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07

Draft-rights swap · June 21, 2018

The draft-night swap that linked Luka and Trae forever

Atlanta drafted Luka Dončić third and traded his rights to Dallas for the rights to Trae Young at No. 5 and a protected 2019 first.

See where this happened in the 2018 offseason →

The original receipt

Every asset in the deal

Each team panel shows the players and draft assets it received.

To DALDALDONČIĆ77To ATLATLYOUNG1120191STround asset

Why it happened

The bet each side made

Dallas moved up for the prospect it believed could lead a franchise. Atlanta moved down two spots, secured its preferred point guard and added another first.

Why history remembers it

Both teams found an offensive centerpiece, ensuring every playoff run and accolade would reopen a trade debate that cannot be reduced to one simple winner.

The family tree

Where the picks and rights went

Selections, swaps and later trades are traced separately so a downstream player is not mistaken for a direct one-for-one return.

  1. 01

    2018 No. 5 · selected

    Trae Young →

    Dallas made the selection for Atlanta before the rights were exchanged.

    ATLYOUNG11

    2018 NBA Draft

    No. 5

    Overall pick

    Trae Young

    Draft destination · ATL

  2. 02

    Protected 2019 Dallas first · selected

    Cam Reddish · No. 10 →

    The pick conveyed the following year and Atlanta selected the Duke wing.

    ATLREDDISH22

    2019 NBA Draft

    No. 10

    Overall pick

    Cam Reddish

    Draft destination · ATL

What changed

The consequences

  • Dončić won 2019 Rookie of the Year and became Dallas's franchise player.
  • Young became Atlanta's lead creator and carried the Hawks to the 2021 conference finals.
  • The extra first became Reddish, who Atlanta later traded to New York.

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