RealGM

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/258933/Teams-Could-Sell-First-Round-Picks-To-Raise-Money

I mean, I hate it that teams that don't have deep pocketed owners may sell picks to make up for lost revenue. But, , I lived through the whole Sterling era, when we were the cheapest team in the league--when we would've been foaming at the mouth to sell a pick to make a few extra bucks.

So, anyway - maybe we can get a draft pick or two back?

Hmm, that is interesting, but that could certainly be an avenue for the Clippers to get into drafts that they are no longer in. I remember when Phoenix basically gave away all their picks during the Nash era.

Buying picks is also a way of getting around the Stepien rule if ever needed, although this scenario probably applies more to bad teams looking to trade picks for established players- buy a couple of late firsts, so you can package more of your own higher-value picks to trade for a big player.

^^Yup. There's that too.

There are a lot of scenarios where teams will be more interested $3-5 million than a non-lottery draft pick. Right off the bat, you’ve got Boston, which has $123 million in contracts and 11 people under contract(assuming Hayward and Kanter pick up their player options, which they will). And they’ve still got team options on Tatum (at around $10 million) and Daniel Theis (at $5 million, which is a bargain), and Semi Ojeleye (a solid low rotation player at less than $2 million)—which puts them at 14 players and $140 million. Right now, they also have *3* first round picks—17, 26, and 30. And they've got Robert Williams to consider keeping, who has been kind a dumbass at times, but has also played well in his opportunities. I mean, at least one of those picks—probably two, maybe 3—will be for sale.

Same with Milwaukee. 12 players under contract, with Wes Matthews and Robin Lopez having cheap team options. (Matthews is having a bad year, but his option is barely $2.5 million), and Bird rights to Connaughton, Korver and Marvin Williams. Their pick is #18 right now, and they are absolutely in win-now-and-keep-Giannis mode. They don’t have time to develop a rookie drafted in the (very) low teens. They’re a small market team. I bet they sell that pick.

Philadelphia isn’t really small market, but they’re big salary right now—11 players and $147 million against the cap next year. And that’s not counting the players coming off (cheap) contracts that have played pretty well and they have the Bird rights too—Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson, Raul Neto. They’re developing Matisse Thybulle, who looks like he could be player, and Zhaire Smith, who … okay, doesn’t. (Kinda wanted to bring his name up, though … remember when he was one of the players we “lost out” on by drafting Jerome?) Anyway, they’re another team that wants to win now and has a lot of money invested and players under contract and players they want/need to keep—and has draft picks at #20, 34, and 36. (I love the very high second round picks.)

Anyway, picks are gonna be available.

I can see a mid-lottery team try to sell their 1st round pick, if they do not have anyone they like. Why pay an average player $4-5M a year, if you do not need that guy? Especially if you are already over the tax.