Thunder trade grades: OKC swipes promising young wing Nique Clifford from the rebuilding Kings

We have our first trade of the 2026-27 NBA season, and it's a somewhat familiar one. The Oklahoma City Thunder are acquiring guard Nique Clifford from the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN, reversing a trade that occurred during the 2025 NBA Draft. The Thunder, using a pick acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers, were on the clock at No. 24 overall, but the Kings moved into that slot to select Clifford. Now, a bit more than a year later, Clifford lands with the team whose hat he wore on draft night.

Trades this early in an NBA season are rare. Until Dec. 15, around 29% of the league is still technically untradeable because of contracts signed over the summer. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been ravaged by injuries so far this season. They initially planned to use their open roster spot to sign former first-round pick Ochai Agbaji, but changed course before doing so as their health issues worsened. Instead, they signed Dalen Terry to a non-guaranteed deal; they will now presumably waive him in order to take a swing on Sacramento's promising youngster. With the season's first trade done, let's grade it for both sides.

One of the…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/