The draft is fast approaching, information is flying around the league and trade talks are starting to get serious. We’ll have a full mock draft update tomorrow. Until then, here are some notes from around the NBA, things I’m hearing, and other items to watch for going into draft night.
What’s up with the top of the draft?
As far as I can tell, as of Wednesday morning, Jabari Smith remains the favorite to come off the board at No. 1 to Orlando. Due to the silence the Magic have successfully projected to the rest of the NBA, this can’t be treated as an absolute certainty, but it’s become a strong hunch shared by most around the league. Magic boss Jeff Weltman is thought by many to have a soft spot for Chet Holmgren, but most expect Orlando will land on Smith, who for what it’s worth is my top-rated prospect and the player I’d take at No. 1.
