The Los Angeles Lakers made a big move in the trade market on Sunday, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
This move was expected, as the Lakers were looking to add players who could help them win right away, while the Nets were getting assets for a veteran player who wasn’t part of their future plans. The details of the trade could offer some clues about what might happen across the league before the NBA trade deadline on February 6.
On Thursday, well-known NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Memphis Grizzlies were “a team to watch” for Finney-Smith. Stein mentioned on Saturday that the Grizzlies were having “active discussions” with the Nets about trading John Konchar and Luke Kennard for Finney-Smith.
However, the Lakers made a better offer by including three future second-round picks, all of which will come after LeBron James is expected to retire.
According to Stein, the Nets had hoped to get a first-round pick from the Grizzlies for Finney-Smith, but the Grizzlies wanted to protect the pick by placing a top-17 protection on it. Stein also mentioned that the Nets would have had to take on extra salary and send one or two second-round picks to the Grizzlies in the Finney-Smith deal.
Earlier this month, the Nets also traded Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors for an expiring contract (De’Anthony Melton) and three second-round picks. However, the Nets had told teams since last season that they wanted a first-round pick for either Schröder or Finney-Smith, according to Stein.
The Nets’ inability to get a first-round pick for either player could provide some clues about the trade situation under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Finney-Smith and Schröder aren’t the only important players who have been traded for multiple second-round picks instead of a first-rounder since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) began before the 2023-24 season.
Last year, the Philadelphia 76ers traded three second-round picks to get Buddy Hield in a three-team deal. The Phoenix Suns did the same for Royce O’Neale.
The Chicago Bulls asked for three second-round picks for Andre Drummond, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Sixers “believed they had a trade done” to get him, but the Bulls “pulled out of talks hours before the deadline,” causing the Sixers to turn to Hield instead.
Drummond later signed with the Sixers in free agency this past offseason, leaving the Bulls without anything in return.
The Bulls’ experience with Drummond might have been a warning for the Nets. Schröder will be a free agent this offseason, and Finney-Smith might also leave if he turns down his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
To avoid losing either player for nothing, the Nets accepted six second-round picks instead of holding firm on their first-round pick demand.
Teams may be less willing to trade first-round picks because of the new CBA, which brings heavy restrictions for the league’s highest-spending teams. Teams above the first and second luxury tax aprons have fewer options to add talent through trades and free agency, so rookie-scale contracts are becoming more valuable.
The new CBA also makes second-round picks more appealing by introducing a rule that allows teams above the salary cap to sign second-round picks to three- or four-year contracts without using an exception. This rule may have made teams more open to accepting multiple second-round picks, especially since first-round picks may not be as easy to trade.
The Trade Market Going Forward
Since the new CBA began, only a few first-round picks have been traded, mostly in deals for star players. The value of contracts is also affecting how much teams are willing to give up in draft picks. The New York Knicks traded five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges, who is on a great contract of four years for $90.9 million.
But they didn’t give up any first-round picks for Karl-Anthony Towns, who is in the first year of a four-year, $220.4 million supermax contract.
The Mavericks gave up Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick to get P.J. Washington at last year’s trade deadline. The Charlotte Hornets also gave the Mavericks two second-round picks in that deal.
The Mavericks also traded a 2028 first-round pick swap to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2024 first-rounder, which they used in another trade to acquire Daniel Gafford. These moves helped the Mavericks make an unexpected run to the NBA Finals last year.
The Mavericks’ aggressive moves last season might inspire other teams to make similar trades this year, but not all teams have a superstar like Luka Dončić.
The Lakers are pushing for a championship with LeBron James nearing the end of his career, but they’ve been hesitant to give up their future first-round picks. The Golden State Warriors might feel the same way with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in their mid-30s.
Several teams that are hoping for a title have already traded away many of their future first-round picks, which is slowing down the trade market. The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks each have only one first-round pick (2031) they can trade this season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves can only trade a 2028 first-round pick swap and a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Detroit Pistons. The New York Knicks have a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Washington Wizards, but they can only trade 2026 and 2030 first-round pick swaps.
