Difficult to gauge the trade market for the 2016 NBA Draft
May 24, 2016, 2:01 PM
Memphis forward Shaq Goodwin drives to the basket around Cincinnati defender Coreontae DeBerry during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP
With three picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns have a level of flexibility available not many other teams do. Phoenix holds the fourth, 13th and 28th picks as it tries to move forward with a plan to fill out their roster.
How those selections fit into the Suns’ vision isn’t yet known.
The NBA is entering a new world with a raised salary cap while rookie contracts are staying on the same scale despite the increased amount of money available.
“It’s always a great value guys on a rookie contract even more so as the percentage of the cap will be even lower,” said assistant Suns general manager Pat Connelly at Tuesday’s draft workout from the practice court at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “If you draft well you get the chance to lock in on a pretty good player for four years at a very controllable number, even more so as it expands even further with the rising cap.”
Since 2000 there’s been on average 4.625 trades involving first-round picks the day of the draft. The deals peaked with a high of seven in 2013, while there were six in 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006 and 2002.
Two deals were made in each of the 2009 and 2003 drafts.
Getting a read on how teams are going to gauge the trade market with the raised salary cap is difficult.
“It’s always a little bit different — always different how guys value it,” said Connelly. “I’m not sure, it will increase the trade season or decrease the trade season, I think everyone will come in and value it a little bit differently. Maybe they see more value in how they value pick or how they value the trade value. It will be interesting to see how each team kind of interrupts it.”
Notes from Suns Draft Workout
One out of the six players present for Tuesday’s session was a projected first round pick — Baylor wing Taurean Prince.
Prince was joined by Clemson wing Jaron Blossomgame, Memphis forward Shaq Goodwin, Maryland wing Jake Layman, New Mexico State forward Pascal Siakam and Iowa forward Jarrod Uthoff.
