The Thunder just got handed another potential windfall from the Clippers, and this one came out of nowhere.
When word broke Tuesday afternoon that Los Angeles was sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, the headline was about a major shakeup at the top of the league. Toronto instantly looks like a contender. But tucked inside the deal is a development that could matter just as much in Oklahoma City.
Back in 2023, when James Harden was moved to the Clippers by Philadelphia, the Thunder entered the transaction as a distant third team. They weren’t the centerpiece of the trade, but they did land a protected 2026 first-round pick in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles.
Now that swap suddenly has real juice.
Leonard is out, and the Clippers are sending Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, and a collection of picks to Los Angeles. On paper, that leaves the Clippers with a roster that looks far less imposing than it did with Leonard in the fold. And that’s exactly the kind of setup that can turn into lottery gold.
Under the new draft lottery rules taking effect in 2027, 16 teams will receive at least one lottery ball. The three teams with the worst records will have only two, while the rest of the non-playoff teams - excluding play-in winners and losers - will get three. That structure makes the middle of the lottery a lot more crowded, and it also puts a team like the Clippers in a very interesting spot if the season goes sideways.
For Oklahoma City, the timing couldn’t be better. The Thunder still have one of the league’s best rosters and don’t figure to be anywhere near the lottery themselves. But if the Clippers slide, the Thunder could end up with a chance at another premium pick or a valuable trade chip through the swap.
That’s the part of this deal that should have Thunder fans paying close attention again. A team already loaded with assets may have just added one more possible prize to the pile.
And the Clippers’ 2027 outlook only adds to the intrigue. They’re expected to be led by Brandon Ingram and Darius Garland, two players known for their inability to stay healthy. If that roster doesn’t hold up, Oklahoma City could find another path to strengthening its grip on the Western Conference.
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Thunder Are Taking A Surprising Chet Holmgren Gamble
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The choice stands out because it cuts against the more incremental, constantly adjusting style Presti has used to build value over time. The Thunder have already trimmed depth to create financial breathing room, and every move now seems tied to the same larger question: how to keep the roster strong enough to win now without boxing themselves in later. Holmgren sits right at the center of that calculation, which is why his place in Oklahoma City feels less settled than most others, even if the team is not acting like it. [Read more 🡒]