Raps tidbits from the ESPN article this morning:
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31770784/big-nba-draft-2021-questions-no-1-locked-looking-trade
"Could we see a team in the top four trading back to pick up more assets?Bobby Marks: It is probably best to break that question into two separate answers. As it relates to a team trading completely out of the top four, it is highly unlikely considering that Cunningham, Green, Mobley and Suggs are projected as franchise-level prospects. Now if Oklahoma City picks up the phone and offers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the No. 4 pick, the Raptors would certainly have to listen."
"
How can this draft set up free agency and the trade market?Marks: The Cavaliers have two big offseason questions with the restricted free agency of center Jarrett Allen and rookie extension of Collin Sexton, and both players could be impacted by whom Cleveland selects with the No. 3 overall pick.
Even if the Cavs selected a big man in Mobley at No. 3, it's likely that Allen would still receive a lucrative contract in the offseason (think five years, $100 million). The Cavaliers could either pair him with Mobley or move him in a trade down the road, which would be better than letting him walk for nothing this summer.
Sexton's case is more interesting, because he is not a free agent but is eligible to sign an extension off his rookie-scale contract. Would Cleveland reward him with a max contract, knowing that Suggs or Green could produce at the same level and also be less expensive? Keep an eye on Sexton when it comes to trade talks, if the Cavs select a guard and negotiations stall when it comes to a new contract for Sexton.
2021 NBA offseason
With Toronto at No. 4, the future of free-agent guard Kyle Lowry is up in the air. If the Raptors draft Suggs or Green, Lowry becomes expendable, and the Raptors can use cap space to go out and sign a starting center or build out their bench. They also could use Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal if the market for the former All-Star dries up"
Mal or die trying
