What is an unprotected draft pick in NBA? Exploring how Brooklyn Nets can rebuild with them in wake of Kevin Durant trade

The Brooklyn Nets received several unprotected draft picks by sending Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. Thanks to these picks, they will be able to acquire young talented players in the future and rebuild the team.

NBA teams use several different methods to trade their draft picks. There are protected and unprotected draft picks, as well as pick swaps. If you are not sure what all of this means, this article will explain everything you need to know.

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Unprotected draft picks are very valuable

To acquire Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns sent four unprotected first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets. This means that the Nets will be able to use these picks without any restrictions.

More specifically, the Suns sent their picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029. For example, if the Suns miss the playoffs in the 2026-27 season and get a lottery pick, the Nets will be able to use it.

Durant was traded for four unprotected draft picks (Image via Getty Images)

Teams may also choose to protect their picks. If the Suns traded a top-5 protected pick in 2026, this would mean that the Nets would only acquire a pick if it falls between pick 6 and pick 30. Otherwise, the Suns would keep it.

You may be interested in reading: When is Kevin Durant coming back from injury and when can he play his first game for Phoenix Suns?

Protected draft picks are generally less valuable as they come with restrictions. Due to this, teams have to be very careful when acquiring them.

Russell Westbrook was traded with a top-4 protected pick (Image via Getty Images)

The LA Lakers recently facilitated a 3-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers sent Russell Westbrook and a 2027 top-4 protected pick to the Utah Jazz in the trade, which was a smart move.

This means that the Lakers will retain their first-round pick if it falls between pick 1 and pick 4. Otherwise, the pick will be sent to the Jazz, who will be able to use it to draft a young talented player.

If the Lakers traded an unprotected draft pick, the Jazz would be able to use it regardless of their position.

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NBA teams also use draft pick swaps

In addition to protected and unprotected draft picks, many NBA teams also use draft pick swaps in their trades. Considering that the league doesn't allow teams to trade their consecutive first-round picks, a lot of teams choose to swap their picks instead.

For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded their 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 first-round picks for Rudy Gobert in the 2022 offseason. However, they also added a 2026 pick swap.

The Timberwolves gave up multiple draft picks for Gobert (Image via Getty Images)

You may be interested in reading: What do pick swaps mean in NBA and how are they useful for franchises?

In the 2026 NBA draft, the Timberwolves and the Jazz will simply swap their picks. For example, if the Jazz have the 10th overall pick and the Timberwolves have the third overall pick, it will be Utah who will pick third, while Minnesota will be pushed to the 10th spot.