While daunting at first, the Stepien rule boils down to one core principle: an NBA team cannot be without a first round pick for two consecutive years looking forward. Completed drafts do not matter but protected picks do a great deal. We have also seen swaps come into vogue as a way to work around the restrictions of the Stepien rule since it only applies to being without any picks rather than a team’s own selection. Remember also that picking up a first round pick in a future year can open up previously restricted picks so the list can change for that reason as well.

One other component to explain: the NBA also has a rarely-discussed “Seven Year Rule” where teams can only trade draft picks seven years into the future (Larry Coon’s example is that a team in 2011-12 could trade a 2018 selection but not a 2019 one). The Seven-Year Rule also explains some of the stranger protection we see on picks.

I thought it would be a worthwhile exercise to use RealGM’s incomparable pick database to put together what teams are presently limited by the Stepien rule and how it affects them right now.

Atlanta Hawks- No restrictions

Boston Celtics- No restrictions

Brooklyn Nets- Cannot trade a first round pick before their 2020 selection

Charlotte Hornets- No restrictions

Chicago Bulls- No restrictions

Cleveland Cavaliers- Cannot trade their own first round puck before their 2021 selection.

Dallas Mavericks- Cannot trade their own first round pick for any year due to the protection on the pick owed to the Celtics and the Seven-Year Rule.

Denver Nuggets- No restrictions

Detroit Pistons- No restrictions

Golden State Warriors- Can trade their 2015 first rounder without protection. Otherwise, they cannot trade any other first round pick earlier than their 2019 selection.

Houston Rockets- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than 2017 selection and must have provisions for pick to Lakers, which has protections until 2021.

Indiana Pacers- No restrictions

Los Angeles Clippers- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2021 selection

Los Angeles Lakers- Cannot trade their own first round pick earlier than their 2021 selection. However, they can trade the pick owed to them by Houston.

Memphis Grizzlies- Cannot trade their own first round pick for any year due to the protection on the pick owed to the Celtics and the Seven Year Rule.

Miami Heat- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2019 selection

Milwaukee Bucks- No restrictions

Minnesota Timberwolves- Cannot trade their own first round pick for any year due to the protection on the pick owed to the Hawks and the Seven Year Rule.

New Orleans Pelicans- Cannot trade their own first round pick. Any of them. (Seven-year rule plus Stepien rule!)

New York Knicks- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2018 selection

Oklahoma City Thunder- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2019 selection

Orlando Magic- No restrictions

Philadelphia 76ers- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2017 selection. However, they can trade the pick owed to them by Miami.

Phoenix Suns- No restrictions

Portland Trailblazers- No restrictions

Sacramento Kings- Cannot trade any first round pick earlier than their 2019 selection

San Antonio Spurs- No restrictions

Toronto Raptors- No restrictions

Utah Jazz- No restrictions

Washington Wizards- No restrictions