With the regular season winding down quickly, here is an update on the 2015 first round picks that have trade protection on them.

Miami Heat

Protection- Send pick to the 76ers (via Cleveland) if 11-30

Status- Miami has an incredibly complex situation because both making the playoffs and retaining their pick are in play. Utah continuing to win could give Miami the buffer to fall to #10 if they miss out on the playoffs but the Heat finish the season against Orlando and Philadelphia who may be more desperate to lose depending on how things shake out. If it rolls over to next year, Miami’s pick has the same 1-10 protection. One other quirk of the Heat retaining their pick is that it would knock off one of the available years to send the first of two selections over to the Suns, meaning it would only have one year of 1-7 protection (2018) before potentially being unprotected in 2019.

Los Angeles Lakers

Protection- Send pick to the 76ers (via Phoenix) if 6-30

Status- The Lakers are settling in to the fourth-worst record, which means it would take two teams jumping them in the lottery to lose their pick this year. In the four slot, there would be a 17.2% chance of that happening. Should it carry over, the Lakers’ pick has 1-3 protection in 2016.

New Orleans Pelicans

Protection- Send pick to the Rockets if 4-19

Status- Even if the Pelicans make the playoffs, they will send the pick to Houston unless they also jump both the Wizards and Raptors, which appears doubtful at best.

Sacramento Kings

Protection- Send pick to the Bulls if 11-30

Status- The Kings have the sixth-worst record in the league right now, which would make it impossible for Chicago to get the pick if it holds. Sacramento would need to go on a late-season run to push this pick into jeopardy. This pick has 1-10 protection for both 2016 and 2017 before reverting to a second if not conveyed.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Protection- Send pick to the 76ers (via Cleveland and Denver) if 19-30

Status- The unusual 1-18 protection looks like it will work out exactly as hoped for Sam Presti as the Thunder should end up at the 18th or 17th pick. Considering OKC’s justifiably high hopes for next season, they do not expect the 1-15 protection to matter a whole lot.

Houston Rockets

Protection- Send pick to the Lakers if 15-30

Status- The Rockets clinched a playoff berth, so their pick will head to Los Angeles this year.

Dallas Mavericks

Protection- Send pick to the Celtics if it lands from 4-14

Status- The Mavericks are nearly locked into a playoff berth so the Celtics will see the more desirable 1-7 protection next season.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Protection- Send pick to the Celtics if 13-30

Status- The Wolves season went off the rails quickly enough that they will retain their pick this year. It has identical 1-12 protection next season but reverts to multiple seconds if not conveyed in 2016.

Memphis Grizzlies

Protection- Send pick to the Nuggets if 6-14

Status- Memphis has clinched a playoff berth so this will roll over to 2016, where it has the same 1-5 and 15-30 protection.

Philadelphia 76ers

Protection- Send pick to the Celtics if 15-30

Status- Enjoy your second round picks in 2015 and 2016, Boston. No chance of getting this first.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Protection- The Bulls can swap picks if Cleveland’s pick falls in the 15-30 range.

Status- Cleveland will finish with a better record so no benefit for the Bulls.

As a bonus, here are the unprotected first round obligations for the 2015 Draft:

Brooklyn Nets: The Hawks can (and will) swap their pick with the Nets this year. Brooklyn making the playoffs would take a little of the sting out of it for them.

Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers send their first to the Celtics as compensation for Doc Rivers.