By Bobby Marks, Jeremy Woo | ESPN, 2025-09-18 20:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2025年的NBA总冠军——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队，为那些季后赛边缘球队如何成功囤积大量未来选秀权并围绕年轻新星建队树立了标杆。
2019年那笔将卫冕MVP谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) 和一众选秀权带到俄克拉荷马城，同时送走保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 的交易，在六年后的今天收获了双重回报，并已成为各支球队最大化交易回报价值的蓝图。
受此启发，包括雷霆在内的五支球队——布鲁克林篮网、犹他爵士、孟菲斯灰熊和休斯顿火箭——在未来几年里合计手握55枚首轮签。
在这些球队中，谁最有能力在未来几年内主宰联盟的年度选秀大会，或是利用这些资产来实现管理层的目标？以下是截至2025年9月18日，拥有最多首轮签的前五名球队的排名，以及围绕这些球队未来动向的核心问题。
快速跳转：
雷霆 | 篮网 | 爵士 | 火箭 | 灰熊
核心问题
1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
未来得到的首轮签： 13枚
未来得到的次轮签： 16枚
最有价值的选秀权： 来自费城76人队的2026年前四顺位保护首轮签，以及与洛杉矶快船队的2027年首轮签互换权
没有哪支球队比俄克拉荷马城雷霆队更有能力实现长期的成功。
即便在今年夏天为谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大、杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 和切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 投入了8亿美元的合同，这使他们明年夏天预计将成为一支触发第二奢侈税线（second apron）的球队，雷霆队仍拥有一个选秀资产的宝库，足以抵消其日益增长的薪金压力。
奢侈税线的限制旨在约束管理层通过自由市场和交易来补强阵容。但与其他高支出球队不同，俄克拉荷马城在未来七年内手握13枚首轮签和16枚次轮签。其中四枚首轮签可能出现在2026年选秀大会上，他们也是明年六月唯一一支至少拥有三枚首轮签的球队。
即使雷霆以联盟最佳战绩之一结束赛季，他们仍有可能在未来两年的选秀大会上抽中乐透签。他们手握明年六月来自费城的前四顺位保护首轮签，以及在2027年与快船、2028年与达拉斯独行侠的首轮签互换权。– 鲍比·马克斯 (Bobby Marks)
2. 布鲁克林篮网
未来得到的首轮签： 13枚
未来得到的次轮签： 19枚
最有价值的选秀权： 2026年自己的首轮签，以及来自丹佛掘金队的2032年无保护首轮签
2026年的选秀大会对布鲁克林篮网队而言至关重要，原因有二：这届选秀中顶级的明星球员有能力改变球队的命运；然而，篮网欠休斯顿火箭队一个2027年的选秀权互换权，这构成了球队重建轨迹的一个转折点。
在总经理肖恩·马克斯 (Sean Marks) 领导的管理层下，篮网正选择最大化球员发展、重塑阵容，并为明年获得更高的乐透签概率做好准备。这一点在篮网于今年的选秀大会上用五个首轮签广泛撒网时便已清晰可见。他们优先考虑了球员的多功能性和组织能力，并希望在本赛季将尽可能多的新秀培养成可用之才。一个大概率会是输多赢少的赛季背后，潜藏着在明年选秀大会上摘下状元或榜眼的机会——整个夏天，一群天赋评估师都对此届新秀表达了持续的兴奋。
堪萨斯大学后卫达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson) 是明年的顶级新秀之一，他从踏上NBA赛场的那一刻起就可能成为一名充满活力的创造者。杨百翰大学侧翼A.J. 丁班萨 (A.J. Dybantsa) 也是如此，NBA球队视他为状元签的另一位有力竞争者。目前预测的前五顺位还包括杜克大学的卡梅伦·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer)，他有望在大学迎来爆发的一年，以及两位声名鹊起的新星——田纳西大学的内特·阿门特 (Nate Ament) 和路易斯维尔大学的米克尔·布朗 (Mikel Brown)。
大学赛季的走向将在一定程度上改变人们的看法，但这届选秀的顶端可能蕴藏着相当可观的影响力。这意味着一支摆烂的球队或许无需赢得状元签，就能得到一位足以改变格局的球员。
由于篮网无法控制自己2027年的首轮签，明年休赛期——届时他们将再次拥有充裕的薪金空间和灵活性——无疑是加速球队重返季后赛行列的良机。球队的下一代阵容究竟会是什么样子仍是未知数，但自由市场中一些潜在的明星球员，以及可在交易讨论中作为筹码的大量未来选秀资本，为布鲁克林提供了一条重返竞争行列的道路——如果一切顺利的话。– 杰里米·伍 (Jeremy Woo)
3. 犹他爵士
未来得到的首轮签： 11枚
未来得到的次轮签： 7枚
未来送出的首轮签： 送至俄克拉荷马城雷霆的2026年前八顺位保护首轮签（若未兑现则转为2028年次轮签）
最有价值的首轮签： 2026年自己的首轮签（如果排在1-8顺位）以及2031年来自菲尼克斯太阳队的无保护首轮签
过去三个赛季，爵士队实际上一直处于停滞不前的状态，始于2022年的重建进程至今尚未看到成果。今年休赛期，球队从波士顿凯尔特人队聘请奥斯汀·安吉 (Austin Ainge) 来执掌管理层，预示着变革即将到来。安吉上任后很快便公开宣称，犹他不会在2025-26赛季摆烂。然而，犹他自己的首轮签是前八顺位保护，将送往俄克拉荷马城，加上休赛期缺乏老将引援，这或许暗示了爵士未来的方向——至少在接下来的一个赛季里是如此。
犹他在选秀中豪赌了埃斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey)，并在首轮后段用小沃尔特·克莱顿 (Walter Clayton Jr.) 增添了更多进攻火力。对于球队内部发展而言，这是一个关键的赛季，因为爵士需要评估这批新秀中哪些人值得长期培养。拥挤的后场时间将如何分配尤其值得关注，克莱顿将与基扬特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 和以赛亚·科利尔 (Isaiah Collier) 组成一个由三名进攻型、身材偏矮的持球手构成的后场组合。
尽管爵士阵容中有几位老将，以前全明星球员劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen) 为首，但当务之急应是培养年轻天才。贝利是一位天赋异禀、身材高大的侧翼投篮手，在这群年轻人中拥有最大的未开发潜力。作为安吉上任后的首个选秀选择，他很可能成为犹他重点培养的对象。然而，考虑到他在大学比赛中展现出的青涩，他在适应NBA比赛的过程中很可能会经历起伏。前锋凯尔·菲利波夫斯基 (Kyle Filipowski) 取得了一些积极的进步，在赢得夏季联赛MVP后理应获得更多机会。泰勒·亨德里克斯 (Taylor Hendricks) 也需要成长时间，上赛季一次意外的腿部伤病导致他几乎错过了整个二年级赛季。
对于犹他来说，没有一条简单直接的道路能让他们重返季后赛模式，而2026届选秀班底有潜力重塑球队的轨迹。尽管重建过程漫长，但爵士若能保持耐心，长期来看或许仍能获得回报。– 伍
4. 休斯顿火箭
未来得到的首轮签： 9枚
未来得到的次轮签： 4枚
未来送出的首轮签： 送至俄克拉荷马城雷霆的2026年前四顺位保护首轮签
最有价值的首轮签： 2027年来自菲尼克斯太阳队的无保护首轮签，以及2029年来自本队、达拉斯独行侠队和菲尼克斯太阳队中顺位最高的两枚首轮签
火箭队在短期和长期计划上都持续进行着大力投资。他们以西部强有力的竞争者之一的身份进入本赛季，同时手中还握有一些极具价值的高杠杆选秀资本。休斯顿如何在休赛期引进凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 后将他融入球队体系，将是本赛季最大的看点之一。火箭队拥有足够的才华在西部掀起波澜，同时队内还有一批正在这个充满竞争的环境中不断成长的年轻球员。
火箭拥有的来自菲尼克斯的2027年无保护首轮签，被视为一张潜在的乐透大奖，因为太阳队正处于年轻化阵容重置的过程中，短期内注定会面临挑战。如果火箭决定继续着眼当下，在杜兰特今年将满37岁之际争夺冠军，那么这枚选秀权也是一个宝贵的交易筹码。
然而，NBA球队目前对2027届选秀的态度可以恰如其分地用“平平无奇”来形容。相对于管理层对2026届新秀的兴奋程度，2027届选秀则被打上了一个大大的问号，一些高管甚至认为这是近年来美国本土和国际球员中最弱的一届选秀班底之一。目前，这届美国高中生中的佼佼者是前锋泰兰·斯托克斯 (Tyran Stokes)，他在耐克技巧训练营的同龄人中脱颖而出，但即便是在一届相对平庸的选秀中，他仍需展现出进步才能巩固自己状元级别新秀的地位。
NBA球队将在未来18个月密切关注这批球员的成长情况，以及是否有新的球员能崭露头角，成为潜在的蓝筹股新星。虽然反复出现的“选秀小年”标签本身总有其缺陷——精明的球队无论球员库的实力如何，总能发掘出价值——但这种看法无疑会影响决策者们对未来的规划。这种看法如何影响包括火箭在内的球队对待其2027年选秀权的方式，以及这些选秀权在交易讨论中的价值，可能会成为本赛季交易市场一个有趣的潜台词。– 伍
5. 孟菲斯灰熊
未来得到的首轮签： 9枚
未来得到的次轮签： 6枚
最有价值的首轮签： 2026年来自菲尼克斯太阳队的无保护首轮签
灰熊队在休赛期做出了一个审慎的决定，将重心转向长期发展，他们将德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane) 交易至奥兰多魔术队，换回了一笔可观的选秀资产，这有助于维持球队阵容的可持续性。他们立即兑现了部分筹码，在今年的选秀中向上交易至第11顺位，并选中了塞德里克·考沃德 (Cedric Coward)——一位备受关注的黑马新秀，他因伤几乎错过了上一个大学赛季的全部比赛。
孟菲斯预计不会彻底摆烂，贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant) 和小贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.) 构成了一支有竞争力的阵容骨干，在西部联盟中，他们很可能处于附加赛的讨论范围。而送走贝恩的决定可能预示着更多动作，具体取决于灰熊在赛季初的表现。
对灰熊而言，一个利好消息是，无论他们本赛季战绩如何，都有可能在2026年获得一张乐透彩票，因为如果与华盛顿奇才队的选秀权互换权被取消，他们将持有太阳队2026年的首轮签。从本质上讲，孟菲斯可能无需成为一个彻底的卖家，就能拥有多次机会选中顶级新秀。在扎克·克莱曼 (Zach Kleiman) 的领导下，灰熊通过选秀的建队工作大体上是成功的，本赛季选择保持耐心而非孤注一掷的决定，很可能会带来回报。– 伍
明年六月，哪枚首轮签可能最有价值？
选秀夜最令人意外的交易，莫过于新奥尔良鹈鹕队决定将一枚高价值的选秀权——其本队与密尔沃基雄鹿队2026年首轮签中顺位更高者——送往亚特兰大老鹰队，以换取第13顺位选秀权，并用其选中了德里克·奎恩 (Derik Queen)。
这枚选秀权是2026年选秀资产中，最诱人的一枚与其母队脱钩的资产，因为它赋予了老鹰队罕见的控制权，可以同时掌控两支可能进入乐透区的球队的选秀权。在现阶段，鹈鹕的这枚签看起来很有可能成为乐透签，考虑到这支近年来似乎霉运缠身的球队，需要有多少事情都朝着正确的方向发展才能避免这一结果。
雄鹿队将以一套围绕扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的单薄阵容开启新赛季，尤其是在后场。他们将依赖他和新援迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner) 来支撑球队。虽然进入季后赛是有可能实现的，但阿德托昆博将被要求比上赛季承担更多的组织任务，而且无法保证密尔沃基最终能重返季后赛。
从老鹰队的角度来看，最理想的情况是，这一枚选秀权在明年五月代表着双倍的乐透概率。去年六月，当鹈鹕决定交易这枚选秀权时，整个NBA都为之震惊，尽管明年乐透区可能存在高影响力的球员，但这恰恰说明了老鹰队获得两个高顺位签的现实可能性。– 伍
黄蜂、奇才和开拓者属于下一个梯队的球队
夏洛特黄蜂队和华盛顿奇才队在阵容构建上继续着眼于长远。
这两支球队合计拥有15名身背首轮新秀合同的球员，未来七年内拥有史无前例的47个选秀权，以及超过1亿美元的到期合同。
夏洛特在未来七年拥有自己全部的首轮签，并通过之前的交易额外获得了四枚首轮签。其中最有价值的是来自迈阿密热火队的2027年前14顺位保护首轮签（该签在2028年变为无保护），以及来自独行侠队的2027年前2顺位保护首轮签。
另一方面，奇才队则处于一个独特的境地。他们2026年的首轮签如果跌出前八顺位，就将送给纽约尼克斯队；如果该签未被送出，他们则有权与太阳队进行首轮签互换。如果他们保留了自己的首轮签，则将送给纽约2026和2027年的两枚次轮签。
波特兰开拓者队今年夏天采取了积极的策略，首先交易得到老将朱·霍勒迪 (Jrue Holiday)，随后又签下了受伤的后卫达米安·利拉德 (Damian Lillard)。这两笔交易在没有送出任何选秀权的情况下提升了球队阵容。
讽刺的是，源于2023年休赛期将利拉德送往密尔沃基和将霍勒迪送往波士顿凯尔特人的交易，开拓者队在2029年同时拥有本队、波士顿和密尔沃基三队中顺位最高和最低的首轮签。他们还有权在2028年和2030年与雄鹿队进行首轮签互换。
他们2026年自己的首轮签只有在跌出前14顺位时，才会送给芝加哥公牛队。– 马克斯
在交易得到超级巨星后，勇士、湖人和马刺是否还有足够的筹码进行下一笔重磅交易？
金州勇士队为了得到吉米·巴特勒 (Jimmy Butler) 送出了自己2025年的首轮签，但他们仍然可以交易多达四枚首轮签（2026、2028、2030、2032年），并且在每个赛季都可以进行首轮签互换。
尽管勇士拥有引进另一位影响力球员的选秀资产，但一个障碍可能是缺乏可在交易中匹配薪金的大额合同。巴特勒、斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) 和德雷蒙德·格林 (Draymond Green) 三人的薪水总和占到了金州本赛季薪金总额的78%。
湖人队则处于光谱的另一端。即便勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 和卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 本赛季的薪水接近1亿美元，洛杉矶仍然有超过6000万美元的到期合同可用于交易。然而，他们缺乏可用的首轮签，欠犹他一个2027年前四顺位保护首轮签，以及一个2029年送往达拉斯的无保护首轮签，唯一允许交易的首轮签是2031年或2032年的。他们可以在五个赛季（2026、2028、2030、2031和2032年）进行首轮签互换。
勇士和湖人也都只有一个可供交易的次轮签。
与此同时，尽管圣安东尼奥马刺队为得到德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 送出了四枚首轮签，但不要忽视他们为维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 寻觅另一位全明星级别搭档的可能性。
马刺队今年有权与亚特兰大进行首轮签互换，并拥有老鹰队2027年的无保护首轮签。
他们还拥有与波士顿（2028年前一顺位保护）、达拉斯和明尼苏达森林狼中顺位更高者（2030年前一顺位保护）以及萨克拉门托国王队（2031年）的首轮签互换权。圣安东尼奥还可以交易自己2029年和2031年或2032年的两枚首轮签。
圣安东尼奥拥有15个可用的次轮签，在所有球队中排名第三。– 马克斯
点击查看原文：Ranking the top five NBA teams with the most future first-round draft picks
Ranking the top five NBA teams with the most future first-round draft picks
The 2025 NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have set the standard for how fringe playoff teams can successfully stockpile multiple future draft picks and build on young prospects.
The 2019 trade that brought reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a load of draft picks to Oklahoma City for Paul George produced twofold and six years later has become the blueprint for how teams can maximize their return value.
And as a result, five teams, including the Thunder, have a combined 55 first-round picks over the next couple of years: the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets
Of those teams, which are best positioned to dominate the league’s annual draft through the next few years or use those assets to execute front office goals? Here is a ranking of the top five teams that hold the most first-round picks as of Sept. 18, 2025, and the biggest questions about those teams’ next moves.
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Thunder | Nets | Jazz | Rockets | Grizzlies
Biggest questions
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Incoming future first-round picks: 13
Future second-round picks: 16
Most valuable pick: 2026 top-4 protected first from the Philadelphia 76ers and 2027 swap rights with the LA Clippers
There’s no team better positioned for long-term success than Oklahoma City.
Even after committing $800 million this summer to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, which projects them to be a second apron team next summer, the Thunder have a treasure chest of future draft assets to offset their rising payroll.
The apron restrictions are designed to limit front offices from improving their rosters via free agency and trades. But unlike other high-spending teams, Oklahoma City has 13 first-round and 16 second-round picks in the next seven years. Four of those firsts could be in the 2026 draft and they are the only team to have at least three first-round picks next June.
Even if they finish with one of the best records, the Thunder could be drafting in the lottery for the next two drafts. They have a top-4 protected first from Philadelphia next June, the right to swap firsts with the Clippers in 2027 and then with the Dallas Mavericks the following year. – Bobby Marks
2. Brooklyn Nets
Incoming future first-round picks: 13
Future second-round picks: 19
Most valuable pick: Their own first in 2026 and unprotected 2032 first from the Denver Nuggets
The 2026 draft looms large for Brooklyn for two reasons: the star power atop the class could transform the franchise; however, the Nets owe a 2027 pick swap to the Houston Rockets, presenting an inflection point in the trajectory of this rebuild.
With the front office under general manager Sean Marks, the Nets are opting to maximize player development, reshape the roster and position themselves for top lottery odds next year. That was made clear with Brooklyn casting a wide net with its five first-round selections in this year’s draft. The Nets prioritized versatility and playmaking and will look to turn as many of their rookies into contributors this season as possible. The subtext of what will likely be a losing season is the opportunity to select at or near the top of next year’s draft, which a group of talent evaluators has continued to express excitement about all summer.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, a top-ranked prospect for next year, could be a dynamic creator from the moment he steps on an NBA court. The same goes for BYU wing A.J. Dybantsa, who NBA teams view as another strong candidate for the No. 1 pick. The projected top five is presently rounded out by Duke’s Cameron Boozer, positioned for a breakout year in college, as well as two rising names in Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Louisville’s Mikel Brown.
How this college season plays out will shift opinion to some extent, but there’s potentially quite a bit of impact talent atop the draft. Meaning a tanking team may not need to win the lottery to land a transformative player.
Because the Nets don’t control their 2027 first-rounder, next offseason – in which they’ll again be heavy on cap space and flexibility – presents an obvious opportunity to accelerate the roster back into playoff contention. What exactly the next iteration of the team will look like remains to be seen, but some potential stars available in free agency and a cache of future draft capital to dangle in trade discussions gives Brooklyn a pathway back to competitiveness if things break right. – Jeremy Woo
3. Utah Jazz
Incoming future first-round picks: 11
Future second-round picks: 7
Future outgoing first-round picks: Top-8 protected to Oklahoma City (2026, else a 2028 second-round pick)
Most valuable first: Their own first in 2026 (if 1-8) and 2031 unprotected Phoenix Suns’ first
The Jazz have effectively been stuck in neutral the past three seasons, with the rebuilding process that began in 2022 and has yet to bear results. Hiring Austin Ainge away from Boston to run the front office this offseason signaled a change to come and Ainge quickly went on record declaring that Utah wouldn’t be tanking in 2025-26. However, Utah’s first-rounder is top-8 protected to Oklahoma City, and the lack of veteran offseason additions potentially points to where the Jazz are headed, at least for one more season.
Utah took a major swing on Ace Bailey in the draft and added more offensive punch later in the first round with Walter Clayton Jr. This is a critical season for internal development as the Jazz evaluate which prospects from that group are long-term keepers. How the crowded backcourt minutes will be distributed should be particularly interesting, with Clayton joining Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier in a trio of offensive-minded and undersized ball handlers.
Although the Jazz have several veterans on the roster, headlined by former All-Star Lauri Markkanen, the priority should be on developing the younger talent. Bailey, a gifted wing shotmaker with size, offers the most untapped upside of that group, and as Ainge’s first selection, figures to be the prospect Utah pours into most. However, there are likely to be ups and downs as he adjusts to the NBA game, considering how raw his game appeared to be in college. Forward Kyle Filipowski has made some positive strides and deserves opportunities after winning summer league MVP. Taylor Hendricks also needs developmental minutes after an unlikely leg injury caused him to miss nearly all of his Year 2 last season.
There’s no simple, direct through line for Utah’s position back into playoff mode, with the 2026 draft class holding potential to reshape the trajectory. Whatever patience the Jazz can exercise despite the protracted nature of this rebuild might still pay off long-term. – Woo
4. Houston Rockets
Incoming future first-round picks: 9
Future second-round picks: 4
Future outgoing first-round picks: Top-4 protected first to Oklahoma City (2026)
Most valuable first: 2027 unprotected Phoenix first and two of the more favorable first of own, Dallas and Phoenix (2029)
The Rockets continue to invest strongly in both their short and long-term plans. They enter this season as one of the favorites in a tough Western Conference and still have some valuable, high-leverage draft capital on the way. How Houston integrates Kevin Durant into the mix after adding him in the offseason will be one of the biggest storylines this season. And the Rockets have enough talent to make waves in the West, as well as a number of young, rising players still developing within this competitive context.
The unprotected 2027 pick Houston owns from Phoenix stands out as a potential lottery ticket, with the Suns in the midst of a younger roster reset that figures to be challenging in the short term. It’s also a valuable trade chip if the Rockets decide to continue buying in the moment to contend with Durant turning 37 this year.
However, NBA teams’ current attitude toward the 2027 draft class can be characterized nicely as underwhelming. For as excited as front offices are about 2026, a major question mark hangs over the following year, with some executives viewing it as one of the weakest draft-eligible classes in some time, both from a domestic and international perspective. The American high school class is presently headlined by forward Tyran Stokes, who was the clear standout among his peers at the Nike Skills Academy, but will need to show improvement to solidify himself as a No. 1 pick-caliber prospect, even in what may be a comparatively thin draft.
NBA teams will be closely tracking how that group shapes up over the next 18 months and whether new players will emerge as potential blue-chip names. While the recurring “bad draft” label is always inherently flawed – sharp teams are generally able to find value no matter the strength of the player pool – that perception will hold some sway over how decision-makers operate with foresight. How perception affects the way teams, including the Rockets, choose to treat their 2027 draft picks, and how they are valued in trade discussions, could be an interesting subtext to this season’s transaction wheel. – Woo
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Incoming future first-round picks: 9
Future second-round picks: 6
Most valuable first: 2026 unprotected Phoenix first
The Grizzlies made a measured offseason decision to pivot toward long-term growth, trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a nice return of draft assets that helped sustain the roster. They cashed in some of those chips immediately to move up to No. 11 in the draft this year and select Cedric Coward, a buzzy sleeper prospect who missed nearly the entire last college season due to injury.
Memphis doesn’t figure to bottom out, with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. forming the backbone of a competitive roster in a conference that will likely place them in play-in conversations. And the decision to offload Bane could portend more moves, depending on how the Grizzlies play to begin the season.
One positive for the Grizzlies is that they could wind up with a lottery ticket in 2026, no matter how their season goes, as they hold the rights to the Suns’ 2026 first-round pick if the swap rights with the Washington Wizards are eliminated. In essence, Memphis may not need to be a drastic seller to have multiple swings at selecting a top prospect. The Grizzlies have largely built well through the draft under Zach Kleiman, and the decision to be patient rather than push in chips this season could certainly pay off. – Woo
What first-round pick could be the most valuable next June?
The most surprising trade on draft night was the New Orleans Pelicans’ decision to send a high-value draft pick – the more favorable of its own and Milwaukee Bucks’ 2026 first – to the Atlanta Hawks for the 13th overall pick, which became Derik Queen.
That pick stands out as the most tantalizing 2026 draft asset untethered from its parent franchise, as it gives the Hawks rare control over two teams’ picks that could be lottery-bound. The Pelicans’ pick looks like a good bet at this stage, considering the number of things that would have to break correctly for a team that’s seemingly been snakebitten in recent years.
The Bucks will begin the season with a thin roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, particularly in the backcourt, and will rely on him and new addition Myles Turner to prop them up. While a playoff berth is attainable, Antetokounmpo will be asked to create even more than last season with no guarantee Milwaukee ends up back in the postseason.
From Atlanta’s perspective, a best-case scenario is that this one selection represents dual lottery odds come May. The overall shock around the NBA over the Pelicans’ decision to move the pick last June, despite the potential high-impact players in next year’s lottery, plays into the relative feasibility of Atlanta getting two high picks. – Woo
Hornets, Wizards and Trail Blazers among next tier of teams
The Charlotte Hornets and Wizards continue to play the long game with their roster.
The two teams have a combined 15 players on first-round rookie contracts, an unprecedented 47 draft picks in the next seven years and over $100 million in expiring contracts.
Charlotte has their own first in the next seven years and four additional firsts that were acquired in prior trades. The most valuable is a 2027 top-14 protected first from the Miami Heat that becomes unprotected in 2028 and a 2027 top-2 protected first from the Mavericks.
On the other hand, the Wizards are in a unique position. Their 2026 first goes to the New York Knicks if it falls outside of the top-8, and they also have the right to swap firsts with the Suns if the pick to the Knicks is not conveyed. If their own first is kept, they will send New York a 2026 and 2027 second.
The Portland Trail Blazers took an aggressive approach this summer, first trading for veteran Jrue Holiday and then signing injured guard Damian Lillard. The two transactions improved the roster at the cost of no draft picks sent out.
Ironically, from the trades that sent Lillard to Milwaukee and Holiday to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 offseason, the Trail Blazers have the most and least favorable 2029 first of their own, Boston and Milwaukee. They also have the right to swap firsts with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.
They will send their own 2026 first to the Chicago Bulls only if it falls outside of the top 14. – Marks
After trading for superstars, do the Warriors, Lakers and Spurs have enough to make another big move?
Golden State traded its own 2025 first for Jimmy Butler, but still can trade up to four firsts (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032) and swap firsts in every season.
While the Warriors have the draft assets to land another impact player, one obstacle could be the lack of sizable contracts to send in a trade. The trio of Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green combine to make 78% of Golden State’s salary this season.
The Lakers land on the opposite side of that spectrum. Even with LeBron James and Luka Doncic earning close to $100 million this season, Los Angeles still has over $60 million in expiring contracts available to use in a trade. However, they lack available first-round picks, owing Utah a 2027 top-4 protected first and an unprotected first to Dallas in 2029, the lone first allowed to trade is in either 2031 or 2032. They can swap firsts in five seasons (2026, 2028, 2030, 2031 and 2032).
The Warriors and Lakers also have only one second available to trade.
Meanwhile, don’t overlook the San Antonio Spurs from acquiring another All-Star-level player to pair with Victor Wembanyama, despite trading four firsts for De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs have the right to swap firsts with Atlanta this year and the Hawks’ unprotected first in 2027.
They also have the right to swap firsts with Boston (top-1 protected in 2028), more favorable of Dallas and the Minnesota Timberwolves (top-1 protected in 2030) and the Sacramento Kings (2031). San Antonio can also trade two of their own firsts in 2029 and 2031 or 2032.
San Antonio has 15 seconds available, the third most of any team. – Marks
By Bobby Marks, Jeremy Woo | ESPN, via ESPN