We are two months away from the trade deadline and we are starting to get an idea of which players could hit the markets and getting to the point where teams should know whether to stay the course or change direction. This year, outgoing draft picks in the upcoming draft could be a bigger factor than usual. As of now, nine 2024 first-round picks are projected to change hands with four of them currently projected in the lottery.
The Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, and Utah Jazz all owe first-round picks but are heavily protected and aren’t expected to convey this year. Those teams are expected to be lottery teams and could all be sellers before the trade deadline.
The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings owe first-round picks that are expected to be conveyed to the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, respectively. The Los Angeles Lakers owe the New Orleans Pelicans an unprotected first-round pick that could be deferred to 2025. The Brooklyn Nets owe an unprotected 2024 first-round pick to the Rockets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder will trade their least favorable first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers, currently projected as their own. All these teams are likely to be buyers before the trade deadline.
Here are the most consequential outgoing 2024 first-round picks for this upcoming trade deadline.