The NBA’s rich got richer on Wednesday night, as the play-in tournament loss to Golden State that ended the Clippers‘ season guaranteed that the 2026 first-round pick L.A. owes the defending champion Thunder will end up in the lottery.
The pick’s spot in the lottery order will depend on whether or not the Warriors win their play-in game in Phoenix on Friday. If the Warriors lose that game and become a lottery team themselves, the Clippers’ pick would be 12th entering lottery night; a Golden State win would move it up to No. 11, which is the slot from which the Mavericks won the 2025 draft lottery.
The odds of that first-rounder turning into a top-four selection will be 7.2% if it’s 12th in the lottery or 9.4% if it’s 11th, with either a 1.5% or 2.0% chance of it becoming the No. 1 overall pick.
The pick is the last remaining asset that the Clippers are conveying to the Thunder as part of 2019’s blockbuster Paul George trade. In addition to sending superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Oklahoma City, that deal also famously included the 2022 first-rounder that became Jalen Williams.
As Tony East of Circle City Spin points out (via Twitter), the Clippers will probably be the only team besides the Thunder who won’t mind if that pick jumps into the top four, since that outcome would increase the odds of the Pacers’ pick falling to No. 5 or No. 6. Los Angeles will receive Indiana’s pick and regain a 2026 lottery selection if it doesn’t end up in the top four on lottery night.
Besides controlling the Clippers’ first-round pick, the Thunder will also receive the Sixers’ selection, which can still be either No. 16, 17, or 18, depending on Friday’s play-in outcomes and possible tiebreakers.
I certainly was hoping the Warriors would lose last night and secure that 11th pick. But they can still lose Friday and keep it no problem.
The win last night told us a couple of things. It was a message to potential free agents this summer that, hey we’re not done.
There’s still a spark. There’s still something there, we’re not done. Come on over and ring Chase, but of course, for a smaller salary than you’d get elsewhere because our hands are tied with the salary cap.
Another reason is to stick it to the Clippers. They don’t have their first round pick.., they had all intentions winning right now, but they’re going home empty-handed.
Sure, the Clippers made some moves to become more financially responsible, but the Warriors kicked sand in the face of LA making any post season noise in 2026.
I highly doubt the NBA will let anyone move up in the draft very much. Many people are still thinking Dallas was given that #1 pick. If warriors got it there would have been a lopt of conspiracy on it.
The 11th pic is fine in a deep draft. Use it, trade it, whatever they want to do.
Gary,
Unless you trade Butler for a star and get 1 or 2 role players your done. You can not win in the regular season with 37+ players. You need player to get you through the grind of the regular season. Curry will not play more than 60+ games anymore. I do like y’all getting Lenard. Not sure he goes if LeBron dose. I wouldn’t sign LeBron. I know Draymond is pushing for that.
Yes, it will definitely take some creativity to bring in some guys who are on the right side of 32 rather than the wrong side of 35 lol
I’m not sure how the players really feel about him behind closed doors, but I’m not a Kawhi Leonard fan ever since San Antonio
For some reason, they butted heads and I’m not saying he was wrong but it’s the first I heard of the Spurs organization not doing a player right so I side with them in that .., and then all the clippers fiasco stuff ?? Not sure I advocate him coming to the bay.
If Leonard does come aboard then obviously the players signed off on it so OK let’s do it. One more shot in 2027.
In retrospect maybe Uncle Dennis led the way out of the small-market, by-the-books (ie, no Aspiration-style shenanigans) Spurs franchise
Great point !!
They can’t afford Leonard. Never heard the Draymond wants LeBron.
It’s just amazing that the Clippers are still paying for PG trade. And he’s already gone. This is why I’m rooting for Pacers to get that 5th pick. Clippers need it in worse way.
Thunder will have Clippers pick. Also the Sixers pick (top 4 protected). They have their own pick. That’s three first rd picks. In a deep loaded first round draft.
They also have two first rd picks coming back from injury next yr. Topic a (PG) and Sorber a (C). This team can easily trade for Giannis. I would.
If OKC doesn’t win a championship they will trade for an allstar. One or 2 of the draft picks will be traded any way for future 1st round picks.
Only 2 picks. Their own pick was involved in this year’s AD trade, and they traded the Rockets pick for McCain. That’s a lot of roster spots. However acquiring Giannis requires one of Chet and J Dub to match salary and that compresses OKC’s window rather than expands it. Expect the picks to continue to be used to cycle through roster spots like Dieng for McCain. They have gotten next to nothing out of Topic and Sorber due to injuries and depth, but they will get opportunities since Dort and I-Hart are too expensive to keep at their current salaries.
There’s no reason on earth why OKC would ever trade for Giannis.
They will pay all their starters if they repeat.
^^^ this is why I don’t have Giannis to OKC. It seems the most logical place due to salaries and picks but OKC isn’t a team that’s begging and thirsting for a title (like Rockets). They still lead the field, plus I believe that the front office really values how close the team is and how they all play for each other.
Giannis will be a Knick more than likely.
Giannis will got to Boston most likely
They have three players with TO next yr. And 7 players the following year. Using IHart expiring money is the way to do it. They are not resigning him anyway. They have Sorber ready to play. I miove Chet and IHart for Giannis in a sec.
We’ll see what happens when Thunder lose this year. Denver or SA can beat them.
What I literally said raz.
Was in response to arc saying Dra will guard Kawhi.
I said Dra is done. Has no perimeter D. Can’t Handle Kawhi. He is still smart enough to do other things. But none of those things get done. If they are not in the game. And they are only in the game cause of Curry. Get it right if you want to be taken seriously.
Davey has told ALL of us their record with and without Steph. Dra has lost plenty of. Thats what happens to undersized 4s that get no help.
But yeah a few plays got you talking. Bulls should trade for him. He can teach them how to play D.
No perimeter D? I know you didn’t watch the last two plays of the game. Pretty sure that as on the perimeter. You want us take you seriously, own up what you said man. Draymond literally guarded Kawhi ALL FOURTH QUARTER LONG and Kawhi went scoreless besides a wasted dunk with 23 seconds left down 8. Get it right.
IDK what the Bulls have to do with Draymond lmao. Now I know you are just grasping for straws.
Own what you said.
The reason Dra played so well is he had big man help with Horford and KP. Kerr playing Dra on centers ruins his ability to defend. KP can guard a old Lopez so Dra doesn’t need to be the only big defender on teh court.
First off Kawhi was a +6 for the the game. And Green was a +0. Green with 7 pts on 3/5 FG. He had 9 ast which is excellent. That’s just what Kerrs offense does for him when it’s on. 6 reb, 4 stl, 3 TO.
Kawhi had 21 pts 1/6 on threes. You telling me, raz Green did this. Please lol. 7 reb and 3 ast. But 4 TO.
Kawhi wasn’t a star like Curry was. He still had a solid game. Curry went 7/12 on threes. He misses ONE more and Kawhi makes Two. Clippers win the game. Kawhi only took two shots in 4th Q. So it wasn’t all Green. He took himself out.
So he played one decent gm. In a Warriors win. A play-in game. Wow don’t draft a PF cause raz says Green is not done. Warriors always win as a team. They can’t beat anybody without Curry. That offense is built around him. Really was built around him and Klay to of best shooters ever.
Warriors went 13-26 this yr without Curry. You feeling it raz ……. That’s how great Green is.
2nd half Green was +8, Kawhi -10
4th Q, Green +8, Kawhi -8
First off genius. If you want in on the debate. Then you should stay on point. So you can know what you are arguing about.
arc said Green will cover Kawhi.
I said his perimeter D is done. He can’t handle him. arc was right cause he had help from Al and KP two bigs. Like arc said.
Green played a gig 4 Q. Thats what HOFers do. It’s still only a few plays. Al had 14 pts in 4Q. Greens 9 ast was bigger than his D. So get a perspective stop nitpicking. That’s what children do. This is about a game and player not me. Nothing has changed my mind that Dras perimeter D is done. Like I said in first post to arc. Good for Green he showed up.
I just did. You need an explanation…….
And your explanation is wrong, he proved you wrong. Hilarious you only see box score and not the actual game that Kawhi was shut down by Draymond in the 4th.
Dra is done as a perimeter defender. He has no legs. So he showed up for a few plays. Probably on muscle memory. You want to get a woody over a few plays.
Cause Kawhi only took two shots in 4Q. Enjoy it. There is a reason Warriors fan here call him Graymond. This owning it.
raz doesn’t get balling. He thinks this is about me. Kawhi was still better for game than Green was. Green had a solid game. But he isn’t responsible for Kawhi. The team is. He made a couple of good stops. Big freakin deal. He is still done as a perimeter defender . I know a Bulls fan doesn’t understand what that means.
Green has a 115 defensive rating for year. Which is below avg. still decent. What he has is knowledge and can call on it. But his physical gifts are dying. But I know you can’t see it. And really don’t care. Cause you think a few plays is going to prove something about me. Grow up kid. I will always man up to anything I say. Thats what adults do.
Green can defend but Kerr uses him wrong. Even Green said he can’t guard bigger centers which is what too many times green is asked to do. green also has to compensate when kerr uses his terrible defenders like Spencer.
arc we all know Dra is not the player he was. Imo his perimeter D is what is most affected. Especially when you don’t have a rim protector or backup. You are right when you say Al n KP do some of that.
My response was to you saying Dra is not going to handle Kawhi on perimeter. And he wasn’t in first half. Then he had some good stops. He played well had a good gm. It still doesn’t mean he is the DPOY. raz is a hater. Who’s been trying to figure me out since I called him on Bulls. Especially Williams. Thinks I need a to be right all the time. It’s all about the game and the truth is Dra isn’t the player he was. A d he had a good game. But it was a good gm cause of Curry. Not cause of Dra. I got nothing against Dra. I have always said he is part of big three on Warriors. I have also always said. Not giving him help with a true C. Is not helping his longevity.
Posters with agendas don’t see the big picture. They aren’t about the game. Dra is HOFer. Still can’t handle perimeter anymore.
Dra can handle leonard the problem is when you have to play 3 different positions at once. During the losing streak Green was the only defensive player out there at times. Without Moody and Butler there is only GP2 that can play defense but he fouls too much. KP is not great but Horford still can hold his own out there. Teams were cutting in for many easy baskets. Spencer might be the worse defensive player in the league.
Come on arc it was one game. And he wasn’t stopping him in first half. I take Kawhi every gm especially now that he looks healthy. Dra had a good gm. But it’s made possible cause Curry is there. Al with 14 pts in 4Q. KP had a big gm. Abd you were right about them backing up Dra. A few plays or one Q doesn’t make Dra the DPOY. He had two big stops. Good for him. Leosee if shows up next game.
never said Dra is DPOY. Just saying he is warriors best defender. I am just saying why his defense rating is low because he has to help the other bad defender on warriors.
I’m being sarcastic lol. It’s for the two posters here who think 1 Q makes him that. We both know what Green has done. And he is capable of. We also know his best days are behind him.
“Cause Kawhi only took two shots in 4Q”
That was because of Green’s great defense on him all Q long, not just “a few stops”.
It’s truly stupid for you to make claims about what happened in a game that you have admitted you didn’t watch.
Really what makes you think I can’t know about the game. There are probably 20 storues about the game , what stupid is thinking you can possibly know what I know Kawhi took two shots in 4 Q. A d Greenbtook 5 shots all game. Green played good D and made a couple of stops. Your DA thinks Green is responsible for inly two shots.
The Warriors came back to win. They outscore Clippers 43-32 in 4Q. You think that was Green. I have already said Green had a good game. Yet Kawhi was a plus 6 and Green a plus 0. His biggest contribution was the 9 ast. Not a few stops. If you or any other FOOL on here thinks Dra can handle Kawhi. Then you don’t belong on here. He had a good gm.Kawhi was better. Yet Green showed up when needed. He had a couple big stops. Thats a few plays. Still hasn’t changed the fact he is not a perimeter defender anymore. But of course you clowns think (even if its ONE Q). That now he is a D stud. Please. Clippers offense had something to do with it. Just don’t get lost for next gm.
“Really what makes you think I can’t know about the game. ”
The FACT that you didn’t watch, and are making claims about what happened BASED ON THE BOX SCORE.
Kawhi shot 0-4 from three in the 1st half. Green’s perimeter defense was pretty effective in the 1st half too, which you’d know if you had watched.
Just like if you had watched, you’d know that Green’s defense in the 4th on Kawhi was the main reason he only took 2 shots.
Everyone but you (apparently) knows that single game +/- is meaningless as to a single player’s contribution to WINNING, since it is the combination of the other 9 players that were on thew court at the same time.
You repeating the +/- for Kawhi and Green as if it actually means anything makes YOU the DA!
I have read 4 or more articles about game. Besides the game summary by NBA. And watched the highlights.
And I could watch the replay. But I dont need to.
I got all I need to know. That’s what real knowledge does. I know you probably can’t handle reading a couple articles. In real life seeing is not only way to process info. Go read a book tor once.
A d take your ares away with Green. Go tell him hiw good ge was for 8 mins.
That reply is both completely sad, and hilarious. As if “reading articles” is somehow equivalent to having watched what happened (it isn’t, and it’s not close).
Have you ever been diagnosed with NPD?
Watched the final quarter of that game. Draymond made winning plays. For Warriors fans to say that he was done is hilarious. Al, you literally said he’s done on defense and he preceded to make the two most impactful plays on defense last night and shut down Kawhi. That’s a bad take on your part. Horford was on a heater in the 4th. I’m glad for him. I always liked him and appreciated his game and leadership. Chef Curry ending the Clippers season was hilarious. Everyone contributed in that 4th quarter. It was a total team win. KP played well also. I’m not saying that they are going to beat OKC in the 1st round, but this was a win that showed their competitive spirit.
Happy for Draymond, happy for Curry, happy for Porzingis and especially happy for Horford.
Onto Phoenix!!!
Also, Clippers will never win anything meaningful with Darius Garland on their team. Instead of expansion, they should relocate the Clippers. Obsolete franchise if there ever was one in the NBA.
One thing that gets totally overlooked is that Draymond was having to play the 5 to much. It took its toll on him. Horford was injured. Starting Kuminga was not a great idea. Draymond is at his best when he is just defending, rebounding, and facilitating on offense.
It seems we might be looking at what happens next for the Warriors. Kerr is playing KP and Horford a lot together. Twin Towers, if you will. Are they able to keep KP and Horford? Post has been injured. They really like Bassey. Next season, the team could look quite a bit different.
He needs KP, Horford and bassey on teh floor so he doesn’t need to guard centers. Even Green said he struggles against tall centers. We can blame that part of Kerr wanting to play small ball. Look how great he plays when another big is on the floor at the same time.
Gee I wonder whos been saying the Warriors need a center. For yrs now. Pick 42 lol. Do you even realize what you post man.
raz….all truths. Great take. #Friday
Yes raz ditto on everything you said plus Santos too !! Stepped up pretty big.
GSW shot 75%/73%/83% in the 4th Q (15-20 overall, 8-11 from three, 5-6 ftas).
But you’re right, it was the defense forcing 6 turnovers that fueled the comeback.
Suns already showed that they can lose at home. And Brooks tried to injure Steph multiple times last season, so this could be a revenge game.
It would be smart strategy to lose for a better draft pick, but at this point who knows if the players are on board.
Everyone in the organization knows what’s going to happen Friday night.
Ownership, coaches, and every single player.
Sticking it to the Clippers was a nice bonus to a very disappointing season. Plus, as I mentioned, it sets the tone for roster building this summer.
It was a crap season, but they’re not done. They can still do some damage next year. They just need a few players to buy in and take a small salary. Just like David West, Mo Spieghts, Pachulia and others did.
Dude seriously no one cares about the Warriors. All you Wagoneers are the only ones. And you are all misguided. You can’t take criticism or real knowledge. None of you. Davey J at least he owns who he is. He will go down with the ship no matter. But he is a Curry guy thru and thru. I can respect that. The rest of you argue like children. You gave up on your future in Wiseman, Kuminga, and Raynaud. Most of you don’t even know who Kerr is. Davey is only one lol.
The rest of you are all bandwagon fans that follow the team cause they started winning. Basketball is not about the Warriors. You get that.
So go find Dra and watch the lottery with him. Maybe he can teach you about the draft. The one the Warriors F up every year.
Nba..after the hardest faught victory in years: “fellas…..gather round. we’re gonna use the smarter strategy…and actually LOSE for the better draft pick. that way the season ticket holders and the fan base can both disappear at once! after which the league can issue discipline including loss of draft pics etc. that is an AMAZING strategy tho!
If you disappear because they lose Friday, then I wouldn’t count you as part of the “fan base” but rather a bandwagon fan.
You hop on and you hop off, depending on the winning percentage.
Fans who are part of the foundation and “base” don’t go away. Good weather or bad we are here.
The suns are favored by three. Shouldn’t be a problem.
How ridiculous would it be if OKC moved into the top four? They’d never lose.
Knicks better win one before the Bridges regret begins
OKC should be sending the Clippers a Christmas card every year.
“Thanks for being an important part of our dynasty”.
Draymond gonna hold brooks accountable tomorrow