In the context of National Basketball Association trades, a “top 10 protected” designation applied to a draft pick means that if the pick falls within the top 10 selections in the draft, the team receiving the pick does not acquire it. Instead, the pick reverts back to the team that originally traded it. For example, if Team A trades a future first-round pick to Team B, but the pick is designated as top 10 protected, and Team A finishes with one of the 10 worst records, thereby securing a top 10 pick, Team B would not receive that pick.
This protection mechanism provides a degree of security for the team trading away a future draft selection. It prevents a situation where a team trades a pick that unexpectedly becomes very valuable due to a sharp decline in the team’s performance. It also facilitates trades, as teams might be more willing to part with future assets if they are shielded from the worst-case scenario of conveying a high lottery pick. This mechanism helps teams to manage risk and uncertainty when engaging in player acquisitions or rebuilding strategies.