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.
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.