"The NBA draft is seven months away, but the league is already watching a handful of picks and protections. For example: Though the Washington Wizards probably will select toward the end of the first round -- a result of having the Oklahoma City Thunder's pick -- there is no guarantee the Wizards will keep their own. The New York Knicks will get Washington's first-rounder if it falls outside of the top 8."
"The Wizards aren't alone though. In total, 13 teams have either traded or swapped their 2026 first-round pick. That fluidity, plus the fact that nearly half of the league's franchises don't control their pick, will also play a major role as the NBA trade season heats up. The New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks combine for perhaps the most fascinating storyline to watch in the second half of the season. After a draft-night trade last summer, Atlanta controls New Orleans' first-rounder."
"Not far behind is the drama unfolding between Oklahoma City and the LA Clippers, where LA's spiral down the Western Conference standings could add another lottery pick to OKC's treasure trove. Thanks to the Paul George trade of 2019, the Clippers owe the defending champions their unprotected 2026 first-round pick. And the impact of potential Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis trades would be felt far beyond the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and the teams acquiring those stars."
The 2026 NBA draft landscape is already shaped by traded and protected first-round picks. Thirteen teams have traded or swapped 2026 first-round selections, and nearly half of franchises do not control their own picks. Washington may not keep its pick, and New York would receive it if it falls outside the top eight. The Pelicans-Hawks and Clippers-OKC relationships are pivotal, with Atlanta holding New Orleans' pick and the Clippers owing Oklahoma City an unprotected 2026 first-rounder from the Paul George trade. Potential blockbuster trades for stars would further ripple through draft assets. The league is exploring limits on pick protections.
Read at ESPN.com
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