Updated Stepien Rule List

[Lucky17]

A handy breakdown of the earliest teams can trade a 1st rounder:

http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/233754/The-Updated-Stepien-List

Lakers and Grizz are hamstrung until 2021. Surprisingly, Philly can't trade a 1st until their 2020 pick.

[Donoghus]

Wow.  That is an awesome resource.

[saltlover]

Wow.  That is an awesome resource.

It's good, but it's a little light on details.  For example, the Lakers can't trade an unprotected first until 2021, yes.  But for that to occur, it means:

1) They had a top 5 pick in 2015, so didn't give their pick to Phoenix
2) Had a top 3 pick in 2016 so didn't give it to Phoenix
3) gave their pick to Phoenix in 2017

OR

1) Gave their pick to Phoenix in 2015 or 2016, and then
2) Had a top 5 pick in 2017 (if they gave their 2015 pick to Phoenix, otherwise it doesn't matter)
3) Had a top 5 pick in 2018

That's a lot of top 5 picks in there.  Assuming they do not have a top 5 pick in 2015 (more likely than not) and in 2017, they will be able to trade an unprotected 2019 1st rounder.

[Donoghus]

Wow.  That is an awesome resource.

It's good, but it's a little light on details.  For example, the Lakers can't trade an unprotected first until 2021, yes.  But for that to occur, it means:

1) They had a top 5 pick in 2015, so didn't give their pick to Phoenix
2) Had a top 3 pick in 2016 so didn't give it to Phoenix
3) gave their pick to Phoenix in 2017

OR

1) Gave their pick to Phoenix in 2015 or 2016, and then
2) Had a top 5 pick in 2017 (if they gave their 2015 pick to Phoenix, otherwise it doesn't matter)
3) Had a top 5 pick in 2018

That's a lot of top 5 picks in there.  Assuming they do not have a top 5 pick in 2015 (more likely than not) and in 2017, they will be able to trade an unprotected 2019 1st rounder.

Valid point.

You'd probably need someone or a group of people on a full time job figuring all the details out.

[Lucky17]

Wow.  That is an awesome resource.

It's good, but it's a little light on details.  For example, the Lakers can't trade an unprotected first until 2021, yes.  But for that to occur, it means:

1) They had a top 5 pick in 2015, so didn't give their pick to Phoenix
2) Had a top 3 pick in 2016 so didn't give it to Phoenix
3) gave their pick to Phoenix in 2017

OR

1) Gave their pick to Phoenix in 2015 or 2016, and then
2) Had a top 5 pick in 2017 (if they gave their 2015 pick to Phoenix, otherwise it doesn't matter)
3) Had a top 5 pick in 2018

That's a lot of top 5 picks in there.  Assuming they do not have a top 5 pick in 2015 (more likely than not) and in 2017, they will be able to trade an unprotected 2019 1st rounder.

Right, but until those protections are conclusively known not to be triggered, the Lakers must proceed as though they are active.

[saltlover]

Wow.  That is an awesome resource.

It's good, but it's a little light on details.  For example, the Lakers can't trade an unprotected first until 2021, yes.  But for that to occur, it means:

1) They had a top 5 pick in 2015, so didn't give their pick to Phoenix
2) Had a top 3 pick in 2016 so didn't give it to Phoenix
3) gave their pick to Phoenix in 2017

OR

1) Gave their pick to Phoenix in 2015 or 2016, and then
2) Had a top 5 pick in 2017 (if they gave their 2015 pick to Phoenix, otherwise it doesn't matter)
3) Had a top 5 pick in 2018

That's a lot of top 5 picks in there.  Assuming they do not have a top 5 pick in 2015 (more likely than not) and in 2017, they will be able to trade an unprotected 2019 1st rounder.

Right, but until those protections are conclusively known not to be triggered, the Lakers must proceed as though they are active.

Yes, but they could easily offer a team a 2019 1st round pick, which the team would get in 2020 or 2021 if the Lakers had 1st round obligations in 2017 and/or 2018.  The team they trade with could do the math and determine it's likely they're getting a pick in 2019.  It wouldn't be the exact same thing as offering a 2019 pick, but it'd be relatively close when valuing trade offers.

Likewise, the Sixers could offer a 2015 pick, protected for selections 15-30.  Sure, you might not get it if they make the playoffs next year, but it's a lottery pick and the Sixers.  They could even give their 2015 and 2016 2nd rounders if the pick didn't convey, as it's the inverse of the pick we control.  It'd be more valuable than an unprotected 2015 pick from the Thunder or Heat when comparing it to other potential trades.