What happened: The Lakers were in the running for the 2026-27 NBA season's first trade before the Oklahoma City Thunder won out, per Yahoo Sports. The Thunder acquired Nique Clifford using the Aaron Wiggins trade exception.
Why it matters: The deal keeps the 8-2 Thunder below the second apron. Los Angeles, 9-2 with a five-game win streak and the top seed, lost out on the same early-season market.
By the numbers: Lakers: 9-2 through 11 games, W5, seed 1. Thunder: 8-2 through 10 games, W4, seed 2. Lakers won 121-116 at Detroit on Nov. 8. Thunder beat Washington 114-75 on Nov. 7.
What to watch: Both teams are at the top of the Western Conference standings, with the Lakers a game ahead of Oklahoma City in the loss column.