The 2026 NBA draft saw a whirlwind of trades and swaps over two rounds and two nights. The action began even before the first name was announced and continued to involve the last player selected. The draft began quietly on Tuesday night with teams making initial selections without immediate trades for the first 12 spots.
However, the trades kicked off at pick No. 13 with teams involved in a major swap deal agreed upon on Monday, including Giannis Antetokounmpo. This was the first in a series of nine trades involving ten players over the final 18 selections.
On Wednesday night, the trading frenzy intensified, with draft rights of 17 players exchanged and picks dealt multiple times in the second round. These deals will become official on July 6.
Round 1 Trades
- No. 13: Forward Nate Ament, initially chosen by Miami, had his rights quickly sent to Milwaukee.
- No. 16: Guard Bennett Stirtz, selected by Memphis, had his rights swapped to Oklahoma City in exchange for No. 17 and two second-round picks.
- No. 17: Guard Ebuka Okorie was picked by Oklahoma City and sent to Memphis as part of the Stirtz trade.
- No. 21: Forward Karim Lopez, drafted by Detroit, had his rights sent to Memphis along with three first-round selections to acquire Okorie’s rights.
- No. 24: Guard Cameron Carr’s rights, originally claimed by New York Knicks, were sent to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- No. 25: Forward Sergio De Larrea, whose rights were initially with the Lakers, was traded to the Knicks and then sent to Dallas.
- No. 26: Center Tarris Reed Jr. saw his rights traded from Denver to San Antonio.
- No. 28: Forward Joshua Jefferson, selected by Minnesota, was part of a trade to Brooklyn involving Julius Randle, with the Nets moving up five spots.
- No. 29: Forward Alex Karaban was drafted by Cleveland before his rights went to Sacramento.
- No. 30: Forward Koa Peat’s rights, initially with the Knicks, were sent to Phoenix.
Round 2 Trades
- No. 31: Guard Bruce Thornton’s rights were dealt by the Knicks to Houston, resulting in the Knicks moving to No. 39 and acquiring a second-round pick in 2029.
- No. 33: Guard Isaiah Evans was part of Minnesota’s trade deal that sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn.
- No. 34: Guard Meleek Thomas’ rights were moved from Sacramento to Cleveland.
- No. 35: Forward Trevon Brazile’s rights, initially with the Spurs, were swapped with Denver.
- No. 37: Guard Ryan Conwell was picked by Oklahoma City and quickly traded to Miami.
- No. 38: Guard Braden Smith, selected by Chicago, had his rights sent to Indiana.
- No. 39: Guard Jack Kayil was picked by Houston and packaged in a deal to the Knicks.
- No. 41: Guard Otega Oweh’s rights were exchanged between Miami and Oklahoma City.
- No. 46: Forward Felix Okpara, chosen by Orlando, had his rights traded to Washington.
- No. 47: Forward Tyler Nickel’s rights were part of the deal for Koa Peat’s rights from the Knicks to Phoenix.
- No. 51: Forward Izaiyah Nelson’s rights were sent from Washington to Orlando.
- No. 52: Center Henri Veesaar’s rights, originally with the Clippers, went to Atlanta.
- No. 53: Center Ugonna Onyenso, chosen by the Knicks, was from a trade with Houston.
- No. 55: Forward Nick Martinelli’s rights transferred to the Clippers from Houston in an earlier swap with the Knicks.
- No. 56: Guard Vsevolod Ishchenko’s rights were sent by Chicago to the Los Angeles Lakers, who then traded them to Dallas.
- No. 57: Forward Narcisse Ngoy’s rights went from Atlanta to the Clippers through the Veesaar deal.
- No. 60: Forward Malique Lewis’ rights were acquired by Milwaukee from Orlando after a previous Okpara trade.
For further updates, visit AP NBA.