The LA Clippers are going to be without All-Star Paul George for at least a month; it could also impact the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The LA Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be intertwined for the next decade due to the Paul George for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swap in 2019. This, of course, is oversimplifying things and the Thunder received much more than just Gilgeous-Alexander. They also got Danilo Gallinari and almost a dozen draft picks or pick swaps.
One of those draft picks is the Clippers 2022 first-round pick, this is not just any first-round pick, this is an unprotected first-round pick in a loaded class. Given the level of talent on the Clippers squad, the Thunder would have been content if the pick somehow conveyed in the late teens or early 20s.
However, luck may be on the Thunder’s side because the Clips have been hit hard by injuries and Covid this season. Most recently George hurt his elbow and will miss at least the next three to four weeks. Oh, and PG’s All-Star running mate Kawhi Leonard is trending in the direction of unlikely to play at all this season due to ACL recovery.
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star F Paul George has a torn ligament in his right elbow and will be re-evaluated in 3-to-4 weeks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 25, 2021
George’s injury brings the Clippers to a crossroads, they owe their 2022 first-round pick to the Thunder and it is unprotected the Clips have no incentive to lose basketball games. Other than less wear and tear on their stars, which given their injury history would not be the worst thing in the world, but it is not enough for the Clippers not to do everything within their power to get into the postseason.
If the worst comes to fruition, and LA misses out on the Playoffs and the Play-In tournament and they are a true lottery team this would be like Oklahoma City winning the lottery twice because OKC will hold not one, but two lottery picks.
This could allow them to move up in the draft, barring where the picks fall. Use one of the picks to acquire a young up-and-comer from a team where they are frustrated, or the Thunder could elect to simply use the picks and take two shots at landing a star on draft night.
This is nothing more than fantasy and hypothetical scenarios at moment and nothing is certain at this time not even at the halfway mark of the 2021-22 season. With that said, there are a lot of fun things to daydream about for Thunder fans, if you are a Clippers fan, well this season could turn out to be a living nightmare.