The Oklahoma City Thunder’s rise from rebuild to contender has been one of the NBA’s most calculated and compelling storylines in recent years. And at the heart of it all?
That blockbuster 2019 trade with the Clippers that sent Paul George to Los Angeles and brought back Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a treasure chest of future first-round picks. One of those picks turned into Jalen Williams - now an All-Star and key piece of OKC’s young core.
But as the final draft pick from that trade approaches, the outcome is suddenly less certain than Thunder fans might have hoped. That pick, which was once projected to be a lottery selection in 2026, is now in jeopardy of falling much lower in the draft order - and the reason is simple: the Clippers are starting to figure things out.
After stumbling to a 7-21 start, the Clippers have flipped the script. They've won 12 of their last 15 games and currently sit in the final Play-In Tournament spot in the Western Conference.
The catalyst? Kawhi Leonard’s return to form.
The star forward has stabilized the team on both ends of the floor, reminding everyone why he’s still one of the most impactful two-way players in the league when healthy.
Now, with momentum on their side and the trade deadline looming, the Clippers are looking more like buyers than sellers. That’s a significant shift from where they were just a month ago - and it could have major implications for the Thunder’s draft war chest.
The Clippers still own the 11th-worst record in the league, so technically, they’re still in the lottery mix. But their recent surge has changed the math.
If they can capitalize on their upcoming schedule - which includes a depleted Lakers squad, a struggling Nets team, and the inconsistent Jazz - they could realistically push their record to 22-24. That would put them in striking distance of climbing out of the Play-In entirely and into the top six in the West.
Add in the fact that teams like the Trail Blazers are banged up and the Warriors just lost Jimmy Butler for the season, and the Clippers’ path to a higher seed isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed. If they swing a deal at the deadline for another rotation piece, it could be the final push they need to solidify their playoff position.
And that’s where things get interesting - especially for OKC.
The Thunder have already struck gold with the returns from the Paul George deal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into a franchise cornerstone, and Jalen Williams looks like a future star in his own right. Another top-10 pick in 2026 would’ve been the cherry on top - yet another premium asset for a team that’s already ahead of schedule.
But if the Clippers continue trending upward, that pick could slide into the late teens or even the 20s. That’s still valuable, sure - but it’s not the potential franchise-changer OKC might have envisioned.
Across the league, you can bet there are plenty of front offices quietly rooting for the Clippers to keep winning. The Thunder are already a handful - young, deep, and well-coached.
Giving Sam Presti another high-end draft pick to play with? That’s a nightmare scenario for a lot of teams trying to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference.
Even without that pick turning into a top-tier selection, OKC is positioned for long-term success. They’ve drafted well, developed talent, and stayed patient. But if that final piece from the Paul George trade had landed in the lottery, it might’ve accelerated their timeline even further.
Now, the spotlight turns to the Clippers. Can they keep this run going?
Will they make a move at the deadline to bolster their playoff chances? And most importantly for Thunder fans - how much will this late-season surge impact that final pick?
We’ll find out soon enough. But one thing’s for sure: the ripple effects of that 2019 trade are still being felt today, and the final chapter is still being written.