The first night of the 2026 NBA Draft is finally over, and the league will never be the same again. Between the new class of rookies and constant rumors behind the scenes, tonight’s event was full of activity and life-changing moments that won’t be easily forgotten.
On the trade front, all was quiet until the final 10 picks in the first round. The Lakers broke the ice by making a trade for the No. 24 pick, picking up Baylor guard Cameron Carr. Just two spots later, however, the Denver Nuggets traded their No. 26 pick (Tarris Reed Jr.) to the Spurs in exchange for No. 35 and two future second-round picks, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
At center, Tarris Reed Jr. is the perfect backup option behind Victor Wembanyama. At 6’10” and 260 pounds, he brings size and strength to the rotation, along with a versatile offensive game. This season, in 35 games, he averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting 60.7% from the field.
For the Nuggets, there was no prospect that immediately stood out to them, so why not turn their one draft pick into several? Even though they moved down to 35, they got two future seconds, which could be packaged into another deal for a win-now veteran to help Nikola Jokic.
At 29, the Cavaliers were supposed to take their turn, but they decided to send the pick over to Sacramento instead. Per Shams, the deal sends the 29th pick to the Kings in exchange for No. 34 and one future second-round pick. It’s a similar structure to the Nuggets/Spurs deal, minus one second-rounder.
Of course, instead of Tarris Reed Jr., the Kings went after UConn’s Alex Karaban. The 6’8″ forward spent four seasons with UConn, averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on 46.4% shooting and 37.4% shooting from three. For a team that went 22-60 this season, the Kings desperately need a spark on the wing, and they believe Karaban can deliver, which is why they traded up to get him.
Out of all teams, however, the Knicks were the most active on the trade market today. After swapping picks with the Lakers, they picked up Sergio De Larrea, only to send him to Dallas in exchange for the No. 30 pick, Koa Peat, and two second-round picks. The Knicks then traded Peat to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 47 pick, three more second-round picks, and cash considerations. In total, the Knicks have gained six picks and some cash, and they’re not even done.
Going into tomorrow’s selections, the Knicks have three picks: the No. 47, No. 31, and No. 55. According to Charania, they have already started getting offers on the No. 31 pick and will likely look to trade it prior to the start of the second round.
All in all, it’s been an eventful day for the NBA. What began as a footnote trade late in the first round turned into a series of moves that shifted the draft order. While every team essentially got what they wanted, the Knicks are the biggest winners here. Not only did they stock up on second-round draft picks in the future, but they still have some more picks to make (or trade) in this draft. For the other teams, it was about getting that one prospect they wanted, but only time will tell if their gamble pays off.
