Teams around the NBA are panicking over the OKC Thunder obtaining the LA Clippers’ 2026 1st Round pick in the NBA Draft Lottery

[charknicks]

For argument sake, say the Thunder picked up the 4th, 10th, and 17th picks in the draft, those 3 1st rounders would be making about $17m total next year, and about $20m total in 2 years. They could, without any issue, just let go Kendrich Williams, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber (who dont play) and be right at the same salary next year, and keep this train rolling.
OR
can package these picks to another team, and have more picks down the road again.

Presti knows what the hell he is doing.

 

[LV Koopa]

These exaggerated headlines are crazy. OKC is great without that pick. Teams have known it could convey for 5 years now.

No one is panicking about it.

 

[Electric Relaxation]

Paul George

 

[pete clemenza]

Moving SGA was idiotic in its own right, yes I said it when the trade happened, but the amount of pics given up and then not putting protections on the last remaining first rounders owed was light years beyond stupid.

 

[Jaylen Tatum]

I don’t think OKC is an alltime great team. The Pacers just took them 7 games and probably would’ve won if Hali stays healthy

I hope yall play them in the playoffs so you can learn firsthand.

 

[FTBS]

NBA has always undervalued draft picks, which is why teams give em away like candy.

Often times, they don't amount to much....BUT....they can also be mega force multipliers if the stars align. OKC built a championship team and now they're about to potentially add more elite talent in what appears to be a loaded 2026 NBA draft. Very much a James Worthy to the Lakers situation.

The only reason people are iffy on it (I think) is because no one sees OKC as THAT SQUAD just yet. Like if this was peak GSW, Bron's Heat, Shaq/Kobe Lakers etc., it would jump out at people a lot more. Like imagine the 80s Lakers having #1 overall in the '84 draft with Hakeem and MJ sitting there.

Does OKC want to draft any of the top guys? Will someone offer them a current All-Star level player?

I don't think it's going to hit people until OKC wins again. If they hoist the trophy in June and get a Top 3/Top 5 pick....that's when the panic alarms will start going off.

Draft picks in general actually mean the least in the NBA. High picks are different but everybody thinks they wont be picking high when they make these trades. Star players run shyt. If you can get a Shai or Joker or Luka, fukk them picks. But if you dont get that level of player or injuries hit or both you are fukked. I respect teams that go for it but you do have to be smart about it.

 

[T.he I.nformant]

Where the fukk is “basketball reasons” when you need it??

 

[Trojan 24]

 

[Hypris]

The Thunder build a team like NBA 2K MYLeague. Stacked a bunch of picks during the rebuild and got some teams to give up their future. Hit on almost all of their picks and built a potential dynasty that still gets top lottery picks from other teams.

 

[dizzy4111]

Good. Quality organizations should be rewarded, dumbass organizations should be punished.

This is how it should work.

 

[Collateral]

I’m ok with this potential OKC dynasty. They did things the right way and deserve all the rewards that comes with it.

 

[High quality poster]

These exaggerated headlines are crazy. OKC is great without that pick. Teams have known it could convey for 5 years now.

No one is panicking about it.

Yea? And what about when they end up picking AJ? Then what?

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

OKC is going to win 70 games and have a lineup of Shai, J-Dub, Chet, Dort and AJ Dynasta.

Nasty work.

 

[FTBS]

I don’t think OKC is an alltime great team. The Pacers just took them 7 games and probably would’ve won if Hali stays healthy

They arent...yet. But I mean, what more does a squad have to do to make you say they might be a problem? You can parse their chip all you want, they closed the deal. They also dominated Denver in game 7 and beat the healthy Wolves in 5. Everybody would agree those teams were better than Indy. Plus the first chip can be a little funky, especially for a young team. Kobe and Shaq nearly blew a 3-1 lead that first year. The next year they swept everybody. The fact that they got over the hump AND came back red hot out the gates, no hangover, is what should worry folks. And then you got all the picks and stuff. I mean we have seen squads get crowned off an offseason but a chip and 20-1 and picks aint enough for them?

 

[LV Koopa]

Yea? And what about when they end up picking AJ? Then what?

Ok? They had to build that team and get lucky in a few places. Good for them. I hope it works out.