OKC Thunder: 6 Must watch matchups for 2021-22 Thunder season
By Rylan Stiles
OKC Thunder take on two teams they control draft future of
The Oklahoma City Thunder will turn their sights fully to the 2022 NBA Draft. With three first-round picks again, a plethora of future assets, and another loaded draft class this will be put up or shut up time for Sam Presti when using these selections to move up and get the best prospect in the class.
The OKC Thunder selection is lottery-protected, if the Thunder make a magical and unexpected run to the playoffs they will send their first-round selection to the Hawks. Even more of a reason to not attempt to win big in the 2021-22 season.
Their own pick though is not the only selection they have some say in. Both the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns owe Oklahoma City their 2022 first-round picks.
For the Suns, the only way to save their pick is finishing in the top-12 of the draft, which is highly unlikely for the defending Western Conference Champions. The Clippers can not save their selection, as it is entirely unprotected and on its way to Bricktown.
With the news that Kawhi Leonard is likely out for the season leaving Paul George and Reggie Jackson to navigate the gauntlet that is the Western Conference, the 2022 L.A. draft pick holds more value than it did even four months ago.
With Paul George resting some back-to-back, natural losses to top teams on their docket, the team can not afford very many losses to teams under them in the standings.
The Clippers play as many five games in seven nights as the Warriors, Lakers, Suns, Bucks, Sixers, Celtics, Nets and Nuggets do combined. The Clips will play five sets of five games in seven nights. For comparison, the Thunder sees just one such stretch.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder will play in seven “win-win” games. As fans twist themselves into a mental pretzel each game, balancing wanting to lose to a better draft position, and wanting to win just by the sheer natural reaction of being a fan, these seven games take that pressure off of fans. No matter the outcome, the Thunder draft position is getting better.
These seven games start on November 1st and December 18th against the Clippers. Then, the Suns will welcome in the Thunder on December 23rd and 29th before coming to OKC on February 24th and April 3rd.
For the second straight year, the Thunder’s final regular-season contest will be against the Clippers, that tilt takes place April 10th. Even if the Clippers elect to tank that final game to better their NBA Playoff matchup, the pain of winning is lessened by the climb of the Clippers’ pick.