The 2026 NBA draft turned into a whirlwind of trades with teams making strategic moves throughout the two rounds over two nights. The activity picked up momentum even before the first name was called, involving player swaps that reached up to the final pick.
On Tuesday night, the draft began with teams selecting players and retaining them for the initial 12 spots. By the 13th pick, trades had begun, triggered by a major deal agreed on Monday involving Giannis Antetokounmpo. A total of nine trades involving ten players occurred over the concluding 18 selections.
Wednesday night ramped up the complexity with 17 player’s draft rights traded alongside multiple pick swaps happening through the second round. These transactions are set to become official on July 6.
A closer look at the trades from the draft:
Round 1:
- No. 13: Forward Nate Ament was initially announced for Miami but his rights quickly shifted to Milwaukee.
- No. 16: Guard Bennett Stirtz was selected by Memphis with his rights exchanged to Oklahoma City in return for the No. 17 pick and two second-round selections.
- No. 17: Guard Ebuka Okorie’s rights transitioned from Oklahoma City to Memphis in the trade for Stirtz’s rights.
- No. 21: Forward Karim Lopez’s rights were sent from Detroit to Memphis along with three first-round selections for Okorie’s rights.
- No. 24: Guard Cameron Carr was selected by the New York Knicks, but his rights were transferred to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- No. 25: Forward Sergio De Larrea was picked by the Lakers but his rights were ultimately traded to Dallas via the Knicks.
- No. 26: Center Tarris Reed Jr.’s rights moved from Denver to San Antonio.
- No. 28: Forward Joshua Jefferson’s rights were swapped from Minnesota to Brooklyn as part of the Julius Randle trade, allowing the Nets to move up five spots.
- No. 29: Forward Alex Karaban’s rights were transferred from Cleveland to Sacramento as part of a draft position swap.
- No. 30: Forward Koa Peat was traded out of the first round from the Knicks to Phoenix, along with the rights to the player from Arizona.
Round 2:
- No. 31: Guard Bruce Thornton’s pick was traded by the Knicks to Houston, resulting in several pick exchanges including moving up to No. 53 and securing a second-round pick for 2029.
- No. 33: Guard Isaiah Evans’ selection was acquired by Minnesota as part of the trade involving Julius Randle.
- No. 34: Guard Meleek Thomas’ rights were dealt from Sacramento to Cleveland during Tuesday night’s trading activities.
- No. 35: Forward Trevon Brazile’s rights transitioned from the Spurs to Denver, linked with swapping for a 26th overall pick.
- No. 37: Guard Ryan Conwell was acquired by Oklahoma City, and his rights were subsequently swapped to Miami.
- No. 38: Guard Braden Smith was selected by Chicago and then had his rights moved to Indiana.
- No. 39: Guard Jack Kayil’s selection remained part of the package traded from Houston to the Knicks, allowing Rockets moves to No. 31.
- No. 41: Guard Otega Oweh’s rights were traded between Miami and Oklahoma City in exchange for Conwell’s rights.
- No. 46: Forward Felix Okpara’s rights transitioned from Orlando to Washington.
- No. 47: Forward Tyler Nickel’s selection was incorporated in a deal involving the rights exchange for Koa Peat from the Knicks to Phoenix.
- No. 51: Forward Izaiyah Nelson’s rights were sent from Washington to Orlando alongside No. 60 for Okpara’s rights.
- No. 52: Center Henri Veesaar had his rights sent from the Los Angeles Clippers to Atlanta, allowing the Hawks to advance five spots.
- No. 53: Center Ugonna Onyenso was chosen by the Knicks after acquisition from Houston.
- No. 55: Forward Nick Martinelli’s rights, initially exchanged between Houston and the Knicks, were ultimately sent to the Clippers.
- No. 56: Guard Vsevolod Ishchenko’s selection by Chicago underwent a rights exchange to the Los Angeles Lakers and then moved to Dallas.
- No. 57: Forward Narcisse Ngoy’s rights were dealt from Atlanta to the Clippers tied into the Veesaar trade.
- No. 60: Forward Malique Lewis was acquired by Milwaukee in the transaction emerging from Orlando involving the Okpara trade.
For more details, refer to AP NBA.