As if the OKC Thunder hadn't acquired enough value from the Los Angeles Clippers over the years, forward Kawhi Leonard decided to surprise them with one more gift.
On Tuesday afternoon, news broke that the Clippers were trading Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. While the move represents a massive power shift and positions Toronto as an instant contender, the hidden winner of the deal might reside in Oklahoma City.
Back when James Harden was dealt to the Clippers by Philadelphia back in 2023, the Thunder worked as a distant third party in order to get the deal done. They were more of an afterthought than an active participant, but they did exchange a protected 2026 first-round pick for a 2027 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles.
Now, the Clippers have given up their franchise cornerstone just in time for OKC to cash out. Especially given the new draft lottery rules going into effect in 2027, things just got a whole lot more interesting.
Thunder suddenly major potential winners of new lottery system
The Leonard deal sent Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, and a collection of picks to Los Angeles. Needless to say, the two players will hardly provide the same value as Kawhi in the short term.
The move makes the Clippers' roster appear somewhat underwhelming on the surface, which is exactly where teams want to be when hoping for a favorable lottery pick. Not the worst, but certainly not the best.
According to new lottery rules, 16 teams will receive at least one lottery ball. The three teams with the worst records will only have two, while the rest of the non-playoff teams (excluding play-in winners and losers) will get three. In other words, the Clippers' suddenly underwhelming roster has put them in a perfect position to land a high-end pick next year.
Meanwhile, the Thunder still boasts one of the league's best rosters and likely won't be sniffing the lottery anytime soon.
Such a turn of events means that Thunder fans will be once again monitoring the Clippers' season trajectory. If things break right, OKC could find themselves in position to either draft another high-end talent or use the pick swap to trade for future assets.
Nevertheless, the Kawhi-induced gift is luxurious, albeit unexpected. It makes a team rich with assets even richer, and Sam Presti and company likely aren't complaining.
The Clippers' 2027 season could be an interesting one. They will be led by Brandon Ingram and Darius Garland, two players known for their inability to stay healthy. If all goes accordingly, though, the Thunder could find yet another way to extend their Western Conference dominance.
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