Latest trade deadline prediction would virtually guarantee Thunder a lottery pick

Sam Presti Preseason Media Availability | NBA Photos/GettyImagesSo far this season, OKC Thunder fans have been keeping one eye on the club's pursuit of becoming the first repeat champion since the 2018 Warriors and the other on the rapidly crumbling LA Clippers.

As things currently stand, Los Angeles boasts the eighth-worst record in the entire league at 12-22, meaning that if the campaign were to end today, Oklahoma City would be gifted the rights to their top-10 selection, as they technically own the pick thanks to the 2019 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deal.

Though recent rumblings may have suggested that the Clippers were looking to make moves in an effort to climb up the Western Conference…