What happened: Oklahoma City absorbed Clifford's contract using an existing offseason trade exception, avoiding a hard cap at the second apron. The transaction leaves the Thunder with up to 21 second-round draft picks available to trade in future moves.
Why it matters: Remaining below the second apron preserves Oklahoma City's financial flexibility to aggregate contracts and pursue additions later in the season. The contract structure guarantees backcourt depth at manageable cap numbers before a team decision on the final year.
By the numbers: Clifford has recorded 1.6 points per game and 0.9 rebounds per game and 1.0 assists per game in 2026-27 through 8 games.
What to watch: Clifford enters Oklahoma City's rotation as the team balances developmental minutes across the regular season.