Definition: The NBA prohibits teams from trading first-round draft picks in successive seasons. The rule was put in place in response to Ted Stepien's disastrous run as owner and de facto general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During Stepien's reign, the Cavaliers made a practice of trading future draft picks for marginal veteran players. His most notable deal sent a 1982 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dan Ford and the 22nd overall pick in 1980. That 1982 pick wound up being the first overall selection, which the Lakers used to select future hall-of-famer James Worthy.
Some other notable players who were selected with picks Stepien traded away:
- Sam Perkins (1984, 4th overall)
- Derek Harper (1983, 11th overall)
- Roy Tarpley (1986, 7th overall)
- Detlef Schrempf (1985, 8th overall)
- Dennis Rodman (1986, 27th overall)
Examples:
The Ted Stepien rule prohibits the Knicks from trading their 2011 first-round draft pick, because their 2012 pick was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of the Tracy McGrady deal.