How Kawhi Leonard's Extension Affects Oklahoma City's Future Picks

The two best assets from the Paul George trade have already identified themselves. It's going to be near impossible to top Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, who are clearly prized possessions to come from Oklahoma City's rebuild. There's still plenty of potential on the horizon with the Clippers owed draft capital to the Thunder, though. 

The value of those picks, however, took a slight hit.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Kawhi Leonard is signing a three-year contract extension with the Clippers.

Anyone hoping for the Clippers star trio to disband any time soon and, in turn, send the Thunder a top draft pick, is just wishing at this point. That ship has sailed, and LA seems motivated to let its aging stars finish out their career with the team.

It appears Paul George and James Harden will be soon to follow in signing the dotted line for an extension.

Unless the injury big hits, it feels unlikely that the Clippers will be picking in the Top-10 of any draft up until 2027, the last year Oklahoma City controls their draft fate. However, Sam Presti has proven his ability to hit on picks at the end of the lottery, with No. 12 pick Jalen Williams as his most recent example.

The draft picks still have value. Here's what the Clippers will be sending the Thunder over the next four summers:

• 2024 1st (unprotected)
• 2025 swap (unprotected)
• 2026 1st (unprotected)
• 2027 swap (unprotected)

2027's unprotected pick swap still feels like Oklahoma City's best chance at a lottery pick considering the age of LA's core. That year, Leonard will be 35, George 36, and Harden 37. All three players have struggled to stay healthy over the last few years too.

Assuming good health, though, the Thunder's picks from the Clippers will likely end up being middle of the line. LA seemingly will be at its best in the playoffs and has proven to sleepwalk a bit through the regular season. Picks in the 15-to-20 range will still be valuable to Oklahoma City as the team looks to fill out its roster with cheaper contracts.