The Oklahoma City Thunder have amassed a treasure trove of draft capital over the past several seasons through their savvy navigation of the trade market.
Perhaps the most influential of these deals was the infamous Paul George trade in 2019, in which the Thunder received not only reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but also six first-round picks from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Thunder have stumbled on an enormous stroke of luck, as 2026's first-round pick will be the final asset conveyed in that trade. The Los Angeles Clippers, in spite of better play as of late, sit at a 13-23 record. They are currently the 12th seed in a Western Conference that can very quickly bury them.
Without full control over their own first-round selection until 2030, the Clippers could soon make a desperate move in an attempt to turn things around. Yet their best route back to relevancy, a trade for Trae Young, was just blocked by the Washington Wizards.
The Thunder must hope the Clippers maintain the status quo this season
Let's be clear. The Clippers are likely not as abysmal as their early-season performances might indicate, but they are certainly not a good team either. As we approach the half-season mark, they are 12th in the NBA in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating.
A lot of this has to do with the age and slowness of their roster. As it stands, the have the second-slowest pace in the NBA and the eight-lowest assist percentage.
In many ways, a desperate move for Young could solve these issues. As reported by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Los Angeles had been monitoring the point guard's situation over the past couple of weeks.
Last night, however, Young was dealt to the Wizards in exchange for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. It is not clear if any other teams were involved in serious discussions prior to the trade.
Whatever one might say about the flaws in his game, Young can push the tempo for a team. He is a high energy ball-handler, and his ability to facilitate half-court offense could have been a game-changer for the Clippers.
If they could have reached Young's contract number without parting with any of their star pieces, they could have a starting lineup that consists of Young, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac.
Even with their financial limitations, one would imagine that Los Angeles could have surpassed Washington's offer with ease.
Would this team be any more viable defensively were they to have made the trade? Absolutely not.
But they would almost certainly be significantly more entertaining and dynamic from an offensive perspective.
For the Clippers, the goal right now is to win games at all costs. They have no incentive to do otherwise, and Young would have immediately represented a massive step forward for a team that needs a burst of energy.
For the Thunder, though, a missed opportunity for Los Angeles is a positive sign for the value of their premier draft asset.