The Oklahoma City Thunder are acquiring second-year wing Nique Clifford from the Sacramento Kings for two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday (US time).
The Kings will receive a 2028 Utah Jazz second-round pick and a 2030 Minnesota Timberwolves second-rounder from the Thunder’s stockpile of draft assets, ESPN reported. The Athletic’s Sam Amick also reported the two picks.
Clifford, 24, was the No. 24 pick in the 2025 draft out of Colorado State. Sacramento traded a top-16 protected 2027 San Antonio Spurs first-round pick to the Thunder to move up and take him, in the first move of general manager Scott Perry’s tenure, according to ESPN.
He averaged 8.6 points per game in 75 appearances as a rookie, NBA.com noted, but had fallen out of coach Doug Christie’s rotation this season, playing just 6.3 minutes a game across eight appearances, NBC Sports reported. Charania reported the Kings worked with Clifford to find him a new home.
Why the Thunder made the move
Oklahoma City needs help on the wing after starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were injured in the same late-October game against the LA Clippers. Williams fractured his left fibula and dislocated his left ankle, while Wallace tore the labrum in his left shoulder, and both are out for several months and perhaps the entire season, ESPN reported.
Read more: Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to Undergo Surgery as Thunder Reel
NBA.com also listed Chet Holmgren among the Thunder’s long-term injuries. Despite that, the Thunder are 8-2, while the Kings have made a 1-8 start, according to ESPN.
Contract and roster fallout
Clifford is earning US$3.2 million this season and US$3.4 million next season, ESPN reported, with NBC Sports noting a team option worth nearly US$6 million for 2028-29.
The Lakers and Nuggets both expressed interest in Clifford before the Kings agreed to the deal, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported, according to Hoops Rumors.
The trade leaves Sacramento with 13 players on its roster, and the Kings have two weeks to add a 14th to meet the league minimum, NBC Sports reported.
Read more: Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III Floated as Thunder Trade Targets
More News
- Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to Undergo Surgery as Thunder Reel
- Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III Floated as Thunder Trade Targets
- Russell Westbrook’s No. 0 Jersey to Be Retired by Thunder
- Golden State Exploring Kristaps Porzingis Trade, Report Says
- Anthony Edwards to Miss Up to Two Months With Knee Injury, Report Says
