The 2023 NBA draft is still over 10 months away, but a number of teams have already traded away their first round picks for ’23, and more clubs may do so before this season’s trade deadline.
We’ll use the space below to keep tabs on each team’s first round pick for 2023, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year.
We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on the protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2024 if it doesn’t change hands in 2023.
Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2023 first round pick:
Note: Teams marked with an asterisk (*) have traded away their 2024 first round pick (either unprotected or with protection) and can’t freely trade away their 2023 first rounder due to the Stepien rule.
Atlantic
- Boston Celtics: Traded to Pacers (top-12 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Celtics would send the Spurs a 2023 second round pick.
- Brooklyn Nets (*): Traded swap rights to Rockets.
- The Nets will have either their own first round pick, the Rockets’ pick, or the Sixers’ pick. They’ll receive the Sixers’ pick if it’s the most favorable of the three; otherwise, they’d get the second-most favorable pick of the three. The Jazz will receive the least favorable of the three.
- The Nets will have either their own first round pick, the Rockets’ pick, or the Sixers’ pick. They’ll receive the Sixers’ pick if it’s the most favorable of the three; otherwise, they’d get the second-most favorable pick of the three. The Jazz will receive the least favorable of the three.
- New York Knicks: Traded to Trail Blazers (top-14 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Knicks would send the Trail Blazers the Pistons’ 2024 second-round pick, either the Timberwolves’ or Knicks’ 2026 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable), and the Knicks’ own 2027 and 2028 second-round picks.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Traded to Nets or Jazz.
- The Nets will receive the Sixers’ first round pick if it’s the most or second-most favorable of the Sixers’, Nets’, and Rockets’ 2023 first rounders. If it’s the least favorable of the three, the Jazz will receive it.
- Toronto Raptors: Own pick.
Central
- Chicago Bulls: Traded to Magic (top-4 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Bulls would owe the Magic their 2024 first round pick (top-3 protected).
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Traded to Pacers (top-14 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Cavaliers would send the Pacers their 2025 second round pick and the Lakers’ 2026 second round pick.
- Detroit Pistons: Traded to Knicks (top-18 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Pistons would owe the Knicks their 2024 first round pick (top-18 protected).
- Indiana Pacers: Own pick.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Traded to Rockets or Clippers (unprotected).
- The Rockets have the ability to swap the Bucks’ pick with the Clippers’ 2023 first rounder (top-six protected).
Southeast
- Atlanta Hawks: Own pick.
- Charlotte Hornets: Traded to Spurs (top-16 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Hornets would owe the Spurs their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).
- Miami Heat: Own pick.
- Orlando Magic: Own pick.
- Washington Wizards: Traded to Knicks (top-14 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Wizards would owe the Knicks their 2024 first-round pick (top-12 protected).
Northwest
- Denver Nuggets: Traded to Hornets (top-14 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Nuggets would owe the Hornets their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Traded to Jazz (unprotected).
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Own pick.
- The Thunder have the ability to swap their pick with the Clippers’ 2023 first rounder.
- Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Bulls (top-14 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Trail Blazers would owe the Bulls their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).
- Utah Jazz (*): Own pick.
Pacific
- Golden State Warriors (*): Own pick.
- Los Angeles Clippers (*): Traded swap rights to Thunder.
- The Clippers will have either their own first round pick, the Thunder’s pick, or the Bucks’ pick, whichever is least favorable. If the Thunder’s and Clippers’ picks both land in the top six, the Clippers would instead receive the second-most favorable of those three picks.
- The Clippers will have either their own first round pick, the Thunder’s pick, or the Bucks’ pick, whichever is least favorable. If the Thunder’s and Clippers’ picks both land in the top six, the Clippers would instead receive the second-most favorable of those three picks.
- Los Angeles Lakers (*): Traded swap rights to Pelicans.
- The Lakers will have either their own first round pick or the Pelicans’ pick, whichever is least favorable.
- Phoenix Suns: Traded to Nets (unprotected).
- Sacramento Kings (*): Own pick.
Southwest
- Dallas Mavericks: Traded to Knicks (top-10 protected).
- If this pick lands in its protected range, the Mavericks would owe the Knicks their 2024 first round pick (top-10 protected).
- Houston Rockets: Own pick.
- The Rockets have the ability to swap their pick with the Nets’ 2023 first rounder.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Own pick.
- New Orleans Pelicans: Own pick.
- The Pelicans have the ability to swap their pick with the Lakers’ 2023 first rounder.
- San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.
Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Will an official NBA transactions log be coming?
Suggestion: consider adding – Pick is not tradeable due to Stephen rule – for “Own pick” or “pick swapping” situations.
Good suggestion. Stepien rule
Sure, I’ve marked those teams.
Couldn’t the lakers trade rights to their first round pick if NO decides to keep their own due to being lower?
I assume not since everybody says they can only trade their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks as unprotected. The Stepien Rule may be the reason why they can’t trade their pick, but I’m not sure.
Not unless they acquire a 2024 first-rounder — they owe their own ’24 pick to New Orleans, and the Stepien rule prevents them from leaving themselves without first-round picks in two future drafts.
Thanks all.
Luke is correct but they could further swap their pick and depending on what else they do this off season and at the trade deadline a further swap might have some value. If say the Suns or Heat made a trade with the Lakers, one might expect that those picks could be lower than either of the Pels or Lakers.
Luke: Im of the view that NYK can trade for Westbrook, with the possibility of taking LAL ’23 1st rd pic (which is on swap status with Pelicans).
Ques: If the NYK traded their ’24 1RD to LAL, can the Knicks receive LAL ’23 1RD?
I read the following someplace else:
“The Lakers cannot trade their 2023 first-round pick because it is a swap. While they are still getting a pick, they don’t know if it will be theirs or the Pelicans’.
LA could absolutely agree to a trade in principal next offseason before the draft in which they select the player that whatever team wants at their pick, trading said player to that team after the draft.
We see that all the time in the NBA, hence why Luka Doncic wore a Hawks hat on draft night.”
Back to you Luke:)
The Lakers essentially control whichever is least favorable of their own pick or the Pelicans’ pick in 2023. In theory, they could trade that pick if they also acquire a guaranteed 2023 or 2024 first-rounder.
I’m not sure WHY the Knicks would want to trade their own 2024 first-rounder (unprotected, because it would have to be to make the trade legal) for the least favorable of the Lakers’ and Pelicans’ 2023 first-rounders, but it would theoretically be permitted, yes.
Luke: At this point NY needs to prioritize 5 things:
1. Cap space for ’23
2. Draft pics for ’23
3. Uber-talented ’23 draft class(solidify the rebuild, which strengthens the core)
4. Unload Randle, Fournier, Rose, Cam.
5. Keep their core:of grimes, R.J., i.q.,obi
My proposal i feel is practical, doable and reasonable:
3-Team Trade:(LA-NY-SAC)
To LA:
> NY ’24 1STrd
> Fournier, Rose, Cam, Keels
> Sac Alex Len (exp big man contract)
To NY:
> LA ’23 1STrd
> LA (2) ’23 2ND picks
> LA ’27 or ’29 1STrd (can protect it? thats ok)
> Westbrook,pippin Jr, t.bryant (avail in Oct?)
> From Sac: H.Barnes (exp contr)/R.Holmes(CAA client. Only 3yrs left @ 12mil yr)/ T.Davis (exp contr)
To SAC :
> Randle
> NY ’25 1STrd MiL Pick OR our own ’29 1st Rd with top-ten protect or NOT ( incentivizing them for taking Randle/we taking on Holmes and Barnes)
SUM:Luke: EVERYBODY WINS HERE-
LA – Gets to keep (1) of their ’27 or ’29 1stRD to use elsewhere, since they are trying to keep on/ they move Westbrook/ they get shooting,Kutcher client (Reddish ) a big, and youth. An Alternative: If they don’t want to give NY a ’27 or ’29, we 2 or 3 more 2ndRders.
SAC – They get Randle a recent all-star forward to pair with Monk and De’aron Foxe/ they move Barnes, who’s not part of their rebuild, and move Holmes multi yr contract.
NY-At end of business yr, NY will have 70mil or more in cap space! / they only lose Cam from their young core (easily replaceable ) / they retain Grimes, obi, i.q. and r.j. / Westbrook can easily run the 2nd unit with i.q../ they now have possibly 5 ’23 1stRds and (2) 2ndRders. They probably can poach SAC ’23 1st rd or 2nd rds with a pick swap.
With a few veteran signings the 17-man roster is:
1- brunson, Grimes, rj,obi, mitch
2-westbrook, i.q, Barnes, t.bryant, hartenstein
3-mcbride. t.davis, t.snell (FA), Holmes, Sims
If either LA or SAC wants Mcbride, we can sign Blake griffin for big man depth/play off experience/ he’s tight with Westbrook
2-Way ( Pippen / Feron Hunt)
I dont see anything wrong here. All salaries work. NY just can’t receive T.Bryant until Oct. But from a Westbrook to NY standpoint, its a mutually beneficial addition by subtraction.