The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t just add a wing on Sunday - they jumped the line on two teams that were reportedly interested in the same player.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Thunder beat out the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in the race to land Nique Clifford from the Sacramento Kings. Oklahoma City sent Sacramento two second-round picks to complete the deal, using some of its stockpile of draft assets to address its recent injury issues.
Now the Thunder’s next move is purely roster math. They need to open a spot for Clifford, and Dalen Terry is the obvious name to watch. Oklahoma City had signed Terry to a multi-year deal to fill its 15th roster spot, but Scotto noted the contract was not fully guaranteed, which means he can be waived to make room.
Clifford arrives in Oklahoma City in his second NBA season after the Kings took him No. 24 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. He showed some promise as a rookie, but his role had already shrunk early this season.
The former Colorado State standout appeared in eight of Sacramento’s nine games this year and was playing just over six minutes per night. He was averaging 1.6 points and 1.0 assists while shooting 35.3 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from 3-point range.
Last season, Clifford averaged 8.6 points and shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. For the Thunder, the appeal is clear: a young athletic wing with a chance to step into a contending environment and contribute right away.
In Other News...
JJ Redick May Have Found Another Lakers Rotation Piece
The Lakers have opened with eight wins in their first 10 games, their best start since the 2019-20 season, and the early success has given JJ Redick a chance to sort through more than just the obvious pieces. Luka Doncic has driven the offense, but the latest encouraging sign came from Adou Thiero, who finally got into the mix after missing nine games with a knee injury.
Acquired in the 2025 trade that also involved the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant, Thiero is still in the early stages of carving out a role, but the Lakers have reason to keep watching closely. Even in limited action, he flashed the kind of promise that can matter over the long haul, especially for a team trying to build depth around its star core while the season is still young. [Read more 🡒]
Jimmy Butler Had The Perfect Sideline Reaction In Warriors-Magic
The Warriors and Magic gave Chase Center plenty to sort through on Wednesday, from a late-game scuffle involving Georges Niang and Wendell Carter Jr. to Stephen Curry hitting another notable three-pointer. Orlando had the edge late, with Nikola Vucevic, Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva helping keep the pressure on Golden State, while Curry and Brandin Podziemski tried to drag the home team back into it.
One of the more noticeable reactions came from Jimmy Butler, who was taking in the action from the sideline as Golden State worked through the closing stretch. For the Lakers, it is another reminder of how much attention these Warriors games still draw even beyond the players on the floor, especially when Curry is climbing another statistical ladder and the building starts to tighten up around a game that was still very much in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face One Huge Luka Problem Before Lakers Tipoff
The Pistons head into their meeting with the Lakers still trying to steady themselves after a loss to Philadelphia, and the matchup in Detroit already has a familiar feel to it. Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson will be part of the equation for a Detroit team looking to bounce back at Little Caesars Arena, but the spotlight naturally shifts to the other side when Los Angeles comes in with Luka Doncic driving the conversation.
Doncic has been producing at an elite level, averaging 40 points per game, which is why Detroits defensive plan matters so much. The Pistons are expected to lean on Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland to make life difficult for him, but there is still a layer of uncertainty hanging over the tipoff as the Lakers monitor his status. [Read more 🡒]