The Los Angeles Clippers brought in Bradley Beal, John Collins, and Brook Lopez to bolster their roster last offseason, but their plans seemed to backfire. They own a 5-15 record to start the 2025-26 season.
The Clippers are the oldest team in the league, and in most scenarios, it might be easy to suggest a rebuild. However, this is not the case for Los Angeles, as the Oklahoma City Thunder owns the Clippers’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick.
The Los Angeles Clippers Can Make the Oklahoma City Thunder Even Stronger
The Thunder received the Clippers’ first-round pick next year in a deal that changed the NBA forever. Los Angeles sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, four first-round picks, and two swaps to Oklahoma City for Paul George.
One of those picks turned into Jalen Williams- the Thunder’s second-best player. He earned his first All-Star selection in just his second season. The Miami Heat’s Jaime Jacquez Jr. also came from this trade. He is enjoying a career season in his third campaign.
Los Angeles’ pick next summer could give the Thunder even more firepower, and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon says this situation scares the rest of the NBA.
“The league is in a panic about the Thunder owning the Clippers’ picks these next couple years. This year outright and next year via swap,” said the insider.
“The league is in a panic about the Thunder owning the Clippers picks these next couple years.” 😳@BannedMacMahon on the Clippers after their 5-15 start ✍️ pic.twitter.com/pz2Ko9D3NA
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 1, 2025
The 2026 NBA Draft class is loaded with star-projected talent. Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer for an extremely talented trio at the top of the lottery. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo describes some of this draft as “the strongest NCAA freshman class in the past half-decade.”
The Thunder have a chance to land one of these three elite prospects and lengthen what could become an NBA dynasty. In contrast, the Clippers do not own a draft pick next summer.
The Clippers’ Vision Did Not Come Into Fruition
Los Angeles traded for George to pair him with Kawhi Leonard. It signed Leonard in free agency after he won the 2019 NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2020-21 campaign.
They traded for James Harden for more star power at the start of the 2023-24 season, but this trio did not last long. George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers after just one season.
Los Angeles sits 13th in the Western Conference. It ranks 20th in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating. Their group of veterans has to find its rhythm soon. Otherwise, the Thunder will receive more young talent to add to their already deep roster for years to come.
