boston may have given up a little too much to acquire the senior. Despite this, Boston may wind up not regretting this trade as Olynyk has the potential to become the best center in this draft.
UPDATE: There has been a flurry of trades that have been announced, as former Michigan PG Trey Burke was officially traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. UCLA SG Shabazz Muhammad and Louisville C Gorgui Dieng will head to Minnesota in the Burke deal. Secondly, Miami point guard Shane Larkin was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Dallas Mavericks. As of this update, it is unknown who the Hawks will receive because of the Larkin trade.
UPDATE: The first blockbuster trade has appeared to have happened. According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, the Boston Celtics have traded forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. Shooting guard Jason Terry will also head to Brooklyn. The Celtics will receive forward Gerald Wallace and Brooklyn first round selections in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 drafts. The transaction cannot go through until July 10, although that is a formality. As it stands, the rumored trade between the Celtics and Nets has occurred.