NBA Rumors: Jaden Ivey Warns One Team Not To Draft Him

Jaden Ivey was a first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American selection this season. He's one of the top four expected picks at the NBA Draft next week. But Ivey has a message for the team with the No. 4 pick, the Sacramento Kings: Don't draft me.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Kings are not the “preferred destination” for the Purdue point guard. 

Given this information (and simply the fact that they love the player), several teams are now scrambling to move up to Sacramento's spot.

The Pistons, Pacers, Wizards and Knicks are all in talks with the Kings about trading up to No. 4 overall for Jaden Ivey, per @wojespn.

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 17, 2022

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi is reporting that the Detroit Pistons (who own the No. 5 pick), the Indiana Pacers (currently at No. 6), the Washington Wizards (#10), and the New York Knicks (sitting at No. 11) are all in talks with the Kings to trade up for their Number 4 selection. 

The 4th pick in the draft is almost certainly to be Ivey, as Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero are nearly assured of going 1-2-3. 

In an earlier interview, Ivey told TheSpun.com that "Whatever team thinks I'm the right fit for them, I'm just going to go with it." He must have had a change of heart since then. He also gave shout outs to Detroit and Indiana, both of whom, his mom, Niele Ivey, played for in the WNBA.

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