The Oklahoma City Thunder just traded two second-round picks to the Sacramento Kings for Nique Clifford. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets also expressed interest in Clifford. But the Thunder ultimately made the trade. However, if the price was two second-round picks, the Lakers should have made it.
LA doesn’t have a ton of trade flexibility in regard to what they have available to trade. Right now, they only have three seconds and a first-round pick swap available to move in deals. But Clifford is the perfect blend of youth, talent, and potential to take a chance on. The Lakers should have jumped at the chance to add him.
Maybe the Kings just accepted the Thunder’s offer instead, but if the Lakers backed out, they may end up regretting letting Clifford slip through their fingers.
Lakers should have traded for Nique Clifford
Clifford was the No. 24 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Kings traded to land him at that spot, too. And last year, during his rookie campaign, he actually played a lot.
He wasn’t super efficient, though few rookies are, but he played regular minutes and appeared in a ton of games. Yet this year, he hasn’t been a part of the Kings' rotation. His minutes fell off a cliff.
At Summer League in 2025, Clifford was incredible. He wasn’t as good this summer, but potential doesn’t just evaporate. Clifford, still just 24 years old, needs time to grow.
He can handle the ball, he can creat on the offensive end, and he’s a solid defender. The three-ball needs a bit of work, but he’s shown plenty of great flashes.
Slotting him alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would have been very interesting, especially if those two guys could help Clifford blossom into a legitimate NBA player.
Playing in a winning culture is usually helpful for guys like Clifford – players who project to be high-end role players. LA could have used the infusion of youth, especially since they don’t have a ton of great young players on the roster.
So, yes, the Lakers may not have a ton of draft picks. They have to be careful. But Clifford looks like a perfect guy to take a chance on. OKC jumped on it. The Lakers did not.
Only time will tell, but this feels like the type of deal the Lakers could regret not making once a year or two pass by.
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