Report: Lakers had interest in Nique Clifford before trade to Thunder

The Los Angeles Lakers may now have the best record in the NBA with a 10-2 mark, but that doesn't necessarily mean that their front office is sitting around and acting like it is content with the team's roster. On Sunday, the Sacramento Kings made a move by trading 6-foot-5 wing Nique Clifford to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for two second-round draft picks. Clifford was the No. 24 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Colorado State University, and as a rookie, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals in 25.1 minutes a game. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers were one other team that had interest in acquiring Clifford before Sunday's trade. Clifford hasn't produced to start this season. He's at 1.6 points on 35.3% field-goal shooting in 6.3 minutes a game so far, and the emergence of rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. pushed Clifford down Sacramento's depth chart. Clifford will now join a Thunder team that has been hit hard by injuries lately. Jalen Williams could miss the rest of the regular season with a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, Cason Wallace is out until at least March with a torn labrum and big man Chet Holmgren has a small patellar tendon tear that will keep him out until January. Yet thanks to their strong defense and overall team identity, the Thunder hold an 8-2 record.