what is a protected first round pick nba
First of all, a quick explanation for the unfamiliar: Protection on a draft pick means that if a pick falls in the protected zone, it does not get traded until the following season. For example, the pick the Celtics received from the Mavericks in the Rajon Rondo trade is protected this season for picks 1-3 and 15-30. That means if the Mavericks' normal pick is anywhere in the top three or bottom half of the first round, they keep it.