NBA roundup: Grizzlies trade 4 picks for Cedric Cowards

The Memphis Grizzlies made one of the first big moves on NBA Draft night by sending two first-round picks and two seconds to the Portland Trail Blazers for Washington State guard Cedric Coward, who was selected No. 11 by the Blazers Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies sent the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, the Orlando Magic's 2028 first-round pick and two second-round selections to acquire the 6-foot-6 Coward, who began his college career playing Division III basketball, but kept climbing the ladder with an automatic jumper, a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an indefatigable work ethic.

Coward averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in six games last year for Washington State before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He committed to transfer to Duke for the upcoming season, but opted to stay in the draft after earning rave reviews.

The Houston Rockets selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick overall, but he will be shipped to the Phoenix Suns as part of Sunday's deal that sent future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Suns to the Rockets. The trade will be executed on July 6.

Phoenix made another splash moments earlier, acquiring center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 29 selection and a 2029 first-round pick. The 2029 selection will be the least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota (1-5 protected) and Utah.

Williams, a three-year veteran, has averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 44 games with Charlotte last season.

As lottery picks kept going off the board, teams kept working their way up in the draft. The New Orleans Pelicans sent their first-rounder (23rd overall) and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in order to get the 13th overall pick. The Pelicans used it to select Maryland freshman center Derik Queen, who earned the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award ahead of the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

The Indiana Pacers made the first trade on draft night. A week after trading away their first-round pick, they acquired a second-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs shortly before the draft began.

The Pacers landed the 38th overall pick from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the Sacramento Kings' second-round selection in 2030 plus cash considerations. Indiana acquired the 2030 pick in a deal for shooting guard Chris Duarte in 2023.

After trading the 23rd selection to the New Orleans Pelicans last week to reacquire their 2026 first-rounder, the Pacers now have picks No. 38 and 54 in this year's draft. The 2026 pick initially was included in the deal to acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. Toronto then shipped it to New Orleans as part of a package for Brandon Ingram.

Coming off a devastating Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, the Pacers may look to add depth with the extra pick. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon on a non-contact play seven minutes into Game 7 and is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season.

--Field Level Media