Recent reports have Utah in discussions with Cleveland to swap the 5th pick and Favors for the 1st pick, which they likely would use to take Jabari Parker.
Cleveland loved Embiid and reportedly were set to take him until the broken foot. They have the best access to his medical records of all the teams, an advantage to them. My educated guess is that they would take Embiid with the 5th pick.
If Boston strongly desires Embiid (reports have them willing to trade up to take him), and fears that Cleveland would take him at 5, Boston would have to make a trade with Orlando to swap 6 and 4.
Where would that leave Philly and Milwaukee? Philly loves Wiggins. Does Milwaukee? My sense is that not as much as Philly. So I could see them agreeing to swap 2 and 3 so that Philly can get Wiggins. Philly has so many draft picks, a lot of flexibility here to get something done. Milwaukee was just reported to put a lot of their assets on the market, including their PG, Jennings. A sign, perhaps, that they want to take Exum? Makes sense.
None of this may happen, but it just shows you some of the dynamics at play. Reminds me of something I concluded after the 2006 draft, when Thomas and Aldridge were swapped, Roy and Foye, etc.: Each team pretty much knows who the other team is targeting. They talk to each other all the time. I think it is no different this year.
Are these speculations off base? For example, why would Cleveland consider trading down to 5, other than to take Embiid at 5? The only other players they have worked out (Parker and Wiggins) will be gone by 5.
Of course, Cleveland would have to assume that Embiid would likely be available at 5. Or maybe they are willing to take Vonleh at 5 if Embiid is gone. In any event, I feel if Danny has decided to target Embiid, he'd better be prepared to trade up to get him.
Topic: Trading Among the Top 6 (Read 2566 times)