Ranking 5 NBA Teams With the Best Trade Assets

The late stages of the 2026 NBA Playoffs are keeping everyone's attention on the court, but it won't be long until the focus shifts back to the transactional side of things.

The NBA Draft is only weeks away, which means blockbuster trades and franchise-altering picks, cuts and signings are on the horizon.

As we prepare for what could be an extremely active offseason, it's important to get a lay of the land from an asset perspective. We need to know which teams are best equipped to swing the biggest deals.

To establish a little order before the frenzied, swap-meet chaos ahead, we'll lay out the five teams that have the most future picks to include in an attention-grabbing deal. This isn't about the best asset in a superstar sense; we want to know who has the tools to trade for a huge name or inject itself as a third team in someone else's exchange.

5. Memphis Grizzlies

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Starting with the No. 3 pick in this year's draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have the assets to shift themselves into a new era pretty quickly.

That process already started last offseason, when the Grizz sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a package of five first-round assets, and it continued when Jaren Jackson Jr. went to the Utah Jazz for three more. The conclusion won't come until Ja Morant is also gone, and that part of the revamping process could cost Memphis picks.

Still, this team is in great shape with Nos. 16 and 32 coming this June after the No. 3 selection.

Memphis has a total of 11 first-rounders between now and 2033, seven of which it can trade at this year's draft. In the near term, the Grizzlies will get the best 2027 first-rounder from the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves. It'll also add the Los Angeles Lakers' 2027 first if it falls outside the top four.

Add to that swap rights (protected 1-2) on Orlando's 2029 first-rounder, unprotected ownership of the Magic's 2030 first and a very juicy unprotected 2031 Phoenix Suns first-rounder, and the Grizzlies can put together hugely appealing offers to teams with longer timelines.

4. Charlotte Hornets

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If the Charlotte Hornets want to make a play for a star forward or center to complement the high-scoring trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, they've got the resources.

We're not weighing the value of expiring salaries here, but just as an illustration of Charlotte's position, consider this idea: Conservatively, it could attach Nos. 14 and 18 in the 2026 draft to $50 million in expiring salary (Miles Bridges, Josh Green and Grant Williams all come off the books after 2026-27) and draw the attention of any rebuilder looking to move a big name.

If those picks aren't enticing enough, the Hornets could dip into a war chest that also includes a top-two protected 2027 first-rounder from the Dallas Mavericks and a top-14 protected 2027 first from the Miami Heat. That latter pick may not convey next year, and Charlotte is probably rooting for the Heat to be middling enough to keep it.

Charlotte will find itself in possession of a totally unprotected 2028 Miami first in that hypothetical, probably enough to justify moving up toward the top two in these rankings.

In all, the Hornets control every one of their own future firsts, can trade up to seven total firsts this offseason and even possess 14 incoming second-rounders.

3. San Antonio Spurs

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We haven't made much of second-rounders yet (just wait until we get to the Brooklyn Nets!), but the San Antonio Spurs have three in this year's draft and 14 in total between now and 2033. Those aren't going to be franchise-shifting selections unless San Antonio uncovers the next Nikola Jokić or Draymond Green after the top 30 come off the board, but they can grease the skids in smaller deals.

If the Spurs want to think bigger, they can do that, too.

With four moveable future firsts including No. 20 in the 2026 draft, San Antonio can insert itself into most trade talks involving a star. We're not giving weight to the actual players and salaries on the books, but if we were, the Spurs could jump to the head of this list with their three most important long-term players—Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle—all playing on dirt-cheap rookie-scale contracts.

Those guys aren't going anywhere, but the Spurs can use the unprotected 2027 first-rounder they have coming from the Atlanta Hawks to add another core piece. Also helpful in that effort: first-round swap rights with Boston in 2028, Dallas or Minnesota in 2030 and the Sacramento Kings in 2031.

A lot can change in five years, but it seems likely incoming Kings picks will still be exceptionally valuable. That last selection is San Antonio's crown jewel and should be highly desirable in any deal.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

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Both in the immediate future and the years nearer the end of the decade, GM Sam Presti's Oklahoma City Thunder are set up to keep this potential dynasty going strong.

They'll select 12th and 17th in the upcoming draft and could certainly look to move both of those picks for additional value. It's easy to forget, but the Thunder's last two first-rounders—Nikola Topić and Thomas Sorber—have played a combined 10 professional games due to injury. If OKC believes either of them is rotation-worthy going forward, it could easily flip its picks in the 2026 draft. Or, those two prospects could head out in a deal to make room for new rookies.

The Thunder's own picks aren't all that valuable, but they contribute to a trove of selections that will allow the team to move up to seven future firsts. Oklahoma City has 10 incoming firsts in total, the most intriguing of which is probably the Dallas Mavericks' 2028 (swap) and the Denver Nuggets' 2029 (top-five protected).

If the Mavs don't hit the ground running with Cooper Flagg or the Nuggets slip as Nikola Jokić begins his decline, the Thunder will capitalize.

1. Brooklyn Nets

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Including the No. 6 pick in the 2026 draft, the Brooklyn Nets also have a whopping nine first-round selections available for trade. That's the most in the league by a decent margin (Charlotte checks in at No. 2 with seven tradeable firsts) and the main reason Brooklyn belongs atop the list.

The Mikal Bridges trade is the gift that keeps on giving, as the Nets have three totally unprotected future firsts coming from the New York Knicks. Those picks will convey in 2027, 2029 and 2031. After that, Brooklyn will collect the spoils of last offseason's Michael Porter Jr. deal, which secured it the rights to the Denver Nuggets' unprotected 2032 first-rounder.

That 2027 Knicks selection may not land near the front of the first round, but each of the other three could be highly valuable lottery tickets. With the new lottery odds set to take effect and a pair of costly rosters in Denver and New York that may need to be torn down before the decade is out, Brooklyn is positioned to cash in.

It's remarkable that the Nets land here, despite their own 2027 first-rounder going to Houston in a swap. The most favorable 2028 first-rounder from the Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers (top-eight protected) could make up for that one, though.

The Nets have also stockpiled a league-high 19 second-rounders going out to 2033.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.