Clippers' loss gifts Thunder a 2026 lottery pick, potentially a top-four selection in a historic draft class.
For Oklahoma City Thunder fans, the Paul George trade is the gift that keeps on giving.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the #9 versus #10 Western Conference play-in tournament game on Wednesday night. That result affected the Thunder in two different ways. One, it narrowed OKC's list of possible 1st Round playoff opponents down to only two teams: the Warriors or the Phoenix Suns. Two, and more importantly to most Oklahoma City fans, it sent an unprotected 2026 lottery pick from the Clippers to the Thunder.
The pick is currently slotted at the #12 spot with a 7.1% chance to jump into the top 4. If the Warriors beat the Suns on Friday night, the pick will move up to the #11 spot and increase to a 9.4% chance to move up into the top 4.
Whether or not the ping pong balls bounce in OKC's favor on lottery draft night, securing the #11 or #12 pick in this particular draft is already a massive win for the Thunder. The 2026 NBA Draft class is considered one of the most talented and deepest in the history of the league. Marrying a late lottery selection in a historic class with the best draft evaluator in the NBA, Oklahoma City General Manager Sam Presti, is a recipe for success.
And if the Thunder happened to jump into the top 4 on lottery night? Aside from the social media meltdown from 29 other fanbases spamming the "He can't keep getting away with this!" gif, OKC could truly enter some unchartered territory. As loaded as this draft class is throughout the entire 1st Round, there is a clear cut three players at the top who are considered franchise changing prospects. And a consensus fourth player who is himself an elite, blue chip prospect.
Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson are each talented enough to become the centerpiece for a young rebuilding team like the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz or Brooklyn Nets. But if the defending champion Thunder were to somehow make the leap, those rookies would be joining a team with a 27 year old soon to be back to back MVP, a 25 year old All-Star/All-NBA/All-Defense player and a 23 year old soon to be All-Star/All-NBA/All-Defense player. It would truly be an embarrassment of riches in Oklahoma City.
But even in the more likely scenario that OKC stays at #11 or #12, the Thunder have some great history with that spot in the draft. Nick Collison (back with the SuperSonics), Steven Adams, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace (traded up from 12 to 10) and Nikola Topic were all selected at #12.
Oh and if Golden State does the Thunder another solid and beats the Suns to bump that pick up one spot to #11? That happens to be where some guy named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted.