The LA Clippers trading their first top-five pick since 2009, when they won the lottery and selected Blake Griffin, is scary. Rightfully so, nearly two decades have passed since, which is no small amount of time. However, in the latest piece published by ‘The Stein Line,’ Jake Fischer brought up the idea of LA actually letting their spot in the draft go, but before they do, they need to answer one important question: Is the return they’re receiving setting the franchise up for the future?
If the answer is yes, by all means, the Clippers should go for it. In fact, fans would be encouraged by this idea, as using the luck that landed them an extremely valuable asset as a stepping stone to build an unbreakable foundation would be a chess move from Lawrence Frank.
On the contrary, if the Clippers come to a conclusion that trading number five does not benefit the long-term as much as they’d like, Frank needs to hold on to what he has in his possession.
The fifth pick could bring the Clippers ample amounts of draft capital in return
In the 2026 class, specifically, the fifth spot is highly regarded. In this position, a team, right now being the LA Clippers, could select the next face of the franchise from a handful of options that are each excellent at what they do. There’s also a world where a team in front lets one of the projected top-four picks slip, making the Clippers’ placement even more valuable.
As a result, Lawrence Frank needs to use this logic to his advantage.
In the same breath, there are a few teams the Clippers could trade with, and as reported by Jake Fischer, the Oklahoma City Thunder is one of the prime suitors.
Yes, it sounds crazy that a team that is currently one win away from the NBA Finals, aiming to win back-to-back championships, is a potential destination of the fifth pick, but if the Clippers can walk away with Oklahoma City’s 12th and 17th selections, as well as at least two other future firsts, and a proven young contributor, that’s a package worth agreeing to.
This ultimately boosts the rebuild's speed, as long as the right choices are made.
Additionally, some other teams that may be interested in calling the Clippers’ line are the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and even the Dallas Mavericks.
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