The center position has become devalued in recent seasons as teams begin allocating more minutes at power forward to more traditional small forwards and more center minutes going to power forwards.

There have become a surplus of quality centers with negligible differences in quality. 

“I told my staff, drafting a big guy early in the draft is like drafting a running back in the NFL draft,” said one GM. “You’re just wasting your time. Unless it’s Shaquille O’Neal, of course.”

The Golden State Warriors were able to cheaply sign Willie Cauley-Stein coming off his rookie contract as an example of the market. They were similarly able to re-sign Kevon Looney despite his demonstration of value over the past season.

After a few years of teams showing a reluctance to trade future first round picks, there has been a surge of multi-pick trades this offseason with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets sending them out in exchange for established stars.

"I think teams are starting to get the idea that it’s not a 15-year commitment," one team staffer told Ethan Strauss of The Athletic. “That’s why you’re seeing these picks get tossed around."

Draft picks are now considered a more easily swappable "asset" than a necessary part of a team's foundation.