Checking In On 2018’s Traded Draft Picks

There are a number of races worth watching in the NBA down the stretch of the 2017/18 season. Of course, the Western Conference playoff battle is the most dramatic one at the moment, though the race for the top spot in the draft lottery is fascinating in its own right.

The standings are also worth keeping an eye on because they’ll dictate this year’s draft order, and many of the 2018 picks that have been traded include some sort of protection. That means that a team’s spot in the standings will determine whether or not those picks actually changes hands this spring.

At the moment, there are 25 traded draft picks projected to change hands, while only four will be protected. All 11 traded first-round picks are currently on track to convey this year.

It’s possible that the results of the draft lottery will change that — for instance, if the Pistons miss the playoffs and then get some tremendous luck in the lottery, they could hang onto their top-four protected pick, rather than sending it to the Clippers. For the most part though, it doesn’t look like protections will have a major impact on this year’s traded picks.

With the help of our lists of traded first- and second-round picks, as well as our reverse standings, here are the picks currently projected to change hands for the 2018 draft:

First round:

3. Nets‘ pick to Cavaliers (unprotected)
   • Note: Pick currently tied for 3rd/4th/5th.
11. Lakers‘ pick to Sixers (to Celtics if it falls between 2-5; otherwise, to Philadelphia)
12. Pistons‘ pick to Clippers (top-4 protected)
15. Heat‘s pick to Suns (top-7 protected)
16. Bucks‘ pick to Suns (top-10 protected and 17-30 protected)
19. Thunder‘s pick to Timberwolves (top-14 protected)
21. Timberwolves‘ pick to Hawks (top-14 protected)
24. Cavaliers‘ pick to Lakers (top-3 protected)
    • Note: Pick currently tied for 24th/25th.
25. Pelicans‘ pick to Bulls (top-5 protected)
    • Note: Pick currently tied for 24th/25th.
28. Raptors‘ pick to Nets (top-14 protected)
30. Rockets‘ pick to Hawks (top-3 protected)

Second round:

33. Nets‘ pick to Sixers (Philadelphia to receive more favorable of Nets’ and Cavs’ second-round picks)
    • Note: Pick currently tied for 33rd/34th/35th.
38. Bulls‘ pick to Knicks (unprotected)
39. Knicks‘ pick to Sixers (Philadelphia to receive more favorable of Knicks’ and Clippers’ second-round picks)
40. Hornets‘ pick to Magic (Orlando to receive second-most favorable of Grizzlies’, Hornets’, and Heat’s second-round picks)
41. Lakers‘ pick to Nets (Brooklyn to receive less favorable of Magic’s and Lakers’ second-round picks)
43. Heat‘s pick to Rockets (Houston to receive least favorable of Grizzlies’, Hornets’, and Heat’s second-round picks)
44. Bucks‘ pick to Nets (to Brooklyn if it falls between 31-47; otherwise, to Suns)
46. Clippers‘ pick to Nuggets (Denver to receive less favorable of Knicks’ and Clippers’ second-round picks)
47. Nuggets‘ pick to Lakers (unprotected)
54. Cavaliers‘ pick to Hornets (Charlotte to receive less favorable of Nets’ and Cavs’ second-round picks)
    • Note: Pick currently tied for 54th/55th.
56. Trail Blazers‘ pick to Mavericks (Dallas to receive less favorable of Kings’ and Trail Blazers’ second-round picks)
57. Celtics‘ pick to Thunder (top-55 protected)
58. Raptors‘ pick to Suns (unprotected)
59. Warriors‘ pick to Nuggets (unprotected)
60. Rockets‘ pick to Sixers (unprotected)

The picks listed below are not projected to change hands in this year’s draft. The first three selections on this list won’t roll over to 2019 — those obligations will simply be extinguished. But the Nets would get another shot at the Pacers‘ pick in 2019, when it will once again have 45-60 protection.

Second round:

32. Suns‘ pick to Grizzlies (top-55 protected)
34. Mavericks‘ pick to Bucks (top-55 protected)
35. Hawks‘ pick to Clippers (top-55 protected)
52. Pacers‘ pick to Nets (45-60 protected)
    • Note: Pick currently tied for 52nd/53rd.

Here are a few other traded pick details worth noting, though they’re unlikely to impact this year’s draft order:

• The Grizzlies will receive the most favorable of the Grizzlies’, Hornets’, and Heat’s second-round picks. That will likely be their own pick, which is currently 31st.
• The Magic can swap second-round picks with the Lakers if L.A.’s pick is more favorable. Currently, the Magic’s pick is tied for 36th/37th, while the Lakers’ pick is 41st.
• The Kings can swap second-round picks with the Trail Blazers if Portland’s pick is more favorable. Currently, the Kings’ pick is tied for 36th/37th, while the Blazers’ pick is 56th.