Grizzlies, Thunder make first trade of 2026 NBA Draft

For the first half of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, all was quiet on the trade front. At pick No. 16, the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder shook things up.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported shortly after the Grizzlies selected Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz that Memphis was trading his draft rights to the Thunder. In return, Oklahoma City sent the Grizzlies the No. 17 pick and two second-round picks.

Fewer than 10 minutes later, Charania reported that the Grizzlies moved back once again. The Detroit Pistons sent Memphis three second-round picks and the No. 21 overall pick to move up to the No. 17 pick that the Thunder had owned entering the night. Detroit will own the draft rights to Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie, the 17th overall pick.

In all, the Grizzlies acquired five second-round picks to move back five spots in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. The Thunder got Stirtz with the No. 16 pick, and the Pistons got Okorie with the No. 17 pick.