The NBA draft is doubly exciting for basketball fans because there are generally two different types of exciting transactions: picks and trades. Picks and players start changing hands at breakneck speed, especially after the first round, and it can be difficult at times to keep up.
Case in point: Big man Kristaps Porzingis was traded, untraded and re-traded in a matter of hours on Wednesday night. He eventually ended up with the Boston Celtics, where he will add another 3-point threat and a rim protector to a team hoping to reach the Finals for the second time in three years. In the same deal, Boston sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies while Washington acquired super backup point guard Tyus Jones, along with some draft capital and salary fillers.
The Wizards had a busy week. They also agreed to trade Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. If the deal goes official, Beal will join Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix, making them instant Western Conference favorites.
In the biggest early deal of the draft day, the Golden State Warriors added Chris Paul as a mix while sending Jordan Poole and draft indemnity to the Washington Wizards. And let’s go!
We’re tracking all transactions surrounding the 2023 NBA Draft, so keep checking back to see what changes you can expect as the 2023-24 NBA season begins.