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

[Primetime]

The funny thing is… nobody thought the GSW were great or an all time team after their first title in 2015. The narrative was they would’ve lost to Cleveland if not for injuries, and Steph wasn’t that guy…

A decade later they had a dynastic run, Steph is seen as top-10’sh all time, and that first title is their least talked about one out of the four. Ironically, Steph in 2015 was the same age as Shai last year and GSW won 67 that year compared to OKC’s 68 last year.

The excessive draft capital opens the door for tomfoolery situations that could rival the competitive advantage that adding KD did to those GSW teams.

 

[Rekkapryde]

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

Unfortunately the league doesn't own a team this time

 

[KingsnBucs1987]

There’s a very real chance that OKC could win 70 games and a chip and then have 3 lottery picks in a loaded draft

We should all be afraid

Do like the Lakers did when they won the title and drafted Magic

Is what it is, blame Balmer for buying into Peg Leg and Podcast P and going all in, shyt bites you in the ass sometimes

 

[CHICAGO]

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

THAT WAS LAST SEASON

CHET WAS IN HIS 2ND YEAR
J WILLIAMS WAS IN HIS 3RD YEAR.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
A TEAM WON WITH THEIR
2ND/3RD OPTIONS
IN THEIR 2ND/3RD SEASONS?

YOU TALKING LIKE
THESE YOUNG ASS PLAYERS
HAVE ALREADY PEAKED.

THE 1ST CHIP IS ALWAYS
THE HARDEST.

NOW THEYRE BATTLE TESTED
AND STILL IMPROVING.


​

 

[Buckeye Fever]

This is why I hold off on saying Luka for AD was the worst trade in NBA history.

The PG/SGA trade already delivered an MVP & NBA title to OKC, PLUS more 1st rd picks and apparently, they'll have another lottery pick while projecting to be a 70 win team.


It really ain't close

 

[IsThatBrothaMouzone?]

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.

100%.

The picks don't matter nearly as much compared to say, the NFL....unless you draft a stud or miss out on an elite, All-NBA breh.

Clips gave up too much and weren't nearly as close as they thought they were. Teams shouldn't make those kinds of moves unless they're right on the cusp or lost in the Finals with a young squad.

PG is to OKC what Herschel Walker was to the Cowboys.

 

[who_better_than_me]

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

Only thing I’m learn from a series against them is how hard that whistle goin blow

 

[tremonthustler1]

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.

The real reason is because OKC is bad for business

 

[LV Koopa]

This is why I hold off on saying Luka for AD was the worst trade in NBA history.

The PG/SGA trade already delivered an MVP & NBA title to OKC, PLUS the more 1st rd picks and apparently, they'll have another lottery pick while projecting to be a 70 win team.


It really ain't close

Not the same. Paul George was coming off an MVP level season in OKC. What killed the Clippers was Kawhi's insistence on getting PG which hampered their leverage and forced unprotected picks into the deal. But no one at the time was blaming the Clippers for doing it.

Shai was seen as a good prospect, and a future starter level player in LA. Some people (like myself) thought he MIGHT be an All Star based on his advanced numbers. It wasn't until a year after the trade anyone pegged him as sure-fire All Star. Then another (when CP3) left for him to even be considered close to MVP level. Shai was not a surefire thing so let's not pretend that.

It took like 15 things to occur for OKC to get this roster (Chet getting injured his rookie year was another one). The J-Will pick (many people on this damn board who don't watch games didn't know who he was until the playoffs), the Hartenstein theft from the Knicks (monster per minute numbers, Knicks let him go), the Caruso trade - OKC put in work. It wasn't just "stock draft picks and profit".

AD and Luka are different because both are pretty much 100% known commodities. With Luka just coming off a Finals berth and MVP level season. The trade was bad and WOAT level the minute it occurred because Dallas would eat all of the downside. And that's exactly what's occurring now as they are looking to move AD.

 

[CHICAGO]

Not the same. Paul George was coming off an MVP level season in OKC. What killed the Clippers was Kawhi's insistence on getting PG which hampered their leverage and forced unprotected picks into the deal. But no one at the time was blaming the Clippers for doing it.

Shai was seen as a good prospect, and a future starter level player in LA. Some people (like myself) thought he MIGHT be an All Star based on his advanced numbers. It wasn't until a year after the trade anyone pegged him as sure-fire All Star. Then another (when CP3) left for him to even be considered close to MVP level. Shai was not a surefire thing so let's not pretend that.

It took like 15 things to occur for OKC to get this roster (Chet getting injured his rookie year was another one). The J-Will pick (many people on this damn board who don't watch games didn't know who he was until the playoffs), the Hartenstein theft from the Knicks (monster per minute numbers, Knicks let him go), the Caruso trade - OKC put in work. It wasn't just "stock draft picks and profit".

AD and Luka are different because both are pretty much 100% known commodities. With Luka just coming off a Finals berth and MVP level season. The trade was bad and WOAT level the minute it occurred because Dallas would eat all of the downside. And that's exactly what's occurring now as they are looking to move AD.

RESULTS ARE THE ONLY
THING THAT MATTER.

SGA WILL GO DOWN
AS A BETTER PLAYER
THAN KAWHI AND PG

ITS THE WOAT TRADE


​

 

[MicIsGod]

Feel bad for whatever rookie goes top 3 to okc. Growth instantly stunted nikka might not even play

 

[tremonthustler1]

This is why I hold off on saying Luka for AD was the worst trade in NBA history.

The PG/SGA trade already delivered an MVP & NBA title to OKC, PLUS more 1st rd picks and apparently, they'll have another lottery pick while projecting to be a 70 win team.


It really ain't close

The reason why this isn’t as bad as the Luka trade is because FWIW, this is as good as the Clippers have ever been. It’s just dwarfed by how OKC has managed things AND the prizes of the deal (Kawhi and Paul George) can’t stay healthy for shyt.

This looks so much worse now because the Clippers have been ass to start. In reality, OKC been eating off them even when the Clippers were good.

 

[Buckeye Fever]

Not the same. Paul George was coming off an MVP level season in OKC. What killed the Clippers was Kawhi's insistence on getting PG which hampered their leverage and forced unprotected picks into the deal. But no one at the time was blaming the Clippers for doing it.

Shai was seen as a good prospect, and a future starter level player in LA. Some people (like myself) thought he MIGHT be an All Star based on his advanced numbers. It wasn't until a year after the trade anyone pegged him as sure-fire All Star. Then another (when CP3) left for him to even be considered close to MVP level. Shai was not a surefire thing so let's not pretend that.

It took like 15 things to occur for OKC to get this roster (Chet getting injured his rookie year was another one). The J-Will pick (many people on this damn board who don't watch games didn't know who he was until the playoffs), the Hartenstein theft from the Knicks (monster per minute numbers, Knicks let him go), the Caruso trade - OKC put in work. It wasn't just "stock draft picks and profit".

AD and Luka are different because both are pretty much 100% known commodities. With Luka just coming off a Finals berth and MVP level season. The trade was bad and WOAT level the minute it occurred because Dallas would eat all of the downside. And that's exactly what's occurring now as they are looking to move AD.

Only reason I say that is because of the outcome. Now, if Luka can get the Lakers a ring, I'd probably walk that back. Hell, he doesn't even need an MVP.

I remember the SGA trade and even I was like "Clippers just guaranteed their fans a title"

 

[Buckeye Fever]

The reason why this isn’t as bad as the Luka trade is because FWIW, this is as good as the Clippers have ever been. It’s just dwarfed by how OKC has managed things AND the prizes of the deal (Kawhi and Paul George) can’t stay healthy for shyt.

This looks so much worse now because the Clippers have been ass to start. In reality, OKC been eating off them even when the Clippers were good.

Them being the Clippers definitely plays a huge factor, I agree.

 

[Cladyclad]

New Orleans thought this was gonna be the outcome for AD. Not only is no one left from that trade. The 4th pick NO drafted is on the Lakers

They thought Bron would be done 6 years from now