The Oklahoma City Thunder shocked the NBA world five years ago when they received a record five first-round draft picks, two pick swaps and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the LA Clippers in a trade for Paul George.
Thanks in part to that load of draft picks and Gilgeous-Alexander developing into an MVP contender, the Thunder are a favorite to win the Western Conference this season.
The return value from that trade between the Clippers and Thunder set the standard in how fringe playoff teams would rebuild by acquiring multiple future draft picks and adding more young prospects to the roster.
In the years following that franchise-altering trade in 2019, other teams have followed the Thunder’s blueprint to acquire picks and prospects. The Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets have acquired 22 first-round picks and seven years of pick swaps in six different trades. Each team received a minimum of three first-rounders.
In two separate trades with the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, Brooklyn acquired nine first-round picks, including eight unprotected.
As a result of all the transactional movement, five teams control a whopping 62 first-round picks over the next seven years. Brooklyn, Oklahoma City, Utah and San Antonio hold 13 out of the 30 first-round selections.
The blockbuster trades have resulted in a perfect storm as it relates to the 2025 NBA draft that could feature the next franchise stars, Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the Rutgers duo of Airious “Ace” Bailey and Dylan Harper and French guard Nolan Traore. The four players are projected top-5 picks in ESPN’s latest 2025 mock draft.
To gain a better understanding of which teams are positioned to dominate the league’s annual draft for the rest of this decade, here’s my ranking of the cache of picks for the five teams that hold the most first-round choices as of Sept. 10, 2024.
It starts with San Antonio, which could have four first-round picks in June and the possibility of selecting a franchise player to complement star Victor Wembanyama.
More teams beyond top 5:
Grizzlies, Pelicans, Raptors, Magic
Warriors, Lakers | Celtics, Knicks, 76ers | More
1. San Antonio Spurs
Key players traded: Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, Derrick White, Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl
Players who are on San Antonio’s roster from previously acquired picks: Keldon Johnson, Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham
Incoming first-round picks (12):
— All seven of their own
— Two unprotected from Atlanta (2025 and 2027)
— Top-14 protected from Charlotte (2025)
— Top-10 protected from Chicago (2025, top-8 protected in 2026 and 2027)
— Unprotected from Minnesota (2031)
— Swap rights: Atlanta (2026)
— Swap rights: Boston (2028, top-1 protected)
— Swap rights: More favorable of Dallas and Minnesota (top-1 protected) (2030)
— Swap rights: Sacramento (2031)
Tradable first-round picks: 9
Best value in first-round picks: 2025 and 2027 Atlanta
Least valuable first-round pick: 2025 top-14 protected Charlotte
Second-round picks: 17
Outgoing first-round picks: None
It’s all about quality over quantity for San Antonio, which sits in the top spot of my ranking despite having three fewer first-round picks than Brooklyn.
The value of the Hawks’ unprotected 2025 and 2027 first-round picks and the right to swap a first in 2026 with Atlanta trumps any first-round pick that Brooklyn has accumulated.
The Hawks won 36 games last season and traded Dejounte Murray in the offseason. They have never won more than 43 games with Trae Young on their roster.
Besides a first from Atlanta in 2025, the Spurs could add two additional lottery picks to join Victor Wembanyama — their own pick and a top-10 protected first from Chicago.
Despite San Antonio adding veterans Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes this offseason, the Spurs could still find themselves outside of the playoffs because of a deep Western Conference contingency.
The first from Chicago could be in the back end of the lottery. The Bulls elected not to sign DeMar DeRozan, trading him to the Sacramento Kings, and they traded guard Alex Caruso to the Thunder.
San Antonio has an unprotected first from Atlanta in 2027 and one from Minnesota in 2031. The Spurs can also swap firsts in four out of the next seven years.
Starting with Atlanta in 2026, San Antonio has the ability to swap firsts with Boston (2028), Dallas or Minnesota (2029) and finally Sacramento in 2031.
The Spurs’ 12 first-round picks and four years of pick swaps should accelerate a rebuild that started when Kawhi Leonard was traded in 2018 and continues with Wembanyama as the face of the franchise.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key players traded: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Steven Adams, Al Horford and Chris Paul
Players who are on Oklahoma City’s roster from previously acquired picks: Jalen Williams, Ousmane Dieng and Dillon Jones
Incoming first-round picks (13):
— All seven of their own
— Unprotected from LA Clippers (2026)
— Top-4 protected from Houston (2026)
— Top-10 protected from Utah (2025, top-8 in 2026)
— Top-14 protected from Miami (2025, unprotected in 2026)
— Top-6 protected from Philadelphia (2025, top-4 protected in 2026 and 2027)
— Top-5 protected from Denver (2027, top-5 protected in 2028)
— Top-5 protected from Denver (2029, if first conveyed in 2027, top-5 protected in 2030 if first is conveyed by 2028)
— Swap rights: LA Clippers (2025 and 2027)
— Swap rights: Houston (2025, top-10 protected)
— Swap rights: Dallas (2028)
Note 1: In 2026, Oklahoma City has two of the most favorable of its own, Houston (if 5-30) and the LA Clippers. The least favorable of the three firsts will go to Philadelphia.
Note 2: In 2027, the Thunder can swap the more favorable of their own and Denver (if 6-30) with the LA Clippers.
Tradable first-round picks: 10
Best value in first-round picks: 2026 unprotected from the Clippers, swap rights with the Clippers in 2025 and 2027
Least valuable first-round pick: 2025 top-4 protected from Philadelphia
Second-round picks: 16
Outgoing first-round picks: None
It was hard not to keep Oklahoma City out of the top spot, but protections on first-round picks that are owed to the Thunder has them right behind San Antonio.
Out of the five teams that control the draft’s 2025 first round, no team is better positioned to win now and have sustainable success in the future than Oklahoma City.
Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder return the same starting lineup that won 57 games last season. They also added Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein without giving up draft compensation. Of note, Oklahoma City’s payroll is expected to increase because of likely extensions for Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Caruso.
Where the Thunder have an advantage over other high-spending teams is the surplus of 13 first-round picks (and inexpensive contracts) available to retool their roster. One of those first-round picks is unprotected in 2026 from the Clippers. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with a Paul George-less Clippers team in 2025 and 2027.
One trend to closely monitor is Oklahoma City consolidating and trading first-round capital for the ability to swap firsts in the future. Last season, the Thunder traded a late 2024 first to Dallas (it was eventually rerouted to the Washington Wizards for Daniel Gafford) for the right to swap firsts in 2028.
The Thunder also traded the least favorable of their own 2027 first and Denver (if 6-30) to the Clippers for the right to swap firsts in 2027. The trade helped paved the way for the Clippers to acquire James Harden.
Because of the six first-round picks acquired from other teams and two years of swaps with the Clippers, the Thunder could select in the lottery and also finish each season with one of the best records in the NBA.
3. Brooklyn Nets
Key players traded: James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale and Mikal Bridges
Players who are on Brooklyn’s roster from previously acquired picks: Noah Clowney
Incoming first-round picks (15):
— All seven of their own
— Four unprotected from New York (2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031)
— Top-5 protected from Milwaukee (2025)
— Least favorable of Phoenix, Houston (if 11-30) and Oklahoma City (2025)
— Top-8 protected from Philadelphia (2027 or 2028)
— Least favorable of Dallas, Phoenix and Houston (2029)
— Swap rights: Phoenix or New York (2028)
Tradable first-round picks: 12
Best value in first-round picks: 2025 and 2026 own
Least valuable first-round pick: Least favorable of Phoenix, Houston (if 11-30) and Oklahoma City in 2025
Second-round picks: 11
Outgoing first-round picks: Swap rights — Houston (2027)
The Nets are an example of how quickly things can change in the NBA. Three seasons ago, a lineup that included Harden, Irving and Durant had Brooklyn one win away from the conference finals.
But after Harden asked out in 2022, then Irving and Durant a year later, Brooklyn went from a contender to a team with no identity, despite acquiring eight first-round picks in exchange for the three players.
The Nets had no control of their own first-round picks because of the Harden trade in 2021 with the Rockets, and there were no benefits for the team to rebuild at that time.
But that all changed this past June when the Rockets traded the Nets back their own 2025 first-round pick and then eliminated the right to swap firsts in 2026. The trade with the Rockets allowed Brooklyn to send their best player, Mikal Bridges, to the New York Knicks for four unprotected first-round picks and the right to swap firsts in 2028.
“They’re absolutely connected,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in July. “When you look at doing the deal we did with the Knicks, that was really only possible by controlling our own destiny a little bit more… where we get our picks back from Houston.”
The Bridges trade has Brooklyn possessing a league-high 15 first-round picks over the next seven years, including four in the 2025 draft. Three of those firsts (Milwaukee, New York and Oklahoma City) could fall later in the first round, in the 20s.
4. Utah Jazz
Key players traded: Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, Mike Conley and Kelly Olynyk
Players who are on Utah’s roster from previously acquired picks: Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier
Incoming first-round picks (13):
— Six of their next seven own
— Two unprotected from Minnesota (2025, 2027)
— Three unprotected from Cleveland (2025, 2027, 2029)
— Top-5 protected from Los Angeles Lakers (2027)
— Top-5 protected from Minnesota (2029)
— Swap rights: Minnesota or Cleveland (2026) and Cleveland (2028)
Tradable first-round picks: 9
Best value in first-round picks: 2027 top-5 protected Lakers first and 2029 Cleveland first
Least valuable first-round pick: 2025 Minnesota and Cleveland first
Second-round picks: 3
Outgoing first-round picks: Top-10 protected to Oklahoma City in 2025 (top-8 in 2026, else 2028 second-round pick)
The Jazz continue to sit in a holding pattern. Out of the seven first-round picks acquired in the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell blockbuster trades, only one has been conveyed. Utah drafted guard Keyonte George with the 2023 first-round pick from Minnesota.
Utah does have the same number of first-round picks as the Thunder, including five unprotected, but it lacks a franchise player to fast forward its rebuild.
The Jazz could be impacted also by the value of the Cavaliers’ and Timberwolves’ first-round picks, too. Cleveland extended Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley this offseason. Meanwhile Minnesota returns the same starting five who reached the conference finals last season. Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels are also under contract through at least the 2027-28 season.
Utah has an unprotected first-round pick from each team in 2025. Its most valuable first could be from the Lakers in 2027. Although it is a protected top-5, there is no guarantee LeBron James will be on the roster in 2026-27 since the four-time NBA champion, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, has indicated that the end of his playing career is drawing near.
The Jazz enter Year 3 of a rebuild that started in 2022 but have still not been able to secure a high lottery pick despite going 13-41 after the trade deadline the past two seasons.
Utah signed Lauri Markkanen to a $220 million extension, but the majority of the roster consists of nine players who are 23 years old or younger.
5. Houston Rockets
Key players traded: Harden and Eric Gordon
Players who are on Houston’s roster from previously acquired picks: Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard
Incoming first-round picks (9):
— Own first in 2025*, 2026 (if 1-4), 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031
— Unprotected from Phoenix (2027)
— Two most favorable of own, Dallas and Phoenix (2029)
— Swap: More favorable of Phoenix (2025) and less favorable of own (if 11-30) and Oklahoma City then other to Brooklyn
— Swap: Brooklyn (2027)
Tradable first-round picks: 4
Best value in first-round picks: 2027 Brooklyn swap and the two most favorable of own, Dallas and Phoenix in 2029
Least valuable first-round pick: 2025 swap with Phoenix
Second-round picks: 5
Outgoing first-round picks:
— Swap: Top-10 protected with Oklahoma City (2025)
— Top-4 protected to Oklahoma City (2026)
We are still many moons away from judging if Houston’s trade with Brooklyn in late June was a smart move or a historic mistake.
The Rockets eliminated the right to swap firsts with Brooklyn in 2025 and sent back the 2026 first from the Nets. They still have the right to swap firsts with Brooklyn in 2027.
In return, the Rockets received four draft assets: the right to swap firsts with Phoenix in 2025; the Suns’ 2027 unprotected first; the more favorable 2029 Dallas or Phoenix first; the right to swap their 2029 first with the less favorable of Dallas and Phoenix
“It diversified our portfolio of picks going out, it pushed them out a little bit, which is really good for us,” Rockets GM Rafael Stone said at the time. “We’re a very young team right now, so pushing those picks out and having some draft picks a little further out, we think make sense.”
The Rockets picked up two future unprotected firsts but possibly at the cost of landing projected 2025 No. 1 pick in Cooper Flagg and projected 2026 top draft picks Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa.
Brooklyn finished last season with its worst record (32-50) since 2017-18 and sent Houston the No. 3 pick in the draft (as a result of the 2021 Harden trade), with which the Rockets drafted Sheppard.
The Rockets do not have the quantity of first-round picks that the four teams mentioned above have, and along with the Thunder, have a roster that can compete for a playoff spot this season.
Dallas Mavericks sent a 2024, 2027 and 2029 first to acquire Daniel Gafford, Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington. Because the Ted Stepien rule (the restriction of teams trading first-round picks in back-to-back consecutive seasons) only applies to future seasons, Dallas is allowed to trade its 2025 first. The Mavericks can also trade a 2031 first but are not allowed to include protections that roll over to the next year.
— Because of prior trades, Cleveland, the LA Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee and Phoenix are allowed to trade only one future first-round pick.
— Denver and Minnesota have no first-round picks available to trade.
— The Suns, Bucks and Timberwolves are projected to finish over the second apron this season. Their 2032 first-round picks would become frozen and unable to trade starting in July.
