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