Rest of league panicking about OKC having the Clippers pick

[Rafael122]

I posted this on the Wizards board, but with the 3 lottery picks they have, they actually have a bigger chance at landing a top 4 pick (62%) vs. the Pels/Wizards etc. So to put that into perspective, they are in a better position, and more likely to draft 1 of AJ/Boozer/Peterson. That's insane and probably extends their window another 5-6 years.

76ers' is a top4 protected pick (iirc) and jazz pick is top 8 protected for sure. i'd say the jazz pick is a coinflip to convey.

Which is funny because Utah's all like "yeah we're going to compete this year" and its probably the worse year to do so. It's in their best interests to tank another season so that pick doesn't convey but the East is so bad that they might win 23 games and pick 9th.

[clippertown]

OKC is paying for a new stadium for the Thunder that comes with (I believe) a 30 year lease agreement. So the Thunder won't be going anywhere. I feel awful for the Clippers fan base. They've been incredibly loyal, and the reward for that has been to constantly have to defend their team. At least Dallas fans had a specific scape goat they could jettison. And Cooper Flagg. Clippers fans deserve a W.

Wouldn't surprise me if Ballmer bought out the new OKC stadium and sold the Intuit Arena to the Thunder ownership. I doubt the Clippers stay here for much longer. Ticket sales will plummet as losses increase and the hit of losing two top 3 picks will crush what is left of the fanbase.

Los Angeles is the premiere location in the league and there is no way the Intuit stadium (best in the NBA) is allowed to run at 10% capacity. The humiliation that Silver would face is just too much. Expect an established team to fill that void and the Thunder are in pole position.

[lethalizer]

I posted this on the Wizards board, but with the 3 lottery picks they have, they actually have a bigger chance at landing a top 4 pick (62%) vs. the Pels/Wizards etc. So to put that into perspective, they are in a better position, and more likely to draft 1 of AJ/Boozer/Peterson. That's insane and probably extends their window another 5-6 years.

76ers' is a top4 protected pick (iirc) and jazz pick is top 8 protected for sure. i'd say the jazz pick is a coinflip to convey.

Which is funny because Utah's all like "yeah we're going to compete this year" and its probably the worse year to do so. It's in their best interests to tank another season so that pick doesn't convey but the East is so bad that they might win 23 games and pick 9th.

Yeah I highly doubt this'll happen still.

Clippers and Pelicans don't have their pick so they have no incentive to tank whatsoever. Once the dust settles down, those teams will still win some games. Dallas probably should tank at one point but their post Luka situation is so bizarre I feel like the team owes the city a decent season so as long as Davis plays(big if, I know) they won't do any tanking either.

And the Kings are... the Kings. They'll do a couple of trades and aim for the play in again.

There's still a very real possibility that once Utah goes full tank mode they'll finish 15th in the West.

Looking at the East, Pacers never tank but finally have an excuse to do so, I doubt they'll let this opportunity slip away so yeah they can finish worse than Utah. And then there's the Wizards and Nets with a slight chance of Hornets.

Looking at the big picture, I think Utah will easily finish with the 6th worst odds at worst. That would give OKC a 3.7% chance of getting the pick.

[lethalizer]

OKC is paying for a new stadium for the Thunder that comes with (I believe) a 30 year lease agreement. So the Thunder won't be going anywhere. I feel awful for the Clippers fan base. They've been incredibly loyal, and the reward for that has been to constantly have to defend their team. At least Dallas fans had a specific scape goat they could jettison. And Cooper Flagg. Clippers fans deserve a W.

Wouldn't surprise me if Ballmer bought out the new OKC stadium and sold the Intuit Arena to the Thunder ownership. I doubt the Clippers stay here for much longer. Ticket sales will plummet as losses increase and the hit of losing two top 3 picks will crush what is left of the fanbase.

Los Angeles is the premiere location in the league and there is no way the Intuit stadium (best in the NBA) is allowed to run at 10% capacity. The humiliation that Silver would face is just too much. Expect an established team to fill that void and the Thunder are in pole position.

I get that you're frustrated at the moment with everything that's going on, but this, uh, won't happen.

[Dan Z]

This is what scares the league. Presti can upgrade a championship team with almost anyone he needs/wants.

I think because rookie contracts will be so important for Presti to keep the big 3 intact, he should target his ideal player in the draft. Say it’s AJ at #2. League knows Presti has more than enough ammo to move up in [any] draft to get his guy.

Heartenstien/Sober
Chet/JY Williams
AJ/Dort
JE Williams/Caruso
Shai/Topic

Presti can try to move up, but it's easier said than done.

For example, last years draft...would the Mavs trade Flagg for a bunch of picks/players from OKC? Probably not.

A team with a top pick is usually bad. They'll want to build with the new player and are less likely to push that off for future assets.

It's possible that Presti can move up a bit, but that depends on the draft (specifically the tiers in the draft).

Of course it takes two to tango. That is water is wet take.

Presti has so many assets he can even overpay. He actually has an abundance of assets, that will be his new job, managing the abundance.

Flagg is terrible straw man argument. So is Wemby. They were never being traded to Presti. But outside of the hyped generational talent, Presti is on the hunt for his guy.

That's why I also mentioned tiers. A team with a pick in the top tier rarely trades out of it. I looked back and the last time a top 5 pick was traded is 2019 (DeAndre Hunter to the Hawks).

I'd be surprised if someone like AJ (who is mocked at going #3) gets traded, even if OKC offered a lot for him.

[clippertown]

OKC is paying for a new stadium for the Thunder that comes with (I believe) a 30 year lease agreement. So the Thunder won't be going anywhere. I feel awful for the Clippers fan base. They've been incredibly loyal, and the reward for that has been to constantly have to defend their team. At least Dallas fans had a specific scape goat they could jettison. And Cooper Flagg. Clippers fans deserve a W.

Wouldn't surprise me if Ballmer bought out the new OKC stadium and sold the Intuit Arena to the Thunder ownership. I doubt the Clippers stay here for much longer. Ticket sales will plummet as losses increase and the hit of losing two top 3 picks will crush what is left of the fanbase.

Los Angeles is the premiere location in the league and there is no way the Intuit stadium (best in the NBA) is allowed to run at 10% capacity. The humiliation that Silver would face is just too much. Expect an established team to fill that void and the Thunder are in pole position.

I get that you're frustrated at the moment with everything that's going on, but this, uh, won't happen.

No guarantees but if the Clippers implode, they will be moved out of LA. Who will jump into this ideal location? 28 of the 30 owners would salivate at the chance. Clippers will not become profitable again for at least 8 years and that will definitely harm the league if left in Los Angeles.

The Kawhi trade destroyed this franchise (and soon the entire league). I was one of the most loyal Clipper fans and will soon force myself to become a Laker fan and I will not be the only one. Clippers went all in and busted so it is what it is.

OKC with two top 3 picks in the next two years will be an unstoppable force. They already are today. So yes, I am frustrated. Once these picks are actually realized by OKC, then you will all see the smoke from LA to NY. Ballmer's mistakes will destroy parity in this league for years to come.

[Wolveswin]

Presti can try to move up, but it's easier said than done.

For example, last years draft...would the Mavs trade Flagg for a bunch of picks/players from OKC? Probably not.

A team with a top pick is usually bad. They'll want to build with the new player and are less likely to push that off for future assets.

It's possible that Presti can move up a bit, but that depends on the draft (specifically the tiers in the draft).

Of course it takes two to tango. That is water is wet take.

Presti has so many assets he can even overpay. He actually has an abundance of assets, that will be his new job, managing the abundance.

Flagg is terrible straw man argument. So is Wemby. They were never being traded to Presti. But outside of the hyped generational talent, Presti is on the hunt for his guy.

That's why I also mentioned tiers. A team with a pick in the top tier rarely trades out of it. I looked back and the last time a top 5 pick was traded is 2019 (DeAndre Hunter to the Hawks).

I'd be surprised if someone like AJ (who is mocked at going #3) gets traded, even if OKC offered a lot for him.

Doesn’t matter what happened in past draft. Exactly zero correlation to predicting a top 5 trade in 2026 draft (or any future draft).

Every draft board is different. The prospects and the teams all different.

For one example of the millions, I mean, would pacers really say no to Presti offering #5 + Dort for #3???

Pacers a win now team. Dort a player Presti probably can’t keep financially. And boom, Presti gets AJ.

[Dan Z]

Of course it takes two to tango. That is water is wet take.

Presti has so many assets he can even overpay. He actually has an abundance of assets, that will be his new job, managing the abundance.

Flagg is terrible straw man argument. So is Wemby. They were never being traded to Presti. But outside of the hyped generational talent, Presti is on the hunt for his guy.

That's why I also mentioned tiers. A team with a pick in the top tier rarely trades out of it. I looked back and the last time a top 5 pick was traded is 2019 (DeAndre Hunter to the Hawks).

I'd be surprised if someone like AJ (who is mocked at going #3) gets traded, even if OKC offered a lot for him.

Doesn’t matter what happened in past draft. Exactly zero correlation to predicting a top 5 trade in 2026 draft (or any future draft).

Every draft board is different. The prospects and the teams all different.

For one example of the millions, I mean, would pacers really say no to Presti offering #5 + Dort for #3???

Pacers a win now team. Dort a player Presti probably can’t keep financially. And boom, Presti gets AJ.

History doesn't matter? Um...okay.

Dort for AJ? I assume you mean Dort plus picks for AJ? Even that's a terrible trade for the Pacers. Dort is a decent player, but not worth giving up a potential star for him.

[lethalizer]

That's why I also mentioned tiers. A team with a pick in the top tier rarely trades out of it. I looked back and the last time a top 5 pick was traded is 2019 (DeAndre Hunter to the Hawks).

I'd be surprised if someone like AJ (who is mocked at going #3) gets traded, even if OKC offered a lot for him.

Doesn’t matter what happened in past draft. Exactly zero correlation to predicting a top 5 trade in 2026 draft (or any future draft).

Every draft board is different. The prospects and the teams all different.

For one example of the millions, I mean, would pacers really say no to Presti offering #5 + Dort for #3???

Pacers a win now team. Dort a player Presti probably can’t keep financially. And boom, Presti gets AJ.

History doesn't matter? Um...okay.

Dort for AJ? I assume you mean Dort plus picks for AJ? Even that's a terrible trade for the Pacers. Dort is a decent player, but not worth giving up a potential star for him.

They did say Dort plus the 5th pick in this draft for the 3rd pick, not that I agree the Pacers would do it.

Funny thing is, I have actually no clue what the Thunder would do if this pick indeed ended up top 5. I don't think it'll happen, and the eventual range is more so 9-15, but still.

There's a very realistic chance that if Presti gets a very high pick he actually trades down for future picks, which would be very interesting.

[Dan Z]

Doesn’t matter what happened in past draft. Exactly zero correlation to predicting a top 5 trade in 2026 draft (or any future draft).

Every draft board is different. The prospects and the teams all different.

For one example of the millions, I mean, would pacers really say no to Presti offering #5 + Dort for #3???

Pacers a win now team. Dort a player Presti probably can’t keep financially. And boom, Presti gets AJ.

History doesn't matter? Um...okay.

Dort for AJ? I assume you mean Dort plus picks for AJ? Even that's a terrible trade for the Pacers. Dort is a decent player, but not worth giving up a potential star for him.

They did say Dort plus the 5th pick in this draft for the 3rd pick, not that I agree the Pacers would do it.

Funny thing is, I have actually no clue what the Thunder would do if this pick indeed ended up top 5. I don't think it'll happen, and the eventual range is more so 9-15, but still.

There's a very realistic chance that if Presti gets a very high pick he actually trades down for future picks, which would be very interesting.

Sorry that I missed that. I agree with you that Dort isn't worth moving down two spots in the draft for.

Depending on how everything ends up Presti should try to move up, but my point is that it's not so easy to do (even with lots of future picks). Some teams will say no and that's that.

There will still be a few good players mid-draft like there is every year, but it's difficult to find them.