If you thought this season couldn't get worse for the Los Angeles Clippers, think again.
The Clippers suffered their 20th loss of the season on Monday, as the Memphis Grizzlies stormed the Intuit Dome and left 121-103 winners.
The beleaguered Clippers had finished with a winning record in 14 consecutive seasons. This year, that streak is going to end. Only the New Orleans Pelicans (5-22) have a worse record than the Clippers (6-20) -- and if the season ended today, Los Angeles would pick third in the 2026 NBA Draft.
That is, of course, if the Clippers still had their own pick.
The Clips' first-round pick in a talent-rich draft next year belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions who have started this season with a 24-2 record.
The Thunder acquired this pick by virtue of the 2019 Paul George trade. It was one of three unprotected first-round selections that the Clippers sent to Oklahoma City in order to pair George with Kawhi Leonard and pursue a maiden NBA championship.
George left to join the Philadelphia 76ers last year, and the Clippers' collapse this season makes that trade look even worse for Los Angeles in hindsight.
With an aging roster and few meaningful avenues to improve it in the short term, the Clippers would love to have that early pick -- which could end up being first overall -- in next year's draft.
Instead, they will have to watch elite prospects like Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson head elsewhere.
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