It's official. With the Los Angeles Clippers' disastrous play-in defeat on Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be selecting in the lottery in the 2026 NBA Draft.
For a while, this outcome seemed assured. The Clippers began the season with an abysmal 6-21 record, and it looked like their pick would be a premium one this offseason. Instead, they found their footing and coasted into a spot in the Play-In Tournament even after dealing away James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the deadline.
With their first matchup being against the banged-up Golden State Warriors, it looked like Los Angeles had a real chance to win a pair of do-or-die games and advance into the first round. The Thunder would then have had a chance to limit the damage themselves, since they're slated to play the eight seed in their first matchup.
But a wild, come-from-behind win by Golden State has granted Oklahoma City another lottery pick. With it, they should get the chance to select their ideal prospect in Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg.
Clippers may have just gifted Yaxel Lendeborg to the Thunder
There remains a chance that Los Angeles' selection jumps up to the top-four, or even the first overall pick, through the draft lottery. It's possible, and it's fun to think about. Imagine how exciting it would be to have a prospect like Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, or Darryn Peterson on this team.
But, unfortunately, it's not a likely outcome. The Clippers' pick has just a 7.1% chance of jumping into the top-four and a 1.5% chance of becoming the first-overall selection. There's a healthy measure of consolation here, though. Even if Los Angeles' pick stays put at 12th overall, Oklahoma City will have a shot at their ideal prospect.
Lendeborg was miraculous in his final season at Michigan, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc en route to a nation championship. He has the size and the physicality to be an immediately formidable frontcourt presence at the NBA level.
There are concerns about his age that must be acknowledged. This year was Lendeborg's sixth college season after playing three years at the junior college level, and he'll be 24 by the time his rookie season rolls around.
One the one hand, Oklahoma City has had the luxury in recent years of selecting raw and developmental prospects because of the depth of their roster. But they will soon need one of these picks to contribute immediately as the financial constrictions of the new CBA close in.
Even if the Thunder end up selecting at 12th overall, the concerns around Lendeborg should ensure he's available at that spot in the draft. The lottery, therefore, should mean relatively little for Oklahoma City.
They've already secured their shot at their ideal prospect.
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