OKLAHOMA CITY — The injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder have made the first trade of the 2026-27 NBA season, acquiring guard Nique Clifford from the Sacramento Kings, ESPN reported, according to CBS Sports.
The deal reverses a draft-night move from 2025. The Thunder were on the clock at No. 24 with a pick acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Kings traded into that slot to select Clifford. A little more than a year later, he joins the team whose hat he wore on draft night, CBS Sports noted.
Oklahoma City is giving up two second-round picks, according to CBS Sports, a small price for a franchise that has stockpiled draft capital since trading Paul George to the Clippers.
Trades this early are rare. Until Dec. 15, about 29% of the league is technically untradeable because of contracts signed over the summer, CBS Sports said.
The Thunder have been hit hard by injuries. They had planned to use an open roster spot to sign former first-round pick Ochai Agbaji but changed course as their health problems worsened, signing Dalen Terry to a non-guaranteed deal instead. CBS Sports said Oklahoma City is expected to waive Terry to make room for Clifford.
Clifford averaged just under 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in March and April last season for Sacramento. He emerged as an NBA prospect over his final two college seasons at Colorado State, where he improved as a 3-point shooter, and he has a 6-foot-8 wingspan.
The move echoes Oklahoma City’s trade last February for Jared McCain, whom it acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers for a single first-round pick.
CBS Sports graded the deal as low risk, high reward for the Thunder.
Sources: CBS Sports. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Ferdinand Stöhr fellowferdi / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
