Giannis Trade Triggers Wave of First-Round Deals at 2026 NBA Draft

The 2026 NBA Draft witnessed a dramatic shift in trading activity following the blockbuster trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat on Monday. The deal, in which Miami sent three first-round picks along with young players Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis to acquire the superstar and Bobby Portis, set off a chain reaction of transactions during the first round on Tuesday night.

The first 12 picks proceeded without any trades, but activity intensified starting at No. 13, where Miami's newly acquired pick was immediately involved in a swap. Over the final 18 selections of the first round, nine trades were executed involving 10 players and multiple draft compensation packages. The Memphis Grizzlies emerged as active traders, executing two separate deals that resulted in them sliding back five spots while acquiring five future second-round selections. Other notable moves included the Brooklyn Nets' acquisition of Julius Randle through a three-team deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls, which also involved movement from No. 33 to No. 28 in the draft order.

Among the first-round selections that changed hands were forward Nate Ament (No. 13), guard Bennett Stirtz (No. 16), guard Ebuka Okorie (No. 17), forward Karim Lopez (No. 21), and several others through the final picks. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks also engaged in a swap involving picks No. 24 and No. 25, while the Knicks moved entirely out of the first round by trading their No. 30 selection to Phoenix.

Regardless of the trading frenzy, all transactions remain pending official finalization until July 6. Analysts and team insiders expect the second half of the draft, particularly picks Nos. 20-30, to see additional movement as teams continue to reshape their rosters. At the top of the draft, the consensus remains largely intact, with Washington expected to select BYU's AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, Utah to pick Kansas' Darryn Peterson at No. 2, Memphis to take Duke's Cameron Boozer at No. 3, and Chicago to choose North Carolina's Caleb Wilson at No. 4. The Clippers at No. 5 face continued speculation about whether they will retain their pick or engage in a trade, while the Dallas Mavericks' selection at No. 9 has drawn additional intrigue following the team's recent hiring of Michigan coach Dusty May, who led three potential lottery prospects to a national championship.