The NBA draft is an annual event where teams can select new players from a pool of eligible prospects. The draft order is determined by a combination of the previous season’s standings, a lottery system, and trades between teams. Some teams may trade their draft picks to other teams in exchange for players, cash, or future picks.
However, not all draft picks are equal. Some picks are protected, meaning that the original team can keep them under certain conditions, while others are unprotected, meaning that they are fully available for trade. In this article, we will explain what a protected pick is, how it works, and what are the top 10 protected picks in the NBA.
What is a protected pick?
A protected pick in the NBA is an agreement between two teams that allows one team to protect a certain draft pick from being traded. This is an important part of the NBA system, as it enables teams to hold onto their assets and prevents them from having to trade away valuable picks.
A protected pick usually has a range of positions that are specified in the trade deal. For example, a top-10 protected pick means that if the pick lands within the top 10 spots in the draft order, the original team gets to keep it. If the pick falls outside of the top 10, then it goes to the other team.
A protected pick can also have multiple layers of protection, meaning that it can change its range or status depending on the year. For example, a pick can be top-10 protected in one year, top-5 protected in the next year, and unprotected in the following year. This gives the original team more chances to retain their pick if they perform poorly.
A protected pick can also have a rollover clause, meaning that if the pick is not conveyed in one year, it carries over to the next year with the same or different protection. For example, a pick can be top-10 protected in 2023 and 2024, and then unprotected in 2025. This gives the other team more chances to receive the pick if the original team performs well.
How does a protected pick work?
A protected pick works by following the terms and conditions agreed upon by the two teams involved in the trade. The protection status of the pick is determined by the draft lottery, which is a random process that assigns the top four picks in the draft order to four teams among those that missed the playoffs. The rest of the picks are assigned based on the reverse order of the regular season standings.
The draft lottery usually takes place in May or June, before the draft itself, which is usually held in July or August. Once the draft lottery results are revealed, both teams can check whether the pick is protected or not based on its position and range.
If the pick is protected, then it stays with the original team and they can use it to select a player or trade it to another team. If the pick is unprotected, then it goes to the other team and they can use it to select a player or trade it to another team.
What are the top 10 protected picks in the NBA?
As of January 2023, there are 10 first-round picks in the NBA that are top-10 protected or better. These are:
- The Philadelphia 76ers have a top-8 protected pick from Oklahoma City Thunder via Miami Heat. This pick was originally traded by Miami to Oklahoma City as part of a three-team deal involving Jimmy Butler in 2019. Oklahoma City then traded it to Philadelphia as part of a four-team deal involving Al Horford and Danny Green in 2020. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes unprotected in 2024.
- The Los Angeles Clippers have a top-8 protected pick from Detroit Pistons via Brooklyn Nets. This pick was originally traded by Detroit to Brooklyn as part of a three-team deal involving Blake Griffin in 2018. Brooklyn then traded it to Los Angeles as part of a four-team deal involving James Harden and Landry Shamet in 2021. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes unprotected in 2024.
- The New York Knicks have a top-7 protected pick from Dallas Mavericks. This pick was originally traded by Dallas to New York as part of a blockbuster deal involving Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. in 2019. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes unprotected in 2024.
- The Houston Rockets have a top-5 protected swap right with Brooklyn Nets. This means that Houston can swap their own pick with Brooklyn’s pick, as long as Brooklyn’s pick is not in the top 5. This swap right was originally traded by Brooklyn to Houston as part of a four-team deal involving James Harden and Victor Oladipo in 2021. If this swap right is not exercised in 2023, it expires.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder have a top-4 protected swap right with Los Angeles Clippers. This means that Oklahoma City can swap their own pick with Los Angeles’ pick, as long as Los Angeles’ pick is not in the top 4. This swap right was originally traded by Los Angeles to Oklahoma City as part of a blockbuster deal involving Paul George and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2019. If this swap right is not exercised in 2023, it expires.
- The Memphis Grizzlies have a top-4 protected pick from Utah Jazz. This pick was originally traded by Utah to Memphis as part of a three-team deal involving Mike Conley and Jae Crowder in 2019. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes top-1 protected in 2024, and then unprotected in 2025.
- The New Orleans Pelicans have a top-3 protected pick from Los Angeles Lakers. This pick was originally traded by Los Angeles to New Orleans as part of a blockbuster deal involving Anthony Davis and Lonzo Ball in 2019. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes unprotected in 2024.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder have a top-2 protected pick from Phoenix Suns via Los Angeles Clippers. This pick was originally traded by Phoenix to Los Angeles as part of a three-team deal involving Chris Paul and Kelly Oubre Jr. in 2020. Los Angeles then traded it to Oklahoma City as part of a three-team deal involving Luke Kennard and Ricky Rubio in 2020. If this pick is not conveyed in 2023, it becomes unprotected in 2024.
- The Houston Rockets have a top-1 protected swap right with Milwaukee Bucks via Brooklyn Nets. This means that Houston can swap their own pick with Milwaukee’s pick, as long as Milwaukee’s pick is not the no. 1 overall pick. This swap right was originally traded by Milwaukee to Brooklyn as part of a four-team deal involving Jrue Holiday and Eric Bledsoe in 2020. Brooklyn then traded it to Houston as part of a four-team deal involving James Harden and Victor Oladipo in 2021. If this swap right is not exercised in 2023, it expires.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder have an unprotected swap right with Houston Rockets. This means that Oklahoma City can swap their own pick with Houston’s pick, regardless of its position. This swap right was originally traded by Houston to Oklahoma City as part of a blockbuster deal involving Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul in 2019. If this swap right is not exercised in 2023, it expires.
Conclusion
A protected pick is a draft pick that has a condition attached to it that allows the original team to keep it under certain circumstances. A protected pick can have different ranges, layers, and rollovers depending on the trade agreement. A protected pick can also be swapped with another team’s pick if both teams agree.
Protected picks are an essential part of the NBA trade system, as they allow teams to balance their present and future needs. They also add more complexity and intrigue to the draft process, as teams have to weigh the risks and rewards of trading or keeping their picks.
Most Asking Questions and Answers
Q: What is the difference between a protected and an unprotected pick?
A: A protected pick has a rule that lets the team that first had it keep it if something happens, while an unprotected pick has no rule and can be traded without any limits.
Q: What is the benefit of having a protected pick?
A: A protected pick helps the team that first had it keep their asset if they do badly or trade it for another asset if they do well.
Q: What is the drawback of having a protected pick?
A: A protected pick lowers the value and choices of the other team, as they have to wait for the rule to be met or not before they can use or trade the pick.
Q: What is the benefit of having an unprotected pick?
A: An unprotected pick gives the other team more sureness and freedom, as they can use or trade the pick without any limit or delay.
Q: What is the drawback of having an unprotected pick?
A: An unprotected pick puts the team that first had it at more risk and loss, as they have no power over the pick and its outcome.
Q: What are the common numbers for protected picks?
A: The common numbers for protected picks are Top 3, Top 5, Top 10, and Lottery Picks (Top 14). There are also protected second-round picks.
Q: What are the common changes for protected picks?
A: The common changes for protected picks are that they can become less protected or unprotected in the next year or years.
Q: What are the common moves for protected picks?
A: The common moves for protected picks are that they can carry over to the next year or years with the same or different protection.
Q: What are swap rights and how do they work?
A: Swap rights are agreements that let two teams swap their picks with each other if they want to. Swap rights can also be protected or unprotected, and can also have changes or moves.
Q: Which teams have swap rights in the NBA?
A: As of January 2023, there are four teams that have swap rights in the NBA. These are Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers.