The Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade guard Nique Clifford to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for an unprotected 2028 second-round draft pick via Utah and an unprotected 2030 second-round draft pick via Minnesota, the team announced Sunday, Nov. 8.
Clifford, 24, is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard out of Colorado State that was originally selected by Oklahoma City with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. However, Clifford never logged a minute in a Thunder uniform following a trade to the Kings that sent Oklahoma City a protected 2027 first-round pick.
He appeared in 75 games for Sacramento during the 2025-26 season and started 28. Clifford averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in about 25.1 minutes
during his rookie campaign with the Kings, while shooting 41.8% from the field and 33% on 3-pointers.
Clifford was being molded into a perennial "three-and-D" type of player for the Kings. He saw a lot of playing time in his rookie campaign, in part due to the numerous injuries Sacramento sustained to its roster that year.
He scored a career-high 30 points in a 132-126 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 8. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Clifford also spent some time down in the G-League, playing for the Stockton Kings, the Kings affiliate.
In his collegiate years, Clifford averaged 10.1 points and just under a steal. He shot 46.9% from the field and 36.4% on 3-pointers.
Nique Clifford contract
Clifford signed a four-year rookie contract with Kings worth up to $15.7 million with $6.3 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. Clifford's average annual salary is about $3.9 million.
He'll earn another $3.2 million in base salary.
Kings open roster spot
Clifford appeared to be a contributing piece to the Kings' rebuild. The consummate professional, Clifford came into work, did what he was asked and pushed himself to be the best version of himself.
There was an expectation that Clifford would take a leap into his second-year but instead it came with setbacks. Clifford saw his minutes diminish early in the season. In his last game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Nov. 6, Clifford only logged 4 minutes, 30 seconds and scored five points on 2-of-2 from the field.
He only played more than 10 minutes once this season – against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 31. Clifford appeared in five of their nine games, earning four DNPs by coach's decision.
It appeared that Clifford was on the opposite end of head coach Doug Christie's rotations and a change was warranted. The Kings get to open a roster spot while picking up assets.
▶ Kings trade grade: C
Thunder add depth due to injuries
The Thunder have had misfortune early in the season, facing season-ending injuries to key rotation players, and additional injuries that will keep guys out long-term. Jalen Williams suffered a fractured left fibula and a dislocated ankle that required surgery. He's out for the year.
Cason Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and he is also out indefinitely. Chet Holmgren was ruled out 8 to 10 weeks after a biological treatment for a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee.
Oklahoma City needs bodies. Clifford was being buried on the bench early this season, the Thunder believe there's a spark that he can bring to to the team.
The organization has built a reputation of maximizing reserves and role players getting the best out of them, the latest project will be Clifford.
▶ Thunder trade grade: B
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kings send Nique Clifford to Thunder for draft assets: Trade grades
