First-round draft picks are terrific assets that NBA general managers use to facilitate big trades every year, but not every team will be allowed to ship out a future draft pick this season. League rules prevent teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive future years* (see example below), so some playoff teams are in a better position than others when it comes to making an impact trade before the trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.
NBA trade deadline: What playoff contenders have 2013 draft picks to deal?
The 2013 NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, but most of the playoff teams have yet to make a deal. Here’s a quick rundown of playoff teams that can trade a 2013 or 2014 first-round pick this season, based on certain restrictions imposed by the NBA.
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RealGM has put together a nice resource for tracking draft pick obligations around the league, and from that list we’ve created a list of playoff contenders that can (and cannot) deal their first-round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft before the deadline:
Can Trade 2013 First-Round Pick Before Trade Deadline
Indiana Pacers - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks
Chicago Bulls - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round picks; own Charlotte's 2013 first-round pick (top-12 protected)
Atlanta Hawks - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks; own 2013 first-round pick from Houston (top-14 protected); own 2014 first-round pick from Brooklyn
Boston Celtics - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks
Milwaukee Bucks - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks
San Antonio Spurs - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks
Oklahoma City Thunder - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks; own 2013 first-round pick from Dallas (top-20 protected); own 2013 first-round pick from Toronto (top-3 protected)
Los Angeles Clippers - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks
Denver Nuggets - own their 2013 first-round draft pick and two 2014 first-round picks; owe Orlando least favorable of 2014 picks (either Denver's own or rights to New York's pick)
Utah Jazz - own their 2013 and 2014 first-round draft picks; own 2013 first-round pick of Golden State, via Brooklyn (top-6 protected)
Cannot Trade 2013 First-Round Pick Before Deadline
Miami Heat - owe their 2013 first-round pick to Cleveland (top-10 protected), own Philadelphia's 2013 first-round pick (top-14 protected)
New York Knicks - owe their 2014 first-round pick to Denver
Brooklyn Nets - owe their 2014 first-round pick to Atlanta
Memphis Grizzlies - owe their 2013 first-round pick to Minnesota (top-14 protected)
Golden State Warriors - owe their 2013 first-round pick to Brooklyn (top-6 protected)
Houston Rockets - owe their 2013 first-round pick to Atlanta, via Brooklyn (top-14 protected)
Los Angeles Lakers - owe 2013 first-round pick to Phoenix if Cleveland exercises right to swap (top-14 protected)
Portland Trail Blazers - owe 2013 first-round pick to Charlotte (top-12 protected)
*Example: The Knicks have traded their 2014 first-round pick to the Nuggets. They cannot trade either their 2013 pick or their 2015 pick because either would result in the Knicks having traded two consecutive future first-round picks. Teams just must have at least one first-round pick every other year in future drafts. (The Knicks could trade their 2013 pick after the selection is made in June, because at that point the pick becomes a player.)
Hat tip to SB Nation’s own Evan Dunlap for the idea.
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