The NBA has seen limited draft day trading activity among lottery teams in recent years, but that trend could change dramatically in 2025. Unlike typical draft years where top-five picks are held by rebuilding franchises committed to their draft boards, this year features playoff-contending teams in prime positions.
The San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers hold the second and third picks, respectively, and both organizations have designs on competing for playoff positioning next season. This creates an unusual dynamic where high lottery picks could be available for immediate talent upgrades.
“I talked to one league executive this morning—he thinks we’re going to see the most activity as far as tradeable picks in this year’s first round,” said Bobby Marks on NBA Today.
The potential for increased draft day movement extends beyond just the top picks. San Antonio owns both the second and 14th selections, giving them significant trade flexibility. The Brooklyn Nets possess multiple assets with picks at eighth, 19th, 26th, and 27th overall.
The Houston Rockets represent another intriguing scenario at No. 10, as they may look to package their selection for immediate roster improvements after finishing second in the Western Conference during the regular season. Their strong regular season performance positions them as sellers of their draft pick.
This convergence of competitive teams holding valuable draft capital sets up what could be one of the most active draft nights in recent memory, with multiple franchises potentially willing to sacrifice drafted players for present-day upgrades.
