The Los Angeles Clippers have no incentive to be bad this season. Right now, they owe their 2026 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the NBA Draft were to be right now, it would be one of the best picks available.
Unfortunately for the Clippers, this season has already gotten away from him. Los Angeles has the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They bet big on both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, and that has not worked out so far.
A wild trade proposal from Bleacher Report would see the Clippers acquire their first-round pick back by trading away their starting center.
GettyIvica Zubac dunks the ball. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Wild Trade Proposal Sees Clippers Get First-Round Pick Back
Here is the full trade proposal:
LA Clippers get: Jarace Walker, Isaiah Jackson, 2026 first-round pick (their own, via OKC), 2027 first-round pick (their own, via OKC)
Indiana Pacers get: Ivica Zubac
Oklahoma City Thunder get: LAC 2030 first-round pick, LAC 2031 first-round pick (swap), LAC 2032 first-round pick, IND 2027 first-round pick, IND 2030 second-round pick, IND 2032 second-round pick
In this trade, the Clippers get a younger center and their two first-round picks for the next two years back from OKC. Getting those two picks back would help the Clippers facilitate a rebuild. That would help them add pieces if they end up being bad again next season.
Trading Zubac would make them worse in the middle, but it’s about time for the team to tear it down and fully rebuild. The Leonard experiment clearly did not work. Right now, the Clippers have the sixth-worst defense in the league. Taking away Zubac will hurt that even further.
If the Clippers are serious about starting a rebuild, they will not get a better offer than this. This trade proposal allows them to get younger in a hurry and capitalize on what is a fantastic top of the draft in 2026. The Thunder may not be so willing to do that, though.
GettyDerrick Jones Jr. argues with an official. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Clippers Need to Rebuild
It’s pretty clear that LA won’t be making the playoffs this season. With that being the case, this is he time for them to rebuild. Looking for trade partners for both Harden and Leonard wouldn’t be a bad idea, although they are more inclined to keep Harden than Leonard.
It’s unclear what the penalties will be for the Aspiration scandal, if any. The Clippers need to get their pick back now before the NBA can dock them any future picks over their findings into this ordeal. That’s another reason for them to make a deal with the Thunder.
While the Clippers won’t end up winning a title with Leonard on the roster, it was a worthwhile gamble for them to bring him to town. Unfortunately, history will not look on that decision fondly now that the Thunder have won a title with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
This season might be painful, but it could lead them to a brighter future if they are able to make some shrewd trades.
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