NBA Trade Buzz — Draft Intel, Plus Prospects Gaining Steam in the Pre-Draft Process

Scouting Intel, Draft Chatter, and the Players Front Offices Can’t Agree On

It is officially June, which means the NBA Draft is a little more than three weeks away. And as we get closer to June 25th, trade rumors, draft buzz, and information about players' stock rising and falling is plentiful across social media.

Now, in this article, I'm going to break down some of the intel I’ve heard over the past few weeks. But I want to be clear: I try to be responsible and stay on the right side of the rumor mill. That means leaning on sources I trust—people I’ve built strong personal relationships with over the years—because this is the time of year when misinformation can spread like wildfire.

Of course, it’s a chess match between teams, agents, and media. A lot of agents believe their players are first round locks, and sometimes there’s a clear divide between what agents are saying or hearing, and the information I’m getting from NBA scouts and front office executives.

On top of that, 2025 is shaping up to be a very, very wild summer. With tax aprons limiting how much teams can spend, and parity at an all-time high, the market dynamics are already shifting. The fact that the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder—two smaller-market teams—are set to face off in the NBA Finals next week only reinforces the idea that many front offices feel like they’re one piece or one big move away.

I expect draft night to be extremely active, with a flurry of trades and movement that could throw a wrench into even the most well-researched mock drafts.

With that context in mind, here’s what I’m hearing across the league right now: