Golden State Warriors in negotiations with Utah Jazz to ensure their first round draft pick – NBA News
The Golden State Warriors are currently involved in talks with the Utah Jazz to ensure that the lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft in June stays with them.
The team management is trying to complete the deal before the draft lottery scheduled for Wednesday, sources close to the negotiations have told ESPN.com.
The Warriors have a 72 percent chance of having their first round pick fall within the top seven of Wednesday’s lottery, which will enable them to keep their pick. But the Warriors want to ensure their lottery pick stays with them
one hundred percent, and are currently in talks with the Jazz to remove stipulations, which could have them losing their pick i.e. if 28 percent possibility of their pick falling outside the top seven does eventually materializes. Apparently, now they would
have to sacrifice something else in order to make that happen.
Under the present situation, Golden State have to forfeit their pick to Utah if it falls below the top seven. This was mandated by a trade that the Warriors reached with New Jersey Nets, all part of the mega deal that involved
Deron Williams in February 2011.
If the Warriors want to secure the pick, they can offer Utah future draft options, cash or relaxation to Utah’s rights to picks in 2013 or 2014. The Warriors currently have a top seven protected pick for 2013 and a top six protected
pick for 2014.
The Warriors are likely to land the top 7 spot, but still want to ensure that they keep their first round pick at any cost and want to secure it before the lottery, since the price it would require to land a top 10 pick later on
in June would be too high. And they are not willing to take chances.
Both teams are a bit early in their trade attempts as the trade normally does not start until June. However, they are legally allowed by the NBA to pursue it since according to the NBA rules, teams that have been eliminated from
the season and playoffs can negotiate for trades before the post season finishes.
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