The Los Angeles Clippers don't have much to celebrate after the NBA's punishment following the Kawhi Leonard investigation, but there may be reason for hope. The Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks by the NBA. Despite that, a little-discussed loophole could allow them to draft in one of the years they lost a first-rounder.
While they forfeited the 2029 first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers, the Clippers were allowed to keep their 2029 top three protected first. The catch is that if that pick ends up 4-30 in the 2029 NBA Draft, they'd lose it to the Philadelphia 76ers. To keep that selection, they would have to finish in the 4-10 range in the league standings.
In doing so, that would provide them at most a 25.3% chance of keeping that pick. Having around a one-in-four chance of keeping that selection isn't great, but it does offer them a small glimmer of hope.
The Clippers have a small chance of keeping one of their stripped picks
How awkward would it be if the Clippers held on to that pick and NBA commissioner Adam Silver had to be the one who announced their selection during draft night in 2029? It would definitely be a bit of payback.
Of course, if the Clippers don't end up with that pick, then they would be far worse off, though perhaps not as much as many might think. Assuming the Kawhi trade with the Toronto Raptors goes through, then they'd pick up two first-round picks from that deal.
That would mean a net loss of three firsts, not five. There is also the chance the NBA agrees to reduce their punishment by confiscating three firsts instead of the five initially reported.
The Clippers still have a small glimmer of hope
That might seem like wishful thinking, but it's not. Remember, the NBA originally punished the Minnesota Timberwolves for the Joe Smith scandal by confiscating five firsts but later reduced the punishment to three firsts.
Yes, the Clippers' transgressions were far worse, but I could absolutely see Silver come down hard on L.A., only for him to backtrack six months later. That is definitely something Clippers fans should hope for.
If it happens, they would technically be down only one pick and zero if their 2029 first actually conveys. Look, stranger things have happened. The Raptors trade is the first leg of the parlay, and that seems like a done-deal.
The second involves the NBA giving the Clippers some of their picks back, and there is precedent for that happening. The last involves luck in 2029, but it's not impossible that L.A. is able to hold onto that protected first, and that would be a game-changer.
Add us as a preferred source on Google