Cleveland Cavaliers: 6 ways the trade deadline deals impact the team

3. Keep the Brooklyn pick

The Cavs did it. After months of guessing if they’d do it, Koby Altman improved the roster without trading Brooklyn’s unprotected draft pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

Working for Dan Gilbert can’t be an easy task, but the first-year GM pulled it off.

All the debate surrounding the Brooklyn pick can now be put to bed because the Cavs are barred from trading it. They traded their own first-round pick in this year’s draft, and do not own a first-round select in next year’s draft.

The Stepien Rule prohibits teams from dealing away first-round picks in consecutive seasons.

So, unless the Cavs take on another first-round pick, the Brooklyn pick will there for the Cavs to use come draft day.