像布克、崔杨和艾顿这样的年轻球员在季后赛中扮演如此重要的角色，只不过凸显了NBA选秀的关键性。给自己找一个未来的明星，通过前台的一些巧妙动作，你可以在几个赛季内成为竞争者。离2021年的NBA选秀还有不到一个月的时间，有几个顶级球员可能会改变一两支球队的命运，包括凯德·坎宁安、埃文·莫布里、贾伦·格林和贾伦·苏格斯。
由于选秀前景的质量和在彩票的上半部分的几个竞争者的位置，这是在最近的记忆中更令人兴奋的选秀之一。正如任何一年，应该有大量的谣言和交易，随着草案临近，所以让我们看看八个最有趣的团队和草稿日决定，他们将不得不在7月29日。
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去追星？
随着下赛季再次成为冠军争夺者的期望，勇士前线办公室肯定会探索今年的7号和14号彩票的交易。这并不完全是一个惊喜，因为他们热切地听取了2号选择去年的报价，最终是詹姆斯怀斯曼。现在，根据体育界的说法，金州勇士正悬而未决的7号选择和怀斯曼在寻找胜利现在帮助，猛龙前锋帕斯卡尔西亚卡姆是一个潜在的目标。不管最终是不是西亚卡姆，在斯蒂芬·库里、德雷蒙德·格林和健康的克莱·汤普森的核心中加入一名这样的球员，都可能对明年的冠军争夺产生巨大影响。桑德兰今晚比赛预测
据报道，达米安·利拉德对自己在波特兰的处境感到不满，这将在选秀前的几周里为勇士的潜在交易带来更大的热情。即使是像本·西蒙斯这样的球员，由于他最近的季后赛消失的表现，他可能会以稍微低一点的价格被买走，他也可能会出现在谈判桌上。考虑到球队可以朝着多个方向前进，以及如果他们完成一些大事，球队的上限，勇士队是进入NBA选秀的最吸引人的球队。
2.休斯顿火箭队
莫布里还是格林？
有些年，我们有一个明确的前两名在选秀-格雷格奥登和凯文杜兰特，锡安威廉姆森和贾莫兰特-但这一次不是这样的。坎宁安是大家一致认为的头号人物，这场阴谋将从下一个人选开始，因为休斯顿火箭队很可能会在埃文·莫布里和贾伦·格林之间做出决定。最近的一份报告显示，球队希望火箭队向格林倾斜，他是一名运动型得分型边锋，在G联赛Ignite度过了一个强劲的赛季，但考虑到莫布里有可能融入现代NBA，他是近年来最吸引人的大个子球员之一。
然而，问题不仅仅在于火箭喜欢哪位球员。例如，如果他们真的更喜欢果岭，但骑士队执意要拿下莫布里，休斯顿很可能会吸引克利夫兰把他们的一笔财富送上2号，这样骑士队就可以得到他们的人。和往常一样，随着选秀的临近，应该会有大量的谣言和烟幕四处飞舞，而火箭可能是其中的一个重要组成部分。
3.多伦多猛龙队
全部行动，开始重建，还是两者都没有？
猛龙队是前六名中唯一一支能在下个赛季有竞争力的球队，所以他们的选秀方式有了很大的改变。萨格斯会成为多伦多未来的有力补充吗？当然。他帮助他们赢得下赛季的冠军吗？这不太清楚。由于今年选秀中4号和5号的选秀名额明显减少，可能会有很多球队愿意通过交易获得多伦多的选秀名额。假设猛龙选择“现在赢”而不是重建，他们可能会有一个核心的凯尔·洛瑞，弗雷德·范夫莱特，帕斯卡·西亚卡姆，奥格·阿努比，加里·特伦特Jr.和他们在交易中得到的任何一块4号选择。对于一支在下赛季从坦帕回到多伦多后应该更有竞争力的球队来说，这并不坏。
然而，猛龙队之所以如此吸引人，部分原因是他们也可以完全相反的方向，卖掉一些老牌球员，获得更多资产，开始重建。这真的取决于老板和前台如何看待球队未来几个赛季在东部的竞争机会，但猛龙绝对是未来几周值得关注的球队。
4.奥兰多魔术
神秘开始了
无论顺序如何，大多数选秀分析师都认为，卡德·坎宁安、埃文·莫布里、贾伦·格林和贾伦·苏格斯将可能成为前四名人选。不过，在那之后，谁都猜不透。有些人喜欢乔纳森·库明加。其他人则认为斯科蒂·巴恩斯是一条出路。像戴维恩·米切尔和詹姆斯·布奈特这样的球员也可以得到考虑。去年，帕特里克·威廉姆斯（Patrick Williams）出人意料地晚了一步，一直升到了第四名，所以你真的不知道。魔术队在上赛季交易了尼古拉·武切维奇、亚伦·戈登和埃文·福涅尔之后，正在进行全面的重建，所以他们有重要的决定要和5号以及后来的8号一起做出，因为他们试图照亮自己的未来。由于前四名的选择看起来像一把锁，第一个选秀惊喜可能来自奥兰多。
5.纽约尼克斯队
决定，决定
尼克斯本赛季取得了骄人的成绩，赢得了东部的4号种子，这使得这个休赛期更加复杂。他们是重新签下德里克·罗斯，并试图重新开始，还是更倾向于他们相对年轻的阵容，为未来努力？他们如何处理选秀中的19号和21号选秀权，可以让我们了解他们的计划。这两个选择可能是一个甜蜜的交易，现在增加一个或两个胜利，或尼克斯队可以在同一时间选秀一对年轻球员的RJ巴雷特和米切尔罗宾逊。他们也可以把这两个选择连同巴雷特和/或罗宾逊一起打包，在选秀中晋级，挑选一个他们认为现在和将来都能帮助他们的球员。尼克斯队在选秀时总是一支迷人的球队，本赛季更是如此，现在他们真的很好。
6.克利夫兰骑士队
是时候交易了？
骑士队将有他们的选择，无论谁是在前两名后离开的球员，但他们可能会遇到一些问题，如果火箭队采取莫布里。格林是一个惊人的前景，但骑士队已经有了一个大流士加兰和科林塞克斯顿负荷后场。这足以劝阻他们拿格林吗？可能不会。但比这更复杂。
比如说另一支队伍，在抽签中排名较低的，爱上了格林，并愿意附加一两个资产，以提高到第三名。在这一点上，如果骑士队有另一个前景，他们喜欢谁在未来的选秀，他们可以选择采取资产和移动下来，如果他们觉得加兰和塞克斯顿是未来的后场。许多假设，但格林，和莫布里在这方面，是如此觊觎的前景，克利夫兰可以有一些强有力的提议来考虑。
7.俄克拉荷马雷霆城
真正的外卡
OKC本可以在本次选秀中选出两个前五名，而不是第6、16和18名。请注意，我们在这里是如何使用“名单”这个词的，因为总经理萨姆·普雷斯蒂从来不怕做一两笔交易。资产积累一直是雷霆的游戏名称，但最终他们将不得不开始用他们储备的这些选秀权做些什么。他们当然可以得到一个稳定的球员在6号，但他们宁愿打包他们的选择，以提高，或运行一个潜在的不高兴的明星？他们会考虑从第6号交易中交易未来的资产，然后在第16或第18号上大幅波动，就像去年他们与阿列克谢普库西耶斯一样吗？OKC的一切都摆在桌面上，这就是它如此有趣的原因。
8.洛杉矶湖人队
重要的贸易筹码
湖人队下赛季可能不会有太多的新秀，但是在一个令人失望的赛季后，比预期的略高的选秀可能会有好处。他们不能在选秀前交易选秀权，因为他们已经欠鹈鹕2022年的首轮，但如果事先达成协议，他们肯定可以为另一支球队选秀一名球员。上个赛季证明湖人在勒布朗·詹姆斯和安东尼·戴维斯问题上缺乏深度，而他们唯一的球队控制的年轻球员，Talen Horton Tucker和Kyle Kuzma，可能不会给他们带来巨大的帮助。这名22号门将将成为湖人队的宝贵财富。
原标题：
NBA Draft 2021: Ranking the most intriguing teams, from Warriors trade rumors to Knicks' pivotal decisions
原文：
Young players like Devin Booker, Trae Young and Deandre Ayton playing such a prominent role this postseason only highlights the cruciality of the NBA Draft. Get yourself a future star and, with some deft moves from the front office, you can become contenders in just a few seasons. The 2021 NBA Draft, less than a month away, has a few players at the top who might change the fortunes of a franchise or two, including Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs.
Because of the quality of the draft prospects and the placement of a couple of contenders in the top half of the lottery, this is one of the more exciting drafts in recent memory. As in any year, there should be plenty of rumors and trades as the draft nears, so let's take a look at eight of the most intriguing teams and the draft-day decisions they'll have to make on July 29.
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See All Newsletters Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error processing your subscription. 1. Golden State Warriors
Going star-hunting?
With the expectation of being championship contenders once again next season, the Warriors front office will certainly explore deals involving this year's lottery picks at No. 7 and No. 14. That's not exactly a surprise, since they were keenly listening to offers for the No. 2 pick last year, which ended up being James Wiseman. Now, according to The Athletic, Golden State is dangling the No. 7 pick and Wiseman in search of win-now help, with Raptors forward Pascal Siakam a potential target. Whether it ends up being Siakam or not, adding a player of that caliber to a core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and a healthy Klay Thompson could have massive ramifications for next year's title race.
Damian Lillard's reported dissatisfaction with his situation in Portland will create even more fervor around a potential Warriors deal in the weeks leading up to the draft. Even a player like Ben Simmons, who could be had for a slightly lower price due to his most recent playoff disappearing act, might be on the table. Given the number of directions in which the team can go, and the ceiling of the team if they pull off something big, the Warriors are the most intriguing team heading into the NBA Draft.
2. Houston Rockets
Mobley or Green?
Some years we have a clear top two in the draft -- Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant -- but that's not the case this time around. With Cunningham as the consensus No. 1, the intrigue will start with the very next pick, as the Houston Rockets will likely decide between Evan Mobley and Jalen Green. A recent report indicated that teams expect the Rockets to lean toward Green, an athletic, scoring wing who had a strong season with the G League Ignite, but Mobley is one of the most tantalizing big man prospects in years given his potential fit into the modern NBA.
The questions don't just stop at which player the Rockets like, however. If, for instance, they really do prefer Green, but the Cavaliers are dead set on taking Mobley, Houston could very well entice Cleveland to send it an asset to move up to No. 2 so that the Cavs can get their man. As always, there should be plenty of rumors and smokescreens flying around as the draft approaches, and the Rockets could be a big part of the rigmarole.
3. Toronto Raptors
All-in move, start the rebuild, or neither?
The Raptors are the only team in the top six who can realistically expect to be competitive next season, so that changes their draft calculus considerably. Would Jalen Suggs be a strong addition for Toronto's future? Absolutely. Does he help them win a title next season? That's not as clear. With a perceived drop-off between the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in this year's draft, there could be a lot of teams willing to trade up to get Toronto's pick. Assuming the Raptors choose "win-now" mode over rebuilding, they could potentially have a core of Kyle Lowry , Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr. and whichever piece they get in the trade for the No. 4 pick. Not bad for a team that should be much more competitive after relocating from Tampa back to Toronto next season.
Part of what makes the Raptors so intriguing, however, is that they can also go the complete opposite direction, selling off some of their established players for even more assets to commence their rebuild. It really depends on how ownership and the front office view the team's chances for contention in the Eastern Conference over the next few seasons, but the Raptors are definitely a team to watch in the coming weeks.
4. Orlando Magic
The mystery begins
No matter the order, most draft analysts agree that Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs will likely be the top four picks. After that, however, it's anyone's guess. Some love Jonathan Kuminga. Others think Scottie Barnes is the way to go. Players like Davion Mitchell and James Bouknight could also receive consideration. Last year, Patrick Williams made a surprising late move all the way up to No. 4, so you truly never know. The Magic are in a full-scale rebuild after trading away Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier last season, so they have important decisions to make with No. 5, and later No. 8, as they attempt to brighten their future. With the top four picks looking like a lock, the first draft surprise could come from Orlando.
5. New York Knicks
Decisions, decisions
The Knicks overachieved this season by earning the No. 4 seed in the East, which makes this offseason even more complicated. Do they re-sign Derrick Rose and try to run it back, or do they lean more into their relatively young roster and try to build for the future? What they do with the No. 19 and No. 21 picks in the draft could give us an idea of their plans. Those two picks could be sweeteners in a deal to add a win-now piece or two , or the Knicks could draft a couple of young players on the same timeline as RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. They could also package the two picks, along with Barrett and/or Robinson, to move up in the draft and select a player who they think can help them now and in the future. The Knicks are always an intriguing team around the draft, even more so this season now that they're actually good.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Time to trade down?
The Cavs will have their pick of whichever player is left after the top two, but they could run into some issues if the Rockets take Mobley. Green is a phenomenal prospect, but the Cavs already have a loaded backcourt with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. Is that enough to dissuade them from taking Green? Probably not. But it's more complicated than that.
Say another team, lower down in the lottery, falls in love with Green and is willing to attach an asset or two to move up to No. 3. At that point, if the Cavs have another prospect in mind who they like further down in the draft, they could choose to take the asset and move down if they feel Garland and Sexton are the back court of the future. A lot of hypotheticals, but Green, and Mobley for that matter, are such coveted prospects that Cleveland could have some strong offers to consider.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
A true wild card
OKC could have come away with two top-five picks in this draft -- instead it's slated for Nos. 6, 16 and 18. Notice how we're using the word slated there, since general manager Sam Presti has never been afraid to make a transaction or two. Asset accumulation has been the name of the game for the Thunder, but eventually they're going to have to start doing something with all these picks they've stockpiled. They could surely get a solid player at No. 6, but would they rather package their picks to move up, or make a run at a potentially unhappy star? Would they consider trading out of No. 6 for future assets, then taking a big swing at No. 16 or No. 18, like they did with Aleksej Pokusevsi last year? Anything and everything is on the table for OKC, which is what makes it so interesting.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
An important trade chip
The Lakers likely don't have much use for a rookie next season, but drafting slightly higher than expected after a disappointing season could have its benefits. They can't trade the pick before the draft since they already owe their 2022 first-rounder to the Pelicans, but they can certainly draft a player for another team if a deal has been worked out beforehand. Last season proved that the Lakers' lack of depth around LeBron James and Anthony Davis issue, and their only team-controlled young players of any value, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kyle Kuzma, probably won't fetch them a huge haul. The No. 22 pick could become a valuable asset in trying to get the Lakers some help.
