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It's not everyday that a D-League team has the chance to acquire a reigning NBA champion, so when the unique opportunity came about, the Iowa Energy took advantage of it.
Despite initially owning the first overall selection in Friday's NBA D-League Draft (following a season in which they finished in last place), the Energy actually moved the pick in a three-team deal on Thursday. Such a deal was certainly a surprise, but Iowa has undoubtedly benefitted through various acquisitions this week as they stockpile multiple picks in the draft.
There's no doubt whomever the first overall pick turns out to be on Friday night will make quite the splash either way, but the Energy continue to make splashes of their own, regardless.
With just hours remaining before this year's draft, the team has arguably made its biggest splash to date.
The Energy have acquired former Heat big man Jarvis Varnado from the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The young gun is fresh off winning an NBA title with Miami, but was subsequently waived by the team following training camp last month. From the Skyforce:
The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that the team has acquired the third and 39th overall picks in tonight's NBA Development League Draft and second round pick in the 2014 NBA D-League Draft from the Iowa Energy in exchange for forward Jarvis Varnado and the eighth round pick in the 2014 NBA D-League Draft.
Sometimes stockpiling multiple picks in a draft isn't such a bad idea, especially if it gives a team the flexibility to make a move like the one Iowa made. One of the best defensive big men in all of the D-League last season (through stints and assignments for the Miami affiliated Sioux Falls), Varnado would certainly be worthy of a first pick selection later Friday night, if he were so eligible. Needless to say, the Energy were able to reel a talent of his caliber, despite trading away the pick.