NBA Draft 2012: Does Your Team Have a 1st-Round Pick?

With just three weeks until the 2012 NBA playoffs tip off, there is so much to play for. And in some cases, so much not to play for. Potentially 10 NBA franchises will have traded their first-round pick in a very loaded 2012 NBA draft. As is the case with most trades involving draft picks, it's not so cut and dry. Let's examine the 10 trades involving first-round picks in the June draft. 

The Boston Celtics Own the Los Angeles Clippers' 1st-Round Pick

At the 2011 NBA trade deadline, Celtics players and fans were rocked by news that Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson were traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and a first-round pick that was previously owned by the Los Angeles Clippers (OKC had acquired this pick in a previous deal that sent Eric Bledsoe to the Clippers). 

The pick was top-10 protected. However, with the Clippers a lock to make the playoffs, the Celtics can claim this pick as their own. As of right now, the pick is looking to be at around No. 24. Boston's own pick is currently slotted at No. 20 as well.

With Boston looking to make some major moves in the offseason, there's no telling what they do with these two picks. 

As for Los Angeles, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are leading them to the playoffs, and that's a great thing. But CP3 better re-sign with the Clippers. Otherwise, the Clippers will have squandered a really good, young team (Kyrie Irving, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Griffin and a top-10 2012 pick) and have nothing to show for it. That would be such a Clippers thing to do....

The Cleveland Cavaliers Own the Los Angeles Lakers' 1st-Round Pick

The Lakers desperately needed a point guard, and they got a pretty good one out of Ramon Sessions. In the process, they gave up a late first-round pick to the Cavs, who have been doing an impressive job rebuilding their team since LeBron left. Good trade for both parties. 

As it stands, the Cavaliers are looking at their own fourth pick, along with this 26th pick. They could end up with Andre Drummond or Harrison Barnes with that first pick. And with the Lakers pick, they might take Jeffrey Taylor out of Vanderbilt. 

One thing is certain. The Cavs will have the option of picking twice in the first round. 

The Golden State Warriors Own the San Antonio Spurs' 1st-Round Pick

The Warriors made a series of moves at the deadline that they're hoping will pay off big time later. Due to a foolish trade in 2008 (we'll get to that later), the Warriors could have been without a first-round pick this year. To make sure that wasn't the case, the Warriors traded recently-acquired Stephen Jackson (and his awful $19 million through next year) for Richard Jefferson (and his cap-killing $30 million through 2014) and San Antonio's pick. With the pick currently at No. 29, I just don't see the logic in this. I would've kept Jackson and tried trading his expiring contract in 10 months. 

For an organization that barely gets it right with their top-10 picks, I don't like their chances of turning this late pick into anything of substance. They may have just held themselves down for an extra year. 

Regardless, Golden State is assured a first-round pick. Fab Melo seems like a good fit if he can land to them. 

The Houston Rockets Own the New York Knicks' 1st-Round Pick

Remember when the Houston Rockets traded Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks in 2010? That seems like so long ago. Well, Donnie Walsh was so desperate to clear up enough space to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh, that he traded a few assets, including their 2012 pick, to take on the remainder of McGrady's deal. 

While the Knicks did not acquire LeBron and Bosh, they did ultimately end up with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, making this a good trade for New York. Walsh is no slouch though. If, for some reason, the Knicks would've ended up with a top-five pick, they get to keep it. It seems like the Knicks will end up in the playoffs. But if they don't, then Knicks fans still have something to be hopeful for at the draft Lottery. 

In all likelihood, the Rockets are looking at a pick at around No. 15. Will Terrence Jones of Kentucky still be on the board? 

The Houston Rockets COULD Own the Dallas Mavericks' 1st-Round Pick

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey is one of the more aggressive managers of the league. And he's put his stamp on the 2012 NBA draft, as there is a good chance the Rockets will be picking three times in the first round. While they have their own pick and probably have the New York Knicks' pick, there's also a possibility they will own the Dallas Mavericks' first-round pick at the draft. 

When the Rockets traded Jordan Hill to the Lakers for Derek Fisher, it was actually Dallas' first-round pick (that the Lakers had acquired in the Lamar Odom deal) that they were after. However, Dallas does get to keep the pick if it lands in the top-20. Currently, Dallas is sitting at No. 19. 

This creates an interesting scenario for Houston, as they definitely want Dallas to be a top-10 team by the end of the year. Dallas is currently one game back of being exactly where Houston wants them. Houston has played Dallas twice since the trade, and has conveniently lost both times to them. They play one more time this month. While both teams are fighting for a playoff spot and positioning, it's likely that Morey may be rooting for Dallas come April 18th, their final game against each other. 

Houston and Dallas fans will be keeping an eye on this. But if Houston does acquire this pick, they could be looking at picks at No. 14, No. 18 and No. 21. Unless they make the playoffs....

The Brooklyn Nets COULD Own the Houston Rockets' 1st-Round Pick

I'm not sure why Terrence Williams impressed Houston so much, but he did. He's now a member of the Sacramento Kings after being waived by Houston. And now the Rockets owe the Nets a first-round pick if they make the playoffs. They're currently the No. 7 seed. On one hand, their goal is to make the playoffs. On the other hand, they could potentially end up with three first-round picks by missing the playoffs. 

The New Orleans Hornets Own the Minnesota Timberwolves' 1st-Round Pick

This is probably the most publicized traded pick of the draft, as it was a key component of the Chris Paul trade to Los Angeles. Now think about this for a second. In 2005, the Minnesota Timberwolves really liked Marko Jaric (if you don't know who that is, it's safe to say that Minnesota might have been a little too high on him). So they traded Sam Cassell and a first-round pick (a pick that was way in the future...all the way to the year 2012) for Jaric. Seven years later, that pick was the necessary piece to net Chris Paul. Interestingly, Sam Cassell far outplayed Jaric following the trade. The fact that the Clippers received a first-round pick too? It makes you understand why Kevin Garnett pushed LeBron to leave Cleveland. Poor management is sometimes too much to overcome. 

Anyway, the Hornets acquired this pick with the idea that it would be a top-five pick. While Minnesota is headed to the lottery (New Orleans can thank the stars that Rubio got hurt), it's not as spicy a position the Hornets had hoped for. It looks like the pick will sit somewhere around No. 10, unless the ball pops up for New Orleans. If David Stern ever needed motivation to fix a lottery, this would be it. New Orleans could be looking at Jeremy Lamb at this pick. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves COULD Own the Utah Jazz's 1st-Round Pick

This pick was traded in the Al Jefferson deal. While it looks like Minnesota is out of contention of making the playoffs this year, and won't have a lottery pick as a consolation prize, they still have a shot at picking in the first round. But they need the Utah Jazz to make the playoffs. At the moment, Utah is one-and-a-half games behind the Denver Nuggets for the eighth seed. 

While Minnesota doesn't play against Utah again this year, they do have two games left against Denver. It will be interesting to see if Minnesota plays a little harder against the playoff contenders in the West, to assist Utah in any way they can. These are the interesting things I like to watch for late in the season. 

It doesn't look good for Minnesota. Utah's schedule is tough from here on out. But anything can happen...

The Utah Jazz COULD Own the Golden State Warriors' 1st-Round Pick

In June 2008, the Golden State Warriors acquired Marcus Williams from the New Jersey Nets for a conditional first-round pick in the future. The future is now and the condition was that if Golden State's pick was not in the top seven, the Nets would own it. 

The Nets proceeded to trade this pick to Utah in the Deron Williams trade.

For Golden State, it's simple: As long as they are one of the worst seven teams, they are probably going to keep their pick. They currently stand at No. 9. By trading Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut (who is out for the rest of the year) and by shutting down Steph Curry for the remainder of the year, they've put themselves in the best position to tank.

Another storyline to watch is the rights to Jared Sullinger could be on the line. Utah could end up with two lottery picks. They could also end up with zero first-rounders at all (due to the Minnesota swap).   

The Portland Trail Blazers Could Own the Brooklyn Nets' 1st-Round Pick

At the trade deadline this year, the Portland Trail Blazers completely blew up their team. A shame, really, as Portland was put together well. It was simply things out of their control that led to the end of a very likable era in Portland's history. Brandon Roy and Greg Oden just couldn't stay on the court. Their big move of the deadline was to trade Gerald Wallace to New Jersey for the Nets' first-round pick. Under one condition: If the Nets' pick is top-three, they get to keep it. 

New Jersey is the sixth-worst team in the league right now. Odds are that they will not have a top-three pick and Portland will be able to build upon the nucleus of LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. Bradley Beal or Harrison Barnes could be taken with this pick by Portland. And there's a chance that Tyler Zeller could be taken at Portland's own position of No. 10 or No. 11. 

Yet another interesting scenario to watch as we wrap up the final three weeks of this condensed lockout-shortened season.